Cliff House Project
A Program of Western Neighborhoods Project

[ Sutro Baths ] [ Sutro Heights ] [ SealRocks ] [ Flag Rock ] [ Ocean Beach ] [ Lurline Pier ] [ Lifesaving Boat Ramp ] [ Sutro Midway ] [ Wave Motor ] [ teahouse ] [ terrace ] [ Fruit Stand ] [ Lands End Station ] [ Cottage ] [ Ocean Terrace ] [ Sutro Heights Casino ] [ Cliff House Garage ] [ Point Lobos Avenue Concessions ]

 

Sutro Midway
(Merrie Way, Merry Street, Mary Street, Sutro's Coney Island, Midway Plaisance)


Marilyn Blaisdell Collection
"Midway Plaisance Ocean Beach, Cal 1898"

 


Courtesy of Dennis O'Rorke

 

 

John Martini (2/1/2023):  Scenic railway was added after other Merrie Way attractions, possibly summer of 1896.

 

 


Firth Wheel & scenic railway, 1900c, LE-027,C-1 (GOGA Slide collection)

 


Firth Wheel detail (GOGA 80-C-127)

 


Firth Wheel, Scenic Railway (Blaisdell)

 


Merrie Way, Firth Wheel, Scenic Railway (WNP IMG_3729)
More info: https://www.outsidelands.org/merrie-way2.php

 

 

- Newspaper Clippings -

 



The Evening Mail - Dec 12 1894

 


Visalia Times Delta - Jan 16 1895

 


The San Francisco Call - Apr 3 1895
Reconstruction of the Firth Wheel

 


San Francisco Call - 10 July 1895

 


The San Francisco Call - Oct 9 1895

 


"The Wasp" magazine, Feb 1896

 


San Francisco Examiner - Feb 1 1896
This story references the Midwinter Fair kiosks that Sutro purchased.  Receipts can be viewed here and here.

 


The San Francisco Examiner - Feb 10 1896


 


San Francisco Call - 27 Feb 1896, col 1


San Francisco Call - 27 Feb 1896, col 5


San Francisco Chronicle - Feb 27 1896

 


The San Francisco Examiner - Feb 28 1896

 


The San Francisco Examiner - Mar 1 1896
The San Francisco Call - Mar 1 1896


 


The San Francisco Examiner - Mar 7 1896

 


The San Francisco Call - Mar 13 1896
Briefly called "Sutro Coney Island"

 


The San Francisco Call - Mar 31 1896
(This ad runs repeatedly, at least through Apr 16 1896)

 


Marysville Daily Democrat - Apr 30 1896

 


The Mendocino Beacon - May 9 1896
"The Firth wheel revolves slowly"

 

 


The San Francisco Call - Jun 13 1896


The San Francisco Examiner - Jun 14 1896
(tightrope walk by Professor Seal Williams)
 

 

 


The San Francisco Call - Jul 2 1896, col 3
The San Francisco Call - Jul 2 1896, col 7

 


San Francisco Chronicle - Jul 4 1896
"opening of the scenic railway"


 

 


Illustration showing the Sutro Midway
San Francisco Call - 8 July 1896
 


San Francisco Chronicle - Jul 8 1896

 

 


The St Joseph Herald - Jul 12 1896
Last reference to the Firth Wheel in operation, Jul 1 1896

 


The San Francisco Call - Jul 17 1896

 


The San Francisco Call - Jul 25 1896

 


San Francisco Chronicle - 08 Aug 1897

 


Oakland Tribune - Aug 14 1897

 


The San Francisco Examiner - Mar 31 1899

 


San Francisco Chronicle - Apr 13 1899
The San Francisco Examiner - Apr 13 1899


 


Sacramento Union - 17 Nov 1907                                                                                                                                   


 


Firth Wheel dismantled


Ffirth Wheel demolition
San Francisco Call - 14 March 1911
 


The San Francisco Examiner - Mar 15 1911
 


The San Francisco Call - Mar 21 1911