Looked so much better back then. Just like Detroit, so many empty lots where buildings once stood, or ugly skyscrapers in their place. American cities had so much more character and life back in those days. I wish I had been able to experience it.
I think Pittsburgh actually did better than most major cities as far as not getting obliterated. Downtown is largely intact, aside from the “Renaissance“ areas cleared and redeveloped between Stanwix and the point itself. But yeah, it did look better back then, and the city had much more street life than today.
When I was a kid, before 1965, going Downtown was a Big Deal, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Gimbels. Kaufmann's. Horne's. Murphy's. Woolworths. Autenreith's. Ralph's Discount City. National Record Mart. Raywell's hamburgers. We rode the streetcar from Lincoln Place to the city, and when the car made the turn on Second Avenue the majesty of the city was like Oz. Sure, Mom had a few uncomfortable questions to answer, like how Santa got to the next store ahead of us (Reindeer, son.) but I can still see it clearly 60 years later. All of the Mon Valley towns like Homestead, Duquesne, Mckeesport, Glassport, and so on were all decorated for Christmas. Everybody had a job, and everyone had money.
Ah, yes, I remember Pittsburgh way back then -- when pedestrians dodged autos to get to a "safety island" to board a trolley -- WOW, I am old!! Thanks for the memories! ☺☺
I remember as a kid, going with my mother to "downtown" in our Roseburg OR. That was a big deal, going through shop after shop on main street. It was a big deal to go to town. Now I just want to get out and back home.
I'm not from there, but, at least, with the steel mills gone, and most homes not burning coal anymore, they probably have a Lot less "smog days."The Hill District was destroyed in the name of Urban Renewal, but was probably a Slum Anyhow. "Hill Street Blues" and the movie "Fences" was set there.
![Rare unseen downtown San Francisco 1940s in color [60fps, Remastered] w/sound design added](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bZub2tAk69s/mqdefault.jpg)
Looked so much better back then. Just like Detroit, so many empty lots where buildings once stood, or ugly skyscrapers in their place. American cities had so much more character and life back in those days. I wish I had been able to experience it.
I think Pittsburgh actually did better than most major cities as far as not getting obliterated. Downtown is largely intact, aside from the “Renaissance“ areas cleared and redeveloped between Stanwix and the point itself. But yeah, it did look better back then, and the city had much more street life than today.
When I was a kid, before 1965, going Downtown was a Big Deal, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Gimbels. Kaufmann's. Horne's. Murphy's. Woolworths. Autenreith's.
Ralph's Discount City. National Record Mart. Raywell's hamburgers.
We rode the streetcar from Lincoln Place to the city, and when the car made the turn on Second Avenue the majesty of the city was like Oz.
Sure, Mom had a few uncomfortable questions to answer, like how Santa got to the next store ahead of us (Reindeer, son.) but I can still see it clearly 60 years later. All of the Mon Valley towns like Homestead, Duquesne, Mckeesport, Glassport, and so on were all decorated for Christmas. Everybody had a job, and everyone had money.
That's the way Pittsburgh looked when I was a kid.
Ah, yes, I remember Pittsburgh way back then -- when pedestrians dodged autos to get to a "safety island" to board a trolley -- WOW, I am old!! Thanks for the memories! ☺☺
Very few pedestrians down there now.
You’re not old. The earth is 4.5 billion years old. You’re just an embryo
I have memories of Pittsburgh in the 50s my uncle lived by Forbes field we could hear the game from his house. Yep I'm getting old also 😊
1940 Cadillac taxi cab. Interesting
I recognize all of these. Most are around Smithfield. Smithfield and boulevard of the Allies, Fort Pitt Blvd, Smithfield and 7th
I remember as a kid, going with my mother to "downtown" in our Roseburg OR. That was a big deal, going through shop after shop on main street. It was a big deal to go to town. Now I just want to get out and back home.
so much more life back then
Yeah, the population shrunk by about 40%, which didn't help, and suburbanization didn't get into full swing until the 1960s.
@@danielkelly2210 "Only" Forty percent?? Detroit has shrunken by at least two thirds, with NO End in Sight.
@@drpoundsigndidn't know it was a competition. Also 40% is a lot , in general
@@RiccyTBeatz I vonvut
I'm disappointed that there are no images of Raywell's.
Look at all the people and cars downtown back then. Compare it to now. Its dead now
12th largest city compared to 66th largest.
Suits and ties on all the men, the bad old days.
It's not all that different now😂
I'm not from there, but, at least, with the steel mills gone, and most homes not burning coal anymore, they probably have a Lot less "smog days."The Hill District was destroyed in the name of Urban Renewal, but was probably a Slum Anyhow.
"Hill Street Blues" and the movie "Fences" was set there.
Tout le charme de vos villes a disparu, et tout ça au nom de la voiture...
Northside federal st
60s