The Bohemian Oligarchy - Revision history

Lisaruth: added date to byline

2025-10-25T19:13:25Z

added date to byline

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:13, 25 October 2025
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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <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 Jim Fisher''		''by Jim Fisher, 1998''

	[[Image:Bohemian-club-3.jpg]]		[[Image:Bohemian-club-3.jpg]]

Ccarlsson at 04:31, 9 March 2020

2020-03-09T04:31:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:31, 8 March 2020
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	[[Image:Bohemian Grove performance.jpg\|800px]]		[[Image:Bohemian Grove performance.jpg\|800px]]

	'''Performance at Bohemian Grove, c. ~~1900~~.'''		'''Performance at Bohemian Grove, c. 1925.'''

	''Photo: via Facebook''		''Photo: via Facebook''

Ccarlsson: added photo

2020-03-09T04:30:36Z

added photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:30, 8 March 2020
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	Yet it was this co-opting of San Francisco's creative energies that perpetuated the Bohemian Club's reputation for culture. According to the San Francisco writer John Van Der Zee, the Bohemian Jinks represent "an endorsement of the propertied man's deep convictions about the arts: we could do it, if we wanted to." (p.46)		Yet it was this co-opting of San Francisco's creative energies that perpetuated the Bohemian Club's reputation for culture. According to the San Francisco writer John Van Der Zee, the Bohemian Jinks represent "an endorsement of the propertied man's deep convictions about the arts: we could do it, if we wanted to." (p.46)

			[[Image:Bohemian Grove performance.jpg\|800px]]

			'''Performance at Bohemian Grove, c. 1900.'''

			''Photo: via Facebook''

Ccarlsson at 03:21, 19 November 2011

2011-11-19T03:21:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:21, 18 November 2011
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	''by Jim Fisher''		''by Jim Fisher''

	[[Image:~~rulclas1$bohemian~~-~~jinks~~-~~photo~~.jpg]]		[[Image:Bohemian-club-3.jpg]]

			'''Bohemian Club members enjoy a club retreat in early 20th century.'''


			[[Image:Bohemian-grove-0905-06.jpg]]

	'''~~Participants~~ in ~~an early~~ Bohemian ~~Club "Jinks" indulge their inner kings during a session with SF photographer Gabriel Moulin~~, ~~c. 1907~~. '''		'''Outdoor dining at turn of 20th century under the redwoods in Bohemian Grove, Sonoma County.'''

	~~''photo: Bancroft Library, Berkeley, CA''~~

	When Rudyard Kipling visited San Francisco in 1889, he attended a dinner party at the already-famous Bohemian Club, then located near the corner of Pine and Montgomery. In a published account of his travels, ''American Notes'', he described the evening as being distinguished by a "most unrepublican luxury:"		When Rudyard Kipling visited San Francisco in 1889, he attended a dinner party at the already-famous Bohemian Club, then located near the corner of Pine and Montgomery. In a published account of his travels, ''American Notes'', he described the evening as being distinguished by a "most unrepublican luxury:"
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	What Kipling observed was in fact the founding spirit of the Bohemian Club, which started as an informal association of journalists, artists and writers meeting at the home of ''Chronicle'' columnist James Bowman in the early 1870's. By the time of Kipling's visit, however, the club was already on its way to becoming the sort of center of high-profile business and political leaders that would have Barry Goldwater announce ingenuously upon entering the club's campground in 1964, "I've been trying to get here for 10 years."		What Kipling observed was in fact the founding spirit of the Bohemian Club, which started as an informal association of journalists, artists and writers meeting at the home of ''Chronicle'' columnist James Bowman in the early 1870's. By the time of Kipling's visit, however, the club was already on its way to becoming the sort of center of high-profile business and political leaders that would have Barry Goldwater announce ingenuously upon entering the club's campground in 1964, "I've been trying to get here for 10 years."

			[[Image:rulclas1$bohemian-jinks-photo.jpg]]

			'''Participants in an early Bohemian Club "Jinks" indulge their inner kings during a session with SF photographer Gabriel Moulin, c. 1907. '''

			''photo: Bancroft Library, Berkeley, CA''

	The original gatherings were planned as Sunday breakfasts at Bowman's home on Russian Hill, though they often lasted through dinner and involved proportionate amounts of wine and rant, the tablecloth becoming covered with the inspired doodlings of its guests. According to a popular account, the hostess frequently refused to wash the table linens, preserving them as a kind of impromptu guest-book of her salon.		The original gatherings were planned as Sunday breakfasts at Bowman's home on Russian Hill, though they often lasted through dinner and involved proportionate amounts of wine and rant, the tablecloth becoming covered with the inspired doodlings of its guests. According to a popular account, the hostess frequently refused to wash the table linens, preserving them as a kind of impromptu guest-book of her salon.

