In 1940, my parents let me go down to San Francisco to visit with my sister Shirley after school was out. I went down by myself on the Sacramento Northern Railway. When we reached Suisun Bay, the train went on a ferry boat and on the other side, we went through Moraga, home of St. Mary’s College, and then to the Oakland Mole where I boarded the ferry to San Francisco.
Shirley had told me that her address, 28 Waldo Alley, was up the hill from Market Street so I started walking carrying my heavy suitcase. I was dressed in suit with a tie and Fedora hat. My mom had pinned Shirley’s address and phone number to my coat, shirt, pants and maybe even my shorts! After I climbed up a few hills, I was pooped so I asked a cop about where 28 Waldo Alley was and he pointed to another hill off in the distance. He wanted to know if he could call me a cab and I said OK. The cabbie finally found the address in a short street off a main street 10 or so blocks from the Bay.
The cabbie carried my suitcase up three flights of stairs and I knocked on the door and Shirley came out. I had wanted to make sure I had the right address. I asked the cabbie how much the fare was and he said “45 cents”. I didn’t want him to think I was some kind of country bumpkin so I gave him 50 cents and said “Keep the change”. That was probably equal to a $2.00 tip when he told the other cabbies about me.
A few days later, I saw a parade on Market Street for the San Francisco World’s Fair. There were city dignitaries, members of various countries from the fair, Circus performers and animals. There was even a group of women from Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch! They were on horseback with cowboy hats, neckerchiefs and pistols placed strategically to cover up what I was too young to see. Damn!!
The next day, I took the Key System train to Treasure Island. They first thing you saw was the giant state of Pacifica. You were surrounded by foreign looking people, many languages and an opportunity to try foods from many countries. I saw Robert Ripley’s Believe it or Not with the man himself. I saw a China Clipper take off for Hawaii. I saw a famous stunt flyer, Tex Rickert, fly upside down 15’ off the ground and pick a handkerchief being held up for him by a man on the ground. There was an animated diorama of Prehistoric life with a cave man and a saber toothed tiger. The tiger had opened and closed his mouth so often the sawdust stuffing was starting to come out.
I saw Wendell Willkie who was campaigning for President come by and wave to the people. I saw a 26’ long python being taken to a new cage being held in a straight line by 20 burly men.
Finally, as it was beginning to get dark, I went to see the huge production called The Cavalcade of the Golden West. It was on a 300’ long stage. There was a recreation of the Oklahoma Land Rush, Custer’s Last Stand., the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill, and other historic events. At the end, there was a cattle drive across the stage. A “moon” object was up at the top of the stage against the background of the skyscrapers of San Francisco. On the left, was a cowboy singing a lulling song for the nighttime cattle drive. It was Eddy Arnold singing Cattle Call. I will always remember the feeling of that scene. I have an original guide book from the fair and look at it often to remind of the good times had that summer.
The next week, while Shirley was working, I went to see the movie “Billy the Kid” with war hero, Audie Murphy, and a brand new star, Jane Russell. No kids were allowed to see this movie, so when I ordered my ticket I stood on my tip toes to look taller and got to go in. I remember in one scene Billy the Kid got shot in the ear and the special effect was great. I have the movie on VHS and check it out once in awhile. The thing I most remember is Jane Russell! I read somewhere that Howard Hughes, who produced the picture, also designed her brassiere using his engineering skills. Ha!
Another time, while Shirley was working, I went to Playland at the Beach. It was cold and windy and not too many people were there. I went to the bumper car place and there was one other kid there. He was about 2 years older than me and looked like Bomba the Jungle Boy from the Tarzan series. I started bumping his car and we were having a lot of fun. When it was over, he asked if I wanted to do it again and said he would pay for it. We did it several times and he would never let me pay for it. We then went to the roller coaster where you were in a log and at the end of the ride, you slid into a water trough to stop. Then we ate something and went into the fun house. Still, he would not let me pay for anything.
As it was nearing 5 PM and Shirley would be coming home soon, I told him that I had to go home. He asked me how I was going and I told him by street car. He gave me a $5 bill and said to take a taxi. I took the bill but still took the street car.
The next morning, this kid’s picture was on the front page of the Chronicle, he had robbed a service station in Oakland and I had helped him spend his ill gotten gains! I suppose I was his accomplice and it was my first and only criminal act.
The times in San Francisco that summer are still remembered as one of my best summers.
