The city was awash in immense depression back then. It quickly recovered, but the memory of those dark weeks in SF history are still ingrained in the mind.
Thank God for Herb Caen and Bill Graham. Two very distinguished and impenetrable San Francisco icons who were very fundamental figures in 1970's Bay Area culture. Graham, the fiery, successful, daunting rock and roll impresario who ruled the concert biz here and beyond. If you lived here in the 70's, you most certainly remember Graham's "Days on the Green." They were a staple of rock concert nirvana with acts like the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Elton John and Led Zeppelin filling the "Oakland Stadium", (Coliseum), 60,000-people strong. One show in particular I'll never forget: July 26, 1978, Jagger's 35th birthday, (with "Happy Birthday, Mick" t-shirts among the blue coats). I was there and won't soon forget the giant-sized inflatable female dolls dropped from the helicopter into the sea of humanity).
*Caen was the journalistic rock that drove the Bay Area; particularly San Francisco and its political, social, and sporting scene. His six times-a-week column in the Chronicle was a must-read by the local pols, the PR people and those who just liked to know where Willie Brown was eating. (I'd say that Brown's Sunday scribbles in the Chron are patterned after Caen's style). Sure, everyone knew that Caen had several helpers and tipsters that aided his pieces, but big deal, he was widely respected both in the Bay Area and nationally. What Jimmy Breslin was to New York; what Mike Royko was to Chicago, Caen was to his beloved "Baghdad by the Bay."
*70's/80's Bay Area Images and memories: Dr Donald B. Rose, KFRC, (or just plain "Dr. Don) San Ra-QUEL! KYA. Larry Brownell. Channel 7. "NewsScene". Happy Talk. (The slogan, "If it bleeds, it leads" reportedly evolved from the Golden Gate Ave. studios). The SLA. Patty Hearst. Milt Kahn. Steve Sommers. Eddie Alexander, ("Good luck, everybody!"), Van Amburg. Pete Giddings. Jerry Jensen. John O'Reilly. Karna Small. Dennis Richmond. Claud Mann. The Hambrick brothers. Stan Borhman. Evan White. Rigo Chacon. The KQED auction. Dialing for Dollars. Charlie and Humphrey. The Swingin' A's. World Series at the Oakland Coliseum. The Grateful Dead. Eddie Money. Ronnie Montrose. Van Halen. Peter Frampton at Day on the Green with the Eagles. Dolly Parton too. Winterland. The Band. Joe Alioto, (SF's best mayor). George Moscone, (second best). Ronn Owens, (when he had a backbone and KGO was king.) Jim Eason. Owen Spann. Monte Stickles. Gregg Jordan.Wayne Walker. The KRON building at 1001 Van Ness. The Golden Dragon massacre in 1977. The International Hotel. The Giants in decline. Jack Clark. Charlie Fox. Candlestick with artificial turf. Al Michaels broadcasting when about 787 were in the stands. Lon Simmons. Joe Angel. The great Bill King. Warriors win the NBA Chapionship, 1975...at the Cow Palace. Paoli's, (best Italian food in the city and some of the best-looking women in biz suits that we/I tried to charm). The Mel Belli office on Montgomery. Davey Rosenberg walking the streets of North Beach and acting like a SF numbers runner, (which I think he was). Carol Doda in her prime. (Both of them). The Condor. The "Streets of San Francisco", a Quinn Martin production! Ford LTD's. The Embarcadero Freeway. The Zebra Murders. Marcus Foster assassination. Dinner at Scoma's. Dinner at Alfred's. Tadich Grill. Marcello's out in the avenues. Westlake Joe's. Spenger's in Berkeley. Oakland Raiders. John Madden. Rick Barry. The guys with the white construction hats in the Oakland Arena that chanted, "defense." 