tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post198185863764320638..comments2024-03-25T14:10:52.808-07:00Comments on Rock Prosopography 101: Donovan's Reef, 2200 Great Highway, San Francisco February-March 1967Corry342http://www.blogger.com/profile/08049035074121231425noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-61848202630084355862021-11-28T12:11:03.385-08:002021-11-28T12:11:03.385-08:00The Salvation Army Band played thereThe Salvation Army Band played thereUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00317738626367664514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-41720353678912533882020-10-07T12:22:59.137-07:002020-10-07T12:22:59.137-07:008 years too late. My mistake...about me. 8 years too late. My mistake...about me. Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06097646831824076869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-49434255656516050312020-08-06T19:42:53.284-07:002020-08-06T19:42:53.284-07:00Wow—do you recall cops trying to bust people for d...Wow—do you recall cops trying to bust people for dancing?Corry342https://www.blogger.com/profile/08049035074121231425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-41110540599341620632020-08-06T19:24:11.641-07:002020-08-06T19:24:11.641-07:00My band at the time, The Main Attraction, opened f...My band at the time, The Main Attraction, opened for the Turtles @ Donovan's Reef.wbnychttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18411132486775667891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-40438714684098364452016-11-03T22:21:44.096-07:002016-11-03T22:21:44.096-07:00I lived across the street from Donovan's Reef ...I lived across the street from Donovan's Reef too. Across and maybe three or four houses south. I remember a Randy Bushner two more doors down. Was that you?<br /><br />I remember the Turtles concert. I asked my parents to take me. They wouldn't. I went anyway. The cute girl checking tickets wouldn't sell me one, but she still let me hang out. I thought it was a cool venue. My parents didn't and probably signed the petition to close it.<br /><br />We lived there from 1958 until 1968. The neighborhood was still pretty intact then.<br /><br />Facebook facebook.com/rob.martin.14606https://www.blogger.com/profile/12441467271122378180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-32930112609727455022010-05-22T16:45:21.528-07:002010-05-22T16:45:21.528-07:00Well, your story explains why we only seemed to be...Well, your story explains why we only seemed to be able to find a single reference to a concert at Donovan's Reef. I guess opening an establishment in a neighborhood where a lot of cops live brings its own problems.<br /><br />Your reference to free concerts in various meadows in Golden Gate Park is quite tantalizing. I have heard the faintest rumors of free concerts in Speedway Meadows in the Summer of 1966, the year before the Be-In and the Summer of Love, and long before anyone (particularly the cops) had a clue about it.Corry342https://www.blogger.com/profile/08049035074121231425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-41844551255676464452010-05-22T16:29:21.020-07:002010-05-22T16:29:21.020-07:00Hi Corry,
Have been on a European vacation for ou...Hi Corry,<br /><br />Have been on a European vacation for our honeymoon, so I haven't been able to write back.<br />I've been giving the "other groups" question a great deal of thought and to my recollection, being what is left of it is, there were no other groups or bands as I remember, they closed down after the one night Turtles gig. The parents on the block of which one was SFPD, and a lot more middle-class working stiffs convinced the powers to be to pull the license for any enterainment, which threw all the the music venue to The Family Dog down the road, Fillmore and other venues around town. Too many police officers in St Gabriel's parish that high influences the SF powers at large. All and all, it sent me & my brother Max ending up at both venues and more. SF was a great place to grow up in the 60's. So many things happening all around us and the music entertainment was everywhere to be found. Golden Gate Park's free concerts at the many meadows it contained. That will have to wait until the next time. Best wishes Corry,<br />RandyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-34119265210165212982010-04-28T01:21:47.811-07:002010-04-28T01:21:47.811-07:00This is fascinating! I grew up on 45th / Pacheco a...This is fascinating! I grew up on 45th / Pacheco and as a kid would ride my sting-ray to the site of Donovan's Reef. Even after its short run, the site itself was quite intriguing. I was about 8 years old and all I knew is there was music in there late at night hippies having a great time. I was born 8 years too early! Anyone have pics?Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06097646831824076869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-64881171454059668362010-04-23T22:00:24.366-07:002010-04-23T22:00:24.366-07:00Thanks Corry. We should compare notes sometime. ...Thanks Corry. We should compare notes sometime. I have many stories I would like to share, but my writing skills lack that certain something. It never sounds like what is in my head. Ciao<br />RandyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-65459387472825716592010-04-23T12:22:21.429-07:002010-04-23T12:22:21.429-07:00Randy, thanks for the fantastic perspective (and c...Randy, thanks for the fantastic perspective (and correcting my North/South error). Do you recall any other bands who played Donovan's Reef?<br /><br />CorryCorry342https://www.blogger.com/profile/08049035074121231425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6667800298422570910.post-42422552414041981992010-04-23T11:20:05.723-07:002010-04-23T11:20:05.723-07:00Great story. There are only two mistakes. The F...Great story. There are only two mistakes. The Family Dog was opened at Playland at the Beach area which was North of Roberts at the Beach (Donovan's Reef). And after they tore the building down, the City built low cost housing units in its place. More about that after the story.<br /><br />I lived across the street from Donovan's Reef, but I like to still think of it as Robert's at the Beach. Worked for the Roberts family before and after the closing of its' doors. Which brings me to the part of seeing the Turtles play at Donovan's Reef, along with the Mojo Men (one hit wonders with Stephen Stills "Sit Down I Think I Love You". I was too young, 13 at the time, and the age limit was I think 14 and older, so I used my old key to go up to an abandoned office that had a two way mirror. My brother Max & I watched from there. Great time had by all.<br /><br />I miss that venue as the inside, prior to becoming Donovan's Reef, was laid out as a restaurant & bar with a large wooden dance floor in the middle. There was a large painting of "Blackie", the only horse to ever swim the Golden Gate (before the bridge was built). All of my brothers worked for, at one time or another, the Roberts family. Memories aplenty there. My father was one of those that didn't want a Rock n Roll venue near our neighborhood due to the hippies that came along with it. One of the main reasons that the establishment opposed it so much was because the owner was Dino Sipreanni, who also owned The Condor strip club on Broadway. I'm sure that the seedy characters were sure to follow if the city had allowed it to open. To my recollection, there never was a problem at the Family Dog and I'm sure that Donovan's Reef wouldn't have been either, except for possible loitering and parking problems. <br /><br />Now back to the low cost housing units. Mayor Joe Alioto thought if the city built welfare housing in a working class neighborhood, that it would give whomever lived in those units, inspiration and motivation to find a job, seeing what the long residents had for their efforts. The test of time from beginning until now, has not change. It did not work. Pity. It was a bold vision knocked down by shear laziness. Family stills lives there, but it is a shadow of what it once was. The Ocean Beach area from the Cliff House down to the zoo on Sloat has deteriorated and torn down many of its treasures. The City that knows how has made a mess of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com