Carol Doda, San Francisco Icon

Posted on January 23, 2012 by bancexam

Do you recognize this well-known North Beach figure? She’s seen here with visiting members of the Italian and Brazilian soccer teams at the Palace Hotel on Market Street, although her claim to fame has nothing to do with team sports. More like spectator sports.

Carol Doda displays her talents with visiting Brazilian and Italian soccer players, 1967. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P180, Folder: Doda, Carol — Topless

Carol Doda made history in June of 1964 when she performed at the Condor Club in a topless swimsuit, euphemistically dubbed a “monokini.” The first nightclub dancer of the era to go topless, Doda’s act was an instant sensation and set a trend soon adopted by every nightclub in the city. Many of the delegates attending the Republican National Convention in San Francisco that summer paid the Condor a visit to take in a little local color.

It took nearly a year for the forces of virtue to muster enough outrage in permissively hip San Francisco to get the vice squad to act on the obvious obscenities on display in the North Beach nightclubs. Doda and a few dozen other dancers and club owners were arrested on charges of “outraging public decency” and “lewd and dissolute conduct.” Justice was swift – presiding Judge Leo Friedman instructed the jury to return a verdict of innocent on the grounds that “Whether acts … are lewd and dissolute depends not on any individual’s interpretation or personal opinion, but on the consensus of the entire community … the test is what the people of San Francisco feel.”

Carol Doda acquitted on indecency charge, 1965. United Press International.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P180, Folder: Doda, Carol — Topless

Doda’s larger-than-life persona was immortalized in a patch of cement in front of the Condor Club in 1972; sadly, the impression no longer exists, but Carol Doda, defender of the Constitution, abides in our collective memories … and in the flesh as the proprietor of a lingerie boutique in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco.

For a more detailed account of Carol Doda’s impact on the Bay Area and beyond, this 1966 Life magazine article by Alan Levy is an enjoyable read: http://tinyurl.com/7zanv3s

Carol Doda stands in wet cement in front of the Condor Club, 1972. Photo by Seymour Snaer.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P180, Folder: Doda, Carol — Topless

Carol Doda makes a good first impression, 1972. Photo by Seymour Snaer.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P180, Folder: Doda, Carol — Topless

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A Famous Police Horse

Posted on January 5, 2012 by bancexam

San Francisco Policeman Arthur Dolan was a fortunate fellow. He spent ten years of his career (ca. 1924 – 1934) riding famous police horse Old Douglas, shown below. At the age of 25, Old Douglas retired from the force, with honors granted by Mayor Angelo Rossi in front of City Hall. Douglas was the hero of many “thrilling rescues” along Ocean Beach. The Examiner’s photo caption assures readers that Douglas will be cared for the remainder of his life by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Below are three photographs of Arthur Dolan, two with his beloved mount, and one with his replacement … a car, of course (the Examiner writes that Dolan has his “signals crossed” here).

Arthur Dolan and Old Douglas, 1934. Hass-Schreiner Photo.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P182, Folder: Dolan, Arthur J.

Arthur Dolan and Old Douglas, N.D. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P182, Folder: Dolan, Arthur J.

Arthur Dolan, San Francisco Police Department, 1932. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P182, Folder: Dolan, Arthur J.

As an addition to this post, I would like to share another policeman, Jack Hanley, and his horse George. In a 1931 issue of the Examiner, there is a wonderful photograph (below) of George accepting a piece of chewing gum! The photo caption reads, “[George] has taken up gum chewing and is said to be as artistic a chewer as any stenographer who ever deposited her gum on the under side of a desk top.” Enjoy!

Jack Hanley and his horse, George, with chewing gum. 1931. No photographer attributed.

 BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P325, Folder: Hanley, Jack

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Furry Rascals

Posted on January 3, 2012 by bancexam

One of the fun parts of sorting through photographs of local citizens is that every now and then you see a span of years in an instant. Such is the case of Arthur Germaine, SPCA Officer. I admit, the image of the adorable fox caught my eye before anything else, but sifting through the rest of Mr. Germaine’s photographs, I found a few other gems that were begging to be shared. The three images below span 13 years, from 1949 until 1962.

This fox, caught by Mr. Germaine, was thought to be a family pet, and had wandered into a home on Telegraph Hill in 1949.

Arthur Germaine with a fox, 1949. Photograph by San Francisco Examiner, no photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P279, Folder: Germaine, Arthur

In 1950, Mr. Germaine was photographed with these two puppies, as he calls into his headquarters to report the “good natured strays”.

Arthur Germaine with puppies, 1950. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P279, Folder: Germaine, Arthur

Fast foward to 1962, and Mr. Germaine is photographed with a furry, but not so endearing animal. The Examiner gives this photo the title “The Bandit, Amidst Wreckage He Caused”.

