Oofty Goofty Stars in Romeo and Juliet - Revision history

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2020-05-25T22:23:38Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 15:23, 25 May 2020
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	[[category:downtown]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:North Beach]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Performing Arts]] [[category:1850s]]		[[category:downtown]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:North Beach]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Performing Arts]] [[category:1850s]]

Ccarlsson at 05:09, 24 December 2014

2014-12-24T05:09:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:09, 23 December 2014
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	''by Dr. Weirde''		''by Dr. Weirde''

	[[Image:~~chinatwn$bella-union~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Bella Union Portsmouth Square, Jan 1851 detail Nick.jpg\|720px\|thumb]]

	'''~~Photograph of a later incarnation of the~~ Bella Union~~, first run as a gambling hall in 1848 along~~ Portsmouth Square.'''		'''Bella Union on Portsmouth Square, January 1851.'''

	''Photo: ~~San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library~~''		''Photo: courtesy Nick Wright''

	Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting [[BARBARY COAST\|burlesque sideshows]], which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.		Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting [[BARBARY COAST\|burlesque sideshows]], which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.
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	Practically every male in San Francisco, from the movers and shakers to the lowest denizens of the Barbary Coast, could brag of having banged on Oofty at least once. But finally, after decades of suffering the painless blows of fate, Oofty suffered the inevitable fatal blow. Heavyweight champ John L. Sullivan busted his spine with a pool cue, and Oofty died broke a couple of years later.		Practically every male in San Francisco, from the movers and shakers to the lowest denizens of the Barbary Coast, could brag of having banged on Oofty at least once. But finally, after decades of suffering the painless blows of fate, Oofty suffered the inevitable fatal blow. Heavyweight champ John L. Sullivan busted his spine with a pool cue, and Oofty died broke a couple of years later.

			[[Image:chinatwn$bella-union.jpg]]

			'''Photograph of a later incarnation of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848 along Portsmouth Square.'''

			''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

Ccarlsson: deleted Holiday Inn references as per Nick Wright's emailed correction

2014-12-12T20:46:35Z

deleted Holiday Inn references as per Nick Wright's emailed correction

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:46, 12 December 2014
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	[[Image:chinatwn$bella-union.jpg]]		[[Image:chinatwn$bella-union.jpg]]

	'''Photograph of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848~~, was the home of diverse entertainments~~.'''		'''Photograph of a later incarnation of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848 along Portsmouth Square.'''

	''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	~~[[Image:chinatwn$holiday-inn-and-pyramid.jpg]]~~

	~~'''The Holiday Inn (foreground) and the TransAmerica Pyramid behind it.'''~~

	~~''Photo: Chris Carlsson''~~

	The Holiday Inn on Kearney Street is not a pleasant sight. Even uglier than the hole in the ground where the [[The Battle for the International Hotel \| I-Hotel]] used to be, this grotesque eyesore defaces San Francisco's most historic park, Portsmouth Square. But behind the tasteless, overpriced tourist trap lurks the ghost of one of San Francisco's most fascinating buildings.

	Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting [[BARBARY COAST\|burlesque sideshows]], which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.		Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting [[BARBARY COAST\|burlesque sideshows]], which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.

Ccarlsson: Protected "Oofty Goofty Stars in Romeo and Juliet": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-02T23:16:11Z

Protected "Oofty Goofty Stars in Romeo and Juliet": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:16, 2 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-02T23:15:59Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:15, 2 January 2009
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Dr. Weirde''

	[[Image:chinatwn$bella-union.jpg]]		[[Image:chinatwn$bella-union.jpg]]

	'''Photograph of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848, was the home of diverse entertainments.'''		'''Photograph of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848, was the home of diverse entertainments.'''

	''Photo: San Francisco History ~~Room~~, San Francisco Public Library''		''Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library''

	[[Image:chinatwn$holiday-inn-and-pyramid.jpg]]		[[Image:chinatwn$holiday-inn-and-pyramid.jpg]]
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	The Holiday Inn on Kearney Street is not a pleasant sight. Even uglier than the hole in the ground where the [[The Battle for the International Hotel \| I-Hotel]] used to be, this grotesque eyesore defaces San Francisco's most historic park, Portsmouth Square. But behind the tasteless, overpriced tourist trap lurks the ghost of one of San Francisco's most fascinating buildings.		The Holiday Inn on Kearney Street is not a pleasant sight. Even uglier than the hole in the ground where the [[The Battle for the International Hotel \| I-Hotel]] used to be, this grotesque eyesore defaces San Francisco's most historic park, Portsmouth Square. But behind the tasteless, overpriced tourist trap lurks the ghost of one of San Francisco's most fascinating buildings.

	Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting burlesque sideshows, which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.		Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting [[BARBARY COAST\|burlesque sideshows]], which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.

	As she gained fame, the manager of the Bella Union hired her and put her on display in an empty storefront on Market Street as "Big Bertha, the Queen of the Confidence Women, Admission Ten Cents." Bertha's act consisted of a long "confession" of awful crimes she had never committed, followed by an off-key rendition of "A Flower from My Angel Mother's Grave." This went over so well that she took her act to the Bella Union and turned in into a song-and-dance revue, which soon became the toast of the town.		As she gained fame, the manager of the Bella Union hired her and put her on display in an empty storefront on Market Street as "Big Bertha, the Queen of the Confidence Women, Admission Ten Cents." Bertha's act consisted of a long "confession" of awful crimes she had never committed, followed by an off-key rendition of "A Flower from My Angel Mother's Grave." This went over so well that she took her act to the Bella Union and turned in into a song-and-dance revue, which soon became the toast of the town.
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	Practically every male in San Francisco, from the movers and shakers to the lowest denizens of the Barbary Coast, could brag of having banged on Oofty at least once. But finally, after decades of suffering the painless blows of fate, Oofty suffered the inevitable fatal blow. Heavyweight champ John L. Sullivan busted his spine with a pool cue, and Oofty died broke a couple of years later.		Practically every male in San Francisco, from the movers and shakers to the lowest denizens of the Barbary Coast, could brag of having banged on Oofty at least once. But finally, after decades of suffering the painless blows of fate, Oofty suffered the inevitable fatal blow. Heavyweight champ John L. Sullivan busted his spine with a pool cue, and Oofty died broke a couple of years later.

	~~''-- Dr. Weirde''~~

Ccarlsson at 23:50, 22 September 2008

2008-09-22T23:50:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:50, 22 September 2008
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	[[~~Chinese Exclusion Law~~ \| Prev. Document]] [[~~Chinese Telephone Exchange~~ \| Next Document]]		[[Mission Works 1880 \| Prev. Document]] [[Money on Conspicuous Display \| Next Document]]

	[[category:downtown]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:North Beach]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Performing Arts]] [[category:1850s]]		[[category:downtown]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:North Beach]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Performing Arts]] [[category:1850s]]

Ccarlsson at 23:48, 22 September 2008

2008-09-22T23:48:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 22 September 2008
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	Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting burlesque sideshows, which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.		Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting burlesque sideshows, which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.

	As she gained fame, the manager of the Bella Union hired her and put her on display in an empty storefront on Market Street as ~~Big~~ Bertha, the Queen of the Confidence Women, Admission Ten Cents. Bertha's act consisted of a long ~~confession~~ of awful crimes she had never committed, followed by an off-key rendition of A Flower from My Angel Mother's Grave. This went over so well that she took her act to the Bella Union and turned in into a song-and-dance revue, which soon became the toast of the town.		As she gained fame, the manager of the Bella Union hired her and put her on display in an empty storefront on Market Street as "Big Bertha, the Queen of the Confidence Women, Admission Ten Cents." Bertha's act consisted of a long "confession" of awful crimes she had never committed, followed by an off-key rendition of "A Flower from My Angel Mother's Grave." This went over so well that she took her act to the Bella Union and turned in into a song-and-dance revue, which soon became the toast of the town.

	Meanwhile, another star named Oofty Goofty, plastered with tar and horsehair, was wowing them with his Wild Man of Borneo Act, during which he repeatedly snarled out his name while shredding hunks of raw meat with his teeth. The management at the Bella Union, seeing the natural chemistry between San Francisco's biggest female and male stars, decided to cast Oofty and Bertha as the leads in Shakespeare's ''Romeo and Juliet''. Their move was a decade ahead of its time, for it wasn't until 1896 that Alfred Jarry destroyed ''Macbeth'' with his outrageous parody ''Ubu Roi''. Though the Bella Union version of ''Romeo and Juliet'' pretty much stuck to the original script, a few minor revisions in stage directions were necessary. Big Bertha was so heavy she couldn't possibly be hoisted to the balcony, which wouldn't have supported her in any case. So Oofty Goofy howled out Romeo's lines from the balcony, while Bertha played Juliet from the ground. Oofty Goofy, unable to shed his typecast persona, played Romeo as the wild man of Borneo; Bertha emerged from each performance covered with bruises from head to toe. But her fortitude and talent paid off; eventually, she became the owner and manager of the Bella Union.		Meanwhile, another star named Oofty Goofty, plastered with tar and horsehair, was wowing them with his Wild Man of Borneo Act, during which he repeatedly snarled out his name while shredding hunks of raw meat with his teeth. The management at the Bella Union, seeing the natural chemistry between San Francisco's biggest female and male stars, decided to cast Oofty and Bertha as the leads in Shakespeare's ''Romeo and Juliet''. Their move was a decade ahead of its time, for it wasn't until 1896 that Alfred Jarry destroyed ''Macbeth'' with his outrageous parody ''Ubu Roi''. Though the Bella Union version of ''Romeo and Juliet'' pretty much stuck to the original script, a few minor revisions in stage directions were necessary. Big Bertha was so heavy she couldn't possibly be hoisted to the balcony, which wouldn't have supported her in any case. So Oofty Goofy howled out Romeo's lines from the balcony, while Bertha played Juliet from the ground. Oofty Goofy, unable to shed his typecast persona, played Romeo as the wild man of Borneo; Bertha emerged from each performance covered with bruises from head to toe. But her fortitude and talent paid off; eventually, she became the owner and manager of the Bella Union.

