San Francisco Binders’ Bash: Picnic and Dance Delight

Join the revelry of San Francisco’s Book-bindery and Binders Local 31-125 in this silent footage of a union picnic and dance, likely from the 1920s or 1930s. Crowds spill off the Crowley #17 ferry— a sturdy vessel of the Bay’s working fleet—onto a sunlit shore, where picnic tables groan with food and a small orchestra strikes up jaunty tunes. Workers and families dig into hearty meals, then twirl across a dance hall floor, their steps a blur of joy in crisp black-and-white. This reel captures a rare respite for the city’s bookbinding trade—craftsmen who stitched culture into pages—blending camaraderie and celebration. A charming find for history buffs, union enthusiasts, and San Francisco heritage fans, it’s a snapshot of labor’s lighter side.