I used to ride the sky tram when I was about 12 years old. I grew up at ocean beach in 1953. that tram would get stuck going across because of the rust on cables. when the tram entered the barn, there were huge framed original photo's of the shipwrecks off land's end.
I must have been 4 or 5 when I rode this tram. The part I remember is going through a tunnel of sorts. I think my mom took me; however, I never heard her or anyone else speak of this tram. I grew up in the Richmond, and as many times as I visited Playland and the Cliff House over the years, I never even saw photos of any other evidence of its existence. Now I know my memory isn't playing tricks on me!
I walked the promenade of the Cliff House as a teen in the late '50s and cannot recall the Sky Tram at all. To tell the truth the first I heard of it was a couple days ago while watching a film from 1955 found on Boing Boing called Amateur color film of San Francisco, 1955.
I am a native San Franciscan, born in 1964, and this video is the first I have ever heard of a tram in that area. I have never heard it spoken about or seen photos or even seen the former site and I have been all over the Cliff House and Sutro Baths as a kid and teenager and even an employee at the Seal Rock Gift shop. Never a single mention at the gift shop of any tram anywhere at any time. That is very confusing to me. Why did this thing just drop off the planet? PS. The music is horrible in the video. Gosh, I think I got a cavity just listening to it.
@@chrispya1 Not that much. The 1950 census showed 775,357 people (still remember that number from the city limits sign crossing the Bay Bridge as a kid) before dropping off into the lower 700s and not getting back there for a few decades. It wasn't much higher (806k) in 2010, though 2020 showed a 10% jump from there.
Watching this clip just reminded me, I remember as a kid I heard stories of the original Sky Train at or near the Cliff House, which rode on cables out to Seal Rock, through the large opening in those rocks, and back to the beach behind Sutro Baths. But one day disaster hit, and the car fell into the ocean, killing all of those on board. When it was rebuilt, it was the existing one seen here in the video clip. The story came from the people who ran the Sky Train, some folks in Sutro Baths, and even people who worked at Playland. Was there any truth to it?
I used to ride the sky tram when I was about 12 years old. I grew up at ocean beach in 1953. that tram would get stuck going across because of the rust on cables. when the tram entered the barn, there were huge framed original photo's of the shipwrecks off land's end.
Awesome
Wow that's neat. That cave! I have hung out many times in that cave and on that staircase in the last 30 years !
I must have been 4 or 5 when I rode this tram. The part I remember is going through a tunnel of sorts. I think my mom took me; however, I never heard her or anyone else speak of this tram. I grew up in the Richmond, and as many times as I visited Playland and the Cliff House over the years, I never even saw photos of any other evidence of its existence. Now I know my memory isn't playing tricks on me!
According to the San Francisco Chronicle the cameraman was only twelve when he shot this film. Well done!
And good that he thought it worth the effort! It's History!
The Cliff House Sky Tram ran for about a decade, from May 1955 until 1966.
From The Cliff House to Playland to the Zoo. So much fun as a child !
Was just reading about this in a news article. Very cool history
I've never seen those waterfalls before
According to the San Francisco Chronicle they were artificial.
I walked the promenade of the Cliff House as a teen in the late '50s and cannot recall the Sky Tram at all. To tell the truth the first I heard of it was a couple days ago while watching a film from 1955 found on Boing Boing called Amateur color film of San Francisco, 1955.
I am a native San Franciscan, born in 1964, and this video is the first I have ever heard of a tram in that area. I have never heard it spoken about or seen photos or even seen the former site and I have been all over the Cliff House and Sutro Baths as a kid and teenager and even an employee at the Seal Rock Gift shop. Never a single mention at the gift shop of any tram anywhere at any time. That is very confusing to me. Why did this thing just drop off the planet? PS. The music is horrible in the video. Gosh, I think I got a cavity just listening to it.
Same here. We only went to Playland, Never ventured up there or knew about it til decade later. Did run into gal whose mom took her ice skating there.
The music is appropriate for the era. My parents listened to this music on the radio in SF in the late 1960s.
That is awesome and terrifying at the same time. Looking forward to the temporary Ferris Wheel in Golden Gate park next summer!
It’s not so temporary anymore lol
Why does it seem like San Francisco was 200 times nicer from say from 1920 to 1960 than it is today?
The population was much smaller.
@@chrispya1 Not that much. The 1950 census showed 775,357 people (still remember that number from the city limits sign crossing the Bay Bridge as a kid) before dropping off into the lower 700s and not getting back there for a few decades. It wasn't much higher (806k) in 2010, though 2020 showed a 10% jump from there.
Probably because you are white. Just saying….
Watching this clip just reminded me, I remember as a kid I heard stories of the original Sky Train at or near the Cliff House, which rode on cables out to Seal Rock, through the large opening in those rocks, and back to the beach behind Sutro Baths. But one day disaster hit, and the car fell into the ocean, killing all of those on board. When it was rebuilt, it was the existing one seen here in the video clip. The story came from the people who ran the Sky Train, some folks in Sutro Baths, and even people who worked at Playland. Was there any truth to it?
not true. I grew up there and rode the sky tram often.
What is this music called?
Wait, there’s music.
By '66 was burnt down and destroyed is now called ruins.
Haha wow that sure was ugly looking, you think they could have designed a more mid century looking structure