1975. Keith Wilkes. CJ, Charles Johnson. Alvin Attles. Clifford Ray. Skyline High graduation, (for me) in 1980. "Do the Hustle" by Van McCoy. The Oakland Seals. Charlie Finley. Sal Bando. Reggie Jackson. Kqik Way burgers in Oakland. Franchesco's. Earth, Wind and Fire at the Greek Theatre in 1978. Mickey Klutts. The Oakland Tribune. Ron Bergman. Bill Fiset. Dave Newhouse. Art Finley. Russ Coughlin. The "Owl" backpage of the Saturday Chronicle. Belva Davis. Wayne Shannon. Mike Hegadus. Jan Yanehiro. The "MTWTF Show." KPIX on Van Ness. Robert McCormick. Pat McCormick. Mel Wax. Bob Jimenez. Jim Paymar. Steve Davis. Don Sanchez. David Louie. Bob Melrose. Barbara Taylor. Hunan on Battery. Vannessi's on Broadway. The Hippo. Henry Africa's. Lord Jim's. Hamburger Mary on Folsom. Bill Lee on KFRC. Marvelous Mark on KRFC. John MACflanagan on KYA. Gene Nelson on KSFO. Jim Dunbar. Ted Wygant. Jim Eason. Jerry Brown, the Guv, going to Africa in 1979 with Linda Ronstadt. Al, "Jazzbeaux" Collins in the "Purple Grotto." Dario's pizza. Doyle Drive. Rennie Stennett. Bob Lurie. Jim Barr. Ted Kwalick. Jimmy Johnson. Bruce Taylor. John Brodie. Kezar Stadium. Winterland Productions. Keystone Korner. Todd Barkan. Tower of Power. The Pointer Sisters. The Venetian Room. Carole Vernier. The Carnelian Room. Cazzie Russell. Roy Steele. Crazy George. Duffy Jennings. Sam Singer. Carl Finley. Mike Epstein. Kenny Holtzman. Curt Gowdy. Joe Roth. Chuck Muncie. Joe Kapp. Brennen's. The Hof Brau in Oakland on Broadway. Kings X Bar, (the birthplace of Fantasy Football), Fenton's. Lionel Wilson. The Black Panthers. Jerry Garcia. Bob Sarlatte. Bobby Slayton. The Punchline. Alex Bennett. The "Quake"--KQAK. Tommy Thomas. Jan Hutchins. Joe Interante. Liz Bentley. Harry Denton. John L. Wasserman. Gerald Nachman.
Have I left anyone out?
*Follow me on Twitter
I do wonder if people experiencing the Bay Area in the last 20 years feel the same way about "their era" as some of us feel about the 70s and 80s.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't just the successful sports teams, the dynamic politics, the music and film artists that emerged from the area, I think part of it was that the Bay Area seemed more like a single entity then rather than six different hub areas like Contra Costa, San Jose, Tri-Valley, Marin, Oakland and the City.
Eddie Alexander..he was both the Radnich and Vern of his time. Where did he go? Haven't heard his name in ages.
ReplyDeleteA time before Clear Channel and the cloud.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Jan Hutchins now? In the mid-seventies on KPIX I was the cream filling in the Oreo cookie between Andrew Hill and Jan Hutchins....the stories I could tell!
ReplyDelete"The Body Is the Temple of the Spirit..." And what ever became of Marilee Beck?
DeleteRich, did you miss somebody? I dont see Dave McElhatton on KCBS and KPIX. Dave with Friendly Clyde. Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tower Of Power.
ReplyDeleteRadar
You might have missed Giants announcer Russ "Bye Bye Baby" Hodges. I take back Tower Of Power I see you have it on your list. Bob Wilkins, Creature Features and Captain Cosmic, Bob March, Captain Sattelite. Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Big Brother and the Holding Co, Country Joe and the Fish.
ReplyDeleteKFAT! Buffalo Bob "doing the Bison Boogie 'till I can't stand no more". KOME-FM with Mikel Hunter and Dennis Erectus, Earth Radio 102, KSFM with a signal that went all the way to Tahoe. KZAP and the "Electric Lunch". Dave McQueen, Scoop Nisker, Ace Young, Travus T. Hipp... Grateful Dead New Year's Eve show with Ken Kesey, simulcast on KSAN-FM & KQED,channel 9... KTIM AM & FM broadcasting Mark Naftalin's Blue Monday concerts live from the smoke-free Sleeping Lady Cafe in Fairfax, where, on a good night, you might end up dancing with Lickette Maryann or Naomi!
