Making some movie magic in San Francisco during the filming of Bullitt
Amid the bustling streets of San Francisco in 1919, a full-service Shell station stands as a beacon of modern convenience and innovation in the rapidly evolving world of automobiles. The station, modest by today’s standards, features a small wooden or stucco structure with the iconic yellow Shell emblem prominently displayed above the entrance. Bold lettering on a signboard advertises gasoline prices, oil, and other services, reflecting the competitive nature of the burgeoning automobile industry.
Several attendants, dressed in clean uniforms of dark trousers, collared shirts, and caps embroidered with the Shell logo, are busy tending to customers. One man cranks the handle of a manual gasoline pump, which stands on a raised platform adorned with decorative glass globes. Nearby, another attendant is wiping down the windshield of a shiny black Model T Ford, while a third checks the vehicle’s tires with a handheld pressure gauge. The service is personal and attentive, with each customer receiving a thorough check of their car’s oil, radiator, and tire pressure.
The street surrounding the station hums with activity. A streetcar clatters along metal tracks, sharing the road with a mix of horse-drawn wagons and early motorcars. Pedestrians in 1910s attire—women in long skirts and hats, men in suits with pocket watches—move briskly past the station. The skyline hints at San Francisco’s iconic hilly terrain, with rows of Victorian homes and storefronts climbing gently in the background. Overhead, cables for the streetcars crisscross the sky, their silhouettes a reminder of the city’s unique charm. The Shell station, with its bustling energy and attentive service, embodies the spirit of an era embracing the future while still grounded in the traditions of personal care and craftsmanship.