visit http://nitro.westphila.net for some history and pictures and recent articles that have appeared in SF papers Colleen _____________________________ I've always loved the giant camera--if you've never been there, make sure you do soon in case this petition drive fails. Inside a darkened room (the "body" of the camera), you see a live, fully three-dimensional image of the surrounding seaside projected onto a large parabolic mirror. It's astounding. Since I live nearby, I have a special connection. I don't normally send on petitions, so I hope that you'll forgive me this one. Christopher Werby Petition Follows: The Giant Camera, or Camera Obscura, at the Cliff House in San Francisco, is being threatened with removal and possible destruction. An effort to save it is underway. Read and sign...Thanks, We the undersigned are concerned about the plans to remove the Jenning Giant Camera from behind the Cliff House in San Francisco. We feel that the Giant Camera should not be removed from its current location. We make this decision based on the historical, cultural and educational contributions that it makes to San Francisco, the State of California and the USA. The Giant Camera camera obscura, is one of the last antique camera obscuras in the United States and the last of three built by Floyd Jennings. It is one of the last remaining structures from the Playland at the Beach Amusement Park, which stood at Ocean Beach between 1948 and 1972. As we enter the new century, it important to preserve the artifacts of the 20th Century before they all disappear. In addition to being culturally and historically significant the Giant Camera is a very valuable tool for the teaching of photography and the basic functions of light. It is imperative that the Giant Camera is preserved so that generations to come can enjoy and learn from its scientific wonder. The Giant Camera has been threatened many times over the last 30 years. In 1977 it was considered for the National Register of Historic Places but was rejected because it was not yet 50 years old. The Giant Camera celebrates its 51st anniversary in 1999. It is time that it was given the historical status it deserves and be allowed to stay at its present location at the Cliff House where it belongs. If you sign, please forward on to others. If not, please don't kill it - send it to the email address listed here: savethecamera@yahoo.com If you happen to be the 50th, 100th, 150th, etc. signer of this petition, please forward a copy to savethecamera@yahoo.com This way we can keep track of the lists and organize them. Forward this to all the giant camera fans you know.If you like more information on this campaign write to savethecamera@yahoo.com and visit the website at http://nitro.westphila.net Feel free to print this petition and circulate. >>> 1. Joe Durrance, Philadelphia PA >>> 2. Karl Soehnlein, San Francisco, CA >>> 3. Andy Moore, San Francisco, CA >>> 4. Christiane Robbins, San Francisco, CA >>> 5. Kevin Radley >>> 6. Kathy Geritz, Oakland, CA >>> 7. Mary Tsiongas, Oakland, CA >>> 8. Ed Osborn, Oakland, CA >>> 9. Karen Kersten, Oakland, CA >>> 10. Doug Hellikson, Oakland, CA >>> 11. Jon Winet, Berkeley, CA >>> 12. Sky Alsgaard, San Francisco, CA >>> 13. Jack Fulton, San Rafael, CA >>> 14. Alberta Mayo, Boise, ID >>> 15. Jay Finney, San Francisco, CA >>> 16. Kaymarie Jacobson, Oakland, CA >>> 17. J.D. Beltran, San Francisco, CA >>> 18. Jenny Butterly, San Francisco, CA >>> 19. Ludmila Mirkin, Queens, NY >>> 20. Semion Mirkin, Queens, NY >>> 21. Christopher Werby, San Francisco, CA >>> 22. Olga Werby, San Francisco, CA >>> 23. Laurie Lehman, San Mateo >>> 24. Sue Schlesinger, San Carlos, CA >>> 25. Kathy Dumas, Cupertino, CA >>> 26. Paul F. Dumas, Oakdale, CA >>> 27. Colleen Norby, Modesto, CA