OH BOY! Baseball Season is Here! -- March 24, 2025

Seattle Star, 20-March-1925

I sure am looking forward to the new season. The Seattle Star offered to help kids acquire the tools of the trade, a bat, a glove and a ball, in return for taking subscription orders.

Pacifica Pier -- March 23, 2025

On 14-March-2025, I went for a walk by the Pacifica Pier. The waves were moderate. Wednesday, we had thunderstorms and violent rain. I was surprised that the power stayed on.

SMART at Rohnert Park -- March 22, 2025

On 08-March-2025 we drove to Rohnert Park to visit my mother-in-law. I ran over to the train station to see the 12:39 northbound SMART train go by. The DMUs look nice and don't smell bad. Note the gauntlet tracks. The outer pair allows freight trains to pass the platform. SMART runs on the tracks of my favorite railroad, the Northwestern Pacific.

Swastikar -- March 21, 2025

I took this photo of a Swastikar in the parking lot at Pedro Point on 02-March-2025. When Tesla first started, I thought it would be wonderful to see a new American auto manufacturer be born and thrive. But then it turned out that the primary owner of the company had fascist sympathies and actively participated in destroying our government. I find the concept revolting, but I like the color.

Zeiss Ikon Ikonta 35 -- March 20, 2025

Detroit Free Press, 30-March-1950

After World War Two, 35mm cameras became popular in America. Zeiss-Ikon, a subsidiary of Carl Zeiss AG, a German company, made the Ikonta series of cameras.

Sweeping Reductions on All Kodaks -- March 19, 2025

Brownsville Herald, 22-March-1925

Holm's Camera Art Shop offered "Sweeping Reductions on All Kodaks." I see Vest Pocket Box Cameras were reduced from $1.00 to $0.68.

Transit Driver Appreciation Day, 2025 -- March 18, 2025

I am grateful to the men and women who bravely face San Francisco traffic and San Francisco people every day. Thank you all.

I am grateful to transit drivers/motormen/gripmen/engineers/conductors and all the people who keep the vehicles clean and running and the wires and tracks in good shape all over the world. Thank you all.

Answer to Saint Patrick's Day Crossword Puzzle -- March 18, 2025

Oakland Post-Enquirer, 18-March-1925

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, 2025 -- March 17, 2025

Oakland Post-Enquirer, 17-March-1925

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone. 100 years ago today, crossword puzzles were a craze. Note that the numbering on this one is not what we are accustomed to with current crossword puzzles. I like "Pat gave her his 27-28-29 and off they went."

I will post the answer tomorrow.

Orange Crush -- Wherever You See These Signs -- Stop! -- March 16, 2025

Miami Herald, 08-March-1925

We recently polished off a twelve-pack of Orange Crush. It was nice.

Baseball and Coca-Cola -- March 15, 2025

Macon Telegraph, 22-March-1925

This ad announces that "Coca-Cola Will Be Sold INSIDE The Baseball Park This Season." The Macon Peaches played in the South Atlantic League. 

Arkansas Idea of Justice -- March 14, 2025

Hot Springs Weekly Star, 31-March-1899

I wonder if General Duckett really was trying to stir up a revolt, or if this was a case of white hysteria inspired by one killing. I suspect the "war of extermination" was more on one side than the other.

ARKANSAS IDEA OF JUSTICE

Seven Negroes Lynched Because One

Killed a White Man.

The wildest excitement prevails among the negroes or Little River County, Ark., and seven negro men have been lynched by the citizens of that section. The affair grew out of Ihe lynching of a negro named General Duckett, near Richmond, in that county, on March 21 last. On March 18 a prominent planter named James Stockton was murdered at his home near Rocky Comfort by Duckett. The negro escaped at the time but was captured, taken to the place where he had killed Stockton, and after making a confession he was lynched. After the lynching it was learned that Duckett had frequently tried to get the negroes in the county to join him in a race war against the whites. A few hours after he had killed Stockton he passed several negroes at a farm house and told them he had killed one white man, and if they would follow him he would kill more. It is now believed that the negroes had banded for a race war.

Among those who have fallen victims to the wrath of the whites are Edward Goodwin, Dan King, Joe Jones, Ben Jones, Moses Jones and still another whose name could not be obtained. The last three named were brothers, were intimate with the assassin of Stockton, and it was discovered that they were leading a scheme to avenge their comrade's death. The assault was provoked by the unearthing of plots that the followers of General Duckett bad concocted, and when the revelation was made the citizens began their search for the principals. All of the victims that have fallen before the whites were pursued singly over the country, and met their fate at different times and in different localities.

TEN DIE IN RACE WAR

Negroes Are Run Down by Mob of

Whites for Plotting Revenue.

A war of extermination is on between the whites and negroes in Little River County in the extreme southwest corner of Arkansas, and seven of the latter are known to be dead. Many other negroes are missing.

The wholesale lynching is the result of the murder of James A. Stockton, a planter, last Saturday by a big negro called "General" Duckett. After hiding for some time Duckett gave himself up and was being taken toward Richmond, the county seat, when he was taken by a mob and lynched. He confessed to a carefully laid plan by the negroes to precipitate a race war, and told of many whites who were marked for execution. It was learned from Duckett that there were twenty three negroes in the plot, and their names were given. Several parties of white men started out to execute speedy vengeance on the plotters. The negroes became panic-stricken and fled in all directions.

Willis Boyd, C. C. Reed and Minor Wilson, three negroes, were taken from an officer and lynched near Silver City, in Yazoo County, Miss. They were the ring leaders in a race encounter at the Midnight plantation. After being shot to death their bodies were cut down and thrown into the Yazoo river.

