One of San Francisco’s most curious museums happens to be smack in the middle of its biggest tourist trap. Fortunately for us that doesn’t make it any less appealing. The museum itself houses the city’s oldest and largest collection of penny arcade automata (now inflated to the exorbitant rate of .25¢), each with their own elaborate flair of mid-century technology.
On Saturday March 20, the great Atlas Obscura sponsored a play-date for those that harbor a curiosity for the strange and esoteric in the world. The day was a success, 80 groups worldwide each satisfying their local need for things not in your standard adventure playbook.
The San Francisco version happened down at the Musée Mechanique, formerly at Ocean Beach’s Cliff House, since relocating to the famous but also unbearable Fisherman’s Wharf area of town. Location notwithstanding, the place was a mesh of the loud, the curious and the fabulously nostalgic, with a few 80s-era video games thrown in for good measure.
I was particularly taken by the figures, each posed whimsically inside their player-boxes as scaled imitations of their time periods. Most were set into motion at the drop of a coin to dance a jig, tip a hat, spin on a pole, ride bikes in loops, leap in rickets-addled pirouettes and even hang each other at the gallows. Here are some photos of a few of my favorite pieces.
Enjoy!
Matchstick Romance
A two foot tall Ferris Wheel built entirely of matchsticks by inmates at Folsom Prison. Prisoners used to be so romantic.
Whistling in the Graveyard
A drunk in tophat in a grave getting sauced.
Can-Can
Adorable dancers spun for 3 minutes for a quarter. Rather mesmerizing, endearing too.
On the Descent
A crank below the glass allowed two people to race the tiny cyclists around the face.
The Opium Den
Your quarter lit the scene with eerie light. Note the anemic faces of the opium junkies.
Lipstick
Detail of a huge carnival scene 12 feet long and 4 feet wide.
Hash House Dog
More detail of the carnival.
Tough Guys
More detail of the carnival.
Take One
A 20s era photo booth. Quaint but realistic. You didn’t get second chances in those things.
Swoon
Part of a large theatrical set piece lit up on a quarter with “upper class” activities, like sipping brandy and chatting idly.
The Dance
Your 25 cents made these dapper gents dance their little marionette two-step. I initially wanted more from it, but realized more would have been too much from these guys.
You can find more info on the Musée Mechanique here.
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