The Oz Film Company Announces the Completion -- May 17, 2013

The Oz Film Manufacturing Company, located in Los Angeles, was formed in 1914 to produce movies based on stories by L Frank Baum, the creator of The Wizard of Oz.  The company made some movies, but was not a financial success. The ad is from the 22-August-1914 edition of Moving Picture World.  It announces the completion of their first movie, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, and says they are "busily at work on our Second Feature Film -- a Photo-Visualization of L. Frank Baum's Fairy Tale The Magic Cloak of Oz.  I like the graphic around the upper part of the ad.  It looks like a relief. 

Woody Herman 100 -- May 16, 2013

Woody Herman, reed man and leader of the many Herds, would have been 100 years old today.  Herb Caen always wrote interesting items about his visits to San Francisco.  I enjoyed all of Woody's music that I got to hear, but the Four Brothers period is my favorite. He was often ahead of his time.  He had Dizzy Gillespie write arrangements in 1942. 

Ferry Mare Island -- May 15, 2013

High speed passenger ferry Mare Island lays over at the Ferry Building after a quick trip from Vallejo.  Mare Island and her sister Intintoli were built in 1997.  They sail for Vallejo BayLink Ferry (http://www.baylinkferry.com/). 

Secret San Francisco -- May 15, 2013

Last night I went to the Balboa Theater for the first presentation of Secret San Francisco, a collection of short films about San Francisco put together and presented by Woody LaBounty and David Gallagher of the Western Neighborhoods Project.  They encouraged audience participation.  The show started late because it was sold out and there was a line out the door waiting to get in at 6:30pm.  The first part was a trivia quiz with prizes.  Then they showed several short movies and clips from movies.  I had seen some, like the films of Sutro Baths burning, but I had not seen many of the others.  The audience was fascinated by the Playland films.  The auction after it closed was sad.  The demolition of the Fox Theater depressed everyone.  Blackie the Wonder Horse, who swam the Golden Gate towing Shorty Roberts of Roberts-at-the-Beach cheered everyone up.  It was a wonderful show and I was happy when they announced at the end that they were going to repeat it because of the great demand. 

Honeymoon Excursion to Grand Canyon -- May 14, 2013

This ad, from the 04-June-1913 San Francisco Call, offers honeymoon trips to the Grand Canyon and the El Tovar Hotel, under Fred Harvey management, on the rim for $35 round trip. Be sure to click on the image to see a larger version. 

The City on Film -- Dirty Harry -- May 13, 2013

The San Francisco Arts Commission (http://www.sfartscommission.org/) has set up a series of posters by artist Christina Empedocles honoring "the City’s rich history as an iconic cinematic backdrop."  This one depicts a poster for Dirty Harry.  I read the Mad Magazine version long before I saw the movie.  They captured Clint Eastwood's performance perfectly. 

Alexandria Theater -- May 12, 2013

The Alexandria on Geary Street was the biggest theater in my neighborhood when I was growing up.  It had beautiful Streamline Moderne decorations till it got split into three theaters in 1976.  It opened in 1923.  I liked looking out my parents' back window and looking at the neon sign.  I remember seeing a Disney revival in one of the smaller rooms, the old balcony or loge, while a Star Wars movie was playing in the main auditorium.  We could hear it very clearly.  It closed in 2004 and various groups have been trying to build something within the structure. 

I took the photo on 18-February-2013.