Time After Time - TVs And More Banks
Then … The time traveler is fascinated by the sight of boxes containing moving images at a store on a street corner. Note the windows wrapping around a structural column at left and on the right window pane there’s a reflection revealing a crosswalk behind Herbert showing a pedestrian next to a post on a short flared pedestal across the street.
Then … This view looking out from inside the store reveals there’s a similar post and pedestal on this side of the crosswalk; it has a parking meter next to it. The two posts and the parking meter helped confirm this location.
… and Now, ReelSF blog reader Al identified this location (see his comment below) as the Chinatown TV store at 653 Kearny on the corner of Clay Street. Since then it has been remodeled; the windows that caught Herbert’s attention above have since been made narrower to make room for an added Clay Street entrance but the structural column inside in the corner is still there. The store was a Subway sandwich shop from 2001 until 2019 and is currently a museum dedicated to the history and memory of the unheralded Chinese railway workers who helped build the U.S. Transcontinental Railroad.
… in 1964 … here’s a vintage photo of the Chinatown TV store. This view looks east along Clay Street across Kearny; it reveals that the Clay Street windows used to be as wide as the windows above them (which are unchanged today). The corner sign is the same one then as it is now, only the name has changed. (Nostalgic Turk Murphy jazz fans will appreciate the sight of Earthquake McGoon’s club at 630 Clay down the road on the far left).
For additional confirmation, here’s a 2015 Google Street View image looking in the opposite direction west along Clay Street when the store, left, was a Subway. It shows the two matching poles and pedestals on either side of the crosswalk that are seen in the movie images (only one is there now), plus the parking meter next to the pole by the store (it’s since been removed). Portsmouth Square is on the right.
Then … Herbert’s search for Stevenson takes him to several more banks beginning with Banco Di Roma.
… and Now, this is the California Street entrance of the Kohl Building at 400 Montgomery. Note Then and Now the matching ornamentation and flagpole wall cleat and halyard at the side of the entrance. There’s a different bank there now, a branch of Sterling Bank and Trust.
Then … Between bank visits he’s seen on the corner of Montgomery and Clay with the 1972 TransAmerica Pyramid headquarters behind him. Further back, left of center, is the original 1909 TransAmerica headquarters on the corner of Montgomery and Columbus.
… and Now, the same view today. The original TransAmerica building is barely visible from this viewpoint but it’s still there, now owned by the Church Of Scientology.
In this photo looking back along Columbus the old and the new TransAmerica headquarters buildings are nicely juxtaposed.
Then … More banks … next up is First Enterprise Bank at 260 Montgomery Street on the corner of Pine Street.
… in 1980 … A fire broke out in this building in July 1980, taking the life of a fire captain and injuring 13 others. Read here the harrowing accounts of firefighters who experienced the deadly collapse.
… and Now, a 15 story commercial building, addressed as 250 Montgomery, was built on this site in 1986.
Then … The Sumitomo Bank of California is next. (Note another Sumitomo branch across the street reflected in the window).
… and Now, this main office and agency were at 351 California Street per the 1978 city directory; the same directory listed a Sumitomo branch across the street at 320 California. The window below is the one seen in the movie - the street level space has been home to various retail businesses over the years and is currently being redone for the next tenant.
Then … And finally, the French Bank of California at 130 Montgomery Street. But no luck, Stevenson hadn’t stopped by any of them.
… and Now, here’s the same doorway today.
… and Now, it’s worth stepping back to admire 130 Montgomery Street. It’s a 1930 Art Deco gem, a delightful surprise sandwiched between two much taller office buildings.