The drab urban narrative of the Produce Market was punctuated by splashes of color on the sides of stacked crates. These labels today have become collectibles.
Then ... Mike Figlia is standing in front of his business at 364 Washington Street next to a stack of crates of Cape Cod cranberries.
... and here is that same Honker Brand label in full color, featuring flying geese.
Then ... Nick walks past a stack of Melo-Glow melon crates. This was a brand name of the Half Moon Fruit and Produce Co. whose building was used for Mike Figlia's business ...
... and below is a vintage photo of that same label, in full color.
Let's walk down crate label memory lane and look at more, these from the businesses seen in the movie at and near the Washington - Davis junction. Below are one from John DeMartini and one from Scatena Galli - ("Essangee", get it?) ...
... and these two from Levy & Zentner.
But check these out ... the F. H. Hogue Co. wasn't averse to using sex to push their products ...
... and this one - thankfully the red-faced redhead was wearing underwear.
But this one tops them all!
Archie dutifully tries to return the stolen tuba to the address given him by Petulia - "... the Companions of the Evergreen Lodge on Grant Street". He finds the place but can't get a response at the front door.
Then ... Assuming she meant Grant Avenue, she was close - this location is at 782 Sacramento Street, near the corner with Grant Avenue.
... and Now, the view east down Sacramento from Grant today. The 782 entrance door is now gated. As is the case with many parts of Chinatown there has been little change over the last half century, one of the reasons the neighborhood continues to hold onto its character. May it stay that way.
Miller is next seen at an amusement park. One might expect director Dmytryck would pick San Francisco's Playland At The Beach for these scenes but no, he chose The Pike at Long Beach in southern California. The reason soon becomes apparent ...
Then ... Miller can't resist the shooting gallery. The Double Wheel ride towers over him in the background.
... a vintage postcard image ... the Pike, open since 1902, was closed down in 1979 but this image shows the Double Wheel ride during its heyday.
Then ... The Cyclone Racer rollercoaster is behind him as he passes the Laff In The Dark ride, a main attraction at The Pike.
... from the 1950s ... a vintage photo of the ride in full color.
Below, Miller can't resist this one - an opportunity to vent his misogynistic feelings (click image to enlarge).
Then (1964) ... The Pike amusement park, in yellow on the 1964 map below, extended along Seaside Blvd between Magnolia Pier and Rainbow Pier (click image to enlarge).
... and Now, land reclamation and redevelopment has swallowed up both of these old piers. The Rainbow Pier is now the site of the Long Beach Convention Center. The site of the original Pike is overlayed on this ma (click image to enlarge).
... and Now, today there is a new Pike at Rainbow Harbor, a development completed in 2004 (map). A shadow of its former self, it is primarily a retail/dining/cinema complex. In a nod to the past it has a Ferris Wheel, a Carousel and a footbridge with a design that invokes the original Cyclone Racer roller coaster.
Bullitt meets Cathy and friends at the Coffee Cantata, a real cafe with that name at 2030 Union Street in the Cow Hollow district. It is now the popular Betelnut restaurant.
Then ... There's a pastry counter at the front of the cafe and a coffee bar up the right side.
... and Now, a full bar replaced the confectionery and the coffee bar up the stairs is gone.
Then ... Up the stairs, a jazz quartet is playing in the back corner next to the coffee bar.
... and Now, with the coffee bar gone, this space has become the side dining area.
Then ... Bullitt and Cathy join their friends at a table at the rear, filmed though the window from the rear deck. The band's bass player can be seen off to the left.
... and Now, the rear deck was sacrificed when the Betelnut renovation pushed the rear wall back for added space. The same view, taken inside from where the deck was, shows part of Betelnut's open kitchen.
The jazz band plays throughout the entire Coffee Cantata scene; they are seen below behind a radiant Cathy.
A collage of the band members from the movie is shown below. The band was Meridian West and the musicians were, in spatial order:
Guitar - Larry Vogt Flute - Julie Iger Roseman
Percussion - Al Pimentel Bass - Nat Johnson
Citysleuth learnt the identity of the band from a reader of this blog (see comments at the bottom of this post including much appreciated background about the gig from flutist Julie Roseman and news and comments from other band members).
Update ... Betelnut closed late 2016, eventually replaced by Flores, a Mexican bar/restaurant.