Mayor "Sunny Jim" Rolph - Revision history

Ccarlsson: deleted reference to Pleasure Palace

2021-02-09T00:21:16Z

deleted reference to Pleasure Palace

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:21, 8 February 2021
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	Gregarious, outgoing, always smiling, "Sunny Jim" Rolph's administration, during which gambling and prostitution thrived in San Francisco, was characterized by the not so unlikely combination of populism and debauchery.		Gregarious, outgoing, always smiling, "Sunny Jim" Rolph's administration, during which gambling and prostitution thrived in San Francisco, was characterized by the not so unlikely combination of populism and debauchery.

	The greater part of his term of office was spent cajoling the public with handshakes and smiles~~, while he himself owned the [[Jim Rolph's Pleasure Den\|Pleasure Palace]], a whorehouse at 21st & Sanchez~~. He was seen as a dapper, man-about-town with a friendly word for everyone. On his way to work at City Hall he was famous for picking up pedestrians along the street and driving them to whatever their destination. His limousine served as ambulance for more than one street accident.		The greater part of his term of office was spent cajoling the public with handshakes and smiles. He was seen as a dapper, man-about-town with a friendly word for everyone. On his way to work at City Hall he was famous for picking up pedestrians along the street and driving them to whatever their destination. His limousine served as ambulance for more than one street accident.

	Rolph entered politics at the age of 42, already a wealthy member of a shipping and insurance company. He lived "way out in the Mission," in a home considered a San Francisco showcase. In 1911 "Sunny Jim" was urged to run for Mayor against the incumbent labor candidate P.H. McCarthy, whom the city's ruling class considered incompetent. McCarthy had been accused of allowing the corruption of the city (notably the Barbary Coast) to run rampant. The 6-week campaign included fist fights, egg-throwing, police riots --- all typical of pre-TV-era electioneering.		Rolph entered politics at the age of 42, already a wealthy member of a shipping and insurance company. He lived "way out in the Mission," in a home considered a San Francisco showcase. In 1911 "Sunny Jim" was urged to run for Mayor against the incumbent labor candidate P.H. McCarthy, whom the city's ruling class considered incompetent. McCarthy had been accused of allowing the corruption of the city (notably the Barbary Coast) to run rampant. The 6-week campaign included fist fights, egg-throwing, police riots --- all typical of pre-TV-era electioneering.

Ccarlsson at 20:01, 25 June 2017

2017-06-25T20:01:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:01, 25 June 2017
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	'''<font face = papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by [http://www.dscrafts.net/ Daniel Steven Crafts]''		''by [http://www.dscrafts.net/ Daniel Steven Crafts]''

Ccarlsson at 23:54, 1 February 2016

2016-02-01T23:54:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:54, 1 February 2016
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	'''<font face = ~~arial light~~> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by [http://www.dscrafts.net/ Daniel Steven Crafts]''		''by [http://www.dscrafts.net/ Daniel Steven Crafts]''

Ccarlsson: fixed old video link

2016-02-01T23:52:43Z

fixed old video link

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:52, 1 February 2016
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	Despite his staggering losses, Rolph organized a celebration for the returning soldiers at the conclusion of the war. The event was as much a riot as a parade, with Rolph drawing much attention to himself.		Despite his staggering losses, Rolph organized a celebration for the returning soldiers at the conclusion of the war. The event was as much a riot as a parade, with Rolph drawing much attention to himself.

	~~{{#ev~~:archive\|ssf1918WW1B~~\|320}}~~		<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/ssf1918WW1B" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

	video: [http://www.archive.org/details/ssf1918WW1B SF celebrates end of WWI]		video: [http://www.archive.org/details/ssf1918WW1B SF celebrates end of WWI]

Ccarlsson: fixed and linked byline

2009-07-23T00:03:21Z

fixed and linked byline

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:03, 22 July 2009
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	'''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by ~~Terry Hawkins~~''		''by [http://www.dscrafts.net/ Daniel Steven Crafts]''

	[[Image:rulclas1$governor-jim-rolph-1931.jpg]]		[[Image:rulclas1$governor-jim-rolph-1931.jpg]]

Ccarlsson: Protected "Mayor "Sunny Jim" Rolph": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-17T08:11:21Z

Protected "Mayor "Sunny Jim" Rolph": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:11, 17 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-17T08:11:08Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:11, 17 January 2009
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			'''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Terry Hawkins''

	[[Image:rulclas1$governor-jim-rolph-1931.jpg]]		[[Image:rulclas1$governor-jim-rolph-1931.jpg]]

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	Sunny Jim tried once more to run for governor in 1930. His campaign took him to all 58 California counties. Elected easily, his began his term on January 7, 1931 as the effects of the Great Depression set in. Rolph was woefully inadequate for the job and a recall movement was launched against him in 1933. He died in 1934, brought home to lie in state in the City Hall rotunda.		Sunny Jim tried once more to run for governor in 1930. His campaign took him to all 58 California counties. Elected easily, his began his term on January 7, 1931 as the effects of the Great Depression set in. Rolph was woefully inadequate for the job and a recall movement was launched against him in 1933. He died in 1934, brought home to lie in state in the City Hall rotunda.