ReplyDeleteRich - 70's and 80's? How can you forget Don Klein?
ReplyDeleteJim Gabbert on K101
ReplyDeleteFred LaCosse, George Reading and Terry Lowry on Newswatch4
Father Harry
Cyril Magnin
Pat Montandon
Duane Garrett on KGO
Doggie Diner
The Magic Pan
Ernie's
Hoffman Grill
I worked next door to Hoffman Grill and had many a good lunch there. A shame they were not able to come back after the building was remodeled.
DeleteGary Park, Steve Psychiok (?)-the guy who replace him, Charlie and Humphrey on KTVU. Frank Mahogeny and Rush played almost every single DOTG. The Holding Company.
ReplyDeleteWow- KSAN, Bonnie Simmons, Bob McClay, Richard Gossett, Terry McGovern, and the late, great Big Daddy Tom Donahue- KSFO, Rick Cimino, Peter Scott, John Gilliland's Pop Chronicles- KFRC, Don Sainte-John, Shana, Bobby Ocean...
ReplyDeleteMy roommate, 17 years my junior, thinks I'm nuts cos I still listen to radio- he didn't grow up when radio mattered- when radio served the public interest- when DJs were like a member of the family- sadly, times that are gone forever thanks to the likes of Clear Channel, Cumulus, Entercom, and all those other bleeps...
Sun Valley Dairies and their delivery trucks. KYA's "Tall Tom Campbell", the Zebra killings, the San Francisco Shamrocks, Charlie Finley's Orange baseballs, Vida Blue and Ken Stabler doing cocaine, Christo's Running Fence, the Golden Gators Major league tennis team, 75 cent GG Bridge tolls, the PA announcer who sang the National Anthem at each home Giants game, the Embarcadero Freeway, Hippies, Shields and Yarnell, matching sports coats on news anchors, stale Pink Popcorn bricks at Stowe Lake, bat day at the ballparks, MUNI drivers with that coin thingy on their belts for change, go go dancers perched above Broadway in small glass booths, Finnochios.
ReplyDeleteJoe Rudi, Gene Tenace, O.J. Simpson 9er days, Journey, Eddie Money it was a great area and era to grow up in.
ReplyDeleteLydia Pense and Cold Blood
ReplyDeleteGood choice.
DeleteHerb Caen? Maybe. Bill "Fuck you asshole" Graham. Never.
ReplyDeleteHerb Caen. Never. Bill "Not to be mistaken with Billy" Graham. Forever.
DeleteRicky Henderson, Captain Cosmic, Creature Features, The drive-in Union City, The Blue Dolphin in San Leandro, the San Jose flea market, Bizarre on Showtime, the bird cages at the Southland Mall, Who-song and Larry's Cantina(el torito) in Santa Clara, Frontier Village. :-)
ReplyDeleteBryan=You're an East Bay Boy!
DeleteThanks!
Thanks for a GREAT column. Fantastic memories of the Bay Area. I had to even google Kqik Way burgers in Oakland to confirm that was the place I had great fried chicken and fries in a box. Can still taste it. I hope your readers realize what a great place the Bay Area is for those that still live there. I left 12 years ago, and still read the SF Chronicle online every morning. Was just back there last week for business and it felt good to be "home"
ReplyDeleteI moved to Carmel last year from the Bay Area. As beautiful and "civilized" as it is here, there is no place like home. Thank God I can go back and visit every two weeks, otherwise I would go crazy. One of your better columns Rich. keep up the great work....
DeleteFranklin Mieuli, Hanno's, M&M Bar,The Emporium, The Jack Tarr, The Coronet, Marine World Africa USA, Tower Records, Record Factory, Laserium, Ferrell's Ice Cream Parlor, Shakey's Pizza, John Gillaland on KSFO, Larry King on Mutaul Radio, Scrambling for HR's behind left field at Candlestick. Chicken-Dee-Lite, Drive-in movies,45rpm, Farms? In Berkeley? Moooo, Clown Alley, Bruce Lee Movies, KRQR The Rocker, KMEL-106,The Sporting Green, Bay Meadows.
