San Francisco Strip Clubs (1985-1995): A Fan Remembers – Part 1

San Francisco Strip Clubs (1985-1995): A Fan Remembers – Part 1

Ever since we featured photos from Uncle Lou’s scrapbook, a selection of personal Polaroids taken at New York’s Melody Burlesk in the 1970s and 80s, we wanted to find an equivalent collection from the West Coast.

Recently we came across Donnie Reamer, a regular at San Francisco‘s strip-clubs during the 1980s, who went to hundreds of shows and befriended many of the adult film stars who appeared in them. Over the years, he collected flyers, photographs, signed merchandise, and memories from the various clubs. These items tell the story of an already-lost age: Feature dancers, long-closed clubs, video tape, and Polaroids.

Here is a selection from Donnie’s collection, together with some of his memories.

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Always the melting pot, San Francisco was ideally positioned for what we refer to as The Golden Age of Pornography. Strip clubs in abundance, Reuben Sturman‘s bookstores, the good folks from Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE), the annual Exotic Erotic Ball, The Spectator sex tabloid, The Power Exchange (for swappers), North Beach in all it’s splendor, hookers, call girls, Asian massage parlors by the score, adult cinemas… even an X-rated drive-in close by in Marin. San Francisco offered a smorgasbord of carnal pastimes.

Mitchell Brothers

The Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre had already put themselves onto the map. Throughout the 1970s and well on into the 80s, buckets of money flew into Jim and Artie’s cash registers, and from there into a libidinous legion of sexy Mitchell Brother’s stripper’s panties. Seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

But other clubs were never far away. Just down the street from the O’Farrell was the less-expensive New Century Strip Club.

Not so far away, in the Tenderloin area, stood Alex de Renzy‘s own adult playground. On the street level, porn features were shown, including oftentimes Alex’s own work such as ‘The Pleasure Masters‘ (1974), ‘Femmes De Sade‘ (1976), and ‘Babyface‘ (1977). The upstairs ‘Arena’ saw the likes of Nina Hartley, Desiree West and Linda Wong gyrating to a world class sound system blaring The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. The small intimate showroom offered a fur-lined stage, trapeze and ceiling mirrors so as to offer the best of the best in viewing pleasure.

Nina Hartley

A short walk from there stood the rowdy Market Street Cinema, a one-of-a kind theater that offered ‘burlesque in hell’. True to it’s rough and tumble location, it offered something for everyone. When the girls were not dancing, they were turning tricks in the private rooms backstage. Police were often seeing hanging in the lobby. It was great fun… while it lasted.

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If I had to blame my admiration of all-things-porn on just one person, that dubious honor would have to go to Linda Wong.

Pre-legal age, I discovered Linda by way of the 25 cent peep booth. 8mm loops were the way for young teen males to discover sex. The Swedish Erotica reel that did it for me was titled ‘Coed In A Van’. Poor Linda’s bicycle had broken down and she was rescued by a black man in an RV not far from Sausilito, CA.

The poster below is from around 1977, back when Linda Wong was Jasmine, director was Charles De Santos was Chuck Angel. China Lust, indeed.

Linda Wong

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Over the years, Linda Wong and many other Golden Age actresses were featured at the O’Farrell Theatre. Annette Haven was a Mitchell Brothers stalwart. Nina Hartley, from close-by Berkeley, was featured every year on her birthday. Throughout the week, busload after busload of visiting Japanese tourist gents feasted on the ribald pleasures that were commonplace at the O’Farrell Theatre. Five different showrooms offered anything your wallet could permit. The New York Live Room, The Green Door Show Room (designed and built for ‘Behind The Green Door: The Sequel‘ (1986)), The Cine Room and Stage, The Kopenhagen Live Room, and the ever popular Ultra Room, the lusty Japanese would move from one room to another. The management told me that individual pubic hairs were sold to the ravenous Asian world travelers.

O'Farrell Theatre

The O’Farrell Theatre was built by the resourceful brothers after the enormous success of ‘Behind the Green Door‘, which made an instant star out of Marilyn Chambers. During her early career as a model, her most prominent job had been the ‘Ivory Soap girl’ on the Ivory Snow soap flake box, posing as a mother holding a baby under the tag line ’99 & 44/100% pure’. Shortly afterwards it was discovered that Proctor & Gamble’s girl was in fact the high-flyin’ fellatrix appearing in adult movie theaters across the country.

Marilyn and the brothers stayed close, and she often appeared at the O’Farrell Theatre – both as a featured dancer and to help them publicize their latest venture, such as the opening of their new video store.

