Cyril Magnin greets his guests to his birthday bash

For Cyril's last Birthday bash, I had the pleasure of photographing him with my then trusty 8 x 10" view camera. He never questioned the size of the camera or the use - but a plan was under foot. Later in the darkroom - we made two larger than life cut-outs of Cyril - this one greeting guest as they arrived at the function over the awning of his long time residence, the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Here's to you Cryil! This town is just not the same without you.

Background from Wikipedia


Cyril Isaac Magnin (1899–1988) was one of the most prominent San Francisco businessmen of the post-World War II era, chief executive of the Joseph Magnin Company, which evolved into a multi-million dollar chain of upscale women's clothing stores.

Personally gracious and urbane, Magnin was a veteran political fund-raiser and power broker in the Democratic Party, dating back to New Deal days. He was Treasurer of President Franklin Roosevelt's northern California re-election campaign in 1944, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1948 (that nominated President Harry Truman) and again in 1964, when he co-chaired the Finance Committee of President Lyndon Johnson's campaign in California.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Magnin was one of a quartet of fabulously wealthy San Francisco Jewish contributors to Democratic candidates, appreciatively called "The Green Machine" by career politicians[1], the others being Fairmont Hotel magnate Benjamin Swig, Lilli Ann clothing company founder Adolph Schuman, and real estate mogul Walter Shorenstein.

The four did not always agree in their choice of candidates. Magnin himself was a major donor to the presidential candidacies of John F. Kennedy in 1960 and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, and, in the interim, developed a close friendship with Lyndon Johnson.[2]

Magnin was the first of the "Green Machine" multi-millionaires to fade from the national political scene after the Party was bitterly divided over the Vietnam War in 1968 and 1972. But he later worked closely with San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto and was deeply involved in the civic affairs of the city for the remainder of his life. He was President of the Port of San Francisco and was instrumental in establishing such internationally-renowned institutions as the Asian Art Museum, the American Conservatory Theater and the California Culinary Academy. Serving also as the city's first "Chief of Protocol", Magnin reveled in the informal title of "Mr. San Francisco".

Buddha in the Park

Gautama Buddha

This  bronze Buddha was cast in 1790 in Tajima, Japan, for the Taionji Temple and presented to the Garden in 1949 by the S.& G. Gump Company of San Francisco. Buddha (563? to ca. 483 B.C.) is the historic founder of the Buddhist religion.  Born Prince Siddhartha of the Sakyas in the area now called Nepal, he renounced his home of great luxury at age 29 for an ascetic life. 

Sitting under a bo tree in concentrated meditation, he attained his great enlightenment and understanding of the causes of human suffering. He become known as Buddha, The Enlightened One. 

_________________________________________

Shot made with 8 x 10 View camera mounted with 75mm Super Angulon - creating a full lens
capture on the film.  Available as original silver prints and as a hand-tinted 50 x 50" original


 
Links on Buddha
Inscription
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/sanfran6.html

What will our ruins look like? April 18th Anniversary of Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906

Over 3000 deaths were caused by the catastrophe, primarily in San Francisco. The population of San Francisco at the time was about 400,000, and over half were rendered homeless. 28,000 buildings were destroyed.

City Hall, from corner of Ninth and Market, after San Francisco Earthquake and Fire, April 18, 1906

Something was not quite right about the engineering of San Francisco's City Hall. When the Quake came in 1906, the structure came apart at its seams. 

The new $6 million building, which had been under construction for 20 years, was considered by some to be more noble as a ruin. Entire walls crumbled and massive stone columns fell into the street, leaving the relatively intact dome oddly perched above the twisted debris.

Fire Burning after the Earthquake, April 1906

Multiple fires swept the City for four days, erupting from damage to gas lines and electric wires, fueled by the wooden debris. The City's water system had not been upgraded to cope with a major fire threat and key water mains were broken, leaving the hydrants empty. Many buildings were dynamited, as recouted by General Funston to create firebreaks - drawing on dynamite supplied by the California Powder Company, whose leading brand product became the namesake of the town of Hercules.

View West up California Street from Merchants Exchange, 1906

The Earthquake and fire of 1906 left over 10 million cubic yards of wreckage that had to be cleared before reconstruction could begin. The business district and three-fifths of the entire city was in ruins, and damage was estimated at $500m. The Fairmont Hotel, at the top of the hill, was about to debut at the time of the earthquake.

Palace Hotel's entrance after the Earthquake and Fire, 1906

The Palace suffered only moderate structural damage in the Earthquake, due to the efforts by William Ralston to make it earthquake resistant. However the "fire-proofing" efforts were a total loss. Artesian water stored in roof top and basement tanks was exhausted well before the fire could be contained. Rubble from the building was later dumped in the Marina area as fill.

Ruins of Hibernia Bank Building, Market and Jones Streets, after the 1906 Earthquake

Wreckage of the Hibernia Bank Building, Jones and McAllister streets. This view shows the McAllister/Market Street-side of the structure. This building was repaired, and temporarily housed the Harbor Police Station after the earthquake. It was restored to bank use, and again became a police substation when the Hibernia Bank closed in the late 1980s.

