by Frank Dunnigan

Summers are always an exciting time for young people, relieved of the burdens of school work for three months.  What kept all of us occupied in days gone by?  Here are several examples of activities that were year-round fun—but especially when enjoyed with friends during the relaxing months of summer.

Photographer Unknown (wnp28.0218; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

START OF SUMMER VACATION—The last day of school has always been a time of exuberance—including for these students at the old Commerce High School on Van Ness Avenue in June of 1939.

Photographer Unknown (wnp37.03033; Marilyn Blaisdell Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

MOVIES—Crowds were gathered at the end of June 1930 for the one-year anniversary celebration of the 4,651-seat Fox Theatre on Market Street.  Downtown and neighborhood movie houses all enjoyed heavy attendance, both day and night, during the summer months.  The grand old Fox closed in 1963 and was demolished—replaced by a high-rise office-apartment tower.

Photographer Unknown (wnp26.1540; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

FIELD TRIPS—Likely a planned activity sponsored by the San Francisco Recreation Department, with school children boarding a Muni bus in this 1940s image taken at Post and Broderick Streets in the Western Addition.

Photographer Unknown (wnp27.2643; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

RIDING MUNI—Taking Muni across the City with friends was always a popular activity, as shown here on the J-Church line in 1945.

Photographer Unknown (wnp26.1515; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

CITY RECREATION CENTERS—The Chinatown Recreation Center at Washington and Mason Streets, where parents knew that there was always reliable adult supervision, was a popular place for kids.  Here, children are enjoying an afternoon snack in the 1950s.

Photographer Unknown (wnp26.1514; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

DAY CAMP—For many years, Glen Canyon was home to day-camping in San Francisco, as shown here during a summer in the 1950s.

Photographer Unknown (wnp14.5392; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL—Spending a day at Candlestick Park was an inexpensive treat for many kids in the 1960s, when bleacher seats were priced at a mere 90 cents.  Those who were there on June 15, 1963 had the additional thrill of seeing Juan Marichal (b. 1937) pitch his famous no-hitter.

Photographer Unknown (wnp14.4562; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

A DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK—Teenager with a transistor radio and a bottle of 7-Up relaxing on a blanket at Dolores Park in 1964.

© Greg Gaar Photography (wnp72.1219; Greg Gaar Street Photography 1970s-90s / Courtesy of Greg Gaar)

SPENDING A DAY DOWNTOWN—For just one punch on a Muni ticket, San Francisco students could enjoy time downtown.  Here, a group of street musicians are performing  music for passersby in front of Bank of America’s #1 Powell Street location in August of 1974.   An appreciative listener can be seen in the distance and others passing by might be headed for the adjacent Woolworth, perhaps for a visit to the lunch counter or a bit of shopping.

Photographer Unknown (wnp07.00307; Richmond Review Newspaper Collection / Courtesy of Paul Kozakiewicz, Richmond Review)

LIBRARY VISITS—In addition to reading, the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) organized free craft programs for children like the one seen here at an unidentified branch in the 1990s.