O'Farrell Theatre

On February 1, 1985, while performing her nude act on the Cine-Stage at the O’Farrell Theatre, Marilyn was arrested by a vice squad and charged with committing a lewd act in a public place and soliciting prostitution. It was alleged by plainclothes policemen who were in the audience that Chambers allowed audience members to touch her with their hands and mouths during her show called ‘Feel the Magic’.

She was released on $2,000 bail and the charges were later dropped. “I’ve never been arrested in my life for anything, ever, so this is kind of a big shock for me, not only as a performer but as a human being”, Chambers said at the time. “It’s a heartbreaker. This is supposed to be a hip city. I really love, make that LOVED, this city. These people have been my fans for years, and it’s a thrill for them to touch me up close. There’s nothing illegal if I’m not taking money.” Marilyn’s attorney claimed that she was being used “as a pawn in a struggle over control and adult businesses.”

“I’m in jail with my fur coat and nothing else on, and [the police officers] want to take pictures,” Chambers said later. “I took a mug shot with every cop in the place, and they’re going, “I’m really sorry we had to do this.” And the next night they were all back enjoying the show. The O’Farrell was packed the day after we were arrested.”

Marilyn ChambersMarilyn Chambers

Something had to be done about those Bay Area brothers and Mayor Dianne Feinstein was just the gal to do it. Arrest after arrest, law suit after law suit, the Bay Area bad boys were always delighted to meet the offended politicians and their attorneys in court. And Jim and Artie won case after case, day after day. It was reported that Ms. Feinstein said, “If I cannot close you down, I will pursue you in perpetuity.”

And that’s what she did. The O’Farrell Theatre marquee read “For show times: call 888-xxxx.” The number shown was Lady Di’s office at City Hall. Robert Crumb, just one of a bunch of famous and infamous cartoonists that hung out at The Mitchell Brother’s, depicted the chaotic ridiculousness of the entire event with his recognizable aplomb.

R. Crumb
Years later, the two pornographers tried to duplicate their initial success with a new film, ‘Behind The Green Door: The Sequel’ (1986). They hired Sharon McNight, a cabaret singer and frequent movie collaborator, to direct the picture and, conscious of their bottom line, they decided not to hire recognized adult film actresses, but rather coerce their dancers into being in the movie.  The Mitchell brothers advertised in Variety and Bay Area sex tabloids, and, according to legend, auditioned virtually every newcomer who responded to their advertisements. In the end, Artie’s then-girlfriend, who called herself Missy Manners, cast herself as Gloria, the character made famous by Marilyn. Filming of the sequel occurred mainly in the O’Farrell Theatre, and took only one day.

The Green Door sequel was also the world’s first safe-sex film, in which all the men wore condoms, and self-protection advice was given to the audience by one of the characters. Supposedly budgeted at $250,000, ‘Behind the Green Door: the Sequel’ was an abysmal failure. Those who caught the sequel at a Pussycat Theater, or on VHS, are likely to agree. Scenes from the original film were edited into the sequel in an attempt to salvage the train wreck. For two men that had worked with virtually every porn actress, leaving them out proved to be a costly oversight.

Mitchell BrothersDonnie Reamer, with Artie (left) and Jim Mitchell (right), on the set of ‘Behind The Green Door: The Sequel’ (1986)

Nevertheless the O’Farrell Theatre prospered and remains open for business to this day. When visiting Babylon By The Bay, one should not miss it. In fact, it is run today by the late Jim Mitchell’s daughter.

*

A more successful Mitchell Brothers film was ‘The Grafenberg Spot‘ (1985) – which featured the new sensation-of-the-moment, Traci Lords, together with an all-star cast including John Holmes, Harry Reems, Rick Savage, Annette Haven, Ginger Lynn, Amber Lynn, Nina Hartley, and Lili Marlene. The brothers deemed that Traci’s orgasmic audio was so enticing that they would use the sound on subsequent movie soundtracks.

The visionary brothers also saw the attraction of featuring Ms. Lords at the O’Farrell Theater to promote the film, and so booked her in for a week-long series of shows – and several after-show meet-and-greets with fans.

Traci Lords

 

Traci LordsTraci Lords, backstage at the O’Farrell Theater to promote ‘The Grafenberg Spot’ (1985)

Around the same time, the weekly Spectator newspaper advertised a 45rpm record, called ‘I Love Traci Lords’ by rockabilly singer, Ronnie Mack. This seemed like something I had to have. I sent off my money and was delighted with my investment. Ronnie seemed to love Traci’s ooo’s and ahhh’s and you hear them here too, in glorious stereo. I often wondered if it eventually found its way onto the jukebox in Jim and Artie’s office.

