XD30732 DISCOVERY 1967 TV SHOW EPISODE: SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA HARBOR / BAY / ALCATRAZ / HISTORIC SHIPS

This episode of “Discovery ’67” 1968 documentary hosted by Bill Owen and Virginia Gibson introduces San Francisco Bay and its history. Bill by harbor. Title appears over Golden Gate Bridge: “San Francisco: Harbor of Harbors, Bay of Bays” (0:25). “Discovery ’68” title sequence (0:30–0:57). Bill and Virginia on boat. Various shots of bay / harbor. Discussion of size, history, European exploration (bay = “best kept secret” before discovery). Aerial map of coastline, geographic / natural features emphasized (“natural camouflage” / contracosta) (1:45–2:15). Mention of Sir Francis Drake conducting boat repairs nearby. Briefly, a 16th–17th century map (2:35). Discussion of Jose Francisco Ortega (“the real discovery,” “the official discovery,” Nov. 4, 1769) and early European confusion with Fort Reyes. San Francisco as named for “nature-loving” Saint Francis of Assisi. Shots of bay / Golden Gate from water again, bridges / islands emphasized. “Treacherous” currents (4:11). Alcatraz (“the rock”) got its name “indirectly”—Juan de Ayala had named “Isla de alcatrazes,” but he meant the island that is now “Yerba Buena” (4:16). Islands viewed from water. Navy ship in bay (4:55). Treasure Island (pelicans). Alcatraz again (5:10). Wooded islands (e.g., Angel island). Hosts stand close on boat, discuss use of Alcatraz as fort, prison. Sightseeing cruise boat and sailboat pass by Alcatraz (now tourism). Bay Bridge (6:25), then Golden Gate (6:27), then cruise-boat again. San Francisco city from top of hill (6:36). Cable car going down Powell, Hyde, Bay Streets (6:36). China Town, Fisherman’s Wharf briefly shown (6:47). Telegraph Hill, Koin tower (supposedly designed to meet eccentric donor’s fire craze) (6:58). Ships in bay, tugboat, sailboat (7:12). Hosts: “A three-way combination made the city what it is today” – 1) the bay, 2) “virgin” forests in north (various forest shots), and 3) ships. Ship in harbor: closeups of deck / structure (7:47). British Sailing Ship Balclutha (steel-hulled, square-rigged deep waterman; Victorian). American-made two-masted schooner C. A. Thayer. Closeup: statue on Balclutha’s bow, zoom out to full front of ship (Charles Canal and Company, Scotland). Discussion of iron / steel parts with closeups (economical materials—“a transitional phase in the history of British shipbuilding”). Virginia speaks next to wheel of early trips / cargo, walks around deck discussing ports visited, later sale to Americans (1899). Bill explains Puget Sound saw mills’ purchase of ship, millions of feet of lumber transported. Various shots of ship / deck. Main mast from deck angle (10:22). Balclutha from harbor (various angles), ropes and American flag partially visible. Virginia in Balclutha Captain’s saloon on (10:57), discusses wife’s furnishing (closeups: fine china, crystal, velvet-covered furniture). Bill in Balclutha’s focsle, closeups: anchor windlass / anchor chain (11:48), plus oil skims, ditty bag, sea chests (11:53). C. A. Thayer in harbor (12:20). Virginia descends steps. Closeups: hull / deck / other areas. Virginia crosses deck reading 1895 Humboldt Times. Panning shots of tall masts with California Flag. Tight quarters inside hull of C. A. Thayer were used for storing lumber, salmon (13:49). Closeups: family photographs, bordered sampler, phonograph with cylinders, ledge with personal possessions (13:28). Private afterdeck for Thayer’s captain’s family. The hosts discuss origins of many captain’s families in Northern Europe (Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark — “California’s Scandinavian Navy”) due to better pay in America. (Common names = Hansen, Olsen, Mortensen, Hendriksen, Christensen, Johnsen, Carlsen.) Ships shown from afar in harbor. Bill on deck of Thayer (16:11). Discussion of Mendocino Valley “dog holes” (difficult narrow ports – “there wasn’t room for a dog to turn around in one of these ports”). Brief view from land of rocky sea, then sandy beach. Wapama (steam schooner, on deck / at pier) (17:20). Hosts explain steam’s introduction to ship market. Hosts laugh on deck. Music box / nickelodeon in saloon, music box playing. Ad for McCormick steamer (18:48), discussion of benefits for passengers. A doll in a drawer (18:59). Hosts discuss triumph of steam over sailing. Small cabins, pictures on walls, bottles, shelves, small sink (19:36). Thayer = last active commercial sailing vessel on West Coast (20:11). Hosts walk across deck. Various shots: San Francisco Bay, islands, bridges, city visible in background (20:40).

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