Disco » Discotheques and Clubs of the 1970s/80s » Buzzby's
Buzzby's
Polk St., San Francisco, CA
Buzzby's was actually the very first gay club I had ever entered in San Francisco back in 1976. It was the kind of club that opened early in the afternoon, and stayed fairly busy until main party time closing at 2:00AM. I still liked the club design being able to listen to alluring dance music from outside sidewalk, where the one door was usually propped open. Once you walked in, the big bar was located on the immediate right hand side, and several dark platforms were across from it so people could sit. Further down was a semi-glass barrier with bar stools along the side, and beyond the glass, was the chrome steel dance floor, usually covered randomly by sawdust to make dancing slick. The DJ booth was braced at the top corner overlooking the dance floor, and had many neon strips around the booth that went to the sound of the music. I would go here in the early afternoon (around 3 0' Clock),and listen to the pre-recorded disco jams. They usually played the mainstream latest hits, and it's where I first heard T-Connections "Do What You Wanna Do", and also Shalimar's "Uptown Festival." Other hits they played were: "Which Way Is Up", "Victim", "Work That Body", and "I Love America." The glitter ball in the center of the smallish club threw a dazzling light show around the club, and a very exotic dark complected drag queen was the main cocktail waitress. The very first song I heard upon entering this club was Ramsey Lewis's "Sun Goddess!"
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Posted by:
dancer56
on Apr 22, 07 | 12:01 am
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Reader Comments on Buzzby's
sure was fun, but the dance floor used to fill up fast. We used to stop at the Giraffe first to get a buzz on. Once Buzzby's was too crowded, we'd walk up to 'NTouch, but it was frequently just as crowded. As a last resort, when the crowds at both places were a bit too much, Oil Can Harry's always had more space. Horrible parking in the area, especially on weekends. And if you just wanted to socialize, you could be entertained sitting in one of the area's cocktail lounges (like Kimos) and watch the male prostitutes, drug dealers and homeless people on the street.
Posted Apr 22, 07 | 7:09 am by Snips
That's why I used Buzzby's as my regular starting point before venturing out in other area. I never made it to Oil Can Harry's, although I had heard about it. So, it seemed my gay bar travels began at Polk St., then to Castro (after 5), and then to Folsom or the End Up (after 9). The End Up was great also for early morning weekends, to be sure! I also liked the Polk Gulch Saloon that was the open corner bar, and the N'Touch (wasn't that the place with Saturday Night Fever dance floor?), and shopped for disco records at Gramaphone. -Those were the days!!
Posted Apr 22, 07 | 11:02 am by dancer56
Yes those were the days. Buzzby's was the second gay bar I went to. After reading the previous comments it brings back great memories. Does anyone know if there are photos of Buzzby's around? I have been looking all over the net.
Posted May 15, 07 | 6:12 am by Rusty
The only reason I made this post concerning my favorite "coming "out" Buzzby's was because I could not find a trace myself. Fortunitely, I am a sketch artist, and can pretty much draw what I experianced-but that's as far as the visuals end up (End Up?) on hard copy. My memory, however, beams (I-Beam?) like it happened last month. Extremely vivid. . .thank God. (Thank God It's Friday??)
Posted May 15, 07 | 12:23 pm by dancer56
dude, your site misled me to think you were promoting an actual, now-a-days disco musik club. bah. no one disco bootie shakes it likes to move it move it nowadays? off of your computers and into the disotheques!
Posted Aug 18, 08 | 5:48 pm by zulu warrior disco monkey dancer
I worked a couple of blocks from Buzzby's and a group of us would sometimes go down and dance after work. At that time there was as much gay activity on Polk street as there was in The Castro and South of Market. For a while I lived on Larkin and also on Bush street which were both in the neighborhood. After dancing late into the night, you could get the best burgers at The Grubsteak.
Posted Dec 29, 08 | 7:25 pm by sylvan
I spent many nights at Buzzby's; I lived and worked in the neighborhood and I was quite a party girl. I went with my gay male friends, my girlfriends and a drag queen or two. We would drink, take quaaludes and snort amyl nitrate. What a rush! And dance ALL night. I knew everyone in there. Ginger was the beautiful black tall transgendered woman who was the mistress of ceremonies. (I think this is who dancer 56 is referring to.) I also had a friend, Spider, who would shake his tamborine. Ginger would get out her cymbals. You really knew the night was in full swing when that happenned. It's been said that the Tubes wrote "White Punks on Dope" about the scene on Polk St. at that time.
I began going there in 74' and pretty much stopped by '79. In the mid-70's Polk street was much more happenning than the Castro initially. The Gay Day Parade used to go down Polk St. I would always see Sylvester at the N'touch.
