San Francisco Strip Clubs (1985-1995): A Fan Remembers – Part 2

San Francisco Strip Clubs (1985-1995): A Fan Remembers – Part 2

Last year, one of our most popular reports was a post from Donnie Reamer, a regular at San Francisco’s strip clubs during the 1980s. Donnie 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 tapes, and Polaroids.

Due to popular demand, here is a second selection from Donnie’s collection, together with some more of his memories. Featuring Angel Kelly, Aja, Shanna McCullough, Nina Hartley, Samantha Strong, Taija Rae, Savannah, Nina DePonca, Porsche Lynn, Tasha Voux, Deidre Holland, Jeannie Pepper, and Danyel Cheeks.

With thanks to Donnie Reamer for sharing his collection.

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Gone are those halcyon days of yore here in San Francisco when a porno film fan could, on a weekly basis, choose between not one, not two, not three… but four well-appointed and well-anointed dens of intoxicating iniquity. Count them… four:  The Mitchell Brothers’ O’Farrell Theatre, the Market Street Cinema, the New Century, and the Crazy Horse Gentlemen’s Club.

Each could be counted upon, on a weekly basis, to book one feature attraction after another – week after week, month after month, year after year. An enthusiastic supporter of the arts could easily lose control of his wallet, spending a small fortune taking in this smorgasbord of porn-inspired pulchritude. They were practically within walking distance of each other!

The Mitchell Brother’s Green Door Showroom was designed and built for the production of Jim and Artie’s remake of Behind The Green Door – The Sequel.  Later the room featured a mechanical stage and a multiple girl shower show.  After bathing, the squeaky clean dancers draped their glistening naked selves across tabletops occupied by patrons waiting to share the warmth.

One of my favorites there was Angel Kelly.

Angel Kelly

 

Angel KellyAngel Kelly – moments after she appeared at the Green Door Room

 

Angel Kelly

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Downtown, on Market Street, stood the inimitable Market Street Cinema. Or Burlesque In Hell, I referred to it affectionately. It was an establishment that its patrons loved to hate. But support it we did! It was reliable – like Old Faithful – and they often proudly presented a ‘Featured Star’, like Aja, billed as star of Deep Throat 2 (she was actually in Deep Throat 3.)

Aja

 

I asked Aja if I could take some pictures of her.

“Most people don’t get these photos,” she said. “‘Cause most people don’t ask…”

Aja

 

Aja

 

Aja

 

Aja

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A short block down Geary Blvd. from The Mitchell Brothers’ Theatre was – and still is – The New Century Theater. Owned and operated by the same group that ran the Market Street Cinema, they also had a starring weekly feature.

Shanna McCullough was one of them.Shanna McCullough

 

Shanna McCullough

 

Shanna McCullough I visited Shanna on a film set and took this picture

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Some adult film stars played in all the theaters – such as the inimitable Nina Hartley. A perennial favorite in the Bay Area, Nina was known, admired and acknowledged. Her fans would flock to see her.

Nina Hartley

 

Nina Hartley

 

Nina HartleyOn a trip to an adult film set, I took this picture of Nina – with Gail Force

*

Back at the Mitchell Brothers’ theater aka The O’Farrell, Taija Rae was a regular. And yes, the billing was correct. She was hot.

Taija Rae

 

Taija Rae

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Though perhaps not strictly a Golden Age performer, Savannah was a short-lived meteor in the adult video industry and a favorite for many. She was certainly a favorite to me. I looked forward to meeting Savannah the week that she showed up .

Savannah

 

Savannah

 

Savannah

 

Savannah

 

Savannah

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A regular favorite of mine was the sexy, scintillating Nina DePonca.

I never missed her coming into town and regularly saw the same fans at each and every Nina performance. Young, svelte, with a come hither kind of look that excited her fans, I couldn’t wait to support Nina and invest in whatever she had.  I couldn’t get enough of the Polaroids she had to sell. Like myself, she was a Buckeye, from the great state of Ohio.

Nina DePonca

 

Nina DePonca

 

Nina DePonca

 

Nina DePonca

 

Nina DePonca

 

Nina DePonca

 

Nina DePonca

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There are some personalities that one simply can’t forget. Porsche Lynn was one such character. I bumped into her here and there, and every time she acted as though she was happy to see me. I think of her often, I think of her fondly. She left an indelible impression.

Porsche Lynn

 

Porsche Lynn

 

Porsche Lynn

 

Porsche Lynn

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Few dancers were wilder than Tasha Voux.  Tight, torrid tantalizing Tasha… You didn’t need to be afraid to make inquiries. Everything was possible with Tasha. Where is she now?

Tasha Voux

 

Tasha Voux

 

Tasha Voux

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Do you remember Deirdre Holland? Of course you do. Who could ever forget the lascivious lusciousness of one of the most beautiful women in the adult entertainment business.

Deirdre Holland

 

Deirdre Holland

 

Deirdre Holland

 

Deirdre HollandDeidre Holland’s personal product list

 

Deirdre Holland

 

Deirdre Holland

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I remain delighted to this day that I had the opportunity to meet and greet Jeannie Pepper. Bless the Market Street Cinema’s heart…

Jeannie Pepper

 

Jeannie Pepper

 

Jeannie Pepper

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It’s probably too late to join now, but I remain happy to this day that I secured a Danyel Cheeks Fan Club membership postcard.

Danyel Cheeks

 

Danyel Cheeks

 

*

Your collector and archivist, Donnie Reamer, today…

Donnie Reamer

*

 

  • Posted On: 14th January 2018
  • By: Ashley West
  • Under: Photos

24 Comments

  1. Hand Solo · January 14, 2018 Reply

    I love, love, love these priceless artifacts. Thanks Donnie for keeping them, and for sharing them!

