Folsom Street: The Miracle Mile - Revision history

Lisaruth: changed name on caption of first photo per user edit

2026-02-25T21:03:17Z

changed name on caption of first photo per user edit

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:03, 25 February 2026
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	'''The Toolbox bar at 4th and Harrison, c. 1970'''		'''The Toolbox bar at 4th and Harrison, c. 1970'''

	''Photo: Henri ~~Dedeux~~, via Rob Doughty facebook page''		''Photo: Henri Leleu, via Rob Doughty facebook page''

Ccarlsson at 03:42, 27 May 2025

2025-05-27T03:42:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:42, 26 May 2025
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	''Part Two from ''Black Sheets'' magazine''		''Part Two from ''Black Sheets'' magazine''

	[[Image:The-Toolbox-bar-by-Henri-Dedeux fb-Rob-Doughtypg.jpg]		[[Image:The-Toolbox-bar-by-Henri-Dedeux fb-Rob-Doughtypg.jpg]]

	'''The Toolbox bar at 4th and Harrison, c. 1970'''		'''The Toolbox bar at 4th and Harrison, c. 1970'''

Ccarlsson: added photo and fixed formatting

2025-05-27T03:42:33Z

added photo and fixed formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:42, 26 May 2025
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	''Part Two from ''Black Sheets'' magazine''		''Part Two from ''Black Sheets'' magazine''

	[[Image:~~gay1$toolbox~~.jpg]]		[[Image:The-Toolbox-bar-by-Henri-Dedeux fb-Rob-Doughtypg.jpg]

			'''The Toolbox bar at 4th and Harrison, c. 1970'''

			''Photo: Henri Dedeux, via Rob Doughty facebook page''

	~~'''Rubble of the Tool Box at 4th and Harrison (1971), Chuck Arnett's notorious mural stood mutely over the ruins for almost two years.'''~~

	''This is the city's backyard. . . . An early morning walk will take a visitor past dozens of small businesses manufacturing necessities; metal benders, plastic molders, even casket makers can all be seen plying their trades. At five they set down their tools and return to the suburbs. . . . A few hours later, men in black leather . . . will step out on these same streets to fill the nearly 30 gay bars, restaurants and sex clubs in the immediate vicinity. Separate realities that seldom touch and, on the surface at least, have few qualms about each other.'' ~~--Mark~~ Thompson (1982, 28)		<blockquote>''This is the city's backyard. . . . An early morning walk will take a visitor past dozens of small businesses manufacturing necessities; metal benders, plastic molders, even casket makers can all be seen plying their trades. At five they set down their tools and return to the suburbs. . . . A few hours later, men in black leather . . . will step out on these same streets to fill the nearly 30 gay bars, restaurants and sex clubs in the immediate vicinity. Separate realities that seldom touch and, on the surface at least, have few qualms about each other.'' —Mark Thompson (1982, 28)</blockquote>

	Gay male leather communities have been markedly territorial in major U.S. cities. In San Francisco, leather has been most closely associated with the South of Market neighborhood since 1962. Earlier, in the 1950s, leathermen had mostly patronized the waterfront bars, such as Jacks on the Waterfront, the Sea Cow, and the Castaways. The first dedicated leather bar in San Francisco was the [[World War II: Self-Discovery for Many \| Why Not]], which opened briefly in the Tenderloin in 1962. When the Tool Box opened later that year on the corner of Fourth Street and Harrison, it was the first leather bar located in the South of Market. The Tool Box was a sensation. It was wildly popular and even attracted nationwide media notice. Herb Caen wrote about the Tool Box in his famous ''San Francisco Chronicle'' column:		Gay male leather communities have been markedly territorial in major U.S. cities. In San Francisco, leather has been most closely associated with the South of Market neighborhood since 1962. Earlier, in the 1950s, leathermen had mostly patronized the waterfront bars, such as Jacks on the Waterfront, the Sea Cow, and the Castaways. The first dedicated leather bar in San Francisco was the [[World War II: Self-Discovery for Many \| Why Not]], which opened briefly in the Tenderloin in 1962. When the Tool Box opened later that year on the corner of Fourth Street and Harrison, it was the first leather bar located in the South of Market. The Tool Box was a sensation. It was wildly popular and even attracted nationwide media notice. Herb Caen wrote about the Tool Box in his famous ''San Francisco Chronicle'' column:

	"As I noted a few days ago, some of the young fellers who hang out in the Tool Box at Fourth and Harrison wear and S or an M on their shirt pockets to indicate Sadist or Masochist. Which prompted a relieved message from Harold Call. "I'm so glad you printed that," he said. "All this time I thought it meant Single, or Married!" (Caen 1964)		<blockquote>"As I noted a few days ago, some of the young fellers who hang out in the Tool Box at Fourth and Harrison wear and S or an M on their shirt pockets to indicate Sadist or Masochist. Which prompted a relieved message from Harold Call. "I'm so glad you printed that," he said. "All this time I thought it meant Single, or Married!" (Caen 1964)</blockquote>

			[[Image:gay1$toolbox.jpg]]

			'''Rubble of the Tool Box at 4th and Harrison (1971), Chuck Arnett's notorious mural stood mutely over the ruins for almost two years.'''