The great thing about Buzzby's was that women were very welcome- gay, trangendered or straight. N'touch was much more exclusively male. One guy even spit in my face there........
There was a bar/restaurant on the corner of Polk and Clay that had a wonderful brunch on Sundays with cabaret-style entertainment. Does anyone remember the name?
I also spent a lot of time at the Palms. Remember the Blue Moons? I'd start there during the day and work myself up to an evening at Buzzby's with something to eat beforehand at the Raven (Haven?) or afterward at the Grubstake.
That lifestyle almost killed me and I had to give it up but was it fun!
I began going there in 74' and pretty much stopped by '79. In the mid-70's Polk street was much more happenning than the Castro initially. The Gay Day Parade used to go down Polk St. I would always see Sylvester at the N'touch.
The great thing about Buzzby's was that women were very welcome- gay, trangendered or straight. N'touch was much more exclusively male. One guy even spit in my face there........
There was a bar/restaurant on the corner of Polk and Clay that had a wonderful brunch on Sundays with cabaret-style entertainment. Does anyone remember the name?
I also spent a lot of time at the Palms. Remember the Blue Moons? I'd start there during the day and work myself up to an evening at Buzzby's with something to eat beforehand at the Raven (Haven?) or afterward at the Grubstake.
That lifestyle almost killed me and I had to give it up but was it fun!
Posted Jan 02, 09 | 1:50 pm by Kathleen
Hey Kathleen........I was having a nostalgic moment of my san francisco past and to end up at this site and read your posting..I mean I knew it was you.....and it was so exciting to see your post was so current.....our fabulous buzzby days,dancing to mighty real and victim........and that is just the least of it(the stud, oil can harry's, white swallow and whatever was on polk street back in those days)........damn, I can't remember the name of that cabaret right across from cala foods...........
What great/crazy memories we have.............I love you and miss you..........
linda
What great/crazy memories we have.............I love you and miss you..........
linda
Posted Feb 10, 09 | 1:25 pm by lindadrasheff
Interesting article on the DJ that may have inspired my part-time DJ career back home. Steve Algozino founder of HOT TRACKS: http://www.hotdiscomix.de/stars_clubs/djs/algozino_en.htm
Posted Feb 15, 09 | 1:07 am by dancer56
The White Swallow, Polk Gulch Saloon, Giraffe, Kemo's, Buzzby's, The New Bell Saloon. Great places and great times. Polkstrasse was such a nice place to be.
Every Sunday for 10 years, we all went to the New Bell Saloon to listen to Pure Trash play until it finally closed in the 1980s. There was a great, talented drag queen who played organ and piano with Pure Trash and later played at a hotel on Van Ness. Supper was at The P.S.
The Castro had Toad Hall (later The Phoenix), The Badlands, The Midnight Sun (18th. St. and then Castro St.), Castro Station, The Pendulum, The Elephant Walk, Twin Peaks and Moby d***. Bob Sanders played piano at The Galleon.
SOMA had The Oasis, Febe's, The End Up, Trocadero Transfer.
Every Sunday for 10 years, we all went to the New Bell Saloon to listen to Pure Trash play until it finally closed in the 1980s. There was a great, talented drag queen who played organ and piano with Pure Trash and later played at a hotel on Van Ness. Supper was at The P.S.
The Castro had Toad Hall (later The Phoenix), The Badlands, The Midnight Sun (18th. St. and then Castro St.), Castro Station, The Pendulum, The Elephant Walk, Twin Peaks and Moby d***. Bob Sanders played piano at The Galleon.
SOMA had The Oasis, Febe's, The End Up, Trocadero Transfer.
Posted Apr 02, 09 | 7:41 pm by RC
I loved Buzzbys. I worked at the stallion on Polk and liked to go to Buzzbys to dance. and hang out in the afternoon. Polk St.was a lotta fun. I was in SF from 84 till 92. Then my partner and I went back in November 4 of 08, to be married.
Posted Jul 31, 09 | 3:54 pm by Tomboyes
Buzzbys,
The Hottest San Francisco Disco in its time. Everyone came to see the new thing in town The Disco. The Club concept was created By a cool guy Named Barry my boss. Barry was a skater and a very good person.
He gave me a seconded chance at becoming the DJ at Buzzbys when it first opened. I will always remember the wonderful experience of being apart of the Disco scene as the DJ at Buzzbys, Uncle Sams, Oil Can Harry's, The City, The End Up,
Park Exchange,Rathskeller and many many more.
Bay Area Disco DJ Rusty Nails still rocks on.
