San Francisco Clubs • 1970 & 80s

Holy City Zoo
408 Clement Street

  • Owners/Bookers — James Christoble, John Cantu, Rebecca Spencer,
  • Seating — 59, later 74
  • Beer, Wine —Bar and Belly Dancing, Folk Singing
  • Weekly Schedule— Open Mike: Monday, Tuesday, Weekend Headliner ,Middle, MC
  • In-House Improv Group: Papaya Juice
  • Opened in 1974, became Ha Ha A Go Go in 1984
 
  • Others: Dursts, Marty Higgins, Yvonne Walker?, Jim Samuels, Bob Fisher, Tom Sawyer
  •  CALENDARS @ AMUSEum

The Other Cafe
100 Carl @ Cole

  • Owners/Bookers — Bob Ayres, Chip Romer, Richard Snow 
  • Seating — 100?
  • Beer, Wine, Food —Cafe during the day
  • Weekly Schedule— Open Mike: Monday, Tuesday, Weekend Headliner, Middle, MC
  • In-House Improv Group: Other Cafe Players: Alex Hershlag, Linda Hill,
  • Opened in 1977
  • https://www.theothercafe.com/
  •  CALENDARS @ AMUSEum
  • Call Chip

The Punchline
444A Battery

  • Owners/Bookers — Bill Graham, Anne & John Fox,  
  • Seating — 182
  • Full Bar, Food —
  • Weekly Schedule— Open Mike: Sunday, Tuesday, Thurs-Sat: Headliner, Middle, MC
  • In-House Improv Group: Comedy Underground
  • Opened in 1978
  •  CALENDARS @ AMUSEum
  •  
 
Hutch, Transition to One Nation, Acquisition of Cobb’s

Cobb’s Pub
2869 Chestnut

  • Owners/Bookers — Ron Kakiki, Tom Sawyer,
  • Seating —
  • Full Bar —
  • Weekly Schedule— Open Mike: Monday, Tuesday, Weekend Headliner, Middle, MC
  • In House Improv Group: Femprov
  • Cobb’s Comedy Club @ www.tomsawyervoices.com
  • Opened in 1982
  •  CALENDARS @ AMUSEum
 
Other Club Locations: Cannery, Boarding House, Comedy Club Movie Access

Lipps

201 9th Street

  • Owners/Bookers —  Michael
  • Seating — 
  • Full Bar —
  • Weekly Schedule— In House Improv Groups: Wed—Sat
  • National Theatre of the Deranged • Fridays,
  • Faultline • Thursdays & Saturdays,
  • Stage Left • Wednesdays
  • Opened in 1984-86 (improv)

Valencia Rose
766 Valencia

  • Owners/Bookers —  
  • Seating — 
  • Full Bar, Food —
  • Weekly Schedule— 
  • In House Improv Group: 
  • Opened in 198?
  •  CALENDARS @ AMUSEum

Josie’s Juice Joynt
3583 16th Street

Fanny’s Cabaret
4230 18th Street

FUBARS
Pleasant Hill

  • Owners/Bookers — Bill Boyer, Spike
  • Seating —
  • Buffet, Full Bar —
  • Weekly Schedule— Sunday Open Mike: Monday & Tuesday various Wednesday-Sunday Headliner, Middle, MC
  • Opened in 198?

Tommy Ts
San Leandro, Concord

  • Owners/Bookers —  Tommy  Thomas
  • Seating — 
  • Full Bar, Food —
  • Weekly Schedule— 
  • In House Improv Group: 
  • Opened in 198?
  •  CALENDARS @ AMUSEum

Laugh Unlimited
Sacramento

Old Sac & Citrus Heights

  • Owners/Bookers — Scott Edwards  
  • Seating — 
  • Full Bar, Food —
  • Weekly Schedule— 
  • Opened in 198?

Rooster T. Feathers
The Country Store
Sunnyvale

  • Owners/Bookers —  
  • Seating — 
  • Full Bar, Food —
  • Weekly Schedule— 
  • In House Improv Group: 
  • Opened in 198?

Gone, but not Forgotten • 1950 & 60s

Purple Onion
140 Columbus

Courtesy of the NinaG Collection

  • Owners/Bookers — Bud Steinhoff, Mario Ascione 
  • Seating — 85
  • Full Bar, Food —
  • Weekly Schedule— 
  • Comedy and Folk Music
  • Opened in 1952, Closed 2012

A beloved comedy institution in San Francisco closes after a farewell comedy marathon of 21 comics, and “last rites” by Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello). Produced by Dan Dion and hosted by Jim Short.

hungry i
599 Jackson Street

  • Owners/Bookers —  Eric ‘Big Daddy’ Nord  • 1949-1951, Enrico Banducci • 1951-1970
  • Seating — 
  • Full Bar, Food —
  • Weekly Schedule— 
  • Comedy and Folk Music
  • Opened in 1954

Dick Gregory performing at the hungry i in San Francisco  to be licensed from Huntley Film Archive

This clip of Dick Gregory’s first national TV appearance is part of an ABC Close Up Report – Walk in My Shoes (1961), a landmark in TV history. Nominated for 3 Emmy awards, Nicholas Webster’s documentary explores the state of Urban Black America from several perspectives.

Ann’s 440
 Broadway

  • Owners/Bookers — Ann Dee, John Barrett   • 195?-1962
  • Seating — 
  • Full Bar —
  • Weekly Schedule— 
  • Comedy and Folk Music
  • Opened in 195?
  • Previously Mona’s 440