Time After Time - Jewelry For Sale
Then … Herbert needs cash. Fortunately he had brought his landlady’s jewelry with him for this very purpose. He first goes to Blackwell Antiques at 563 Sutter Street near Union Square - they deal in estate jewelry, it’s as good a place as any to try to sell it.
… and Now, Blackwell Antiques closed down years ago; the writing on the window tells us all we need to know about 563 Sutter today.
Then … They agree on a value but the shop owner won’t buy it without first seeing an I.D. which of course Herbert doesn’t have. He gathers up the jewelry and leaves.
… and Now, the buildings seen above across the street have different tenants but otherwise they look the same. The blue sign over the doorway left of center, above, read 560 Sutter; the number is still there but is now in fanciful art nouveau style. The arched entrance next to it has lost its awning but looks better for it.
Later he tries elsewhere … as he approaches a pawnbroker’s (at far right) a sign next door conveniently displays the address of a business there - 2447 Mission Street. CitySleuth should always be so lucky.
Then … We see more of the storefront as he walks up; the 1978 city directory listed it as the Argonaut Jewelry and Loan Pawnbrokers at 2449 Mission between 20th and 21st in the heart of the Mission District.
… and Now, it has a different owner but it’s still a pawnshop decades later. The storefront has the same tiles but painted over.
Then … We see a wider view of the same store when he returns to it later on. Note the movie theater next to it.
… c. 1980 … this contemporaneous vintage photo captured the Argonaut exactly as it appeared in the movie. The theater next to it was the Tower Theater at 2465 Mission.
… and Now, the theater opened in 1912 as the Majestic Theatre. It closed in 1996 and remains closed today but recent renovation activity holds promise for a new life for the blighted, graffitied site.
This time, no questions asked, a deal is struck, but not before Herbert is surprised to see guns on sale there. Unheard of in England, by Jove!