Prohibition in North Beach - Revision history

Ccarlsson: added new image

2023-02-26T22:09:11Z

added new image

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:09, 26 February 2023
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	Contrary to the Hollywood depiction of the era, most speakeasies were just rectangular rooms with curtains from ceiling to floor. A waiter took the order, disappeared through an opening in the curtain, and returned with the booze. If there was an unexpected raid the owners simply changed a couple digits in the street address, the color of the curtains and reopened the next day. Of course, there were hundreds of these speakeasys throughout the city. Well, residents had to get their booze somewhere. This is where the mafia and some of their front men came in.		Contrary to the Hollywood depiction of the era, most speakeasies were just rectangular rooms with curtains from ceiling to floor. A waiter took the order, disappeared through an opening in the curtain, and returned with the booze. If there was an unexpected raid the owners simply changed a couple digits in the street address, the color of the curtains and reopened the next day. Of course, there were hundreds of these speakeasys throughout the city. Well, residents had to get their booze somewhere. This is where the mafia and some of their front men came in.

			[[Image:Unloading-confiscated-booze-from-Quadra Oct-1924 P82-019A 1466.jpg]]

			'''Federal agents unloading confiscated rum from the ''Quadra'' in October 1924.'''

			''Photo: San Francisco Maritime National Museum, P82-019A_1466''

	In 1928 Gerri Ferri, the “Don Juan of North Beach,” was the man in charge. He was later found filled with bullets in his bathroom at 490 Lombard. Ferri’s murder set off a four-year power struggle. He was soon followed in power and death by “Genaro the Magnificent” Broccolo, Mario Filippi, Alfred Scariso and Frank Bosch, “the strong man of the Sicilians,” all of whom had brief reigns. The bloodbath ended with the murder of the self proclaimed “King of North Beach Crooks,” Luigi Malvese of 1495 Grant Ave. At one time or another Malvese, had been charged for bootlegging, hijacking, extortion and gunrunning (including a plot to smuggle guns into Folsom Prison).		In 1928 Gerri Ferri, the “Don Juan of North Beach,” was the man in charge. He was later found filled with bullets in his bathroom at 490 Lombard. Ferri’s murder set off a four-year power struggle. He was soon followed in power and death by “Genaro the Magnificent” Broccolo, Mario Filippi, Alfred Scariso and Frank Bosch, “the strong man of the Sicilians,” all of whom had brief reigns. The bloodbath ended with the murder of the self proclaimed “King of North Beach Crooks,” Luigi Malvese of 1495 Grant Ave. At one time or another Malvese, had been charged for bootlegging, hijacking, extortion and gunrunning (including a plot to smuggle guns into Folsom Prison).

Ccarlsson at 04:38, 2 September 2021

2021-09-02T04:38:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:38, 1 September 2021
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	'''<font face = ~~arial light~~> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by Dick Boyd''		''by Dick Boyd''

Ccarlsson at 04:38, 2 September 2021

2021-09-02T04:38:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:38, 1 September 2021
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	'''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by Dick Boyd''		''by Dick Boyd''

Ccarlsson: fixed broken link

2009-06-17T23:23:21Z

fixed broken link

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 17 June 2009
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	''Photo: Brett Reierson''		''Photo: Brett Reierson''

	San Francisco Brewing Company, 155 Columbus (at Pacific). This is one of the few remaining historic watering holes in the area that was once the [[~~Barbary Coast~~\|Barbary Coast]], San Francisco's notorious waterfront vice district. The pub's nicely-preserved interior dates from 1907; check out the brass-trimmed mahogany bar and accompanying tile spittoon. Gangster [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Face_Nelson Babyface Nelson] was captured here, in what is now the ladies rest room. (Don't ask what he was doing in there.) What else? Oh yeah: Jack Dempsey once worked here as a bouncer.		San Francisco Brewing Company, 155 Columbus (at Pacific). This is one of the few remaining historic watering holes in the area that was once the [[BARBARY COAST\|Barbary Coast]], San Francisco's notorious waterfront vice district. The pub's nicely-preserved interior dates from 1907; check out the brass-trimmed mahogany bar and accompanying tile spittoon. Gangster [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Face_Nelson Babyface Nelson] was captured here, in what is now the ladies rest room. (Don't ask what he was doing in there.) What else? Oh yeah: Jack Dempsey once worked here as a bouncer.