Traci Lords

Ronnie Mack: ‘I Love Traci Lords’:

 

Speaking of Traci Lords and films and music, 1985 was a big year with the release of Greg and Walter Dark‘s ‘New Wave Hookers‘.  Suffice it to say that Traci herself commented, “The Dark Brothers are the nastiest, kinkiest, sleaziest filmmakers that have ever existed… and ‘New Wave Hookers’ is the filthiest thing I have ever done.”

New Wave Hookers

It had a great soundtrack by The Plugz – and here is ‘Electrify Me’ from the soundtrack: perhaps the best tune used by dirty movie makers?

 

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Two other golden age performers who appeared at the O’Farrell Theatre – who also had recordings out – were Ginger Lynn and Erica Boyer. Ginger Lynn took a shot at music stardom when she released ‘Fantasy World’, a 1986 LP that offered a selection of pop diva dance mixes. Two years later, Erica Boyer released ‘Passion Unlimited’.

Ginger Lynn

Erica Boyer was a personal favorite who I ran into on several occasions.

Erica Boyer

 

Erica Boyer

 

Erica BoyerDonnie Reamer, with Erica Boyer

 

 

Erica Boyer

Erica BoyerDonnie Reamer, with Erica Boyer

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The Market Street Theater, gone but not forgotten, featured “headliners” week after week. The place was a treasure: Where else could a pornophile meet the likes of Lisa De Leeuw, Veronica Hart, Angel Kelly, Jeannie Pepper… on a weekly basis?

Market Street Cinema

Lili Marlene was a regular at the Market Street Theater, and her movies were often shown at the North Beach Cinema and Video on Kearny Street just off Broadway. Many of her fetish-oriented films could be found inside generic white video boxes with a single Polaroid glued to the front.

Lili MarleneLili Marlene, with Donnie Reamer

 

Lili MarleneLili Marlene

 

Lili MarleneLili Marlene, with Donnie Reamer

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Back at the O’Farrell Theatre, the Mitchell brothers hired Hyapatia Lee on a regular basis.

Hyapatia Lee

 

Hyapatia LeeHyapatia Lee with Donnie Reamer

 

Hyapatia LeeHyapatia Lee, backstage at the O’Farrell Theatre

 

Hyapatia LeeHyapatia Lee with Donnie Reamer

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Other favorites from the golden age of adult film appeared regularly.

 

Lisa de LeeuwLisa De Leeuw

 

Lisa de LeeuwLisa de Leeuw with Donnie Reamer

 

Vanessa del Rio

 

Vanessa del RioVanessa del Rio, with Donnie Reamer and friend

 

Veronica HartVeronica Hart

 

Mai LinMai Lin

 

Heather HunterHeather Hunter

 

O'Farrell Theatre(from leaft to right) Selena Steele, Cheri Taylor, and Nina Hartley, with Donnie Reamer

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Who didn’t love Sharon Kane? At The New Century Theater, we were all excited to meet our favorite girl-next-door.

Sharon Kane

 

Sharon KaneSharon Kane, with Donnie Reamer

And then – just when we were least expecting it – Sharon showed up yet again, this time alongside a girlfriend, Saki.

Sharon Kane

 

Sharon KaneSharon Kane, with Saki

 

Sharon KaneSharon Kane, with Saki

 

Sharon KaneSharon Kane

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Jeanna Fine rocked my world. Few actresses demonstrated the spirit, the zeal that Jeanna put into each and every one of her performances.

Jeanna Fine

 

Jeanna Fine

 

Jeanna Fine

 

Jeanna FineJeanna Fine, with Donnie Reamer

 

Jeanna FineJeanna Fine, with Donnie Reamer

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Did I mention The Lusty Lady Theater? I often wish that I could close my eyes, re-open them, and there in front of me would be all the quarters I put into the peep booths at this place.

Tracey Adams was a regular at the theater, and always beautiful, sweet, and kind.

Tracey Adams

 

Tracey AdamsTracey Adams, with Donnie Reamer

Tanya Foxx was a naughty, severe diva, who also appeared at The Lusty Lady Theater.