Ccarlsson: Protected "The Bohemian Oligarchy": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-17T08:04:53Z

Protected "The Bohemian Oligarchy": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 01:04, 17 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-17T08:04:37Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:04, 17 January 2009
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Jim Fisher''

	[[Image:rulclas1$bohemian-jinks-photo.jpg]]		[[Image:rulclas1$bohemian-jinks-photo.jpg]]

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	Yet it was this co-opting of San Francisco's creative energies that perpetuated the Bohemian Club's reputation for culture. According to the San Francisco writer John Van Der Zee, the Bohemian Jinks represent "an endorsement of the propertied man's deep convictions about the arts: we could do it, if we wanted to." (p.46)		Yet it was this co-opting of San Francisco's creative energies that perpetuated the Bohemian Club's reputation for culture. According to the San Francisco writer John Van Der Zee, the Bohemian Jinks represent "an endorsement of the propertied man's deep convictions about the arts: we could do it, if we wanted to." (p.46)

	~~''--Jim Fisher''~~

Ccarlsson at 22:33, 24 August 2008

2008-08-24T22:33:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:33, 24 August 2008
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	''--Jim Fisher''		''--Jim Fisher''


	[[LEVI'S: Blue Jean Kings \|Prev. Document]] [[A RADICAL, WORKING CLASS US SENATOR??? \|Next Document]]		[[LEVI'S: Blue Jean Kings \|Prev. Document]] [[A RADICAL, WORKING CLASS US SENATOR??? \|Next Document]]

Ccarlsson: fixed categories

2008-07-28T02:54:32Z

fixed categories

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:54, 27 July 2008
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	[[category:Power and Money]][[category:Literary San Francisco]][[category:1870s]][[category:~~1870-1965~~]]		[[category:Power and Money]][[category:Literary San Francisco]][[category:1870s]][[category:1890s]] [[category:1900s]] [[category:1960s]]

Lisaruth at 20:18, 14 July 2008

2008-07-14T20:18:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:18, 14 July 2008
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	The original gatherings were planned as Sunday breakfasts at Bowman's home on Russian Hill, though they often lasted through dinner and involved proportionate amounts of wine and rant, the tablecloth becoming covered with the inspired doodlings of its guests. According to a popular account, the hostess frequently refused to wash the table linens, preserving them as a kind of impromptu guest-book of her salon.		The original gatherings were planned as Sunday breakfasts at Bowman's home on Russian Hill, though they often lasted through dinner and involved proportionate amounts of wine and rant, the tablecloth becoming covered with the inspired doodlings of its guests. According to a popular account, the hostess frequently refused to wash the table linens, preserving them as a kind of impromptu guest-book of her salon.

	Within a year the Sunday festivals had tripled in size, attracting some of the most talented writers and artists of the city, including the great illustrator Jules Tavernier and the columnist [[The Wickedest Man in San Francisco: Ambrose Bierce Ambrose Bierce]]. Needless to say, the salon's popularity also succeeded in attracting its share of poseurs and freeloaders, creating a need for a private meeting space and a well-managed guest list.		Within a year the Sunday festivals had tripled in size, attracting some of the most talented writers and artists of the city, including the great illustrator Jules Tavernier and the columnist [[The Wickedest Man in San Francisco: Ambrose Bierce \| Ambrose Bierce]]. Needless to say, the salon's popularity also succeeded in attracting its share of poseurs and freeloaders, creating a need for a private meeting space and a well-managed guest list.

	In 1872 Bowman relocated the club to the back rooms of a local watering hole, "Jolly Corks." It was here, among an all-male crowd of intellectual revelers, that a club charter was finally drafted promoting alcohol, argument and "good-fellowship among journalists." Artists, writers, and actors were also welcome, provided the membership approved and received payment of annual dues. It was also at Jolly Corks that the club began staging the in-house performances that would distinguish it through the coming century. It called the events "Jinks," after an old Scottish drinking game of wits.		In 1872 Bowman relocated the club to the back rooms of a local watering hole, "Jolly Corks." It was here, among an all-male crowd of intellectual revelers, that a club charter was finally drafted promoting alcohol, argument and "good-fellowship among journalists." Artists, writers, and actors were also welcome, provided the membership approved and received payment of annual dues. It was also at Jolly Corks that the club began staging the in-house performances that would distinguish it through the coming century. It called the events "Jinks," after an old Scottish drinking game of wits.