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

Ccarlsson at 08:27, 14 January 2009

2009-01-14T08:27:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:27, 14 January 2009
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	In 1933 the Volstead Act was repealed and booze flowed again legally. The bootlegging business dried up, and most of the mafia boys left town encouraged by the SFPD. Many years later, in 1958, Gangster Mickey Cohen got rousted big time by the cities finest when he came to San Francisco to see his biographer, Dean Jennings. Chief Thomas Cahill simply said, “I have a sworn obligation to the people of San Francisco to protect them.” The word was out that the mafia thugs were not welcome in the city—even on a literary sojourn.		In 1933 the Volstead Act was repealed and booze flowed again legally. The bootlegging business dried up, and most of the mafia boys left town encouraged by the SFPD. Many years later, in 1958, Gangster Mickey Cohen got rousted big time by the cities finest when he came to San Francisco to see his biographer, Dean Jennings. Chief Thomas Cahill simply said, “I have a sworn obligation to the people of San Francisco to protect them.” The word was out that the mafia thugs were not welcome in the city—even on a literary sojourn.

	''Dick Boyd is the author of '''Broadway North Beach, The Golden Years'''''		''Dick Boyd is the author of '''[http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100670370 Broadway North Beach, The Golden Years]'''''<br>
	''reproduced from '''The Semaphore''' #185, publication of the [http://www.thd.org Telegraph Hill Dwellers Association].''		''reproduced from '''The Semaphore''' #185, publication of the [http://www.thd.org Telegraph Hill Dwellers Association].''

Ccarlsson: Protected "Prohibition in North Beach": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-14T08:25:36Z

Protected "Prohibition in North Beach": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:25, 14 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: Babyface Nelson Busted in Ladies Room moved to Prohibition in North Beach: new, improved content in addition to original shallow piece from Dr. Weirde

2009-01-14T08:25:17Z

Babyface Nelson Busted in Ladies Room moved to Prohibition in North Beach: new, improved content in addition to original shallow piece from Dr. Weirde

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:25, 14 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson at 08:24, 14 January 2009

2009-01-14T08:24:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:24, 14 January 2009
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	''Dick Boyd is the author of '''Broadway North Beach, The Golden Years'''''		''Dick Boyd is the author of '''Broadway North Beach, The Golden Years'''''
			''reproduced from '''The Semaphore''' #185, publication of the [http://www.thd.org Telegraph Hill Dwellers Association].''

	<~~fontsize~~=4>Babyface Nelson Busted in Ladies Room</font>		<font size=4>Babyface Nelson Busted in Ladies Room</font>

	[[Image:norbeach$sf-brewing-co.jpg]]		[[Image:norbeach$sf-brewing-co.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 08:23, 14 January 2009

2009-01-14T08:23:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:23, 14 January 2009
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	During Prohibition speakeasies flourished in North Beach. There was Portuguese immigrant Izzy Gomez’s place at 848 Pacific. The joint became writer William Saroyan’s watering hole of choice. The Hotel D’Oloron on Columbus between Pacific and Jackson was opened by Basque immigrants. What later became Mooney’s Irish Pub at 1525 Grant had a 600 sq/ft speakeasy in its basement next to a Bocce Ball Court.		During Prohibition speakeasies flourished in North Beach. There was Portuguese immigrant Izzy Gomez’s place at 848 Pacific. The joint became writer William Saroyan’s watering hole of choice. The Hotel D’Oloron on Columbus between Pacific and Jackson was opened by Basque immigrants. What later became Mooney’s Irish Pub at 1525 Grant had a 600 sq/ft speakeasy in its basement next to a Bocce Ball Court.