	~~''-- Terry Hawkins''~~

Ccarlsson at 20:15, 21 October 2008

2008-10-21T20:15:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:15, 21 October 2008
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	[[SF Mayors 1902-1912 \|Prev. Document]] [[Mayor Angelo Rossi \|Next Document]]		[[Mayors 1902-1912 \|Prev. Document]] [[Mayor Angelo Rossi \|Next Document]]

	[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Mayors]] [[category:1910s]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:1930s]] [[category:Civic Center]]		[[category:Power and Money]] [[category:Mayors]] [[category:1910s]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:1930s]] [[category:Civic Center]]

Ccarlsson: embedded video

2008-08-24T22:39:26Z

embedded video

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:39, 24 August 2008
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	Despite his staggering losses, Rolph organized a celebration for the returning soldiers at the conclusion of the war. The event was as much a riot as a parade, with Rolph drawing much attention to himself.		Despite his staggering losses, Rolph organized a celebration for the returning soldiers at the conclusion of the war. The event was as much a riot as a parade, with Rolph drawing much attention to himself.

			{{#ev:archive\|ssf1918WW1B\|320}}

	video: [http://www.archive.org/details/ssf1918WW1B SF celebrates end of WWI]		video: [http://www.archive.org/details/ssf1918WW1B SF celebrates end of WWI]

Ccarlsson at 07:27, 5 August 2008

2008-08-05T07:27:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:27, 5 August 2008
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	Everyone in San Francisco seemed to know "Sunny Jim" Rolph. He belonged to nearly every organization in the city, and happily attended any function to which he was invited. The greater part of his day was spent in self-promotion. His election campaign was not limited to election time, but ran continuously.		Everyone in San Francisco seemed to know "Sunny Jim" Rolph. He belonged to nearly every organization in the city, and happily attended any function to which he was invited. The greater part of his day was spent in self-promotion. His election campaign was not limited to election time, but ran continuously.

	While Rolph was the charismatic figurehead of city government, there were two men in his administration who actually ran the city on a day-to-day basis. With an iron hand, Sheriff Tom Finn and the bailbonds-brothers Pete and Tom McDonough directed what the public saw and heard. Rolph left the police department entirely in the hands of the [[CORRUPTION CENTRAL: PETER P. McDONOUGH \| McDonoughs]]. The only other significant political influence came from ''Examiner'' editor Bill Wren who used his considerable influence whenever he deemed it necessary. City Engineer M.M. O'Shaughnessy, famous as an autocratic and impossible man, was protected by Rolph and carried out most of the major public works projects that still shape San Francisco today, including the building of westside streetcar lines and the Hetch Hetchy system. John McLaren's tenure at the head of the Park and Rec Department was also covered by Rolph.		While Rolph was the charismatic figurehead of city government, there were two men in his administration who actually ran the city on a day-to-day basis. With an iron hand, Sheriff Tom Finn and the bailbonds-brothers Pete and Tom McDonough directed what the public saw and heard. Rolph left the police department entirely in the hands of the [[CORRUPTION CENTRAL: PETER P. McDONOUGH \| McDonoughs]]. The only other significant political influence came from ''Examiner'' editor Bill Wren who used his considerable influence whenever he deemed it necessary. City Engineer [[Michael M. O'Shaughnessy\|M.M. O'Shaughnessy]], famous as an autocratic and impossible man, was protected by Rolph and carried out most of the major public works projects that still shape San Francisco today, including the building of westside streetcar lines and the Hetch Hetchy system. John McLaren's tenure at the head of the Park and Rec Department was also covered by Rolph.

	Jim Rolph's final term in office was less than stellar. His drinking had gotten out of hand, and there were constant rumors about his affair with movie star Anita Page. Frequently at public events he appeared intoxicated and red-faced. He missed meetings at City Hall and drivers would be sent out to find him. His bouts included trips to San Jose were he would spend days drinking alone. At the Grand March of one Policemen's Ball he brought along San Francisco's most notorious Madam as his escort.		Jim Rolph's final term in office was less than stellar. His drinking had gotten out of hand, and there were constant rumors about his affair with movie star Anita Page. Frequently at public events he appeared intoxicated and red-faced. He missed meetings at City Hall and drivers would be sent out to find him. His bouts included trips to San Jose were he would spend days drinking alone. At the Grand March of one Policemen's Ball he brought along San Francisco's most notorious Madam as his escort.