Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Travel in Comfort to San Francisco -- November 20, 2024

Cloverdale Reveille, 07-November-1924

The Northwestern Pacific -- and its predecessors -- has always been one of my favorite railroads. In this ad, it offered excursion service from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to San Francisco and back.

Cloverdale Reveille, 07-November-1924

The railroad faced competition from the Redwood Highway Stages, buses which ran down what is now CA-101 to Sausalito, where they boarded ferryboats to cross the bay, and then continued to Fifth and Mission Streets. "Direct to 5th and Mission streets without change." Riders on the train had to debark in Sausalito, board a ferry to San Francisco and then ride a streetcar or take a taxi to their destination. 



Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Stars Break Up Hearst Yacht Party When Death Strikes Ince -- November 19, 2024

New York Daily News, 20-November-1924

One hundred years ago today, on 19-November-1924 producer Thomas H Ince died under what some see as questionable circumstances. William Randolph Hearst and his inamorata Marion Davies invented several Hollywood acquaintances to a party on Hearst's yacht, Oneida. On 15-November-1924, the group held a birthday party for producer, director and writer Thomas H Ince. Ince took sick that evening. He may have indigestion, a heart problem or some sources insist that he had been shot. Some people believe that William Randolph Hearst was jealous of Charlie Chaplin's attentions to Marion Davies and that Hearst tried to shoot him but mistook Ince for Chaplin. Ince's family took him to their home in Los Angeles, where he died on the Nineteenth. 


STARS BREAK UP HEARST YACHT
PARTY WHEN DEATH STRIKES INCE
Director Dies in Arms of
Wife; Children Near

(Special to DAILY NEWS)

Los Angeles, Cal., Nov. 9. -- Thomas H, Ince, maker of celebrated films and film celebrities, died early this morning at his Beverly Hill home, of a heart seizure. The producer's death was sudden and came from a heart affection following an attack of indigestion which began at a yacht party aboard the Oneida, off San Diego, last Sunday.

Personages who made merry with Ince on Sunday when the yacht party was turned into a celebration for Ince's forty-third birthday anniversary, dispersed yesterday and tonight none could be reached, although a partial list of the guests assembled from other quarters contained the following names:

Marion Davies, William Randolph Hearst, Elinor Glyn, Charlie Chaplin, Seena Owen, D.C. Goodman, Margaret Livingstone.

Miss Davies Hostess

It is understood Miss Davies issued the invitations for the party.

Ince died in the arms of his wife and surrounded by their children, William, 14; Thomas H. jr., 11 and Richard, 8. at his estate, Dias Dorados, in Beverly Hills.

The film magnate decided to quit the Oneida when he found that Dr. D.C. Goodman, the executive head of Hearst's film enterprises and formerly a practicing physician, was returning by train to Los Angeles by San Diego by train on Monday morning.

Became Nauseated

Shortly after taking the train at San Diego Ince became violently ill. He was extremely nauseated, and Dr. Goodman decided when the train stopped at Del Mar, 25 miles on the road toward Los Angeles, that his friend's condition was critical.

He gave the film magnate temporary attention until Dr. Parker of La Jolla, Cal., and a nurse summoned from San Diego arrived at Stratford inn, in Del Mar, to attend the sick man. Both doctors agreed Ince was suffering from acute indigestion, which often precedes heart seizure.

Mrs. Ince was notified by wire at Beverly Hills and another wire sent to the yacht party at San Diego, which broke up after news of Ince's condition.

The Oneida is said to be listed in marine records under the name of International Film Corporation.

It has been regarded however, as the personal yacht of Miss Davies, used by her on week-ends and periods between the making of pictures.

The yacht, when in New York waters, was known as the property of Mr. Hearst. It came to coast waters from New York within the past several months.

Monday, November 18, 2024

Coulter -- For the Klondike Trade -- November 18, 2024

San Francisco Call, 25-December-1897

William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the San Francisco Call. In late 1897, there was a great shortage of suitable ships to take adventurers to the Klondike Gold Rush. 

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Folding Camera Perfection -- November 17, 2024

Popular Photography, January, 1916

The Rexo Camera, made by Burke and James of Chicago, competed with Kodak's folding 1A camera.

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Kodak -- You Made the Movie Yourself -- November 16, 2024

Chicago Tribune, 16-November-1924

Kodak encouraged people to use the Ciné-Kodak camera to shoot home movies and the Kodascope projector to watch home movies or rented professional movies. 

Thursday, November 14, 2024

KPO to Give Special Armistice Day Music -- November 14, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 11-November-1924

San Francisco's pioneering radio station KPO (now KNBR) broadcast a special music program on Armistice Day, 1924 (11-November 1924). The music was composed by "the talented blind composer" Joseph B Cary. I can't find much about Cary except that he wrote a popular song, "When Honey Sings an Old Time Tune."

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

And His Murderer Hanged by a Mob -- November 13, 2024

Fresno Bee, 02-November-1899

This victim might well have committed the crime, but he had a right to a fair trial instead of being hanged to a tree.

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Fletcher Henderson -- November 12, 2024

Pittsburgh Courier, 01-November-1924


Fletcher Henderson led the most important jazz band in New York, which played for much of the year at the Savoy Ballroom. Louis Armstrong joined the band late in the year. The Pittsburgh Courier, an African-American newspaper, asked readers to vote for Henderson as "the most popular artist on radio."

Monday, November 11, 2024

Happy Veterans Day, 2024 -- November 11, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 11-November-1924

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans out there. Thank you for your service to our country.

