Before the wave of Twitter users turned their cameras toward the socioeconomic challenges in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, Robert Zagone was already there, capturing the raw realities of life on those streets through his lens.
In the 1960s, while working as a producer-director at KQED, Zagone recognized a glaring gap in media representation of marginalized communities.
His passion for the disenfranchised led him to produce an in-studio program called “Youth in the Tenderloin,” which laid the groundwork for something bolder: a guerrilla-style documentary titled “Drugs in the Tenderloin.”
Zagone ventured outside the confines of the studio, armed only with a handheld camera and a commitment to authenticity.
At that time, many young people were fleeing to San Francisco, seeking refuge and acceptance, yet their stories often went untold or were misrepresented.
“I just thought it was time to present young people without treating them as being freaks or weird people,” Zagone explained.
His documentary opened with the stark reality of the Tenderloin, contrasting hard statistics about crime and drug use with the deeply personal stories of four young individuals navigating life amidst chaos.
Zagone began his film by reciting grim statistics, showcasing the societal issues plaguing the area: “124 prostitutes arrested. 119 heroin addicts uncovered.”
However, the film soon shifted its tone, allowing the subjects to share their experiences and struggles, rather than reducing them to mere numbers.
Amidst the turbulent backdrop of the late 1960s — a convergence of the “hippie invasion,” anti-war protests, and civil rights activism — Zagone focused on the raw humanity of his subjects.
Grainy street scenes illuminated by neon signs and police headlights punctuated interviews that revealed the complexities of drug addiction, mental health, and sexuality.
One interview features a clean-cut gentleman reflecting on his relationship with methamphetamine, describing it as an escape that simultaneously fuels his creativity.
Another, a young man who admits to using heroin, is shown petting a cat while expressing a desire to escape the grips of addiction and the Tenderloin itself.
Throughout the film, there are moments of stark vulnerability; one young lesbian who quit drugs conveys her struggles of acceptance in society, particularly after facing a dishonorable discharge from the Army for her sexuality.
Zagone’s film, which aired just once on national television and later faded into obscurity, was salvaged from the brink of destruction.
“Years later, when I left KQED, they were getting rid of all their videotapes,” he recounted.
Fortunately, Zagone rescued what he believed to be the only existing copy of “Drugs in the Tenderloin,” stashing it away in a closet.
Ten years ago, fate intervened when a casual conversation between his wife and the founder’s wife of the Tenderloin Museum led to the film’s revival.
In 2016, the museum screened the film for the first time in decades, and it quickly became a hit, selling out its showing and prompting additional screenings.
“People’s desire for this movie is incredible,” said Katie Conry, the museum’s director, highlighting how it resonated with audiences.
On August 20, the Roxie Theater and the Tenderloin Museum are set to co-host yet another screening of this rarely seen film, which continues to draw interest, along with a Q&A session featuring the now 87-year-old Zagone.
He offers a candid warning to attendees: “Don’t expect a Hollywood film.”
The audio quality may be rough, and the visuals unpolished, yet that’s part of its authenticity.
The essence of the documentary remains relevant today, as issues of homelessness and disenfranchisement persist in the Tenderloin, a neighborhood often portrayed in mainstream media through a lens of crime and neglect.
Zagone lamented the continued invisibility of individuals in the Tenderloin: “It’s become apparent that homeless people, people in the Tenderloin, are invisible. No one wants to really look at them or touch the issues.”
While citizen journalists today document the struggles of these communities, often sensationalizing their plight, Zagone aimed for a different approach.
His film presents a nuanced view, juxtaposing the struggles faced by individuals with the indifference of society represented by suited men traversing the neighborhood.
The questions posed during interviews challenge the viewer’s perceptions, as one subject reflects on societal acceptance versus personal happiness and the nuances of identity.
Zagone’s film serves as a time capsule, shedding light on the complicated narratives often omitted from discussions about urban hardship.
Moving forward, the upcoming screening will prompt discussions not only about the film’s historical significance but also about the ongoing challenges facing those living in marginalized communities.
Through Robert Zagone’s lens, the voices and stories of the Tenderloin come alive, reminding audiences of the importance of compassion and understanding in an often indifferent society.
This Thursday’s event at the Roxie Theater is not just a film screening; it is an opportunity to reconnect with the stories that have shaped San Francisco’s Tenderloin, bringing to light the ongoing struggles of its residents.
image source from：missionlocal
