City, The

"The city" was my first experience of a gay dance club. I went there on my first date with a guy I really liked back in 76'. I remember seeing a show in their showroom and then heading to the disco upstairs. It was amazing,the music was blasting,the d.j. Was spinning the best sound of the disco era in the 12ft. Jukebox,the mirrored disco ball was spinning catching the reflection of the different colored strobe lights. I especially remember all the good-looking gay bartenders wearing their black body hugging tank tops showing off their well sculptured arms and abs. That was the best time of my life. The city is gone, but it will always live in my heart.

Does anyone know the exact address for the Cabaret/the City? Do you know what's become of the space?

Am I glad I lived in SF in the 70`s. The City was the best place in the world - me and my Swedish friends danced to the best music ever!!! Thanks all wonderful people!!!

The Cabaret was one of the first gay discos I went to. I was still in college. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen, having come from the midwest. And, yes, girls were always asked for multiple ID's at the door. I recall that on my second visit I fled when the ladies in front of me were denied admission because of too few ID's (I thought something must be wrong with me if I don't have two pic id's). I called the management the next day to see what could be done and was given a card granting me lifetime access to the Cab...way cool back then!

I remember going to The City when it was THE place to go in San Francisco. Sylvester had returned from Europe and was playing in the Cabaret downstairs. I think he had the piano player from the Cockettes playing piano for him. He was mainly doing torch songs during that period. If my memory serves me correctly, the club was controversial for asking women for THREE pieces of i.d. which was seen as discriminatory toward women. Cabaret was downstairs and you walked through it, which had it's own bar, tables and stage, to get to the staircase toward the back of this room which led to the large dance floor upstairs.

I remember going here in 1976 and 1977 and dancing non stop until closing. It was a mixed crowd of gay and straight. I remember the huge jukebox dj booth and the lighting above the dance floor with red and yellow lights going in every direction and four huge mirror balls spinning below it. I would drive from santa rosa just to dance there. I remember it had a huge wooden dance floor and elevated seating next to it. There was also a jewelry store and restaurant I believe...those were the days!!