[PRCo] Re: Vic Cianca Directing Traffic - Grant Street, 1975

[Bob Rathke]

I remember Vic when he directed traffic at Grant and Sixth, the location seen in the video. I liked his jesture for drivers who weren't paying attention when the light turned green.  Vic would tilt his head to the side, put his hand on his cheek and close his eyes as if he were sleeping. 

   

In Pittsburgh, Traffic Division officers wore white hats to distinguish them from patrol officers.  I'm not sure if this is still the case, or if it's also done in other cities. 



Vic passed away on 1/24/10.  His obituary included the following: 




"His fame occasionally earned him animosity from fellow officers. 'I've gotten more guff from the guys I work with than I ever got from the public,' he said in 1982. When he was invited to New York to accept an award from "Candid Camera," then-Police Superintendent James W. Slusser refused to let him to travel there. 'If he wants to be an actor, he should take a course at Carnegie Tech,' Mr. Slusser said, at the time. Mr. Slusser later allowed Mr. Cianca to go, though it was too late for the man to receive his award." 



  

Bob  

  



  

----- Original Message -----




From: "Matthew R Barry" <mrb190 at pitt.edu> 
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org 
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 1:26:02 PM 
Subject: [PRCo] Vic Cianca Directing Traffic - Grant Street, 1975 

http://digital.library.pitt.edu/pittsburgh/video/vic_cianca.html