90009_17775_Old_San_Francisco_03
This clip shows San Francisco landmarks, including the San Francisco Mint and SF's Chinatown, in 1939.
The camera shows the buildings at the Civic Center, including San Francisco City Hall, the Civic Auditorium, and the War Memorial Opera House.
A shot of the exterior of the San Francisco Mint is followed by images of armed police guarding a man placing possibly gold bricks onto a wagon from the back of a truck. Industrial equipment pours out freshly minted coins, which are then weighed and placed in canvas bags.
Exterior shots show Chinatown’s classic pagoda-style roofs, street lamps, a statue of a man named "Sun Yat-yen," “Chop Suey” signs, people performing as a dancing dragon with musical accompaniment in front of an audience of children, people lining up to give money to what appears to be a shrine in the shape of a dragon's head, a man admiring calligraphy, and women modeling outfits.
Men mend and gather nets as well as work on boats at Fisherman’s Wharf.