San Francisco landmarks

If you have ANY interest in the history of San Francisco, you should watch the following YouTube video shot in 1955. San Francisco (1955 Cinemascope film)

Places to remember

This is a shortlist of places in San Francisco (mostly closed now) that are of significance to me.

• July 5, 1964 - The Arthur Murray Dance Studios - 627 Sutter Street - Arthur Murray was an American dance instructor and businessman, whose name is most often associated with the dance studio chain that bears his name. His pupils included Eleanor Roosevelt, the Duke of Windsor, John D. Rockefeller Jr., Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, Barbara Hutton, Elizabeth Arden, and Jack Dempsey. Arthur Murray was inducted into the National Museum of Dance's Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame in 2007. This was one of several locations in San Francisco. Mr. Murray died in 1991 at the age of 95.

• Early 1930-late 1960s - "Topsy's Roost" was a nightclub which was located at Ocean Beach. In the late 1960s, it became the rock venue "Family Dog." (I can remember taking dates to this venue while still in the Navy in 1962)

• 1938-1970 - Forbidden City (San Francisco) was a Chinese nightclub and cabaret in San Francisco, which was in business from 1938 to 1970, and operated on the second floor of 363 Sutter Street, between Chinatown and Union Square.

• 1928-1972 - Playland (also known as Playland at the Beach and Whitney's Playland beginning in 1928) was a 10-acre seaside amusement park located next to Ocean Beach, at the western edge of San Francisco, California along the Great Highway where Cabrillo and Balboa streets are now. It began as a collection of amusement rides and concessions in the late 1800s and was known as Chutes At The Beach as early as 1913. It closed Labor Day weekend in 1972.

Hippopotamus Hamburger

• 1950-1987 - Hippopotamus Hamburger (aka "Hippo Burgers") at 2025 Van Ness Avenue. The walls were decorated with cartoons of the happy hippo by the artist and children's book illustrator "Wolo". They had crazy toppings on their burgers like ice cream, stroganoff sauce, hot fudge, a pickle, and cherries, but their basic burgers were amazing, as were the shakes. They finally closed for good in 1987. Many children enjoyed the gift shop with stuffed hippos and other animals. An ordinary chain pharmacy bought the property and occupies the site today.

• 1972-1987 - Lehr's Greenhouse Restaurant - 740 Sutter Street, next to the Canterbury Hotel - This restaurant had an impressive Sunday brunch and was always popular. It was also the scene of many birthday parties and wedding receptions during the era. When Mr. Lehr died, the restaurant closed.

• 1949-1995 - Zim's Restaurant's last outlet was on Van Ness and Market Street (now a Walgreen's). At its height, there were 19 Zim's and 16 other Zim-managed cafes, including an all-you-can-eat place called Z's Bountiful Buffet. Here are some images that will be sure to evoke fond memories of your favorite Zim's. The interior below was the location at Sutter and Powell Streets in the Holiday Inn (now Marriott) Hotel. We almost forget that smoking was permitted in restaurants at one time. The ashtray is from the 1950s and advertises the location at Market and 10th Street (before it was relocated to Van Ness and Market), Lombard at Steiner, and Corte Madera.

• 1936-1997 - Vanessi's Restaurant at Broadway and Kearney

• 1946-2020 - Tarantino's Restaurant - Fisherman's Wharf -permanently closed The menu of fresh seafood, particularly Pacific Salmon, Halibut, and Dungeness Crab, remain popular with both San Franciso locals and tourists. Located in historic Fisherman's Wharf since 1946, Tarantino's remains popular with both locals and tourists visiting our San Francisco even as some of the original heavy pasta dishes have yielded to more delicate fare. Most entree items remain affordable and range from $17 - $27. Our solid reputation for high-quality food and service, presented in a warm and friendly atmosphere, has built up since 1946. Spectacular view of the Bay and Golden Gate

• Tommy's Joynt - has reopened http://tommysjoynt.com/

• Alioto's Restaurant - CLOSED - Seafood - San Francisco, CA - Yelp. Alioto's Restaurant is temporarily closed. Scheduled to reopen on January 1, 2022.

External links

• Pictures of San Francisco sorted by age and street names
• Lost San Francisco blog

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