Wonders of San Francisco #3: Cliff House and Ruins of Sutro Baths

[Orishanla]

@firehorsedude: I never thought of it, but I agree. I can see why it reminds you of Dark Shadows, a classic series.I hope you can make it back. It still remains one of those "unspoiled" wonders of San Francisco. It's also very eerie and special at night. I can't wait to do some night photography there.

[firehorsedude]

I guess this section of beach I always have gone to while in the CITY, reminds me of the org. TV show , " DARK SHADOWS ". Love this area of San Francisco, CA. Great history and memories. It is a truely great place to go hiking. Have not been here since 2007 . I hope I can make it back this year.

[zephyros9]

I just biked up there this weekend and kept wondering, for the bazillionth time, why someone didn't rebuild the Cliff House in a Victorian style? The original is sooo much more amazing and beautiful than the horribly ugly late 60's concrete slab of a building they have there now. I mean, they didn't have to make it exactly the same size, but a victorian flavor would have been MUCH more suiting to that world class spot on our coast.

[Orishanla]

@zephyros9 I agree. It's a no-brainer.

[hedablinka]

Everybody does the same thing (including the park service): They show the north end of the building, and then show the site as it is, looking north across the site. The multi chambered concrete box was below the little victorian house like building that sat at the north end of the building.

Having said that, the time-against-time nature of the setting is very nicely caught in this beautifully haunting little video.

[Orishanla]

@joshtj44 "The baths struggled for years, mostly due to the very high operating and maintenance costs, and eventually closed. A fire destroyed the building in 1966 shortly after, while in the process of being demolished. The Sutro Bath ruins are open to the public, but a warning sign advises strict caution, as visitors have been swept off by large waves and drowned at the site." More info on Wikipedia.

[joshtj44]

it was beautiful...I wonder why it came down.

[tylertyler82]

it comes off very eerie, a view of post apocalypse or "life after people." i like it!

[Orishanla]

@tylertyler82 Than you! It's one of my personal favorites. It was the perfect day for shooting it. Thanks to my friend Angelo for allowing me to use one of his original compositions for the soundtrack.

[lulubutterfly24]

wow iv'e never knew that existed!

was that like the first water park!

man i wish they didn't have to burn it down,

i would have been cool to explore it if they made it a museum,

music is creepy =]

[Orishanla]

Thanks for the review! I'm glad you enjoyed it, as much as I did filming it.

[rmd30aus]

REVIEW PART B)The loneliness is palpable as a single fisherman comes into focus through the fog, cut to a flashback of the Bath's heyday showing teeming crowds where he now stands on a desolate outcrop. Angelo's tinkling soundtrack is a light, urgent counterpoint to the stark message of the film - a compelling offering from an interesting new filmaker. rmd30aus

[rmd30aus]

REVIEW PART A) Orishianla's brooding moodscape film "Wonders of San Francisco #3"explores the theme of impermanence by gliding over the ruins of the SanFrancisco Sutro Baths and Cliff House. Once a bustling complex where thecity folk cavorted in their hundreds, the only bathers populating the wintry seaside area now are colonies of gulls and terns.