The Boarding House was a music and comedy nightclub, located at 960 Bush Street inSan Francisco, California, opened by David Allen in 1971 and closed in the early 1980s.[1] Many comedians launched their career at The Boarding House, includingRobin Williams.Steve Martin's first three albums were recorded there,Let's Get Small,A Wild and Crazy Guy, andComedy Is Not Pretty!, in whole or in part.Ellen DeGeneres andJay Leno have said they first met at The Boarding House.[2]
The club was also host to a multitude of musical acts, such asJerry 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, andTom Waits.The Residents also first played there.
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 asKPIX's "Deputy Dave."[1] In the 1960s, he worked with Enrico Banducci at thehungry i and helped nurture the careers ofBarbra Streisand andLenny 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]
Prior to the1906 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.
The club was featured inBillboard 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]
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'sNorth Beach district,[1] where comediansRobin Williams,Lily Tomlin andPaula Poundstone performed. The club had closed by 1982; Allen died on May 25, 1984.[1][17][18]
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