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UNCLE DONALD PROUDLY PRESENTS
JERRY PRITIKIN'S PICTURE PAGE
WHEN THEN WAS NOW
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Jerry Pritikin, this page's featured photographer, tells his story in his own words:
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I left Chicago in the early 60's and moved to San Francisco. It was not yet fashionable to be openly gay even in S.F. at that time. I watched the beatnik era merge into many movements. Got to see Jose Sarria at the Black Cat and other places. He ran as an "Openly Gay" candidate for Supervisor and received over 6,000 votes begatting gay politics years before Harvey. Got to see the Grateful Dead in an upstairs downtown gay bar (The Rendezvous) at 567 Sutter Street. No cover and 25 cent beers in bottles. Gay bars throughout the city and even at the St. Francis Hotel. Flower Kids, Peace Mongers and a gay migration from Polk Street to THE CASTRO. To start the 70's I moved between the Haight and the Castro, to a 2 bedroom house with a front and back yard, an in-law apartment, and 2 garages for $250 a month on Alpine Terrace (near Duboce). I was a freelance photographer and showed my images at Georgianna's Bakery Shop Window at 420 Castro (now Marcello's Pizza). It was a popular muni transfer spot just a few doors from today's Harvey Milk Plaza. I used to have my film developed at Harvey's Camera Shop, it was just like a small town General Store without the potbelly stove. By osmosis I got involved in gay politics, sports, S.F. gay media, and sometimes UPI and A.P.
My images have appeared in books, (The Mayor of Castro St. and Ripples of Hope) documentaries, and exhibits. Uncle Don invited me to show a few of my images to which I am thankful.
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This is a photo of Harvey on the day he was sworn in as San Francisco Supervisor in 1978. Along with many of Harvey's supporters, many of whom were straight and quite a few kids, we walked from the Castro, down Market to Polk and to the front steps of City Hall. I happen to have supported Terry Hallinan but it never hurt my friendship with Harvey. As the Crowd passed the "Nothing Special" Bar, I was positioning myself for a good shot when I noticed the marquee of the Castro Theater "A SPECIAL DAY". Just as Harvey was nearing the theater, I asked him to stop and look at the marquee and this was the result. When I got the slide back, I went into Harvey's shop and ordered a couple of copies, and I dropped one off at Harvey's Office at City Hall. And Harvey wrote me a note thanking me and mentioning that he liked my latest T-shirt "HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL" and he promised to wear one.
A few weeks after Harvey was sworn into office, I went into Harvey's store and gave Harvey the slide, never thinking about history. Several weeks after Harvey died, I was walking past Cliff's and Scott Smith came running out. He asked if I had time because he had something for me. We went to his place, I think it was on 17th St, and he handed me an envelope... Inside was the slide. Scott said he knew I took the slide. So I now have it, along with Harvey's letter and the pic of him wearing the "End Ford" T-shirt with the holes...
SEE PHOTOS OF JERRY THEN AND NOW
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A view of the 1977 Castro Street Fair, looking South from Market Street.
This was the old style Castro Fair, nothing but two blocks of wall to wall men!
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'Would be' fag bashers either brave enough or stupid enough
to look for trouble in the heart of the Castro
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'THINGS' at the 1978 Castro Street Fair.
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