Digital Artist Colorizes, Remasters Vintage Video of San Francisco From 1940s Black-and-White Film

Digital Artist Colorizes, Remasters Vintage Video of San Francisco From 1940s Black-and-White Film
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS
Michael Wing
Updated:
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Disclaimer: This article was published in 2022. Some information may no longer be current.

A deep-seated nostalgia resides in San Francisco—that foggy city by the bay, whose enigmatic charm, hilly streets, and welcoming wharf never fail to captivate visitors.

Less so today, perhaps. But still.

Strolling the streets leisurely, one is greeted by gorgeously vintage, stepped Victorian rows, crested with ornate trim and balusters, displaying old-time, bygone elegance. Lost in wonder, one would rather walk through than drive.

Sure, the hills present a daunting challenge, the slanted sidewalks making knees wobble, but that is rewarded with a view of the brisk harbor like no other. And if the hike proves too much, there are antique cable cars still gracing the lanes.

(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS
(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS
(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS

Wandering San Francisco, one loses track of time. A bustling Chinatown harks back to past ages of the 19th century. Reaching the wharf, with its colorfully prominent place in American history, the inviting embarcadero tantalizes with seafood nooks lined up—some little more than cozy stalls hawking lobster or fish and chips; others big, fancy crab restaurants on stilts. The charm of century-old numbered piers endures to this day.

The briny smell of the surf and the feel of the brisk wind nourish the soul. The sight of old Alcatraz continues to haunt.

Much has changed in San Francisco, but many things stay the same.

(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS
(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS
(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS

One artist who fell captive to this nostalgia found old footage of the foggy city by the bay. And with new techniques, he restored these old reels, transforming black-and-white “moving pictures” back into vibrant, relatable color—making choppy, old film flow and live once again using intelligent new machines, undreamt of in olden times.

Renewing the sights and sounds of “the city that never was a town,” this artist—who happens to love history and is passionate about the good ol‘ ’40s and ‘50s—hopes to remind the world of some of San Fran’s lasting charm.
May she live on.

Watch this newly remastered old footage of San Francisco from the 1940s, courtesy of NASS, down below:

(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS
(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS
(Black & White Footage: Courtesy of <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>; Colorized by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1W8ShdwtfgjRHdbl1Lctcw">NASS</a>)
Black & White Footage: Courtesy of Internet Archive; Colorized by NASS

https://youtu.be/bZub2tAk69s

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Michael Wing
Michael Wing
Editor and Writer
Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.
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