Outside Lands San Francisco

Nicole sits down for an oral history conversation with photographer, Christine Huhn.

In the early days, Playland's carousel was called the Hippodrome. The oceanside attraction has an intriguing history and a wonderful happy ending.

Much like "Top Gun: Maverick", this sequel episode on Mountain Lake Park continues the story first told waaaay back in WNP Podcast #76. Mountain Lake Park as we know it today, has evolved over its 150 year span as one of the City's oldest recreational areas. Link to Podcast #76: bit.ly/WNPPOD076

Nicole hosts a conversation with two WNP Board members, Eva Laflamme and Carissa Tonner who share their backgrounds and enthusiasm for San Francisco history. We pull back the veil on how Board members contribute their talents, ideas, and energy to support the nonprofit Western Neighborhoods Project.

Continuing the Playland theme to dovetail with WNP's 2022 Gala event, we revisit a beloved purveyor of "Mexican" food, the Hot House. Located along the Great Highway, the Hot House was an early innovator of thematic dining.

To dovetail with this year's Playland theme for the WNP 2022 Gala, we present a repodcast of our Playland at the Beach episode with Woody & David as your hosts. Even nearly 50 years since its demise, there's still a fascination for the long lost amusement area. And OpenSFHistory.org has pictures galore for your viewing pleasure: https://bit.ly/OpenSFPlayland

We conclude the saga of Eadweard Muybridge. At the end of part 1, we left our famous photographer hero bursting in on a card game to confront his wife's lover. What happens next? Visit OpenSFHistory.org to see our collection of Muybridge images: https://bit.ly/emuybridge

The "interesting" life of early San Francisco photographer, Eadweard Muybridge, sounds like a great pitch for a movie. This is a rare, two part WNP podcast where Nicole and Arnold cover Muybridge's early years. And be sure not to miss part 2. Visit OpenSFHistory.org to see our collection of Muybridge images: https://bit.ly/emuybridge

Native San Franciscan, author, and special guest, Adrianne Vincent, joins Nicole to share her memories of the West Side. Adrianne recalls personal anecdotes relating to several recent Western Neighborhoods Project podcasts like the SNACK Concert, Baker Beach, Anton Levay, and more.

Continuing the school theme, this week, we repodcast an episode on Lowell High School. It wasn't always located near Stonestown and Lake Merced.

Hoover Junior High (as it was called back then), was one of dozens of schools built in the West Side of San Francisco to educate the Boomer generation of kids. This week, Nicole and Arnold tell us about the bumpy journey to build "Sunset Junior High".

We celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SNACK concert at Kezar Stadium. SNACK, or Students Need Athletics, Culture and Kicks was conceived by rock music impresario, Bill Graham, to raise money for San Francisco school sports and arts programs. The event featured a who's who of the SF music scene and celebrity speakers. For concert photos visit: https://bit.ly/OpenSFHistorySNACK

Bill Hickey opened his surfboard shop in 1964 on the West Side and was one of the central figures in Kelly's Cove. In honor of Bill's recent passing, WNP hosted a Virtual Paddle Out. We have a bevy of guests, including some Kelly's Covers, to share their fond recollections and stories of Bill.

The history of beloved buildings on Point Lobos Avenue seems inextricably linked to fire. John Martini joins Nicole to describe the conflagrations that destroyed cherished west side attractions like the Cliff House (twice!) and Sutro Baths.

Ephraim Merida, a former slave brought to California in 1850, found himself in the middle of a lawsuit contesting the ownership of the land he called home for over 15 years. Nicole and Arnold tell the convoluted legal saga for property near Lone Mountain.

In this classic episode, we fondly remember our dear friend, Ron Ross, inveterate collector and founder of the San Francisco History Association. Ron joined the pod in 2016 to tell us his origin story, about his collection of San Francsico ephemera, and recall the founding of the San Francisco History Association.

Attention is always lavished on US Presidents when they visit Downtown SF. But it's even more notable when they travel to the West Side. WNP Board President, Arnold Woods, shares his research for an article he penned on presidential visits to the Outside Lands.

To help celebrate Black History Month, we welcome Nancy Botkin - who tells us about the remarkable Bernice Rodgers. Bernice was a ground-breaking Rec and Park employee whose was later honored with street named after her in Golden Gate Park.

This week, we are treated to an Oral History with special guest, Thorsten Sideboard. A local Sunset artist, Thorsten created Western Neighborhoods Project's first activity book for children on the life of Adolph Sutro and WNP's Cliff House Collection.

This week's podcast celebrates 150 years of Irish dance in San Francisco with a trio of special guests: Anne Cassidy Carew, Eileen Mize, and Jamie O’Keefe. They tell us about the United Irish Cultural Center's exhibition called "Keepers of the Steps".