Tanya Foxx

 

Tanya FoxxTanya Foxx

 

Tanya FoxxTanya Foxx, with Donnie Reamer

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Was any performer sweeter than Barbara Dare?  I could have taken Barbara home to meet mother.
Barbara Dare
Barbara DareBarbara Dare, with Donnie Reamer
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On occasion, I had the good fortune to visit a porn set – at Alex de Renzy’s home in Novato, no less, north of San Francisco. Performers like Jamie Gillis, Tom Byron, Rachel Ryan and Samantha Strong were there – and I took pictures of course.
O'Farrell TheatreJamie and Samantha in de Renzy’s backyard
O'Farrell TheatreJamie Gillis, Samantha Strong and Jerry Butler
O'Farrell TheatreTom Byron and Rachel Ryan
Aside from the movie being shot, Samantha Strong posed for me in de Renzy’s living room.
Samantha StrongSamantha Strong, in Alex de Renzy’s living room
Samantha StrongSamantha Strong, in Alex de Renzy’s living room
Samantha Strong
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O'Farrell Theatre(from left to right) Donnie Reamer, with John Stagliano, John Leslie
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  • Posted On: 28th May 2017
  • By: The Rialto Report
  • Under: Photos

34 Comments

  1. anon · May 28, 2017 Reply

    Never knew that Traci Lords featured at the OFarrell. Would love to see photos of her shows.

    • Wes Brown · June 3, 2017 Reply

      Due to when those pictures were taken, the Fed’s would classify them as, “bad” since she was under 18.

  2. Frank Rosendale · May 28, 2017 Reply

    Love the flyers and the memories. Took me back to some happy memories of my own.

    Thanks for the diversity of content on your site. I never know what’s coming up next!

  3. Andy · May 28, 2017 Reply

    Aaaaaaaaaaah those WERE the days. Good to see all the favorites – and Tanya Foxxx too. WEHT her??

    • edward kern · November 5, 2017 Reply

      You love TANYA FOX TOO. She was my favorite. what happened to her and what is she doing now?

  4. Traci fan · May 28, 2017 Reply

    Very enjoyable photo essay – but I have to ask: did you crop the Traci pic?? (Ouch!)

  5. thk jnk · May 28, 2017 Reply

    erica boyer was the hottest porn star ever and apparently a wonderful person as well. How about a retrospective on her?

  6. Lily Theater · May 28, 2017 Reply

    In 1980 I was visiting the Bay Area during a break from college, borrowed a friends car and went exploring and stumbled on a place called the Lily Theater in Atherton. You paid a door fee, they showed porn movies but between flicks they’d have a couple of dancers and for a buck, you could dine as they squated at the side of the stage. They would wrap up intermission by pulling a guy out of the audience and blowing and fucking him on stage. No one at school believed me until one of the guys, laying over at SFO on Christmas break took a cab over to check it out.

  7. King Paul fan · May 28, 2017 Reply

    Great to see the very under rated Lili Marlene, she always had that lean athletic look. I first discovered Lili in the Diamond Collection loops with San Francisco based black porn stud King Paul, they had great chemistry in all their scenes together

  8. Natasha Stevens · May 28, 2017 Reply

    Ah, thhe good ol’ days indeed — remember when women had pubic hair? Another outstanding slice of history, with some priceless pics.

    I’m going to assume you’ve reached our to Ms. Norma Louise Kuzma (aka Traci Lords) about doing an interview, and she either ignored you or replied something like, “I’ve said everything I have to say about that already”

    If she decided to open up she’d certainly have some tales to tell, no doubt. Her porn career barely fills a whole chapter in her autobiography, whereas appearing on an episode of WISEGUY gets a whole chapter.

  9. Jose verschaffel · May 28, 2017 Reply

    Twas nice to see some of the ladies I worked with way back

  10. sf perv · May 28, 2017 Reply

    bonanza!

    being from SF but a bit young to remember the hay day im thrilled to see this post. i remember the market st. cinema but it was in decline. i also recall the mini adult theater on golden gate and jones. this post is a gold mine a veritable treasure trove. donnie most have shelled out a fortune getting into all these clubs.

    amazing!!!!

  11. Dale Ealey · May 29, 2017 Reply

    All I have to say is OMG!!! And I AM eating my heart out! One of your best yet! And gee, all I have is a Polaroid of Rocky Rhodes sitting on my lap….?

  12. Jen Arnold · May 29, 2017 Reply

    Beautifully archived report. Donnie really got the back story on the SF scene.

  13. JL Hayseed · May 29, 2017 Reply

    I envy Donny for getting his hands on, and picture with, Erica Boyer. If only all women were as horny as she acted on screen.

  14. LordMaul2112 · May 30, 2017 Reply

    Holy hard- on Batman! I have no clue who Jay is, but I salute his taste in women. Selena Steele, Cheri Taylor (incredibly underrated, IMO) and Nina in her prime-are you kidding me? Then to top it off with my all time fave, Samona Strong posing in DeRenzys house? The stories this guy has…

    • David · September 29, 2021 Reply

      I have the exact same photo with Selena Steele, Heri Taylor and Nina Hartley – I must have been at New Century the very same day (or week)!