ReplyDeleteThe bay area has always been a special; now, then, and long before. But Rich's memories are poignant and his list of luminaries is impressive to say the least.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes the bay area the most liveable place in America though, is the vast swatches of open space; public lands, National Seashore areas, state parks and National monuments. Take some time to go out to Pt Reyes, Mt Montara, Mission Peak, Mt Diablo, Bolinas/Stinson Beach, Muir Woods, Mt Tam, the San Mateo coast, Santa Cruz, western Sonoma County, the east bay regional parks, the Marin Headlands,
Henry Coe State Park (largest in the bay area), Ocean Beach,
even Golden Gate Park, (beautiful green spot in the midst of one of the most densely populated cities on the plant,) among many other scenic and mostly unspoiled spots.
These places are all just as beautiful as ever and you can actually slow down, take a breath, rejuvenate from the stress of high pressure urban and suburban living, breath some fresh air, and see some spectacular scenery. And you'll stay in shape by hiking, biking, sailing, and surfing among other activities.
That's what has made and still makes the bay area most liveable and most precious place to live to many of our 7 million bay area residents!
You left out the weather. No snow, Pete Giddings natural air conditioner allows for only brief moments of heat. This is the most important attraction of all. The Bay Area is part of California. Anyone who doesn't like this can leave and won't be missed.
Deletehow about bob wilkins and creature features?
ReplyDeleteto 5:24pm: bill graham was not a nice man, but he definitely is a bay area icon.
"They were good and bad, sometimes happy, sad, and surreal, like Jonestown in 1978, and the Moscone-Milk murders just a few weeks later."
ReplyDeleteA few weeks? Try 9 nine days! The Bay Area hadn't even begun to emotionally recover when the murders at City Hall happened.
Jonestown massacre- Nov. 18, 1978.
Moscone/Milk murders- Nov. 27, 1978.
Speaking of Day on the Green. Saw the Eagles, Steve Miller, Atlanta Rhythm Section, among others, circa May 1977.
ReplyDeleteSaw the Greatful Dead, Doobie Brothers at Keasar Stadium, circa March 1975. Bill Graham knew how to package acts.
It was a good time.
Every Friday Gene Nelson would play "Take this job and shove it" at the end of his show...pretty funny...
ReplyDeleteThis post and comments are so great I don't even feel qualified to respond. But I will anyway...apropos of very little...
ReplyDeleteThe "Tuck and Fortner Report" at 10 p.m. in the early seventies on KTVU...
Marilyn Beck's investigative reports on KQED and KPIX--she was once the subject of a TV Guide article titled "I Wish We Had That Broad's Connections" (nice...)
John Brodie as the lead sportscaster on KRON...
Father Miles Riley's "I Believe" late Sunday night/Monday morning on 'PIX...and speaking of Catholics, which I just did and also am one (please don't ban me from the blog Rich), Fr Harry Schlitt on Channel 5 and also with the "God Squad" on KFRC.
Art Hoppe in the Chronicle, brandy alexanders made with ice cream at the bar in Spenger's ("twoin the Teak Room"), $1 triples at Bertola's in Oakland, Fred Biletnikoff, Warren Wells, Gene Upshaw, Jim Otto, Raymond Chester, George Atkinson, Jack Tatum, the Pipers buffet in San Leandro, Billy Ball, Dialing for Dollars, Montgomery Wards, Payless, snow closing Skyline High School in '76, Al Hart, Fred Lacosse, Marcia Brandwynne, Belva Davis, Art Spander, Pet Rocks, Stones at Candlestick, Springsteen at the Coliseum. . . .
ReplyDeleteDon Sherwood on KSFO. The Real Music format on KSFO. Dunbar and Weigant on KGO. Gene Autry's KSFO. Bobby "What a guy" Ocean.
ReplyDeleteWho's "Rigo Chacon"? I remember Rrrrrrrigo Chacon!
ReplyDeleteAndy R @ 3:51 - Bonnie Simmons has a show on KPFA Thursday'S 8-10PM.
