1918 San Francisco: Victory Parade in Masks

Step into San Francisco’s bittersweet triumph with this silent 1918 footage of a parade marking World War I’s end, shadowed by the influenza epidemic. Crowds line downtown avenues—men, women, and children all in protective medical masks—cheering as soldiers march in tight formations, their own masks dangling around necks while a band plays on. Red Cross and United War Work Campaign paraders hoist signs: “Get Ready for the Final Liberty Loan,” “Keep on Collecting Fruit Pits,” “United War Work Campaign GIVE.” Anti-Kaiser banners flare—caricatures of “the Beast of Berlin” and “Who’s Afraid of the Hun?”—while young men wave tiny American flags at a dummy Kaiser labeled “Off For Holland.” The USS Jason’s hull looms with seagulls soaring, a naval nod to victory. In stark black-and-white, this reel blends joy, defiance, and a masked reality—a haunting gem for history buffs, WWI enthusiasts, and San Francisco heritage fans.