  2. Harry Friedman · January 14, 2018 Reply

    Aaaaaaaaahhh yesteryear in the adult strip clubs. A golden age never to be repeated in the same way. And it may be strange in these ‘Me Too’ times, but the level of respect that fans had for performers – and vice versa, was truly notable. Happy days.

  3. Sam · January 14, 2018 Reply

    I’ve been hoping for a second installment since last May, when I set eyes on the first collection.

    Thanks to all!!!

    P.S. What DID happen to Tasha Voux???

  4. Ed · January 14, 2018 Reply

    More Taija, please. MUCH more! 😉

  5. Dom · January 14, 2018 Reply

    How about a podcast with Angel Kelly or Jeannie Pepper? It would be great to hear the stories of these two groundbreaking women of color. Plus it’s one angle the The Rialto Report has yet to touch on.

    I believe the on set photo with Nina Hartley is actually Gail Force instead of Samantha Strong.

  6. Harvey · January 14, 2018 Reply

    All good…but Butter cup is still the queen.

  7. Scotty · January 14, 2018 Reply

    Okay, I have to admit that Doctor Donnie Reamer asked me NOT to mention that I know him in real life but, screw it. These pictures are Donnie all the way and I am loving them! Not only are the girls smoking hot but you have to appreciate that this set is a window into a young man’s “glory days” which also happened to coincide with the “glory days” of stag. What a great time it must have been to be a 20 or 30-something young man surrounding by beautiful pussy and no political correctness to ruin your buzz!

  8. Big Al · January 15, 2018 Reply

    Fantastic pics! Love those flyers too! Funny how the Market St ones had Chinese translations at the bottom!

  9. Scott · January 15, 2018 Reply

    A delightful tip-toe through the two-lips with thee. All great, but I’d most liked to have probed more in depth Miss Holland, clearly a Dutch treat.

  10. Greg · January 15, 2018 Reply

    Those signatures are hilarious! Thanks for sharing.

  11. Cathy Gigante-Brown · January 15, 2018 Reply

    These are so wonderful! Love seeing my homegal AK and all the rest. Brings back fond memories of these ladies on the East Coast at Show World, where I forged friendships still going strong today. Stay tuned for a book of poetry and images from Serena. I am lucky enough to be working with the Divine Miss S, editing her upcoming book “Backstage Girls.” It calls back to her time dancing at the O’Farrell.

    • Jay · January 22, 2018 Reply

      This is happy news, Cathy.
      Lovely projects, to be sure.
      The O’Farrell was a stomping ground.
      Unfortunately, I never got to meet Serena.
      Thanks for posting.
      A couple things to look forward to!!

  12. J. Walter Puppybreath · January 15, 2018 Reply

    Jeannie Pepper! DAY MADE.

  13. zif · January 16, 2018 Reply

    dear santa.

    all i want for xxxmas is for donnie reamer to be my daddy and regal me with tales of sublime sleaze from a bygone era!
    this post is the 2nd best thing! superb stuff donnie!
    your recollections are likely all that remain of a once glorious era in a city run over my homogenized notions of progressive.

    bless your pervy heart pops!

  14. Charles · January 18, 2018 Reply

    Still hoping for something here about Dorothy Lemay, she spent time performing at Alex Derenzy’s Screening Room in SF as well as performing in Taboo etc

  15. Donnie Reamer · January 18, 2018 Reply

    How did I not see Miss Lemay, Charles?
    I missed way more than one of the greats,
    that’s for sure!
    Your guess is as good as mine!
    And Derenzy’s place was one of the best!
    Way up close and very very personal.

    • Charles · February 3, 2018 Reply

      Good question Donnie, you missed a good one. For a period of about 6 months in the mid 70’s I was at the Screening Room just about every Saturday just to see Dorothy. She was a gem! Great body and very friendly and basically a very nice person! Lost track of her when she moved to Los Angeles, appears that she appeared in approx. 80 movies, You tube has a video titled “Dorothy Before She Did Taboo” take a look. Thanks for bringing back memories of the San Francisco scene!

  16. Greg · January 19, 2018 Reply

    I used to have some polaroids like this from Show World. Don’t know what ever happened to them.

  17. Jay · January 19, 2018 Reply

    You gotta save all that stuff, Greg.
    Then you can be on The Rialto Report!

  18. Jay · January 19, 2018 Reply

    While I had the pleasure of meeting several of these fine young ladies in the heart of the Mid-West, these posts are extraordinary…I often wonder where they are at this time…Great post, and as I said on Part 1, I can’t wait for Part Three!

  19. Steve · January 28, 2018 Reply

    I saw Trinity Lorens a couple of times and also Rachel Ryan. Rachel was the best.
    Miss those days.

  20. Graham Hill · February 6, 2018 Reply

    As a fellow collector and archivist… a writer and historian who spent over forty years in HOLLYWOOD… I have to really salute your collection Donnie. What love, what dedication!

    Having written numerous articles on the classic era of porn, and having experienced those times myself, I can only conclude that to personally meet all those stars and attend all those shows, that you must have been well off living on an inheritance or something. Those prices back then seem cheap by todays standards, but remember minimum wage was just a dollar, and to tip those girls whatever… Well either well off, well connected or just amazingly lucky.

    My dear friend was JULIET ANDERSON, did you ever get to meet her?

    To get the kind of REALLY personal contact you enjoyed, the personal friendships with just about all of the star performers from the “Golden Age” of porn, there must be an even more juicer story behind it. You’ve just got to share it with all of us, as you’ve already got plenty of material for a definitive book on the subject.

    With each passing decade, those crazy, wild times of the 70’s and 80’s, become even more precious and memorable. Thanks Rialto Report.

    Donnie Reamer, we just have to talk!

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