Fremont Swim Lagoon, Washington High pre-Tak Fudenna Stadium, Circle Star Theatre, Pleasanton with only one stoplight, John Mack Flanagan on KFRC, Highway 92 when it wasn't a complete freeway from Hayward to San Mateo, plaid-colored tuxedos at weddings, Kasper's at its peak, Shakey's & Straw Hat at its peak, McD's when the Quarter Pounder & Filet-o-Fish both made their debuts IN Fremont in 1971, Kwik Way & Giant Burgers all over Oakland and even into Hayward near the Plunge, the old 580-238 interchange and listening to so many radio choices on Foothill Blvd, the three way anchor battle between Amburg, McElhatton, & Richmond, the three way radio battle between Rose, Dunbar, & Dill, and many great bands playing at local high schools.
ReplyDeleteRich, you are so right about Graham & Caen. Caen - incredible writer! But you may not want to mention Graham to your favorite radio personality - read about an ugly fallout. Still, I'll take Graham's incredible concert promo skills every time over Weiner's divisive views on our struggling society.
Berkeley Barb
ReplyDeleteHerb Caen's Strange de Jim
Dog promos for TV-20
McDonald's bookstore on Turk
Matthew's TV and Stereo (top of the hill Daly City)
KSFO's Sounds of the City
Movies til Dawn on TV 36 by MMM Carpets "bye kids!"
Joe Montana to Dwight Clark
ReplyDelete'75 Day on the Green when the Dead opended for The Who
The Greek Bowl was the elite outdoor concert venue
that adorable gutsy bay swimmer and performer and radio traffic reporter Jane Dornacher, Pearl Harbor and the Explosions....Jane was killed in a copter crash in NYC...while covering NYC traffic...Jim Plunkett to Marcus Allen magic.
ReplyDeleteDan Sorkin and Norga Norga on KSFO!
ReplyDeleteHow about....
ReplyDeleteEd Arnow (TV)
Tower Records
Moby Grape
Country Joe and the Fish
SF News Call Bulletin (SF Newspaper)
The Progress (SF Newspaper)
Art Finley (Radio)
S&H Green Stamps
GETS (Shopping area on Slot Blvd)
Playland at the Beach
The Airplane in the park near the Old Larson Pool
The old streetcars with the drivers seat and pedals on both ends of the car
The streetcar and bus passes (for 50 cents) that would get punched with the drivers own unique puncher.
The Colonial Bread truck that would drive around and sell/deliver bakery goods. You wanted him to stop, you had to put the sign in your window.
The rides on the roof of the Stonetown Emporium.
More like the 60's, Rich is just a kid. None of this 70's-80s compares with the 60's & the Viet Nam era.
DeleteKOME, KFAT - glad somebody mentioned them. Also, for us south bayers, Mountain Charlies in Los Gatos. Doobie Brothers playing high school gigs.
ReplyDeleteKNBR's Frank Dill, Carter B. Smith ... along with Mike Cleary's "cast of thousands," including the great impersonation of Joe Carcione, "The Greengrocer."
ReplyDeleteFriday night "tea dancing" at the Hyatt Regency.
His impersonation was called "Joe Carcinogenic", the "Gray Grocer"
DeleteEnjoyed "Tubby Tundra" (Richard Simmons type)
How about when KMEL was good?
ReplyDeleteTheo Mizuhara, John London, Ron Engelman, Howard Hoffman, Sonny Joe Fox, Sainte-Johnn, Rick Shaw, Mark McKay, Cameron Paul, Michael Erickson, Rick Chase, Billy Vidal, Diana Steele, Carmen, Evan Luck, Rosary, Lisa St. Regis, Efren Sifuentes, Renel Lewis, Trace and Franzen and that smooth voiced playboy Kevin Nash
Dr. Carla Perez (KGO)
ReplyDeleteFannies on 18th St. (Cabaret)
Hunts Donuts on Mission--24 hr drama.
Loved your memory review - - good times and bad - - amazing array of names!
ReplyDeleteWanted to mention that I came from LA, (KNXT-TV) and started at KTVU, (co-anchoring with Dennis Richmond) in late summer of '78 and had a news baptism of fire in local news with Jonestown and then the Milk/Moscone killings.
