Red-White Cab Co

A Painting by Lawrence Montgomery

Many thanks to Supervisor Tom Ammiano's office for permission to reproduce the painting that hangs in his office at City Hall. The large canvas by Lawrence Montgomery shows a Red-White Taxi unloading, most likely in San Francisco's Mission District.

The scene evokes memories for me of another time, decades ago, when I too drove for the now-defunct Red-White Cab Co. The driver in this painting, with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, has a decidedly beat look to him. The customer, looking out from the painting at the viewer, has an inexplicably dour look on her face. It is as if she is unhappy with a stranger who is gazing rudely in her direction. The cab itself is minus its hub caps, revealing that the scene is from before the days of the current Taxi Commission, which does not allow such casual outfitting of vehicles.

I find myself drawn into this painting and can easily imagine what else is going on in the rest of the city during those days, which seem not so terribly long ago.

The painting with its taxi theme has significance for Supervisor Ammiano as well. His Dad drove a taxi and to this day Tom has a special interest in the industry.

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