| Vic Cianca Directing Traffic |
| Description: |
Shown here working at the intersection
of 6th Avenue and Grant Street, Vic Cianca developed an unusual traffic-directing
style that earned him local and nationwide notoriety. Bored by the monotony
of directing traffic, Cianca developed his distinctive style to keep
himself and commuters alert during rush hour. Cianca's antics led to
a spot on a 1964 episode of Candid Camera, which turned out to be one
of the series' most popular segments. Cianca's appearance led to requests
for television and radio interviews, as well as invitations to direct
traffic in other towns. He also had a cameo role in the 1983 movie Flashdance.
The traffic at this busy intersection includes not only cars and buses, but also trolleys. Pittsburgh once had one of the most extensive trolley systems in the country, with over 600 miles of track connecting the city with its outlying suburbs. During the 1960s, the Port Authority of Allegheny County began replacing trolley service with buses, leaving streetcars only on routes that used the Mount Washington Tunnel to service the South Hills. Some of the trolleys in this clip would be eventually replaced by Port Authority's light rail service. |
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