	[[Image:Izzy gomez 1944 AAD-2914~~.jpg]] [[Image:Izzy-Gomez-tavern-AAB-1768~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Izzy gomez 1944 AAD-2914.jpg]]

	'''GOING, GOING--This is Izzy Gomez (~~left~~, 1944) and his old place on Pacific Ave., favorite haunt of many a San Franciscan in days not so long gone by. (right) Beneath a sagging ceiling, and oblivious to the faded mural before him, a workman goes about the chore of ripping out the paneling in Izzy Gomez’ place. The old hangout is being wrecked, and many a San Francisco memory goes with it. Nov. 18, 1952.'''<br>		[[Image:Izzy-Gomez-tavern-AAB-1768.jpg]]

			'''GOING, GOING--This is Izzy Gomez (above, 1944) and his old place on Pacific Ave., favorite haunt of many a San Franciscan in days not so long gone by.''' <br>
	''Photos: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''		''Photos: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''

	[[Image:Izzy-gomez-bar-mural-being-dismantled-AAB-1769.jpg]]		[[Image:Izzy-gomez-bar-mural-being-dismantled-AAB-1769.jpg]]

			'''Beneath a sagging ceiling, and oblivious to the faded mural before him, a workman goes about the chore of ripping out the paneling in Izzy Gomez’ place. The old hangout is being wrecked, and many a San Francisco memory goes with it. Nov. 18, 1952.'''<br>
			''Photos: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''

	Contrary to the Hollywood depiction of the era, most speakeasies were just rectangular rooms with curtains from ceiling to floor. A waiter took the order, disappeared through an opening in the curtain, and returned with the booze. If there was an unexpected raid the owners simply changed a couple digits in the street address, the color of the curtains and reopened the next day. Of course, there were hundreds of these speakeasys throughout the city. Well, residents had to get their booze somewhere. This is where the mafia and some of their front men came in.		Contrary to the Hollywood depiction of the era, most speakeasies were just rectangular rooms with curtains from ceiling to floor. A waiter took the order, disappeared through an opening in the curtain, and returned with the booze. If there was an unexpected raid the owners simply changed a couple digits in the street address, the color of the curtains and reopened the next day. Of course, there were hundreds of these speakeasys throughout the city. Well, residents had to get their booze somewhere. This is where the mafia and some of their front men came in.

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-14T08:21:08Z

PC and protected

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 [[Image:norbeach$sf-brewing-co.jpg]]
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 ''Photo: Brett Reierson''
-San Francisco Brewing Company, 155 Columbus (at Pacific). This is one of the few remaining historic watering holes in the area that was once the Barbary Coast, San Francisco's notorious waterfront vice district. The pub's nicely-preserved interior dates from 1907; check out the brass-trimmed mahogany bar and accompanying tile spittoon. Gangster [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Face_Nelson Babyface Nelson] was captured here, in what is now the ladies rest room. (Dont ask what he was doing in there.) What else? Oh yeah: Jack Dempsey once worked here as a bouncer.
+San Francisco Brewing Company, 155 Columbus (at Pacific). This is one of the few remaining historic watering holes in the area that was once the [[Barbary Coast|Barbary Coast]], San Francisco's notorious waterfront vice district. The pub's nicely-preserved interior dates from 1907; check out the brass-trimmed mahogany bar and accompanying tile spittoon. Gangster [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Face_Nelson Babyface Nelson] was captured here, in what is now the ladies rest room. (Don't ask what he was doing in there.) What else? Oh yeah: Jack Dempsey once worked here as a bouncer.
 ''--Dr. Weirde''
+[[Merry Pranksters Serve LSD-Laced Punch  |Prev. Document]]  [[Fisherman's Wharf |Next Document]]
 [[category:North Beach]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:1900s]]