I'm still proud that I got the first interview with then Supervisor Dianne Feinstein after the killings. She was wonderful.
Nearly 10-years anchoring (and many Emmies) there; then inaugurating and several years on Two at Noon with Pat McCormick and Bob Mackenzie; later anchoring news on TV-20; radio talk shows on KGO, KCBS and now KSFO (Sat.5-7, Sun. 4-7).
The Bay Area was the best for media, radio and TV and we have the best audience - - tough, loyal and smart. For those in the business, those years were quite a ride!!!
and on KTVU in 1978 you handled it beautifully..babe in the bunker indeed.
DeleteOh yeah,your hosting 2 at noon in a slit skirt. It was always a nice day when it fell open and those shapely thighs shined.
DeleteOMGOSH;; You have been slaying me with the facts of our life's in full on living color of truth and memories.. We met at the front st, Kgone protest and what allot of folks don't know is you made sure we where nice folks and treated ( I even hate to print his name in public.anymore) R.O. nicely when he was supposed to be coming out.
ReplyDeleteOh My even the Hof brau in the other city Oakland on grand and Broadway... THANK YOU RICH!!! We need you in the bay.. The Chron needs you to write on Sundays... I know I know But its a gig and the community needs you...
Have you left anyone out, you ask... Got to have.. But I am far to moved to care. because you nailed it again.
Thank You
psb The guy with the dog the day at GONE Poor grammar and all.
Hay I got only one. Berkeley community theater. where the likes of jimmy Hendrix played..oh KMPX we all have something... You put it out there Thank You!
Guess who? Said it every morning at the end of his shift:
ReplyDelete"Put on the coffee bubbles, I'm coming home. . ."
Armistad Maupin "Tales of the City," Top of the Mark, Count Marco, Dottie Rosekrans, the MUSIC, the Sisters of Perpetual Motion.
ReplyDeleteSlam dancing at the Fab Mab.
ReplyDeleteMarcia Brandwynne before she cost herself millions quitting ch2 because they never let her lead off the news..
ReplyDeleteThe Pleasanton Fair before it was ruined with $5 corn dogs and that wolf pack Pleansanton police who have turned that whole city into a speed trap-or in the fairs case,they go through the parking lot ticketing cars for any reason they can. Pleasanton cops are the bay areas most morally crooked force.
The Kabuki Club
ReplyDeleteJohn "The Count" Montefusco
Elaine Chiamos before she became Elaine Corral, before she stunned everyone on the KTVU set by quitting at the newscast close...
ReplyDeleteThe Chron's Lucius Beebe, Charles McCabe ("The Fearless Spectator"), and Terence O'Flaherty
The "Oh My Word" quiz show on Saturday evenings from Channel 7, hosted by Jim Lange and featuring, among others, Scott Beach and Merla Zellerbach.
Anyone remember Ott's Restaurant in SF, just wondering....
ReplyDeleteJim "do what you can but behave yourself" Eason
ReplyDeleteHow About "Music Till Dawn" on KCBS 740 AM when it was located at the back of the Sheraton Palace Hotel
ReplyDeleteKMPX-FM at 106.9 (owned by Lee Crosby) - Oldies and then into International Broadcast format. Located for a while at the Villa Roma Motor Hotel on Columbus Avenue then over on Van Ness Avenue and finally at 50 Green Street. Before it was KMPX - it was KPUP in the basement of the Belvue Hotel - Geary and Taylor - owned by Franklin Mueli)
KRON-TV in the Chronicle Building (before Van Ness Avenue)
Dick Gabert and his climb through Radio and TV over the years
Al Davis
ReplyDeleteOh,the good old days of the SLA. They were going to combine with the Hearst empire to make a leftist country. Funny that the richest member of that group has led a happy life for decades. And her co-horts rot in prison.
ReplyDeleteHer lawyer argued if the beret and AK47 don't fit,you must acquit.
I remember KBHK's short lived "News Updates with Mary Lou Minalli (spelling?) and Edwina Moore. KBHK also had a pretty good public affairs program "Good Morning" hosted by Mary Lou Minalli.
ReplyDelete