The Case Of The Curious Bride - Fresh Crab
Then … the movie begins with a view of the San Francisco skyline seen from the top deck of the ferry boat Santa Clara.
… and Now, the skyline today is a huddle of modern buildings recently subserviated by the Salesforce Tower, aptly named - its 61 floors tower over everything around it.
The Santa Clara, launched in 1915, ferried passengers between San Francisco and Oakland - here’s a fun vintage image of passengers waving goodbye as it pulls out from the Ferry Building. The ferry’s tenure was not without excitement - at different times it suffered a fire in the engine room and a collision on the bay.
Then … In the wheelhouse the captain is reading out the news about famed local defense attorney Perry Mason’s closing plea to the jury in his latest murder trial. The Bay Bridge behind them is still under construction - the towers and massive central concrete caisson are approaching completion but the roadways are yet to be built.
This aerial photo taken early in 1935 pictures the bridge at about the time the movie footage, above, was filmed. ‘X’ marks where the ferry would have been. The photo also shows in the foreground the partial excavation for the tunnel through Yerba Buena Island that connects the bridge’s western and eastern spans.
… and Now, this recent photo taken near the same spot but closer to the caisson captured the bridge in similar alignment.
Then … Next, in front of a line of seafood stalls on Fishermen’s Wharf (map), newspaper vendors are trumpeting how Mason has defeated the D.A. yet again, winning his latest case. Italian immigrant fishermen started selling their daily catch at makeshift stalls here a century ago and have remained, generation after generation, ever since. Pictured here, from left to right, are stall #2 - Frank and Antonio Cresci Brothers, stall #3 - Antone Sabella (that’s Nino Sabella in front, leaning forward), and stall #4 - L. Rafello Fish Market.
… and Now, Those three stalls today are now two: The Crab Station and Sabella & LaTorre. The Sabellas sold to the LaTorre family after WW2 and they have taken over the Rafello space.
Then … The camera follows the newspaper vendors past the Rafello Fish Market - next to it is stall #5 - the name on the window is Tom, Tom & Joe’s Light House.
… and Now, #5 has retained the Light House name to this day, currently Nick’s Lighthouse.
This vintage 1950s photograph shows all of the stalls on this block. The visible signs extend from #1, the Excelsior Fish Market at far left on the corner of Jefferson Street (now Guardino’s), past Sabella-LaTorre, the Lighthouse, Alioto’s and on to #9 at the far end, Fishermen’s Grotto.
In front of the Light House the man of the moment himself, Perry Mason (Warren William) along with his good buddy city coroner Wilbur Strong (Olin Howard), points out his choice of fresh crabs for a planned evening meal with friends. With them is Mason’s man Friday Spudsy Drake (Allen Jenkins).