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Time Begin/In Cue |
Segment Content |
Connections |
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:35 Promo for Pgh History Series |
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1:00 |
Funder message for Pgh History Series |
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1:55 Wide shot zoom in Pittsburgh skyline and red light flashing on top of bldg |
IntroductionThis introduction hints at some of Pittsburgh's downtown secrets, and promises a new view of the buildings, landmarks, and people who live inside the limits of the Golden Triangle |
Introduction |
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3:35 Low angle of feet on city sidewalks |
Fourth Ave.: Pittsburgh's Wall StreetDowntown Pittsburgh is very accessible by foot, and if you walk downtown, you can spot many unique features. Architect Don Carter takes us on a walking tour that starts on Fourth Avenue, known decades ago as "Pittsburgh Wall Street," because it was home to many of the financial institutions that fueled the industrial revolution. This walking tour points out examples of the Beaux Arts style of architecture, using both current video and archival footage to explore Pittsburgh's transformation over the decades. |
Western PA History: Business
Bridges and Buildings, historical landmarks |
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5:25 Sketch of rivers and barges |
The Smoky CityArchival footage and old films show Pittsburgh's history as the Smoky City. The Allegheny Conference on Community Development saved Pittsburgh from its polluted state and helped turn the city into a thriving business center. |
Western PA History: Industry |
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7:05 Man in suit walking down hallway |
Skyscraper History III: Renaissance IBill Evans, a former employee at Pittsburgh Plate Glass, talks about the rise of steel as a building material, and the renaissance that lead to the building of skyscrapers and bridges. The renaissance created many new architectural structures, although city officials chose not to destroy the Pittsburgh Block House in Point State Park, which still stands today as the city's oldest structure. |
Western PA History: Urban development |
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8:10 A yellow brick downtown bldg |
Burke's Building : Downtown's Second OldestOn Fourth Avenue, next to PPG Plaza, stands the Burke Bldg, the second oldest bldg in the downtown area. Marked by a style of architecture known as Greek Revival, it has been home to many businesses throughout the years. The owner restored the original look of the windows in the 1970's and during the restoration he uncovered the bldg's original shutters, which are almost 200 years old. |
Western PA History: Urban development |
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9:00 A view of PPG Plaza through the window panes of the Burke Bldg
10:45 Montage of downtown skyscrapers
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Skyscraper History IV: Renaissance IIPPG Plaza is an impressive glass castle downtown. Six silver glass bldgs include a 60-story tower, and became part of the Pgh landscape in the 1980's. It was designed by architect Philip Johnson. Pittsburgh's 2nd Renaissance created a number of skyscrapers, and as a result many more people have come to the downtown region to work. |
Western PA History: Urban development
Bridges and Buildings: sculpture Math: Geometry Creating Community: Downtown business culture |
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11:33 Man riding bicycle
13:03 Man w/ bicycle on walkie-talkie |
Bike messengers DowntownOne unusual, and highly visual, downtown occupation is bicycle messenger. One cyclist explains the unusual hazards, and thrills, of his job as he navigates downtown traffic by bike. He also reveals some of the secret locations he has uncovered as he visits downtown bldgs to deliver packages — including delicious homemade baked goods at a kiosk in the Clark Bldg The owners of the bakery in the Clark Bldg explain the challenges of baking home-made goods in a tiny kitchen. The Clark Bldg is best known as a central location for jewelry dealers. Long-time workers there recall the bldg's past — including its popularity among Pittsburgh's celebrities. |
Creating Community: People
Creating Community: Businesses |
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15:04 Exterior wide shot of Candy Rama side |
Candy-Rama store DowntownThis tiny candy store, crammed with sweets, has been selling candy downtown since the 1950's. Everyone from business men to young children visit the store, recalls the family who owns the store. |
Creating Community: Businesses, People |
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16:15 Archival footage of people walking downtown
18:10 Tilt up from sidewalk to Kauffman's clock |
Shopping DowntownWith the current popularity of suburban malls, many people forget that downtown Pittsburgh was once the major shopping outlet for the city's residents. Stores such as Kauffman's, Gimbles, and Horne's attracted many shoppers. One Kauffman's restaurant, the Tic Toc Shop, still exists today and was recommended in a national book for its delicious hamburgers. The Kauffman's clock is a famous city landmark, and has some remarkable architectural features, including "telemenies," which is an architectural term for statues of men that act as pillars. |
Creating Community: Businesses
The Arts: Architecture |
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18:40 Pan from clock to top of Park bldg
19:00 Fourth Avenue bldgs |
Skyscaper History I: Park BuildingStunning examples of telemenies exist at the top of the Park Bldg, which is the oldest skyscraper in Pittsburgh. More early examples of downtown skyscrapers, like the Bank Center, offer additional examples of architectural beauty. |
Bridges and Buildings
The Arts: sculpture |
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21:10 Close up of pigeon |
Skyscaper History I: Arrott BuildingThe Arrott Bldg has an extraordinary roof, with plenty of architectural detail that gives scale to the bldg. The inside is just as impressive, with marble floors and one of the original elevators. One of the bldg's longtime employees gives the interior tour, and tells the history and folklore of some of the sculptures. |
Western PA History: People; community lore
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23:20 Man washing exterior windows of a bldg |