  15. JJ · May 30, 2017 Reply

    Wow! What a collection!

    Going through these pictures, it seems like it’s the norm for many female porn stars to supplement their income by stripping.

    I didn’t know that Traci Lords was featured at the O’Farrell theatre. I thought she never did such work during her time in porn.

  16. Wing Tip Shu · May 30, 2017 Reply

    Donnie has captured an era with such style. Love to hear more about the Mitchell Bros. “What a Party!”
    Please give us a Part 2.

    Lustfully,

    Mr. Wing Tip Shu

  17. Jimbob Joebob · May 31, 2017 Reply

    Great article written by a guy who knows…Donnie has been my hero of the realm for many years, a true Black Seal of approval.

    Definitely need a sequel to this fine piece of history…

    PhatMike

  18. Warren James · May 31, 2017 Reply

    Outstanding 1st person account by Donnie Reamer!…Arguably, the most knowledgeable historian of the era with the evidence on display…

    Donnie has touched on almost every one of my favorites from my youth…Great photos…Loved the back-stage stories…What really surprised me was the music he provided…

    It is my hope that this is just the first of many additional articles Mr. Reamer may contribute in the future
    on this site…

    Num Num

  19. Phil Schifley · June 3, 2017 Reply

    Donnie Reamer is the spitting image of Trey Parker from South Park fame (actually it’s the other way around, but Mr. Parker is better known). Great pictorial history.

  20. Gonzo Muldoon · June 12, 2017 Reply

    Saw the Lisa DeLeeuw Polaroid & I AM TOTALLY JEALOUS! Absolutely amazing collection.

  21. FM · June 13, 2017 Reply

    I have to agree with you…….Linda Wong is the reason I love porn. Would love to see a full retrospective on her, or at least some photos of her at the O’Farrell theatre or deRenzy’s place if they exist. LINDA WONG was the absolute best!

  22. Charles · June 15, 2017 Reply

    Must point out one omission regarding Alex Derenzys Screeningy Room, Dorothy Lemay performed there for several years when her career was getting off the ground

  23. John q · June 28, 2017 Reply

    Brings back a lot of very fond mammaries, er memories. I’ve been fortunate enough to get Poloroids of myself with about two dozen of my favorites to visit S.F. since the start of the millennium. Cost me a small fortune, but well worth it. Would have loved to add some I’ve missed, such as Linda Wong, Desiree West, Cheri Taylor, Kia, Mai Lin, Jade East, Domonique Simone, Samantha Strong, Hyapatia although most of these toured before my time.

  24. J. Walter Puppybreath · July 2, 2017 Reply

    Re: Traci Lords

    Never seen this mentioned anywhere, but Katherine Hepburn’s character in ‘The Philadelphia Story’ (1940) is named…Tracy Lord.

  25. bastardjackyll · July 22, 2017 Reply

    Donnie Reamer is a God among men, great piece!

  26. J@mes · October 29, 2017 Reply

    Loved the photos of Lili Marlene where is she now? This lady and Janey Robbins & Eileen Welles were hot hot hot these girls were the business 😉 loved to know if anyone has any info on any of them.

  27. edward kern · November 5, 2017 Reply

    love the pictures of Tanya foxx. she was my favorite

  28. edward kern · November 5, 2017 Reply

    I first saw Tanya Fox in 1987. I fell in love with her. she disappeared from sight in 1996. no one has heard from her . DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENEND TO HER? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW.

  29. David · December 31, 2017 Reply

    This site is a historical record, I am very happy to have found this site.
    You need to find Tanya Foxx, my muse, she does not have the recognition she deserved in her day.

  30. SunShine McWane · July 25, 2020 Reply

    I danced at the Lusty Lady in both Seattle and San Francisco. Those very posters were in our hall in the Seattle LL and I think the SF one too. I miss the Lusty Lady peepshows so much. I just wish we still had peepshows…

  31. Bryce A. Suderow · February 14, 2021 Reply

    Mr. reamer,

    Do you remember the Golden Gate foundation which appeared on the scene in the late 70s and early 80s? Kitty Desmond was the owner and Randa Newby was a sexual surrogate.

    was one of their clients. I would love to talk to you about my experiences there.

    At one of their parties I heard about a club which I’ve always been curious about but ignorant of. It was called the orphanage. Do you know anything about it?

    Bryce A. Suderow

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