Ccarlsson at 07:46, 15 August 2008

2008-08-15T07:46:48Z

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Photograph of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848, was the home of diverse entertainments.'''
 The Holiday Inn on Kearney Street is not a pleasant sight. Even uglier than the hole in the ground where the [[The Battle for the International Hotel | I-Hotel]] used to be, this grotesque eyesore defaces San Francisco's most historic park, Portsmouth Square. But behind the tasteless, overpriced tourist trap lurks the ghost of one of San Francisco's most fascinating buildings.
@@ Line 18: / Line 26: @@
 ''-- Dr. Weirde''

Ccarlsson: categories and links

2008-08-15T07:46:07Z

categories and links

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:46, 15 August 2008
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	[[Image:chinatwn$bella-union.jpg]]		[[Image:chinatwn$bella-union.jpg]]

	Photograph of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848, was the home of diverse entertainments.		'''Photograph of the Bella Union, first run as a gambling hall in 1848, was the home of diverse entertainments.'''

	~~Kearney Street across from Portsmouth Square, now the Holiday Inn, formerly the site of the Bella Union.~~		The Holiday Inn on Kearney Street is not a pleasant sight. Even uglier than the hole in the ground where the [[The Battle for the International Hotel \| I-Hotel]] used to be, this grotesque eyesore defaces San Francisco's most historic park, Portsmouth Square. But behind the tasteless, overpriced tourist trap lurks the ghost of one of San Francisco's most fascinating buildings.

	The Holiday Inn on Kearney Street is not a pleasant sight. Even uglier than the hole in the ground where the [[The Battle for the International Hotel I-Hotel]] used to be, this grotesque eyesore defaces San Francisco's most historic park, Portsmouth Square. But behind the tasteless, overpriced tourist trap lurks the ghost of one of San Francisco's most fascinating buildings.

	Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting burlesque sideshows, which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.		Built as a gambling palace in 1849, the Bella Union quickly began hosting burlesque sideshows, which eventually supplanted gambling as the main attraction. Its ''biggest'' star was a 19th-century performance artist named Big Bertha. An unusually massive woman, Bertha first showed up in San Francisco claiming to be a wealthy widow in search of a man to help protect her fortune. When a suitor appeared, she asked him put up a sum of money as an indication of good faith, to be invested in a private concern of hers. Big Bertha's suitors never saw their money again, and refused to press charges for fear of public ridicule.
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	[[Image:chinatwn$holiday-inn-and-pyramid.jpg]]		[[Image:chinatwn$holiday-inn-and-pyramid.jpg]]

	The Holiday Inn (foreground) and the TransAmerica Pyramid behind it.		'''The Holiday Inn (foreground) and the TransAmerica Pyramid behind it.'''

	~~Contributors to this page include~~:		''Photo: Chris Carlsson''

	''~~Carlsson~~,~~Chris - Photographer-Artist~~ ''		''Photo: San Francisco History Room, San Francisco Public Library''

	~~San Francisco Public Library,San Francisco,CA - Publisher or Photographer~~

	~~Weirde,Dr~~. ~~- Writer~~		[[Chinese Exclusion Law \| Prev. Document]] [[Chinese Telephone Exchange \| Next Document]]

	[[~~Chinese Exclusion Law Prev. Document~~]] [[~~Chinese Telephone Exchange Next Document~~]]		[[category:downtown]] [[category:Chinatown]] [[category:North Beach]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:Performing Arts]] [[category:1850s]]

Admin: 1 revision(s)

2007-10-07T21:54:35Z

1 revision(s)

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:54, 7 October 2007
(No difference)