St Patrick Radio Program on KPO -- March 13, 2025

San Francisco Bulletin, 16-March-1925

Saint Patrick's Day is coming.

100 years ago this month, on the eve of Saint Patrick's Day, San Francisco's KPO broadcast a special program. KPO became today's KNBR (680 Kilohertz).

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San Francisco Bulletin, 16-March-1925

Wilber Sweatman and Band -- March 12, 2025

Mount Vernon Argus, 12-March-1925

 Duke Ellington, who had been leading a small group that played around Washington, DC, moved to New York to join the Wilber (or Wilbur) Sweatman Orchestra. By 1925, he had already returned to Washington.

Comic Book -- The Spirit -- March 11, 2025

coverbrowser.com

The Spirit was created by the Will Eisner-Jerry Iger Studio to appear in a comic book that was syndicated to Sunday newspapers. Later he appeared in Police Comics. I bought at least one issue of the Warren reprints. I read it and reread it until the cover came loose.

Pulp -- The Whisperer -- March 10, 2025

coverbrowser.com

The Whisperer, a mysterious man in grey who spoke in a bellowing voice -- no, wait, he spoke in a whisper -- made his debut in 1937. I have not read any of his adventures, but I have heard that they are among the most violent of classic pulps.

Toonerville Trolley -- Youngsters Take Advantage -- March 9, 2025

Rutland News, 10-March-1925

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

Washington Times, 30-June-1918

Daylight Saving Time -- March 8, 2025

listal.com

Actress Adele Mara reminds us to set our clocks forward one hour before we go to bed tonight. Unless you live in Arizona. I like Daylight Saving Time.

Krazy Kat the Farmerette -- March 7, 2025

Kansas City Post, 30-March-1925

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

Washington Times, 30-June-1918

Training for the Big Show -- March 6, 2025

San Francisco Examiner, 17-March-1925

Here we see the 1925 San Francisco Seals in Spring Training. Bert Ellison played for the Seals from 1921 to 1927 and managed them from 1923 to 1926. I don't know why he is holding a fish.

He once hit five home runs in a PCL double header.

Ash Wednesday -- March 5, 2025

Today is Ash Wednesday.

Mardi Gras 2025 -- March 4, 2025

Omaha Bee, 07-February-1925

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone. One hundred years ago, the Illinois Central Railroad invited people in Omaha to visit New Orleans for the Mardi Gras season.

The excursion train would be parked at the station, near Lee Circle "where all parades pass." Guests could spend each night in their sleeping car.

Attend Mardi Gras at New Orleans, Mobile or Pensacola -- March 3, 2025

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 06-February-1925

Take the Louisville and Nashville Railroad from Saint Louis to New Orleans, Mobile or Pensacola for Mardi Gras.

The Streamlined Sunset Limited -- March 2, 2025

Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 27-April-1952

The Sunset Limited was the premiere passenger train from New Orleans to Los Angeles on the Southern Pacific Railroad's Sunset Route. Southern Pacific operated it from 1894 to 1971. Since 1971, Amtrak has run it.

March, 2025 Version of the Cable Car Home Page -- March 1, 2025

I just put the March 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: This real estate ad offers a space for a store and residential flats at "4068 Olive St. Terminus Olive St. Cable." The Missouri Railroad's Olive Street line started operating the month before. Note that Heath and Company's telephone number is 417. (source: Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 08-April-1888.)
2. On the Cable Car Lines in Saint Louis page: A ten-year update about the Missouri Railroad, including contemporary newspaper items
3. Also on the Cable Car Lines in Saint Louis page: An update about the Delmar Loop Trolley.
4. Added News and Chronology items about the start of the project to refurbish all the cable car system's sheaves
5. Added News items about cable car service interruptions

Ten years ago this month (March 2015):

1. Picture of the Month: A typical three-car train of the Missouri Railroad. The open grip car is on the left. It is towing two enclosed trailers. (Source: "The Street Railway System of Saint Louis", The Street Railway Journal, June, 1895.)
2. On the new Cable Car Lines in Saint Louis page: The Missouri Railroad
3. On the Cable Car Lines in the UK page: A postcard showing the Isle of Man's Upper Douglas Cable Tramway
4. On the San Francisco page: Thanks to Ken Malucelli, photos and his memories of living in a Carville house.
5. Added News item about a visit by President Barack Obama and its effect on the cable cars
6. Added News item about the fifth annual San Francisco History Expo

Twenty years ago this month (March 2005):

1. Picture of the Month: The cover of the second edition of Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco.
2. On the San Francisco page: The second edition of Of Cables and Grips: The Cable Cars of San Francisco, by Robert Callwell & Walter E. Rice. Although the second edition is available on this web site, it is not yet available in a print-and-paper book format.
3. On the New York/New Jersey page: Contemporary newspaper articles about cable cars in Manhattan, including the beginning of the Broadway line in 1893 and the end in 1901.
4. On the Decorated Cable Cars page: Car 504 decorated for a 1954 festival, thanks to Walter Rice.

125 years ago - 1900
Mar 28 - Denver City Cable Company (Denver, Colorado) West Denver line converted to electricity
Mar 29 - Denver City Cable Company (Denver, Colorado) Welton line converted to electricity

75 years ago - 1950
Mar 24 - A Powell Street cable car hit an auto at Powell and Post.

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.

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 April 2025: On the Kitsch page: More collectible items about cable cars, including: a wooden locomotive decorated for the San Francisco Giants (not a cable car); 1949 Examiner ads for cable car pins and wheel spinners and gearshift knobs with pictures of cable cars 

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-March-2025)
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-December-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/