See the Beauty Touch the Magic -- September 29, 2016

The San Francisco Arts Commission (http://www.sfartscommission.org/) has set up a series of posters by artist Jeff Canham.  "The Best Show in Town" depicts messages that appeared on the marquees of famous theaters along Market Street from 1928 to 2015.

This item appeared on the marquee of the Market Street Cinema at at 1077  Market Street in 2015.  Showman Sid Grauman and his father David built it in 1911, calling it the Imperial.  In 1931 it became the United Artists.  In 1972 it became the Market Street Cinema.  It hosted adult entertainment, live and on film, until 2013.  I never went there. 

The building was torn down during September, 2016.  

The Hug Bug -- September 26, 2016

Film Daily, 01-March-1926

Glenn Tryon was a minor comedian who made many shorts for producer Hal Roach.  In "The Hug Bug," Tryon appears with Roach starlets Katherine Grant and Sally O'Neil. 

A note at the bottom of this ad says that it is a cornerblock provided to theaters to use in newspaper advertising.

Katherine Grant
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Sally O'Neil
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Open All Nite -- September 22, 2016

The San Francisco Arts Commission (http://www.sfartscommission.org/) has set up a series of posters by artist Jeff Canham.  "The Best Show in Town" depicts messages that appeared on the marquees of famous theaters along Market Street from 1928 to 2015.

This item appeared on the marquee of the Paramount Theater at 1066  Market Street in 1944.  The Paramount was torn down to make way for Hallidie Plaza.  During World War II, many movie theaters stayed open all night so that people working odd shifts could see movies. 

100th Anniversary of the National Park Service -- September 19, 2016

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Today I went to Good Shepherd School in Pacifica and talked to Junior High kids about the topic of the current DAR essay contest, inspired by the Centennial of the National Park Service, taking a trip with their family to a national park.  I talked about the history of national parks and the National Park Service.  I talked about ways to make a more interesting essay that would catch the attention of readers.  I had extra time with the 6th graders, so I talked about making the trip from what is now Pacifica to Yosemite in 1916.  They were amazed that it would take a train, a streetcar, a ferryboat, a train, probably an overnight stay in Merced, another train and a bus.  

The image is from Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest.  

Barg in M tinee Dail U il 2 M -- September 15, 2016

The San Francisco Arts Commission (http://www.sfartscommission.org/) has set up a series of posters by artist Jeff Canham.  "The Best Show in Town" depicts messages that appeared on the marquees of famous theaters along Market Street from 1928 to 2015.

This item appeared on the marquee of the Saint Francis Theater at 965 Market Street in 2012.  In 1910, the theater opened as the Empress.  Showman Sid Grauman bought it and named it the Strand in 1917.  In 1924, it became the Saint Francis.  The Saint Francis closed in 2001, but remained mostly undisturbed until it was torn down in 2013.  This explains the condition of the message in 2012. 

Grauman's Chinese -- Roy Rogers -- September 7, 2016

Sid Grauman was a San Francisco showman who came to Los Angeles and built three major houses, the Million Dollar, the Egyptian, and the Chinese. The theater has hosted many film premieres, but is most famous for the hand and footprints (and hoofprints and nose prints and other types of prints) in the forecourt.

Widely loved singing cowboy Roy Rogers, the King of the Cowboys, left his hand, foot, and revolver prints in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese on 21-April-1949. His trusty steed Trigger left his hoofprints. Roy's wife Dale Evans wrote his theme song, "Happy Trails." DSCN4149.

The 1948 Hollywood Reporter Production Encyclopedia

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Harlan County, USA -- September 5, 2016

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In honor of Labor Day, here is Barbara Kopple's 1976 documentary Harlan County, USA.  Growing up in San Francisco, I heard about Bloody Thursday and other violent events in the past, but this movie helped me to understand how evil coal mine owners could be.  The workers wanted better workplace safety, fair treatment and living wages.  The owners wanted a no strike clause n the new contract.  Management countered union proposals with gun thugs.  Watch the movie.