Arhur Germaine with raccoon, 1962. No photographer attributed.

 BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P279, Folder: Germaine, Arthur

 
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The Big Game

Posted on November 18, 2011 by bancexam

Give ‘em the axe! the axe! the axe!

The Stanford Axe has a lengthy and revered history, and a significant piece of the story is told by this photo of  Norm Horner, U.C. Berkeley Grand Custodian of the Axe.

1930 was the year Stanford’s “Immortal 21” recaptured the long-lost emblem of their fighting spirit, snatched by Cal students in 1899 and locked for safekeeping in a Berkeley bank vault. This picture was taken just days before the elaborate plot was executed by 21 now infamous Stanford students, resulting in the return of the Axe to its original home down on the Farm.

Cal athlete Norman Horner wields The Axe, 1930. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P366, Folder: Horner, Norman L. — U.C. athlete.

The Axe has been seesawing between the victors of the Big Game for the past 80 years as the official trophy of the yearly Cal-Stanford football contest, and unofficially as the object of perpetual pranks. Currently in Stanford’s possession, Saturday’s game may change
that …
Go Bears!

Big Game sweethearts: (L to R) Coleen MacNeil, Helen Bragg, Janet Grout, Diane Powers, Agnes McDonell, 1952. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P310, Folder: Grout, A – Z. No photographer attributed.

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Alter Egos

Posted on October 28, 2011 by bancexam

Most archivists arrange, describe and preserve their collections. This is simply not enough for the S.F. Examiner’s print staff, who have taken the extra step for this special Halloween post, and have “become” their collection! Choosing favorite photographs from the million-odd prints available, six Regatta staff members are seen below posing to replicate their subjects.

Project Archivist David Uhlich had a great “altitude” when he agreed to pose as aviator C.A. Allen (1931, Associated Press Photo):

 

Left image: David Uhlich, Project Archivist

Right image: BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P9, Folder: Allen, C.A.

While Oakland Mayor John L. Davie (1928) may merely be posing for a photo op, processing assistant Beth Shippey really does play the ukulele in her life beyond Bancroft. Aloha ‘oe!

 

Left image: Beth Shippey, Processing Assistant, Technical Services

Right image: BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P150, Folder: Davie, John L. and family

As illustrated by our previous blog post, there are a plethora of wonderful dog photographs in our collection. As tribute to these images, our own Michele Morgan poses below with her faithful companion, Freckles, (a “fetching” photo), just like Mrs. Angier Biddle Duke and her English Setter, Maro of Maridor (1940, AP wirephoto):

 

Left image: Michele Morgan, Project Archivist

Right image: BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P197, Folder: Duke, Angier Biddle and Mrs. (1940)

The excitment was a lot to take in, and Freckles was eager to show her speed and agility, as well as her happy smile!

“Queen of the Negatives” Lori Hines has acquired an alter ego as S.F. Examiner British reporter J.M. Densham, and can now claim her location not just to Berkeley, but as “Universal”!

Above: Lori Hines, Pictorial Processing Archivist

Above: BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P170, Folder: Densham, A – Z (1918)

Bancroft staff member Tessa Updike poses as Juanita Aparicio, a female bullfighter photographed in 1955. Unfortuantely, a bull could not be imported in time for our photo shoot. Maybe next time!

 

Left image: Tessa Updike, Processing Assistant, Technical Services

Right image: BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P18, Folder: Aparicio, Juanita

Magnes Archivist Lara Michels poses as U.C. Extension teacher and interior decorator Delcena Bair (1957). We love the glasses!

Above: Lara Michels, Archivist, Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life

Above: BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P28, Folder: Bair, A – Z

Thanks for viewing, and Happy Halloween!

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Politics as Usual

Posted on October 11, 2011 by bancexam

The subject matter and lack of accompanying background story for this photo immediately intrigued me.

L to R - A.R. Shurtleff, Slim Davis, J.J. Collier, 1930. Unidentified men at far right and upper left. No photographer attributed.

J.J. Collier, sheriff of Alameda County, 1930. No photographer attributed.

No clues are given about the circumstances pictured here other than the date, names, and identification of J.J. Collier as sheriff of Alameda County. My first thought was: 1930, bottles and kegs, Prohibition, raid? A quick google search turned up a very different story about Collier, Shurtleff and Davis, with a surprising tie-in to an eminent California statesman and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice.

A native Californian, Earl Warren earned his law degree at Boalt Hall and began his legal career in Oakland around 1918. By 1925 he was the District Attorney of Alameda County, and was known as an aggressive prosecutor with a tough-on-crime attitude, taking special aim at corruption in government. In 1930, Warren brought a case to the grand jury involving an Alameda County sheriff named Burton Becker, rumored to be taking protection money from gamblers and bootleggers during Prohibition. Becker, his under sheriff, Shurtleff, and his two deputies, Davis and Collier, were all indicted, tried, and convicted on graft charges; all served terms in San Quentin.

