Allen Ginsberg, a Beat poet, starts a movement with Howl

The late, great Allen Ginsberg, who was a 50s Beat poet, started a whole movement with his poem Howl. Even as I write this, a whole new generation is learning about the Beat movement thru Allen Ginsberg's Howl.  (I know I did in high school) It may have been full of bigotry but the Beat generation and the hippie generation (love+peace=tie dye & LSD) after that influence a whole generation not to be conformists. That we are all individuals, we don't have to be like our parents, don't have to follow our parents' footsteps. WE CAN BREAK THE MOLD!!
To some, who do not want to conform, those conformists, think this poem is kinda sorta controversial.
Tell me, what do you all think of Allen Ginsberg's Howl?
Although he read at SFSU Poetry in the late 50s, this audio clip is from one of  Chicago big table readings: Howl (20:06): MP3

Playland At the Beach, San Francisco

From what I seen of the video, I can see why they don't have Playland anymore 'cuz the Funhouse alone was too scary for young kids, never mind for adults.

But there may have been some stuff (like Coney Island was) that kept kids comin' back for more excitement. 

Despite the scary Funhouse, IMHO, there were probably some other stuff like the roller coasters so high you would feel your stomach drop and the many varieties of junk food that kept the kids comin' back for more, more MORE! They probably shut it down 'cuz they have budget problems since the amusement park was HUGE! They can no longer maintain the upkeep of the place like Santa Cruz Beach (now Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk). According to my dad, the expert SF historian (I'm only an amateur), there were lots more attraction at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk back then like swimming to name one of the few things. Wish I was around in those days. But I guess they had to downsize it, so to speak 'cuz they weren't able to maintain the upkeep the Boardwalk. :(  This was way before Great America.

San Francisco World Exposition

Or should I say expositions?
There were way too many to recall. The 1st one, Panama–Pacific International Exposition, held from Feb 20 to Dec 4, 1915 was to celebrate the rebuilding of the new SF after the '06 quake but its foremost purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal. The fair was constructed on 635 acre in SF, along the northern shore (Marina).
Among the exhibits were C.P. Huntington, the 1st steam locomotive purchased by Southern Pacific Railroad, which is now on static display at the CA State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, our state capitol. A telephone line was also established so people across the continent could hear the Pacific Ocean. The Liberty Bell travelled by train to and from PA in nationwide tour to attend the exposition. After that, the Liberty Bell returned to PA, never to be moved again.
The centerpiece of the Expo was Tower of Jewels, which rose to 435 feet and was covered with over 100,000 cut glass Novagems. The 3/4 to 2 inch colored "gems" sparkled in sunlight throughout the day and were illuminated by over 50 powerful electrical searchlights at night.



In front of the Tower, the Fountain of Energy flowed at the center of the South Gardens, flanked by the Palace of Horticulture on the west and the Festival Hall to the east. The arch of the Tower served as the gateway to the Court of the Universe, leading to the Court of the Four Seasons to the west and the Court of Abundance to the east. These courts formed the primary exhibit area for the fair, which included the Food Products Palace, the Education and Social Economy Palace, the Agriculture Palace, the Liberal Arts Palace, the Transportation Palace, the Manufacturers Palace, the Mines and Metallurgy Palace, and the Varied Industries Palace. The Machinery Palace, the largest hall, dominated the east end of the central court.

At the west end of central court group was the Palace of Fine Arts. Further west toward the bay down The Avenue of the Nations were national and states' buildings, displaying customs and products unique to the area represented.
At the opposite end of the Fair, near Fort Mason (then an active Naval station, now a center for non-profit organizations) was The Zone, an avenue of popular amusements and concessions stands.
Most of the buildings were demolished except for the Palace of Fine Arts, which still stands today although reconstructed in the '60s.

The Golden Gate Int'l Exposition of 1939 and 1940, held at Treasure Island, was to celebrate the City's two newly-built bridges-SF-Oakland Bay Bridge was dedicated in 1936, and the Golden Gate was dedicated in 1937. The Exposition happened from Feb 18, 1939 to Oct 29, 1939 and it opened again in May 25, 1940 to Sept 29, 1940. I guess they didn't have enough of us, so they need to have us twice in a row!

Dave McElhatton, anchorman for KPIX5, dies at 81 of stroke :(

The broadcasting world is mourning over the loss of Dave McElhatton over this past summer. :(
I remember him going to the Lillehammer (Norway) Olympics in 1994. He had such an easygoing 'tude, I can't believe he's past on. I've hadn't heard anything about him lately. I suppose he's happily retired. Little did I know that he had a stroke, but best thing was that his fam was right there beside him. I missed when he retired. Now that he had past on, he will really and truly be missed.
So sad :(

A Trip Down Market Street (1906)

We all know what Market Street looked like after the big 1906 earthquake & fire, but what was it like before the quake? This silent documentary movie  is how Market Street SF, 1906 looks like before the 1906 earthquake that damaged the better part of Market Street which was followed by the horrible fire that devastated much of SF. This film was made a week before the devastating earthquake & fire, according to the New York Clipper, which was advertising the silent film.
And despite the differences in the mode of transportation and fashion, there was one thing similar from today's SF Market Street: the Ferry Bldg!
I can't believe the way people drive; how they cut people off on the roads-they show no respect for others. The pedestrians even don't look where they are going (not necessarily) Didn't they have traffic lights back then or haven't it been invented yet? Didn't they have street safety laws to prevent road rage?
I guess only the rich (and probably the famous) got their own cars because that was when people starting having cars. I mean, 1906 was when they were issuing license plates to cars. The poor had wagons to sell their wares, whatever it may be.
Go to YouTube to view it @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKRbTF5afSE