Skyscaper History I: Benedum Trees BuildingThe Benedum-Trees Bldg, built in 1905, is maintained by a local musician who also works to maintain the bldg. He cares for the brass fixtures, and says he "sees brass in my sleep. The brass is my baby." Other features include ornate carvings. |
Creating Community: People |
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24:42 Wide shot of downtown traffic |
Early Downtown housesMike Eversmyer, a worker for Pgh's department of city planning, conducts a tour of some downtown locations that once served as residences. |
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25:53 Tilt down on wide shot of William Penn Hotel
26:26 Wedding couple feeding each other cake 27:03 Archival footage of hotel marquee |
William Penn HotelThe William Penn Hotel is the oldest hotel in the city. It opened in 1916, and had 1,000 guest rooms. At that time, a room cost $2.50 a night! Archival footage helps to show what the hotel used to look like. The William Penn Hotel has a ballroom on the 17th floor, and it retains many of its original features. Archival footage helps tell the history of the hotel, and shows many celebrities who visited over the years. |
Western PA History — Business Western PA History: People Having Fun: Entertainment, celebrity stories, invention of a bubble machine! |
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28:30 Antique photo of Henry Clay Frick
29:36 Man and women on roof terrace of skyscraper
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Frick Building and leveling Grant's HillThe Frick Bldg was built in 1901. Major landscaping in 1911 changed the city's urban form, affecting the lobby of the Frick Building. Current occupants of the Frick Bldg conduct a tour of some of the antiques that still exist from Henry Clay Frick's era, including a hand-built bank vault door that weighs more than fifteen tons. |
Western PA History: Urban design |
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32:13 Stone eagle carving on roof of skyscraper |
Union Trust BuildingAnother Frick project, the Union Trust Bldg at 2 Mellon Bank Center, is an example of Flemish Gothic architecture, and has a very ornately carved top. Archival footage shows how the bldg used to be an open arcade. Current occupants tell the story of a myth about secret chapels that exist in the Union Trust Bldg. |
Western PA History: Folklore |
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34:21 Exterior of bldg door, with the Koppers bldg. sign on front
35:57 Tilt down on low angle of the Gulf Bldg
36:31 Man in suit standing at desk, shuffling papers 37:12 Man in suit climbs up on balcony ledge
38:12 Red light on top of Gulf Tower |
Skyscaper History II: Art Deco Koppers and Gulf BuildingsThe Koppers Bldg was built in the 1920's and is an example of Art Deco architecture. The bldg manager gives the history of the bldg's copper roof, which has oxidized and is now bright green. He also conducts a tour of some of the building's current mechanics. Built in 1932, the Gulf Bldg took over the title of the city's tallest building, a title it held for the next forty years. Now renamed the Gulf Tower, it is another example of the Art Deco style. A law firm currently occupies the top floors, and one occupant demonstrates the effects of air pressure when he visits the balcony. The Gulf Tower's most popular residents are peregrine falcons, who like to build their nests on cliffs, and seem to find the Gulf Tower an adequate substitution. Each year, the birds give birth to four chicks. Over the years, the top of the Gulf Tower has flashed various lights, to signal weather patterns. |
Science: Oxidizing, physical properties of metal, pre-computer mechanics Air pressure and altitudes Nature, animal behavior Meteorology Western PA History: Urban form |
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39:35 Zoom in on flashing red light |
Skyscaper History II: Grant BuildingThe Grant Bldg also has a red light on top, but this one spells out the word "Pittsburgh" in morse code. In 1929 it was the largest aerial beacon in the world. One of the bldg's occupants talks about the Hillman Company, where he is a Vice President, and the company's history in the Grant Bldg. Archival footage shows the significance of riverboats on commerce. |
Western PA History: Urban development Creating Community: Business
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40:43 Tilt up on the Pennsylvanian condo bldg downtown |
PRR Station: Gateway to the early 20th century cityOnce the old Union train station, the Pennsylvanian is now an upscale condominium. The bldg has a grand rotunda, and an historian talks about its significance in the days of horse-drawn carriages. |
Western PA History: Urban development |
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41:41 Wide shot of Liberty Ave.
43:00 Archival footage of entertainment halls |
Downtown's Cultural DistrictA center of transportation through the years, Liberty Avenue today has been designated as the Cultural District, and many grand performing arts halls have been restored. Pittsburgh has a rich history of performing arts downtown, and the Cultural District is restoring the city to those grand days. |
Western PA History: Urban development Creating Community: Businesses The ArtsHaving Fun: Entertainment in Pittsburgh, past and present |
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43:39 Man feeding pigeons in market square |
Market SquareMarket Square is a long-time gathering spot, and center of business. The owner of Jenny-Lee Bakery recalls Market Square decades ago, and archival footage illustrates the market that existed in the early 1900's. One of the businesses that's been in Market Square for many decades includes The Original Oyster House. |
Western PA History: Urban development Creating Community: Businesses, food traditions, people |
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47:13 Close up of orange Grant Street sign
53:03 Archival footage of a streetcar |
Allegheny County Courthouse and MorgueThe Allegheny County Courthouse and Jail is widely considered an architectural masterpiece. It is a monumental stone bldg designed by Boston architect Henry Hobson Richardson in the 1880's. A tour of the interior reveals some of the impressive construction features, and workers give their impressions of this remarkable building. The morgue is also a popular attraction downtown. Workers talk about the old custom of teenagers visiting the morgue on prom night! Workers also give perspective on the building of the new morgue. |
Western PA History: Courthouse history, folklore Creating Community: People Rivers and Valleys: Folklore, traditions |
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55:53 Sunrise over the city |
"Downtown Pittsburgh" — The End. |