California's Palace of the Legion of Honor, in San Francisco's Lincoln Park, was dedicated 100 years ago today, on Armistice Day, 11-November-1924. Philanthropist and irresistible force Alma Spreckels paid for the museum. The building is a copy of the French pavilion at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The pavilion was a reduced-scale model of the original Palace of the Legion of Honor,

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Comic Book -- Two-Fisted Tales -- November 10, 2024

mutoscope.listal.com

Veterans Day is coming.

Two-Fisted Tales was a famous war comic from EC. This cover of this issue shows two Marines who have been through hell. The cover promises "A document of the action at the Changjin Reservoir." This battle, one of the Marine Corps' most famous, is more commonly called the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. If you have never heard of it, look it up.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Pulp -- War Stories -- November 9, 2024

coverbrowser.com

Veterans Day is coming.

Soldiers of the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) at the front during World War One.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Toonerville Trolley -- Heaven Help the Poor Trolley Patron Now! -- November 8, 2024

Washington Times, 08-November-1924

I love Fontaine Fox's The Toonerville Trolley That Meets All the Trains.

Washington Times, 30-June-1918


Thursday, November 7, 2024

Krazy Kat -- Why Should I Hide in That Skimpy "Pine Tree"? -- November 7, 2024

Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 02-November-1924

I love George Herriman's Krazy Kat. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Washington Times, 30-June-1918


Wednesday, November 6, 2024

I Am Discouraged -- November 6, 2024


I am discouraged. How could so many people vote for that creep?

We have to carry on and resist.

Quincy Jones, RIP -- November 6, 2024

listal.com

Quincy Jones died. I have been listening to music shaped by him for my whole life.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

The Overland Trail To-Day -- November 5, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 11-November-1924

The Overland Limited was the premiere transcontinental train of the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads. "Union Pacific trains traverse the historic Overland Trail in one-twentieth of the time it took your forefathers."

Monday, November 4, 2024

For Work or Play -- November 4, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 11-November-1924

Hobart Bosworth (I have always liked his name) was a big tough guy who could act. He had been a friend of Jack London's and produced and starred in a series of movies based on London's stories.

Dayton Daily News, 31-May-1924


Sunday, November 3, 2024

Closely Connecting all Important Southland Cities -- November 3, 2024

San Pedro News-Pilot, 01-November-1924

The Pacific Electric Railway operated its famous Red Cars on interurban and streetcar routes throughout the Los Angeles area. "Many delightful weekend trips to beach and mountain resorts, parks and picnic-groups may be made via our lines."

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Is The Champion Automobile Tire Changer -- November 2, 2024

Palisadian, 14-October-1924

Philadelphian Charles Paine was an expert at changing tires, and he may have set a record in changing clincher tire in under one minute. A clincher tire is a type now used mostly on bicycles.

Friday, November 1, 2024

November 2024 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- November 1, 2024

San Francisco Examiner, 06-January-1951

I just put the November 2024 version of my Cable Car Home Page on the server:

http://www.cable-car-guy.com/

It includes some new items:

  1. Picture of the Month: An ad for the Cable Car Cocktail Lounge in Fred Solari's Grill at 21 Maiden Lane. "Have a HIGHBALL at NITEFALL." (Source: San Francisco Examiner, 06-January-1951).
  2. On the Cable Car Businesses page: A new article about the Cable Car Cocktail Lounge in Fred Solari's Grill Street station

Ten years ago this month (November 2014):

  1. Picture of the Month: Catcher Buster Posey and closer Santiago Casilla pass the old Main Library, now the Asian Art Museum, on their double deck motorized cable car during the Giants' 2014 World Series victory parade
  2. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: the the 2014 Giants Victory Parade.
  3. On the Cable Car Lines in New York and New Jersey page: A new article about the New York Cable Railway, which was a name shared by a company that tried to create a comprehensive system in Manhattan and a another that built cable traction systems in other cities
  4. On the Who page: Added a profile from the Street Railway Journal about EJ Lawless , who worked on cable car lines in San Francisco and Kansas City and who was the propritor of a marvelous mustache
  5. On the More California Street Pictures page: Some new Cal Cable photos around California and Drumm

Twenty years ago this month (November 2004):

  1. Picture of the Month: A Pacific Avenue cable train in the 1920's.
  2. Migrated one item from the Cable Car Museum site:
    • Added "The Sutter Street Railway - History and Technology," an article by Walter Rice, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the abandonment of the Pacific Avenue cable line on 17 November.
  3. Added a newspaper article about the hearing to allow the abandonment of the Pacific Avenue cable car line to the newspaper article page
  4. Added a photo of Henry Casebolt's balloon car to the Who page
  5. Added a new article by Walter Rice about the 1950 Broadway Tunnel Construction Project and how it caused the O'Farrell/Jones/Hyde line to be temporarily replaced by Ford buses. Photos from Robert Townley and Walter Vielbaum.
  6. Added News and Bibliography items about some outages and an accident that occurred in October

In January 2024 I started on a long overdue process of cleaning things up on my site. I started with the development pages. Actually, I guess I started the year before with making most thumbnails 200 pixels instead of 100.

Coming in December 2024: Cable cars of Christmas past.

The Cable Car Home Page now has a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CableCarHomePage/

The Cable Car Home Page also has an Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/cable_car_guy/


Joe Thompson
The Cable Car Home Page (updated 01-November-2024)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/
San Francisco Bay Ferryboats (updated 31-October-2024)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ferry/
Park Trains and Tourist Trains (updated 31-October-2024)
http://www.cable-car-guy.com/ptrain/
The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion (updated spasmodically)
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com
The Big V Riot Squad (updated obsessively)
http://bigvriotsquad.blogspot.com/