Streetcars and Buses

This update will focus on the two streetcar lines to the Lakeshore area, the no. 12 and no. 18, and the major bus line, the no. 57. Much of the minute detail to be presented was extracted from Vernon Sappers’ “Key System Streetcars.”

L229-05-Modified Central National Bank Map, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 83537 , (Image 1 of 45)

Key System, KS, streetcar 923 on the no. 12 line poses in front of the Grand Lake Theater in this east view. The year is 1947, as the streetcar roof is white, and “Unconquered” is the featured movie. Ironically, DeMille's mother Beatrice wrote the original screenplay for the 1917 silent, the print since lost.

L229-10-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161067ks, (Image 2 of 45)

The no. 12 line, also known as the Grand Ave. and Hollis St. line or C line, had originally terminated at Hollis St., but by 1935 begun its eastern-bound runs at the Southern Pacific’s Oakland station at 16th St. Passengers arriving by train could chose between a no. 12 or no. 14 for the trip east, as shown in this west view ca. 1940.

L229-15-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161061ks, (Image 3 of 45)

Regardless of their western terminus, this line used 14th St. from Market St. to Webster St., here shown at Broadway in an east view from 1947. The Lionel Wilson Building, Central Building, Financial Center, and Oakland Hotel, left-to right, respectively, still hold court in 2020, but San Pablo no longer ends at 14th St., Kress was replaced by Oakland City Center, and the building across Broadway by the Chase Building.

L229-20-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 24727ks, (Image 4 of 45)

KS 908 on the 12 line is seen making the turn from Webster onto Grand Ave. on June 19, 1948. The Breuner’s Building and the tiled-roof structure behind 908 persist, but the building to the left at 111 Grand Ave. that had once been the site of Sweet’s Persian Gardens restaurant and ballroom, and post-WWII the Ali Baba, has been replaced by CALTRANS.

L229-25-Robert L. Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 46083ks, (Image 5 of 45)

The east side terminus of the 12 line eventually became Fairview Ave. at Jerome Ave. and Oakland Ave,. as seen in this northwest view from 1941. A close look to the right of KS 931 reveals an interurban C train at its Latham St. terminus.

L229-30-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 50294ks, (Image 6 of 45)

After heading down the hill, KS 706 turns onto Grand Ave. on Sept. 26, 1946, in this northeast view, still within the limits of Piedmont.

L229-35-Robert L. Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 46086ks, (Image 7 of 45)

Reaching the Oakland border, KS 702 is ready to enter Piedmont in this Mar. 20, 1948 northeast view. The Safeway may have moved across the street to larger digs, but this storefront remains intact in 2020.

L229-40-Fred Matthews Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 90310ks , (Image 8 of 45)

In 1911, the 12 line was merely a shuttle running between Wildwood Ave. and Perry St. This east view shows the shuttle at the Oakland border.

L229-45-Arrow Smith Photo, M-849, Sappers Coll., Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 16391ks , (Image 9 of 45)

KS streetcar 700 is about to pass the Grand Lake Theater. A chance to see Fred MacMurray and Anne Baxter in the western "Smoky", opening to public viewing in 1946.

L229-50-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 10 of 45)

A KS 18-line car sits at Park Blvd. and Excelsior Ave. in a northwest view circa 1946, having just past a row of homes between this junction and Oakland High School that will be eliminated for construction of Highway 580. The Park Blvd. and Lakeshore Ave. line has one of the most complicated histories among KS streetcar lines.

L229-55-Ralph Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 11 of 45)

The line was extended over Dimond Canyon to Leimert Blvd. at Oakmore Rd. in 1926 as the E line. Here, KS 700 is at the end of the 18 line, both poles up as it prepares to head back downtown. The buildings in the background in this east view from Sept 16, 1946 mirror what is seen in 2020.

L229-60-Robert L. Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 46114ks , (Image 12 of 45)

Not much to add to this southwest view from Bridgeview Dr. of the Leimert Bridge with an 18-line car in transit. On the name that stuck, complaints arose when the line was changed to the no. 13 in 1928, quickly with the use of paint, changed to the no. 18 line.

L229-65-Warren B. Miller Coll., Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 149059ks , (Image 13 of 45)

Park Blvd. and Wellington St. is the place for KS 976 in this northeast view of the Glenview District circa 1946. The Safeway is a Savemore Market in 2020, the other two buildings to the east remain, but the gas station is no more.

L229-70-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 14 of 45)

Further west on Park Blvd. at Hampel St. KS 921 speeds past the Park Blvd. Presbyterian Church circa 1947-1948. This version of the church would barely live past the time of the streetcars having been torn down around 1956.

L229-75-Alvon Thoman Photo, Courtesy Alvon Thoman, (Image 15 of 45)

Back to 1945, the next landmark for KS 967 on Park Blvd. was the Pacific, Gas and Electric station at Grosvenor Pl. The exterior of the corner drug store has been completely changed, and the apartments visible under the “Drug” marquee are no longer there.

