The Boarding House (nightclub)

The Boarding House was a music and comedy nightclub, located at 960 Bush Street in San Francisco, California, opened by David Allen in 1971 and closed in the early 1980s.^[1] Many comedians launched their career at The Boarding House including Robin Williams. Steve Martin's first three albums were recorded there, Let's Get Small, A Wild and Crazy Guy, and Comedy Is Not Pretty!, in whole or in part. Ellen DeGeneres and Jay Leno have said they first met at The Boarding House.^[2]

The club was also host to a multitude of musical acts, such as Jerry Garcia, Dire Straits,^[3] Dolly Parton, Patti Smith, Neil Young, Bette Midler, Billy Joel, Bob Marley and the Wailers,^[4] Mason Williams, The Tubes, Talking Heads,^[5] Old & In the Way, Randy Newman, Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks,^[6] Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, Hoyt Axton, Camel, and Tom Waits. The Residents also first played there.

Pre-history and David Allen[edit]

Before opening the Boarding House in 1971, New Jersey-born David Allen had operated a target range on the top floor of California Hall on Polk Street, and performed as a repertory theater actor and as KPIX's "Deputy Dave."^[1] In the 1960s, he worked with Enrico Banducci at the hungry i and helped nurture the careers of Barbra Streisand and Lenny Bruce. After he opened The Boarding House in 1971, he helped launch many noted comedians and musicians of the 1970s and 80s by booking them early in their career.^[1]

Entertainers and writers have noted that Allen was "genial",^[1] "loved and respected"^[7] but frequently in financial difficulties and often kept The Boarding House running "on charm alone," relying on benefits performed by stars whose careers he had launched.^[8]

Bush Street location[edit]

History[edit]

Prior to the 1906 earthquake, the address was an apartment building called The Cecil.^[9] After the earthquake and resulting fire, it was rebuilt as a theater and known by many names over the years, including the Kamokila, Fack's II,^[10] The Royal Hawaiian Theater,^[11] The Bush Street Music Hall, The Balalaika Music Hall, The Troubadour North,^[12] in 1970, finally becoming The Boarding House in 1971.

Media coverage[edit]

The club was featured in Billboard in 1974^[13] and by 1977, the same magazine called it "the city's top nightclub for major name entertainment."^[14] Robin Williams described David Allen and Bay Area entertainment reviewer John Wasserman as "like a team". "David would find these strange unique talents and John's reviews would get people in."^[15]

Columbus Street location and closure[edit]

After a disastrous fire, the Bush Street building was torn down in July 1980 and replaced by condominiums.^[16]

Dave Allen reopened the club for a short time at 901 Columbus Ave in the city's North Beach district,^[1] where comedians Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin and Paula Poundstone performed. The club had closed by 1982; Allen died on May 25, 1984.^[1][17][18]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Boardinghouse, San Francisco, CA, USA Concert Setlists - setlist.fm
• Boarding House, 960 Bush St., San Francisco, CA - Jerry's Brokendown Palaces
• December 12-13, 1974: The Boarding House, Garcia and Saunders (canceled) - Lost Live Dead
• The Boarding House - Discogs
• Boarding House - rocktourdatabase.com
• San Francisco, the Musical History Tour By Joel Selvin
• Venue: The Boarding House - Rate Your Music
• Berkeley Barb June 18-24, 1971 — Independent Voices
• Berkeley Barb Jan. 18-24, 1974 — Independent Voices

37°47′23″N 122°24′47″W / 37.78968°N 122.41316°W / 37.78968; -122.41316