The circumstances of the group picture remain somewhat mysterious. The photo looks staged, but for what purpose? Collier is incorrectly identified as the sheriff, while the unidentified man on the far right may actually be Becker.

For the inside story on the Sheriff Becker case, visit Bancroft’s Regional Oral History Office online at http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/ROHO/projects/index.html — The Earl Warren Era Project.

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Fashions from a Bygone Era

Posted on October 1, 2011 by bancexam

From ladies and their cats to everyday dogs to ladies wearing leopardskin coats while walking their dogs – I’m fascinated by the abundance of fur coats found in the Examiner photo files, politically incorrect as that may be.

Traditionally, fur garments have been worn as a matter of practicality, status, and fashion. Among those pictured here are a vaudeville entertainer, a nobleman’s daughter, an Italian countess and film star, and an ambassador and his family.

Donaldina -- Arrival in San Francisco, 1918. Photo credit: Thomas Noonan.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P184, Folder: Dona—

Jenny Dolly of the Dolly Sisters, 1929. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P183, Folder: Dolly, Jenny — Alone

Violet Helene de Tallyrand, 1922. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P162, Folder: de Tallyrand, Duke and Duchess

Countess Rina de Liguoro, Italian film star, 1935. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P160, Folder: de Liguoro, A – Z

U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Joseph E. Davies and family, 1937. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P150, Folder: Davies, Joseph E. and Mrs.

Florrie de Vere, 1925. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P172, Folder: Devere, A – Z

Clearly, fur was the traveling outerwear of choice amongst the haut monde; those Atlantic crossings by ocean liner must have gotten pretty chilly. Bon voyage!

Senorita Elvira de Hidalgo, singer, 1927. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P159, Folder: de Hidalgo, Elvira

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“Out For a Stroll”

Posted on September 13, 2011 by bancexam

In this photo taken in 1951, George “Happy” Darling and his elephant Punkin are pausing to say hello in front of a hotel cigar store in San Francisco, where Miss Ann Montgomery offers Punkin a piece of candy.

George "Happy" Darling and Punkin the Elephant, San Francisco, CA. 1951. Photo: Wide World

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P148, Folder: Darling, G – L

According to the photo caption, Punkin is 2 and a half years old, lives in a trailer, and works at a kids circus at a San Francisco department store. What a busy life for an elephant!

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In Honor of “Everyday Dogs”

Posted on August 9, 2011 by bancexam

Recently, a perpetual calendar was published called “Everyday Dogs” by the Bancroft Library’s own Susan Snyder! The calendar couples literary quotes about canines with historical images of dogs from the Bancroft Library’s vast collections. In honor of its publication, we have selected our own favorite dog images from the San Francisco Examiner’s Photographic Prints! Enjoy, and check out Everyday Dogs: A Perpetual Calendar for Birthdays and Other Notable Dates.

Betty Dassel, 1927. No photographer attributed

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P149, Folder: Dassel, A – Z

Dell Daves, 1927. No photographer attributed

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P149, Folder: Daves, A – Z

Joanne Davids (left) and Marian Motzer with Andy, a Great Dane at a Grape Festival, 1945. Photo by San Francisco Examiner

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P149, Folder: Davids, A – Z

A gamekeeper and his dogs, not dated. No photographer attributed.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P125, Folder: Corey, William E. and Mrs.

Count de Beaufort and his prize bull dog Bob, not dated. Photo credit: The National News Ass'n.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P157, Folder: de Beaufort, A – Z

Dorothy Crider and proud father Chinook (canine actor), Hollywood, CA, 1951. International News Photo.

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P134, Folder: Cria – Cril (1 of 2)

 
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Flight!

Posted on August 1, 2011 by bancexam

It is 1931, and Harry Cordy, an inventor in El Monte, California, has nearly finished his Mobilopter. The Mobilopter was based on the principle of the helicopter, according to the Examiner’s photo caption. Mr. Cordy experimented with his Mobilopter for five years before this photograph was taken, and here we see it nearly ready for its first flight.

Harry Cordy in El Monte, California with his Mobilopter, 1931. Associated Press Photo

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P125, Folder: Cordy, A – Z

Just one year before Mr. Cordy was photographed above, Jack Cope was photographed below in Chicago with his “jumping balloon” at the National Air Races. According to the Examiner’s caption, Mr. Cope’s weight just about balances the buoyancy of the balloon. He bounces to and from the ground to travel.

Jack Cope in his jumping balloon, 1930. Photo credit: International Chicago

BANC PIC 2006.029–PIC, Carton: P124, Folder: Cope, Jack — Aviator

For more Examiner images on the subject of “flight”, see our Flying Nun post!

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