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Wild Side West is a historic lesbian bar, founded in 1962 and located in the
Wild Side West is a historic lesbian bar, founded in 1962 and located in the Bernal Heights
Bernal Heights ( ) is a residential neighborhood in southeastern San Francisco, California. The prominent Bernal Heights hill overlooks the San Francisco skyline and features a microwave transmission tower. The nearby Sutro Tower can be seen from ...
neighborhood in San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...
, California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. As of 2021, Wild Side West is San Francisco's last remaining lesbian bar, although the bar currently serves a more diverse Queer crowd much like the nearby El Rio bar.
History
Founded in 1962 by Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White, from 1962 until 1968, the bar was located inOakland
Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay A ...
, California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
. Wild Side West was named after the film '' Walk on the Wild Side'' (1962) featuring Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...
. In 1962, it was still illegal for women to be bartenders in California, so the bar existed in rebellion, with women serving the drinks.
From 1968 until 1976, the bar existed in the North Beach neighborhood. During the North Beach-era, the bar was also a refugee for local strippers. In the 1970s, it became known for advancing the careers of female musicians and singers who performed there included Cris Williamson, Ronee Blakley, and the all- women R+B band Sweet Chariot. Ramseyer was also a percussionist who played in the band BeBe K'Roach,and sometimes jammed with fellow musicians in the bar, while Nancy White sang Broadway Show Tunes. The bar also hosted poetry readings by noted poets Kay Boyle, Ruth Weiss, Robert Duncan, and Nanos Valoiritis.
In 1977, Ramseyer and White moved the bar to 424 Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights and they purchased the 1890s Italianate-style building. Behind the house is a multi-level garden for outdoor meetings, nicknamed ''Pat’s Magical Garden''. Notable people that have frequented the bar include Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer and musician. One of the most successful and widely known Rock music, rock stars of her era, she was noted for her powerful mezzo-soprano vocals and "electric" stage ...
, Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez (; born January 9, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and activist. Her contemporary folk music often includes songs of protest and social justice. Baez has performed publicly for over 60 years, releasing more ...
, Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
, Madeline Gleason
Madeline Gleason (January 26, 1903 – April 22, 1979) was a United States poet and dramatist. She was the founder of the San Francisco Poetry Guild. In 1947, she became the director of the first poetry festival in the United States, laying the ...
, and others.
Wild Side West has been active in the community and is a venue for community fundraising such as for an annual breast cancer fund Benefit for the Boob, the Bernal Library Art Project, the St. James Infirmary Clinic
The St. James Infirmary (abbreviated SJI), founded by members of the sex worker activist community in 1999, is a peer-based, full spectrum medical and social service organization serving current and former sex workers of all genders and their fami ...
, and Lyon Martin Health Services.
It has frequently been cited as one of San Francisco's remaining 'historic' bars. In 2013, it was recognized by San Francisco Architectural Heritage Organization on its original list of 25 Legacy bars that have, "intangible significance" that reflect the spirit of the city.
See also
*Lesbian Bar Project
The Lesbian Bar Project is a campaign created by Erica Rose and Elina Street to "celebrate, support, and preserve the remaining lesbian bars in the US." The project launched on October 28, 2020 with a PSA video narrated by Lea DeLaria that annou ...
* The Lexington Club
The Lexington Club, often referred to as The Lex, was a dive bar, primarily catered towards queer women, in the Mission District in the American city of San Francisco, California. It was recognized as one of the central landmarks for LGBTQ cultu ...
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wild Side West 1962 establishments in California 20th century in San Francisco 21st century in San Francisco Bars (establishments) Lesbian culture in California Lesbian history History of women in California LGBT drinking establishments in California Companies based in San Francisco LGBT culture in San Francisco LGBT history in San Francisco Nightclubs in San Francisco Drinking establishments in the San Francisco Bay Area 1962 in LGBT history Companies established in 1962