	The most celebrated element of the Tool Box was a huge mural painted by Chuck Arnett, a local artist who worked at the bar and whose paintings and posters were also featured at such later bars as the Red Star Saloon and the Ambush. The mural was a massive black-and-white painting that depicted a variety of tough-looking, masculine men. In 1964, when'' Life'' magazine did a story on homosexuality in America, a photograph of the Tool Box was spread across the two opening pages. (Welch & Eppridge 1964)		The most celebrated element of the Tool Box was a huge mural painted by Chuck Arnett, a local artist who worked at the bar and whose paintings and posters were also featured at such later bars as the Red Star Saloon and the Ambush. The mural was a massive black-and-white painting that depicted a variety of tough-looking, masculine men. In 1964, when'' Life'' magazine did a story on homosexuality in America, a photograph of the Tool Box was spread across the two opening pages. (Welch & Eppridge 1964)

Ccarlsson at 04:50, 22 November 2021

2021-11-22T04:50:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:50, 21 November 2021
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	They could do whatever the hell they wanted."		They could do whatever the hell they wanted."

	--''Black Sheets''		—''Black Sheets''

	[[1960: A Turning Point \| Prev. Document]] [[The 1970s: Disco Fever and Respectability \| Next Document]]		[[1960: A Turning Point \| Prev. Document]] [[The 1970s: Disco Fever and Respectability \| Next Document]]

	[[category:LGBTQI]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:SOMA]] [[category:downtown]] [[category:Polk Gulch]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:roads]]		[[category:LGBTQI]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:SOMA]] [[category:downtown]] [[category:Polk Gulch]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:roads]] [[category:Reclaiming San Francisco]]

Jeff: Text replacement - "category:Gay and Lesbian" to "category:LGBTQI"

2018-10-16T15:09:04Z

Text replacement - "category:Gay and Lesbian" to "category:LGBTQI"

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:09, 16 October 2018
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	[[1960: A Turning Point \| Prev. Document]] [[The 1970s: Disco Fever and Respectability \| Next Document]]		[[1960: A Turning Point \| Prev. Document]] [[The 1970s: Disco Fever and Respectability \| Next Document]]

	[[category:~~Gay and Lesbian~~]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:SOMA]] [[category:downtown]] [[category:Polk Gulch]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:roads]]		[[category:LGBTQI]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:SOMA]] [[category:downtown]] [[category:Polk Gulch]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:roads]]

Lisaruth: changed credit on 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929 SFPL photos which came from C.R. collection

2016-07-13T00:29:09Z

changed credit on 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929 SFPL photos which came from C.R. collection

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:29, 12 July 2016
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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essays</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essays</font></font> </font>'''

	''Part One by Gayle Rubin''		''Part One by Gayle Rubin, excerpted from "The Miracle Mile: South of Market and Gay Male Leather, 1962-1997" in'' Reclaiming San Francisco: History, Politics, Culture ''(City Lights: 1998)''

	''Part Two from ''Black Sheets'' magazine''		''Part Two from ''Black Sheets'' magazine''
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	The leather scene moved to what would become its Main Street in 1966, when Febe's and the Stud opened up at the western end of Folsom Street. Several other bars soon opened along a three-block strip of Folsom Street, establishing a core area that anchored a burgeoning leather economy with various commercial establishments, which continued to develop and expand in the 1970s to become one of the most extensive and densely occupied leather neighborhoods in the world. The area still functions as the local leather capital. As a result, the South of Market acquired a number of nicknames, including the Folsom, the Miracle Mile, and the Valley of the Kings. This last appellation was coined by local leather columnist Mr. Marcus. By the late 1970s, Mr. Marcus had given each of San Francisco's three major gay neighborhoods a nickname. The Valley of the Kings conveyed an image of powerful, cocky, independent, and sexy masculinity. It contrasted with Marcus' nickname for Polk Street, the Valley of the Queens, in reference to the older and sometimes more effeminate population of gay men associated with the area. He dubbed the Castro the Valley of the Dolls, an allusion to its hordes of young and beautiful men. By the late 1970s, the Castro was unquestionably the center of local gay politics, but the Folsom had become the sexual center. The same features that made the area attractive to leather bars made it hospitable to other forms of gay sexual commerce. Many of the non-leather gay bathhouses and sex clubs also nestled among the warehouses. Just before the age of AIDS, the South of Market had become symbolically and institutionally associated in the gay male community with sex.		The leather scene moved to what would become its Main Street in 1966, when Febe's and the Stud opened up at the western end of Folsom Street. Several other bars soon opened along a three-block strip of Folsom Street, establishing a core area that anchored a burgeoning leather economy with various commercial establishments, which continued to develop and expand in the 1970s to become one of the most extensive and densely occupied leather neighborhoods in the world. The area still functions as the local leather capital. As a result, the South of Market acquired a number of nicknames, including the Folsom, the Miracle Mile, and the Valley of the Kings. This last appellation was coined by local leather columnist Mr. Marcus. By the late 1970s, Mr. Marcus had given each of San Francisco's three major gay neighborhoods a nickname. The Valley of the Kings conveyed an image of powerful, cocky, independent, and sexy masculinity. It contrasted with Marcus' nickname for Polk Street, the Valley of the Queens, in reference to the older and sometimes more effeminate population of gay men associated with the area. He dubbed the Castro the Valley of the Dolls, an allusion to its hordes of young and beautiful men. By the late 1970s, the Castro was unquestionably the center of local gay politics, but the Folsom had become the sexual center. The same features that made the area attractive to leather bars made it hospitable to other forms of gay sexual commerce. Many of the non-leather gay bathhouses and sex clubs also nestled among the warehouses. Just before the age of AIDS, the South of Market had become symbolically and institutionally associated in the gay male community with sex.

