RichmondSFBlog reader Rob sent me some great old videos of San Francisco, showing life in the 1920s, 1930s and even earlier in some shots. If you’re into this kind of thing, be sure to catch the free screening of Lost Landscapes of San Francisco, Part VI coming up at the Internet Archive on January 24.

Sarah B.

These first three are worth watching for the humorous narration alone. Shots of cable cars, Chinatown (“Where ancient East and modern West serenely blend”), the Marina harbor, Seal Rock, the Bay Bridge (“The City that knows how, did it!”), great footage of of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge (“The bridge that couldn’t be built!”), and the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition (which apparently cost $50M to build).

This next video is 13 minutes in length but has no soundtrack. It’s labeled 1939 but also contains earlier footage. You’ll see great shots of the Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Garden, Musee Mechanique?, footage after the 1906 earthquake including a rubble-filled Market Street, a ferry unloading, the Great Highway, City Hall, Golden Gate and Bay bridges, what appears to be footage of the 1939 Golden Gate Exposition on Treasure Island, SFO, panoramic views of the city, and lots of old cars.

This next 8 minute video is set to lovely Rachmaninoff piano concertos and features life scenes from the early 1920s. More cable cars, the Ferry Building, Chinatown, the piers, overhead aerial footage (incl. ones of the Richmond District + Golden Gate Park!), dock laborers, a great steam locomotive running along the Embarcadero, a shot of a stadium (not sure where?), and Golden Gate Park.

This last video has a brief history and historic stills of the Cliff House and Sutro Baths, some 1897 film footage of Sutro Baths from the Library of Congress Edison films catalog (previously posted) plus film of Ocean Beach.

Photo by ampoda

The photo above and video below is from the 2012 “Post Yule Pyre” event held at Ocean Beach on Sunday night. Put on by Friends of the Rootless Forest, the event utilizes discarded Christmas trees to create a massive bonfire.

Known to draw upwards of 200 people, the group has been holding their roast-o-tannenbaum for the last 20 years. Based on the photo above, last night’s event didn’t draw a giant crowd.

And though the bonfire created by the mass of trees is typically much larger than the allowed fires on Ocean Beach, the GGNRA and Park Police usually look the other way during the fiery event.

Sarah B.

More from Ocean Beach Bulletin
More from the SF Examiner

Here’s the latest history minute video from Woody and David of the Western Neighborhoods Project. In this installment, they share some history about unfortunate vessels that met their fate on the rocks below Lands End; you can still see some of their remains at low tide.

Sarah B.

On Thursday, Santa made a special visit to the Philippines Coral Reef at the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Watch the video to see a bit of his underwater interview and to see how popular he is with the fish.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Sarah B.

Yesterday, seven baby bison, all female, were welcomed to Golden Gate Park. Check out their “unveiling” in the video above.

“The bison at Golden Gate Park are a historic and celebrated treasure in San Francisco,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “We welcome the new bison herd to their new home, and I know they will continue to delight residents and visitors using our world class Golden Gate Park.”

But don’t rush out to the paddock to see them just yet. The baby bison are currently quarantined in a secured location near the main paddock where they’ll remain for the next few months. Rec & Park will host an official welcome ceremony in early 2012 when the baby bison are ready to be released to join the main herd.

But while you’re waiting, you can put your creativity to work thinking of names for the seven ladies. Rec & Park is holding a bison naming contest for the new additions.

A panel of judges will choose their favorite names from the pool of suggestions, and the public will then have the opportunity to vote for the winning entry. They’ll announce the winning name at the bison’s coming out party in spring 2012.

The winner will receive VIP attendance at the bison’s Spring Welcoming Party, an official City certificate, an official photograph with the bison and city officials, and complimentary tickets to future Recreation and Park Department events. Enter online

Sarah B.

Really cool (and zen) video from wtkphotography.com. You’ll see some of the west side come in around the 3:30 mark. Enjoy!

[via CurbedSF]

I ran into Baseball Mary this weekend, who is arguably the biggest Giants fan in the neighborhood. After giving me her latest baseball card (she gets one made for herself every season) and showing off her World Series ring, she told me about her special appearance in a promo for The Franchise, a Showtime reality series about the San Francisco Giants’ 2010-2011 season.

Watch the promo above – I love the part where Mary says Brian Wilson of “Fear the Beard” fame asked for her autograph.

Sarah B.

[via Stokereport]