San Francisco 1953

1. 1953
by: Ruby Ficklen

2. Much like the rest of the country during this time, San
Francisco was on the cusp of a nation at war and post-
war society. This was reflected in the art and media of
the time, taking cues from poets that had come before
them such as Walt Whitman in their response to both
the devastation of the war and the restrictive cultural
climate. The Red Scare ran rampant, while a civil rights
revolution was building. In 1953, a poetic and artistic
movement called The San Francisco Renaissance was
gaining momentum.

3. The San Francisco Chronicles
April 8th 1953 “The Voice of the West” - Since 1865
Grand Jury indicts Bryson on Charges of Communism
Hugh Bryson, president of second count, all in violation
the National Union of of § 1001, Title 18, United
Marine Cooks and Stewards, States Code. The jury
was tried on two counts of an acquitted him on the
indictment which charged membership count but found
that he filed with the him guilty on the affiliation
National Labor Relations count. From a judgment of
Board 'an affidavit of a non- conviction and a sentence of
Communist union officer,' in five years imprisonment plus
which he falsely alleged that a $10,000 fine, Bryson
he was 'not a member of the appeals.
Communist Party or As early as 1937, Bryson
affiliated with any such was an active and militant
Party.' He was charged with member of both the
falsely denying membership Communist Party and the
in the first count and Marine Cooks and Stewards.
affiliation in the

4. The San Francisco Chronicles
June 7th 1953 “The Voice of the West” - Since 1865
Racial Integration Demanded of Housing Authority
The San Francisco Housing by the head of the Authority,
Authority operates the third “Our job is simply to provide
largest public housing program people a roof over their heads
in the country. By the start of when they cannot under their
the decade, this program own means. We are not a moral
included over one hundred and compass. Our priorities are
ten thousand units or decidedly separated and
apartments housing almost five irrelevant to the social
hundred thousand persons. In uprisings goings-on.”
wake of a racial movement Government operated housing
rolling across the country, these has already proven itself to
units remain largely and incite conflict between
distinctly divided. Local civic neighbors who might not
groups such as the CSFR and otherwise cross paths, already
SFNL have called on the San subject to frequent police
Francisco Housing Authority to intervention. Is this worth it?
set a standard of racial The San Francisco Negro
integration among its program. League seems to believe so.
“Why?” is the statement made “This is a turning point for San

5. Elaine and Willem
De Kooning
They were the typical
artist couple in the
1950's, both staples
in the San Francisco
culture, struggling
with serious financial
hardships while
producing
tremendously
innovative work.

6. Although California did not begin legally integrating until the 1960s, the issue had
already hit progressive San Francisco in 1953. This picture shows anti-integration
protestors gathered outside a San Francisco courthouse.

7. “
As the first faint
streaks of dawn poked
over the distant hills
the blast came. A vivid
flash of light pierced
the desert darkness
and lighted up the
entire countryside. It
lasted but a moment or
two then was gone. All
eyes turned toward the
spot where the bomb
had exploded. They
saw a big ball of
furiously churningProject",
"Observation Shot
smoke, sand and
”
Nevada Highways & Parks 13, no2,
fire,
debris rapidly rising
On May 25, 1953 this blast took place as part of Operation Upshot-Knothole in
from the ground
which was a series of eleven nuclear test shots conducted in remote areas waves.
huge, rolling of
the US. This is the first test of a nuclear artillery shell. Images like these
solidified America as a strong and conquering to some citizens, and an

8. The marriage of John F
Kennedy and Jacqueline
“Jackie” Bouvier was more
than a idyllic wedding. As a
couple, John and Jackie were
the quintessential 50s
romance and their wedding did
not stray from this standard.
The fashions, trends, and
themes observed here are
perfect examples of the time.

9. What is more iconic of San Francisco
than the Golden Gate Bridge? Although
construction was officially completed in
1937, Albert Croxson (35) and Donald
Hogan (35) were killed when their 25-
ton steel and timber scaffold tore loose
from beneath the Golden Gate Bridge
on November 7th, 1953. They were part
of a 28-man crew installing lateral
bracing beneath the roadway of the

10. They are murdering all the young He cried out in the name
men. Of the tabernacle of witness in the
For half a century now, every day, wilderness.
They have hunted them down and They were cut to the heart.
killed them. They gnashed against him with
They are killing them now. their teeth.
At this minute, all over the world, They cried out with a loud voice.
They stopped their ears.
Kenneth They are killing the young men. They ran on him with one accord.
They cast him out of the city and
Rexroth
“Thou Shalt
They know ten thousand ways to
kill them. stoned him.
Every year they invent new ones. The witnesses laid down their
Not Kill” In the jungles of Africa,
In the marshes of Asia,
clothes
At the feet of a man whose name
In the deserts of Asia, was your name —
In the slave pens of Siberia, You.
In the slums of Europe, You are the murderer.
In the nightclubs of America, You are killing the young men.
The murderers are at work. You are broiling Lawrence on his
They are stoning Stephen, gridiron.
They are casting him forth from When you demanded he divulge
every city in the world. The hidden treasures of the spirit,
Under the Welcome sign, He showed you the poor.
Under the Rotary emblem, You set your heart against him.
On the highway in the suburbs, You seized him and bound him with
His body lies under the hurling rage.
stones. You roasted him on a slow fire.
He was full of faith and power. His fat dripped and spurted in the
He did great wonders among the flame.
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people. The smell was sweet to your nose.
topic
click here to read the rest of this They could not stand against his He cried out,

11. You are murdering the young men.
You are shooting Sebastian with
arrows.
He kept the faithful steadfast under
persecution.
First you shot him with arrows.
Then you beat him with rods.
Then you threw him in a sewer.
You fear nothing more than
courage.
You who turn away your eyes
At the bravery of the young men.
You,
The hyena with polished face and
bow tie,
In the office of a billion dollar
Corporation devoted to service;
The vulture dripping with carrion,
Carefully and carelessly robed in
imported tweeds,
Lecturing on the Age of Abundance;
The jackal in double-breasted
gabardine,
Barking by remote control, Kenneth Roxworth,
In the United Nations;
The vampire bat seated at the Author
click here to return to part one of the
couch head, poem
Notebook in hand, toying with his
decerebrator;

12. Your Cheatin’
By: Hank Williams
Heart
Your cheatin' heart will make you
weep,
You'll cry and cry, and try to sleep.
But sleep won't come, the whole
night through.
Your cheatin' heart, will tell on you.
When tears come down like falling
rain,
You'll toss around, and call my
name.
You'll walk the floor, the way I do.
Your cheatin' heart, will tell on you.
When tears come down like falling
rain, Your Cheatin’ Heart was #2 nationwide
You'll toss around, and call my in 1953 and was a popular song on San
name. Francisco’s KGO radio station. Hank
You'll walk the floor, the way I do. Williams, however, died this year.
Your cheatin' heart, will tell on you.

13. Duck Dodger in
the 24½ Century
This feature debuted in 1953.
Many parallels can be drawn
between this cartoon and the
Red Scare of the time. It
would’ve played at San
Francisco’s Cascade Theater,
among other places.

14. The end.