When all that glitters is the golden city! Stunning images of San Francisco's post-war rush of optimism and opportunity


Stunning photographs from San Francisco in the 1940s up until 1960 offer a glimpse of the California city as it was washed over by rush of optimism and opportunity after the destitution after World war II began to subside.



Photographer Fred Lyon, 89, has been photographing San Francisco for 70 years and his obsession with the city teeming with creative types and innovators began at a young age.



His collection of photographs of the bustling city entitled 'San Francisco: Portrait of a City' was published in book form called 'San Francisco Then' and can be purchased here.

The book's website describes post-war San Francisco as 'a gateway to the Pacific, with shipping and the rebuilding of an ocean travel fleet. It all felt like New Years Eve,' says the site.



Lyon was intoxicated by the 'bay, bridges, and the city with its steep hills, fog, and cable cars' that 'were a delicious kaleidoscope' dancing in front of his camera lens which he seldom put down.



The diverse series of black and white images reveal the idiosyncrasies of San Francisco's architecture and its cast of unique characters all in that specific bay area light.

For those who wish to know more about San Francisco photographer Fred Lyon they can visit his website or watch a documentary entitled 'Fred Lyon: Living Through the Lens' here.



Sailors on leave at Fisherman's Wharf buying souvenirs in San Francisco sometime between 1940-1960

San Francisco Cable Car at the top of a hill in San Francisco sometime between 1940-1960

A painter walking up a cable on San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge in 1947

The orchestra pit at San Francisco Opera House sometime between 1940-1960

Men in Chinatown in San Francisco sitting in front of a restaurant sometime before 1940-1960

Man striding uphill on steep San Francisco street sometime between 1940-1960

Nighttime in Chinatown in San Francisco sometime between 1940-1960

A bail bonds shop in San Francisco sometime between 1940-1960

Flower stand, Union Square, San Francisco with I. Magnin in background taken in 1958

Aerial view of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco with seagull flying past taken sometime between 1940-1960

Aerial view of the Golden Gate Bridge, South Tower with Old Fort Point in San Francisco taken sometime between 1940-1960