| California Hall | |
|---|---|
%2c_August_2022_-1.jpg) California Hall in 2022 | |
| Location | 625 Polk Street, San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 37°46′57″N122°25′09″W / 37.782455°N 122.419220°W /37.782455; -122.419220 |
| Built for | German Association |
| Architect | Frederick Herman Meyer[1] |
| Architectural style | German Baroque[1] |
| Designated | October 7, 1984[2] |
| Reference no. | 174 |
  Location of California Hall in San Francisco County Show map of San Francisco County California Hall (San Francisco, California) (California) Show map of California | |
California Hall, originally namedDas Deutsche Haus[3] (English:The German House, sometimes also referred to in incorrect German asDas Deutsches Haus), is a historic commercial building and event venue built in 1912, located in thePolk Gulch/Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco, California.[4]
It started as a German social meeting hall.[1] In 1965, it was the location of a fundraiser event for gay charities that brought trouble with the police and an ensuing legal battle. This event has been described a turning point in gay rights in the west coast.[5]
In the mid-1960s and 1970s, it was a popular concert hall; performers that played at the California Hall includeJefferson Airplane,Moby Grape,Big Brother and the Holding Company, theGrateful Dead, andQuicksilver Messenger Service.[6]
The building presently[when?] is part of theAcademy of Art University campus. The California Hall has been listed as aSan Francisco Designated Landmark since October 7, 1984.[7][2]
In 1912, when the Das Deutsche Haus was built, Polkstrasse (nowPolk Street) was a main commercial shopping center for German immigrants.[4][8] The architect wasFrederick H. Meyer and the design of the building was influenced by theHeidelberg Castle in Germany.[4][1] There was a restaurant in the basement called theRathskeller.[9]
It was originally used as a meeting space by 43 German societies and fraternities.[9] In 1918, the building's name was changed to California Hall, as part of what has been described as a general "process of physically removing the presence of German influence" in San Francisco following the entry of the US intoWorld War I on the side opposing Germany.[9][10]German American Bund, aNazi organization for Americans of German-descent, held meetings in the building prior to World War II.[9] In October 1938, it was the venue of a "German Day" celebration attended by 2500 members of German societies, with speeches bymayor Rossi and Nazi Germany's Consul Generalvon Killinger, protested by 150 anti-Nazi demonstrators outside the building.[11]
The building was featured in the action movie,Dirty Harry (1971).[6] The building previously housed theCalifornia Culinary Academy,[12] and it is presently[when?] part of theAcademy of Art University campus.
In the 1950s gay men started to visit Polk Street, specifically the area near California Hall in Lower Polk.[13] The 1965 New Years Ball (a fundraiser for theCouncil on Religion and the Homosexual, and otherhomophile organizations) was held January 1, 1965 at the California Hall.[13] During the event, the police interfered with the gay attendees by taking photos of each person entering the building; which prompted a legal battle led byEvander Smith andHerb Donaldson.[14][15] The 1965 event had marked a turning point in gay rights on the west coast.[5]
By 1971, Polk Street was advertised as "one of the gayest streets in San Francisco".[13] A migration from Polk Street to the Castro District happened in the 1970s, for more affordable housing.
The California Hall building has an auditorium that served as a periodic concert hall, primarily for rock bands in the mid-1960s.[6] In 1965, the venue hosted two productions byFamily Dog;The Charlatans with theKen Kesey and theMerry PrankstersAcid Tests happening (at the same time atThe Fillmore, a bus moved between the two music halls).[6][9]
The Grateful Dead played with The Charlatans on May 29, 1966; and on October 31, 1966, with Quicksilver Messenger Service andMimi Farina.[6] On June 19, 1966,Carlos Santana played with the three person Mockers band.[6]
On August 28, 1977, punk bands played including theAvengers,The Nuns, and Mary Monday.[6] The last California Hall concerts were held in 1983.
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