Lisaruth: categories, credits, proofreading, fixed broken links

2008-06-27T20:21:06Z

categories, credits, proofreading, fixed broken links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:21, 27 June 2008
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	'''Participants in an early Bohemian Club "Jinks" indulge their inner kings during a session with SF photographer Gabriel Moulin, c. 1907. '''		'''Participants in an early Bohemian Club "Jinks" indulge their inner kings during a session with SF photographer Gabriel Moulin, c. 1907. '''

			''photo: Bancroft Library, Berkeley, CA''

	When Rudyard Kipling visited San Francisco in 1889, he attended a dinner party at the already-famous Bohemian Club, then located near the corner of Pine and Montgomery. In a published account of his travels, ''American Notes'', he described the evening as being distinguished by a "most unrepublican luxury:"		When Rudyard Kipling visited San Francisco in 1889, he attended a dinner party at the already-famous Bohemian Club, then located near the corner of Pine and Montgomery. In a published account of his travels, ''American Notes'', he described the evening as being distinguished by a "most unrepublican luxury:"
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	By 1890, even the publisher William Randolph Hearst was an honorary member of the Bohemian Club -- a complete about -face from the club's original charter excluding owners of newspapers. Soon the annual encampments themselves had become privileged, luxuriant affairs. As the critic and Bohemian Club member Porter Garnett would write in his 1908 defense of the club's so-called "grove plays:"		By 1890, even the publisher William Randolph Hearst was an honorary member of the Bohemian Club -- a complete about -face from the club's original charter excluding owners of newspapers. Soon the annual encampments themselves had become privileged, luxuriant affairs. As the critic and Bohemian Club member Porter Garnett would write in his 1908 defense of the club's so-called "grove plays:"

	''... The organization and equipment of such a camp has, in late years, assumed colossal proportions and involves the expense of many thousands of dollars.'' (Garnett, p. 17)		''"... The organization and equipment of such a camp has, in late years, assumed colossal proportions and involves the expense of many thousands of dollars."'' (Garnett, p. 17)

	Garnett, though a talented critic in his own right, was nonetheless one of the turn of the century Bohemians lured to the club by the promise of patronage by its affluent membership. Other such "associate" members included the poet [[GEORGE STERLING George Sterling]], the writer and (nominal) socialist [[JACK LONDON Jack London]] and the playwright Will Irwin.		Garnett, though a talented critic in his own right, was nonetheless one of the turn of the century Bohemians lured to the club by the promise of patronage by its affluent membership. Other such "associate" members included the poet [[GEORGE STERLING \| George Sterling]], the writer and (nominal) socialist [[JACK LONDON \| Jack London]] and the playwright Will Irwin.

	Initiation fees and annual dues for associate members were waived, but with a big catch: the so-called "creatives" were expected to write and produce the club's entertainments for the year, including monthly productions at the club's city quarters, the farcical "Low Jinks" at the annual encampment at the Russian River, and most importantly the flagship "High Jinks," an idiosyncratic dramatic convention enacted on a redwood stage and characteristically enlisting large numbers of faeries, sprites and paunchy bankers among the cast.		Initiation fees and annual dues for associate members were waived, but with a big catch: the so-called "creatives" were expected to write and produce the club's entertainments for the year, including monthly productions at the club's city quarters, the farcical "Low Jinks" at the annual encampment at the Russian River, and most importantly the flagship "High Jinks," an idiosyncratic dramatic convention enacted on a redwood stage and characteristically enlisting large numbers of faeries, sprites and paunchy bankers among the cast.
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	Yet it was this co-opting of San Francisco's creative energies that perpetuated the Bohemian Club's reputation for culture. According to the San Francisco writer John Van Der Zee, the Bohemian Jinks represent "an endorsement of the propertied man's deep convictions about the arts: we could do it, if we wanted to." (p.46)		Yet it was this co-opting of San Francisco's creative energies that perpetuated the Bohemian Club's reputation for culture. According to the San Francisco writer John Van Der Zee, the Bohemian Jinks represent "an endorsement of the propertied man's deep convictions about the arts: we could do it, if we wanted to." (p.46)

	-- ''Jim Fisher''		''--Jim Fisher''

	~~Contributors to this page include:~~

	~~''Bancroft Library,Berkeley,CA - Publisher or Photographer~~ ''

	~~Moulin~~,~~Gabriel - Photographer-Artist~~		[[LEVI'S: Blue Jean Kings \|Prev. Document]] [[A RADICAL, WORKING CLASS US SENATOR??? \|Next Document]]

	~~Fisher,Jim - Writer~~

	[[~~LEVI'S~~: ~~Blue Jean Kings \|Prev. Document~~]] [[~~A RADICAL, WORKING CLASS US SENATOR??? \|Next Document~~]]		[[category:Power and Money]][[category:Literary San Francisco]][[category:1870s]][[category:1870-1965]]