Amateur film: Golden Gate Bridge (1939)

★★★★★ · Invaluable Historic Images · atsf2399 · 2011-11-14

I'm writing a co-biography of my Mom and Dad, who visited the GG International Exposition several times in 1939-1940 with my 4-5 year old sister, shortly before I was born. I found this film to be invaluable in imagining what they saw and did at the exposition. One of my Dad's letters mentions Treasure Island shining like a jewel at night. Another describes in detail the madness and hoopla which was part of the Exposition.

★★★★ · What We Did Last Summer · ATSF1920 · 2007-05-14

This appears to be someone's "home movies" of a vacation trip around California, which coincided with the Golden Gate International Exposition of 1939. The film opens in San Francisco. Views include the almost-brand-new Golden Gate Bridge and Oakland Bay Bridge; the Exposition Grounds; Fisherman's Wharf; and Chinatown. Then, it's off to Yosemite National Park (because this is late Summer, the waterfalls are a bit anemic compared to the postcard views). Besides the well-known landmarks, you see Mirror Lake, and an enormous Sequoia called the Grizzly Giant, both of which no longer exist. Next…

★★★ · Great color view of the past · monkey1970 · 2002-11-29

This is a great film in that it shows us not just a colorful view of the past, but gives us a non-jandiced view of the beauty that is California. I loved seeing this film after I came back form my last vacation.