Rubble after the Earthquake and Fire, view towards Call Building
 (Central Tower), April 1906
_______________________________________________________________

To acquire reproductions of these and other San Francisco Images-visit our Web Galleries
http://worldwidearchive.imagekind.com/store/custom.aspx/83/San_Francisco

Embaradero - 1975 Flashback - Anyone miss the Freeway?

I made this view with my then trusty 4 x 5" view (What's that?) as the park and pathway were being built -creating this rather dramatic and satisfying s-curve composition.  It is hard for me to imagine this waterfront had this freeway not proven to be unsafe, forcing its demolition.  I ponder if we will feel the same way in twenty years when all of 2nd street is rebuilt, Varnish, Zebulon, Gassers, the entire area made into a modern utopia courtesy of the powers of eminent domain and the forces of progress.

Palace Hotel: Hollywood arrives by train, 1932 - what a banquet!

Banquet for Hollywood Stars, Garden Court of the Palace Hotel, 1932
 
Who can you recognize in this shot?  (Edgar G. Robinson for starters)

Hollywood's elite partied all night, arrived by private rail care to this festive Garden Court banquet at the Palace Hotel. This banquet was held by by Governor James Rolph for motion picture stars, who traveled from Los Angeles by train for the occasion. Rolph served as mayor of San Francisco for 20 years, before being elected Governor of California in 1931.

This five foot hand-tinted photography is on view in the 2nd floor banquet room at the Palace.
Palace Hotel photographs on San Francisco Images web site http://bit.ly/aPlvmT
 Case study of project
http://bit.ly/aCcn2R

Palace Hotel shortly after its opening in 1876

This photograph shows Montgomery Street toward Market Street, c1880 Gas Lamps installed on Montgomery Street, viewing toward Market Street and the Palace Hotel on Montgomery Street, across the street from today's Charles Schwab Bld.

View down Montgomery Street in 1870s shows the newly completed Palace Hotel at the far end. Another leading hotel, the Lick House, at the corner of Montgomery and Sutter streets, is visible through the row of ornate street lamps.

The first street lamps in San Francisco were erected in Merchant street, by Mr. James B. M. Crooks, in October, 1850. They were lighted with oil, and to be paid for by private subscription. The same gentleman had also completed the erection of ninety lamps, on the 20th of February, 1852, on Montgomery, Clay, Washington and Commercial streets, to be paid for in a similar manner. These, with the exception of four posts, were all destroyed by the fire of the 4th of May following. In the autumn of 1852, the common council contracted with Mr. Crooks to light the city within the limits of Battery, Kearny, Jackson and California streets. This contract was carried out until the introduction of gas as above related, by a contract made with Mr. James Donahue for the “San Francisco Gas Company.”


Photograph Hand-tinted © Bennett Hall 2010

REFERENCE:
Slide Show of Palace Hotel photography - http://bit.ly/aIImKc

Story of our photographic exhibits for the Palace Hotel- case study

Web Galleries - Hand-tinted San Francisco Historical photographs

San Francisco Photography including Palace Hotel - Flickr

The Time is now: Treasure Island 1939 & under Construction

What a Fair it was...

My father waxed lyrically about how spectacular GGE was at night - excitement permeated the air, he had never seen anything like this before. Lights radiated in a rainbow of colors in every direction, excitement in the air... this was place to be. Later, he went on to help build Liberty Ships in Richmond.

Can't [we] create something like this today?

We have advanced technology, lighting and sound gear, far superior resource distribution systems.

What's Up? Are we going backwards?

Let' make Treasure Island a global beacon that metaphorically guides the world into this millennium properly.  The clock is ticking and we are all behind schedule.

Gentlemen, start your engines.

image above: San Francisco image collection; all rights reserved

The Time is NOW.

Treasure Island, 


gradually sinking into the Bay



the Pacific Ocean Rises

to new highs in 2100




Background: 
Treasure Island, site of the 1939 International Exposition, was built with dredged soil from the Bay. The island was to become San Francisco International Airport in 1941. However, the Navy seized the island in 1942, after World War II began, and it became Treasure Island Naval Station. Situated between the world's two largest bridges spanning San Francisco Bay, Treasure Island was the site of the 1939 International Exposition. Built of bay dredged dirt, the island was to become San Francisco International Airport in 1941. However, the Navy seized the island in 1942, shortly after World War II began, and it became Treasure Island Naval Station.  


Image Source: Digitally mastered from the collection of the Oakland Public Library,  all rights reserved

What is next for this gradually sinking properly in the headwind of rising sea levels projected for 2100?  


MORE INFORMATION: http://www.sfimages.com/history/GGE.html



Treasure Island Museum: http://www.treasureislandmuseum.org/
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_Island_%28California%29
Web Gallery
http://worldwidearchive.imagekind.com/store/imagedetail.aspx/553fd3f5-1793-4626-ac06-bdc6a2cd793a/Treasure_Island_Golden_Gate_Exposition_San_Franci

Alien Landing, McClaren Park San Francisco 1978,

Anyone out there recognize the spacecraft and the story?  Where you there?  Were the lighting effects caused by the alien craft? Could the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art have had something to do with this?


Hand-tinted black and white photograph © Bennett Hall
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bennetthall/1556820287/in/set-72157602596257025/