	~~''--Gayle Rubin, excerpted from "The Miracle Mile: South of Market and Gay Male Leather, 1962-1997" in ''Reclaiming San Francisco: History, Politics, Culture'' (City Lights: 1998)~~

	[[Image:6th-St-SE-at-Folsom-1926-SFPL 72dpi.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:6th-St-SE-at-Folsom-1926-SFPL 72dpi.jpg\|720px]]
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	'''Sixth Street looking southeast across Folsom Street, 1926, long before the neighborhood began to change.'''		'''Sixth Street looking southeast across Folsom Street, 1926, long before the neighborhood began to change.'''

	''Photo: ~~Charles Ruiz collection~~''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	[[Image:Folsom-St-ne-at-6th-1928-SFPL 72dpi.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:Folsom-St-ne-at-6th-1928-SFPL 72dpi.jpg\|720px]]
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	'''Folsom Street northeast across 6th Street, 1928.'''		'''Folsom Street northeast across 6th Street, 1928.'''

	''Photo: ~~Charles Ruiz collection~~''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	[[Image:Folsom-South-at-7th-1929-SFPL 72dpi.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:Folsom-South-at-7th-1929-SFPL 72dpi.jpg\|720px]]
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	'''Folsom Street west at 7th Street, 1929.'''		'''Folsom Street west at 7th Street, 1929.'''

	''Photo: ~~Charles Ruiz collection~~''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	[[Image:Folsom-Street-east-at-9th-1927-SFPL.jpg\|720px]]		[[Image:Folsom-Street-east-at-9th-1927-SFPL.jpg\|720px]]
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	'''Folsom Street east at 9th Street, 1927.'''		'''Folsom Street east at 9th Street, 1927.'''

	''Photo: ~~Charles Ruiz collection~~''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

Ccarlsson: added Charles Ruiz photo

2014-09-22T02:37:46Z

added Charles Ruiz photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:37, 21 September 2014
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	'''Folsom Street west at 7th Street, 1929.'''		'''Folsom Street west at 7th Street, 1929.'''

			''Photo: Charles Ruiz collection''

			[[Image:Folsom-Street-east-at-9th-1927-SFPL.jpg\|720px]]

			'''Folsom Street east at 9th Street, 1927.'''

	''Photo: Charles Ruiz collection''		''Photo: Charles Ruiz collection''

Ccarlsson: added Charles Ruiz photos and categories

2014-05-25T05:22:30Z

added Charles Ruiz photos and categories

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ''--Gayle Rubin, excerpted from "The Miracle Mile: South of Market and Gay Male Leather, 1962-1997" in ''Reclaiming San Francisco: History, Politics, Culture'' (City Lights: 1998)
-'''Another view from ''Black Sheets'' magazine:'''
+[[Image:6th-St-SE-at-Folsom-1926-SFPL 72dpi.jpg|720px]]
 Some gay men wanted to assert themselves in masculine, overtly sexual ways, and to find partners who shared their desire for intense sexual connection. Partly, this was in reaction to a society that treated sexuality of almost any type with shame. And certainly part of it was in rejection of a prevailing "one size fits all" effeminate stereotype for gays that did not suit them. Yet it was difficult for these men to find settings where this was not the norm. Once again, many gay men felt isolated this time, in the midst of their own.
@@ Line 57: / Line 76: @@
 [[1960: A Turning Point | Prev. Document]]  [[The 1970s: Disco Fever and Respectability | Next Document]]
-[[category:Gay and Lesbian]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:SOMA]] [[category:downtown]]  [[category:Polk Gulch]]
+[[category:Gay and Lesbian]] [[category:Public Art]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:1970s]] [[category:SOMA]] [[category:downtown]]  [[category:Polk Gulch]] [[category:1920s]] [[category:roads]]

Ccarlsson: Protected "Folsom Street: The Miracle Mile": finished essays [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-06T07:05:15Z

Protected "Folsom Street: The Miracle Mile": finished essays [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 00:05, 6 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-06T07:05:00Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:05, 6 January 2009
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essays</font></font> </font>'''

			''Part One by Gayle Rubin''

			''Part Two from ''Black Sheets'' magazine''

	[[Image:gay1$toolbox.jpg]]		[[Image:gay1$toolbox.jpg]]