L229-80-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 16 of 45)

In 1946, Park Blvd. at Chatham Rd. had yet another Safeway store as this northeast view of KS 817 on the line 18 heading inbound can attest. Today this view is buried under the MacArthur Freeway.

L229-85-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 97106ks , (Image 17 of 45)

A trip down Park Blvd. would not be complete without Oakland High School, here seen in 1947 in a northeast view with KS 953. This version of the high school would be razed due to seismic concerns in 1980. The version from 1869 located downtown was the first high school in Oakland. The middle building in the cluster to the right of the streetcar is the only one preserved in 2020, as is St. Margaret Mary Church seen further back.

L229-90-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 18 of 45)

This southwest view shows Park Blvd. and 28th St. with Mary Thompson Smith’s Home Club entrance along the right border ca. 1910. All that remains of this scene in 2020 is Julia Morgan’s Evelyn Cottage from 1906 behind car 297, and George Flick’s The Lodge at 3015 Park Blvd. from 1902.

L229-95-Sappers Collection., Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 15366ks, (Image 19 of 45)

Park Blvd. at 5th Ave. and Haddon Rd. at Park Blvd. Plaza stills looks the same in 2020 sans palm trees and KS 919 on the 18 line eastbound in this northwest view ca. 1948.

L229-100-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 80460ks , (Image 20 of 45)

After negotiating the private right-of-way, today 3rd Ave., the no. 18 line stopped at the Central Car barn, northeast view, circa 1946.

L229-105-Ralph Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 21 of 45)

From the Central Car Barn, the no. 18 used the private right-of-way, today 1st Ave. Pl., to reach 1st Ave., then to the 12th St. dam. Shown here, KS 984 speeds over the dam toward downtown ca. 1947.

L229-110-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 22 of 45)

Once over the dam, the no. 18’s path jumped to 13th St. via Oak St., then onto Broadway as shown. The year is 1941, with James Cagney and Betty Davis in “The Bride Came C.O.D.”, and Joan Bennett and Walter Pidgeon in “Manhunt,” both featured at the State Theater. The State Theater opened as the McDonugh Theater in 1892, was renamed the Fox State Theater from 1930-1945, and demolished in 1956.

L229-115-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 23 of 45)

The 18 line extended up Broadway, here the 922 streetcar at 16th St. ca. 1948. The Cathedral Building and Latham Square are still fixtures in 2020, as are the buildings shown on Telegraph Ave., but only one facade remains on the east side of Broadway in 2020.

L229-120-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161063ks, (Image 24 of 45)

On the subject of facades, KS 903 passes 20th St., later changed to 22nd St. with the turn off of Franklin St. In 2020, the two corner buildings are intact at this eastern intersection of Broadway. The tracks from the original 22nd St., later renamed West Grand Ave., can be seen crossing Broadway in the foreground.

L229-125-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 25 of 45)

More on the 22nd St. intersection with Broadway, as KS 917 on the 18 line heads southbound having passed Breuners, the Art Deco monolith designed by Albert Roller, and built for John Breuner Furniture Co. in 1931. The rest of the facades to the south remain intact in 2020 in this northwest view from Oct. 9, 1947.

L229-130-Fred Matthews Photo, Moreau Coll., Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 90281ks , (Image 26 of 45)

One final view of a no. 18-line streetcar, KS 924 at Grand Ave. and Broadway, east view, 1946. The building to the left or north is 80 Grand Ave., and the facades on the south side of Grand Ave. remain intact in 2020 except at the corner where the details are gone. In the background at Webster St., photographic proof of the Ali Baba Dance Hall.

L229-135-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 27 of 45)

The other terminus of the no. 18 line was on a private right-of-way located in Oakland between Portal and Carlston Aves., just northwest of Manadana Blvd. This view from 2020 shows where the tracks had been, orange line, and the passenger passages to the train, turquoise line. All of this remains a public walkway, although the distal portion has been significantly narrowed.

L229-140-Courtesy Google Maps, (Image 28 of 45)

A 700-type KS streetcar sits at the terminus of the no. 18 line in the private right-of-way, southeast view, circa 1946.

L229-145-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 29 of 45)

KS 716 exits the private right-of-way to begin the descent on Wallavista Ave., 1946, north view.

L229-150-Waldemar Sievers Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 30 of 45)

This southwest view down Walavista Ave. Hill at Arimo Ave. with KS 920 and KS 952, eastbound and westbound on the 17-line, respectively, from July 10, 1944 is a reminder of the complexity of the history of the no. 18 line. At times. the Lakeshore Ave. portion was separated from the Park Blvd. portion, and when that occurred during WWII, the line extending on Lakeshore was labelled the no. 17 line.

L229-155-Wilbur C. Whittaker Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161064ks , (Image 31 of 45)

Once down the hill, streetcars made a left onto Lakeshore Ave. as seen in this northeast view of KS 910 taken on Mar. 26, 1948. The home seen on the northeast corner with Walavista Ave. is no. 3850 Lakeshore Ave., built circa 1912.

L229-160-Robert L. Stein Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 46115ks , (Image 32 of 45)

That last piece of information, plus that no. 3833 Lakeshore Ave. was also built in early 1912 and before no. 3850, helps give an approximate age for this north view of the early streetcar line at this locale.

L229-165-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161065ks , (Image 33 of 45)

Next to the Lakeshore Ave. shopping district at Trestle Glen Rd., KS 994 is seen from a north view on Mar. 25, 1948 boarding passengers. The names on the stores may have changed, but the architectural features are intact in 2020. Note the tracks for entry of the B line to its private right-of-way in the foreground, the overhead wires showing as well.

L229-170-Alvon Thoman Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 52493ks, (Image 34 of 45)

And a complementary southwest view, KS streetcar 932 in full color in 1948.

L229-175-Insley Brain Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161069ks, (Image 35 of 45)

A little further south at Wesley Ave., a no.18 streetcar and a B-line train stand shoulder-to-shoulder in this southwest view from June 15, 1946. Yet another Safeway hits the dust, to Starbuck’s and Noah’s in 2020 no less.

L229-180-Peter Kyhn Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 50613ks, (Image 36 of 45)

The east side of Lakeshore is vastly underrepresented in streetcar scenes, possibly due to the position of the sun. KS 946 on line 18 passes Edy’s Candies and Lucky on Nov. 9, 1947, northeast view. In 2020, this space is occupied by Unleashed by Petco, The Bar Method, Flavors of India, and Top Dog, left to right, respectively.

L229-185-Fred Matthews Photo, Moreau Coll., Courtesy BAERA, W. Railway Museum Arch., 90279ks , (Image 37 of 45)

Streetcar KS 987 has made the turn onto Lake Park Ave. in this east view from 1947. The architectural features remain in 2020, but the Gay Club is now Lanesplitter Pizza, and Firestone is now Sprint. The Hoge building survived Highway 580 construction, but this space is now a gas station, and the building on the right or south side of Lake Park Ave, is now freeway.

L229-190-Dudley Thickens Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 44728ks, (Image 38 of 45)

KS 987 is next seen on Lake Park Ave alongside the Serenader Restaurant. The large chalet-like structure to the left was the home of Walter G. Manuel, banker, merchant, real estate operative, Oakland City Councilman and President of the Board of Park Commissioners. The building was built in 1908 and designed by C. W. Dickey, architect of the Claremont Hotel.

L229-195-Addison Laflin Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 76377ks , (Image 39 of 45)

Finally, coming full circle from the start of this presentation, but this time a view opposite the theater to the northwest with KS 900, Lakeshore Elementary, and apartment buildings along MacArthur Blvd. in the background that would not survive the freeway.

L229-200-Insley Brain Photo, Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161068ks, (Image 40 of 45)

The Key System was also devoted to buses from the start, particularly for advancing passengers beyond the limits of the interurbans. An exception was its longest route, no. 57, the precursor seen here in 1925, utilizing Santa Clara Ave. and Excelsior St. through the Grand Ave.-Lake Shore-Trestle Glen enclave.

L229-205-Courtesy BAERA, Western Railway Museum Archives, 161066ks, (Image 41 of 45)

This dramatic scene from 1942 was taken before creation of MacArthur Blvd. At that time, the no. 57 started at Broadway and Moss Ave., the latter to become incorporated into the new boulevard. The route took passengers all across Oakland.

L229-210-Key System Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 42 of 45)

Once MacArthur Blvd. was established, the no. 57 was given a new west terminus at 40th and San Pablo Ave., near the start of the boulevard and the Key System interurban path by Tower 3 and Linden St. Northeast view, 1956.

L229-215-Harre Demoro Photo, Courtesy John Harder , (Image 43 of 45)

KS bus 120 sits on the no. 57 line in front of the Hopkins Laurel Theater at Brown Ave. and MacArthur Blvd. in 1946. This Laurel District landmark would attempt a second go at it after its first closure, this time as the Cine 7 Theater, until that closed in 1984.

L229-220-Key System Photo, Courtesy John Harder, (Image 44 of 45)

Even before WWII, bus miles outpaced streetcar miles for the Key System, but MacArthur Blvd. would seal the deal. This west view at 35th Ave. and MacArthur Blvd. in 1947 was taken during an excursion with KS 355, and features the past, a no. 15 streetcar, and the future, a no. 57 bus. A focus on the boulevard’s creation when the presentation continues.

L229-225-Leon Bonney, Courtesy John Harder Late , (Image 45 of 45)