I sure do miss all the other guys like Peter Struve, John Hedges, Mike Web, Steve Newman,John Randazo to name a few.
The Hottest San Francisco Disco in its time. Everyone came to see the new thing in town The Disco. The Club concept was created By a cool guy Named Barry my boss. Barry was a skater and a very good person.
He gave me a seconded chance at becoming the DJ at Buzzbys when it first opened. I will always remember the wonderful experience of being apart of the Disco scene as the DJ at Buzzbys, Uncle Sams, Oil Can Harry's, The City, The End Up,
Park Exchange,Rathskeller and many many more.
Bay Area Disco DJ Rusty Nails still rocks on.
I sure do miss all the other guys like Peter Struve, John Hedges, Mike Web, Steve Newman,John Randazo to name a few.
Posted Aug 07, 09 | 1:13 pm by Rusty Nails
For those who are interested. I just acquired a huge collection of reel-to-reel audio tapes recorded live at Buzzby's and Bones, by DJ MICHAEL LEE, in San Francisco, 1976-1979! I have been archiving the tapes to digital and have set up a page to hear them. Check it out! Some great DJ history here!
http://twitchrecordings.com/page23/page23.html
http://twitchrecordings.com/page23/page23.html
Posted Nov 17, 09 | 2:52 pm by Jim Hopkins
Thank you so much for that incredible ounce of disco history. I loved the disco era, its a vast shame the way the gay party found its way to close, but the bouncing memories are still worthwhile for those who lived it.
Posted Nov 17, 09 | 7:08 pm by dancer56
Disco is not dead and never will be. Im 60 yrs old. I worked many gay clubs. We started the disco era. It has been here since its start, just under new names. They are called Clubs, Dance Clubs, Raves, Venues. Doesnt matter how you change the name.....Its still a DISCO. The Gays and Blacks Started the era. The straights Called it something else. But we made it FABULOUSSSSSSSSSSS. Others just ruined a good idea. Wasnt it Grand? Yes it was.KEPP ON DANCIN.
Posted Nov 18, 09 | 4:55 am by TOM BOYES
True, I just visited West Hollywood for halloween week, and I love club beats. Some bars, even in my hometown have those modern jukeboxes with keyboard in the system selection, AWESOME!
Just tell the cordial bartender to turn off the house music and become your own disco DJ right there and then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu_0AmZyeT0
"I havent stopped dancin, YET!!!!"
Just tell the cordial bartender to turn off the house music and become your own disco DJ right there and then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu_0AmZyeT0
"I havent stopped dancin, YET!!!!"
Posted Nov 18, 09 | 7:28 pm by dancer56
iN THE 60S i WORKED AT THE 4STAR AND AT THE FACTORY,BEFORE IT BECAME STUDIO ONE. THEY WERE BOTH IN WEST HOLLYWOOD. IVE BEEN BACK SEVERAL TIMES. EVEN IN THE YEAR 2009,IT MAY NOT BE CALLED A DISCO....BUT THE BEAT GOES ON..A DISCO IS A DISCO IS A DISCO...NOW MATTER WHAT THEY CHANGE THE NAME TO..
TOM BOYES AKRON OHIO
TOM BOYES AKRON OHIO
Posted Nov 19, 09 | 4:09 am by TOM BOYES
Had just arrived in SF from NY and by chance spoke to Don Berry who liked my phone voice - and when I told him I was student and needed a p/t job he had me meet him at Buzzbys! I went from the coatroom - to day bartender - to suddenly (baptism by fire)Friday night. From there, my good friend Edd Mendez taught me to spin records which I did for several years before being asked to do the disco chart at Billboard Magazine. Buzzbys was full of wonderful people many who have past but are not forgotten. It was a wonderful opportunity for me and I am forever thankful. cm
Posted Nov 19, 09 | 7:30 am by Christine Matuchek
Hi Christine,
Do you remember Rusty Nails?
Do you remember Rusty Nails?
Posted Nov 19, 09 | 8:00 am by Rusty Nails
Memory is not all that dim...sure do! What have you been doing for the past 30 years or so? cm
Posted Nov 19, 09 | 1:09 pm by Christine Matuchek
Billboard magazine & Data Boy were two of my disco charts must haves. I went to the library, checked out the current Billboard, went to disco charts and photocopied the entire article page, lots and lots of times back then. It still gives me chills to think of Grace Jones That's The Trouble/ Sorry in the top ten, and I always glanced at the bottom of the list for the climbing hits. T-Connection's Do What You Wanna Do didnt take long to become top of the list. Donna Summer was always on top for a long period of time. When I was doing this, that Billboard list always gave me the chills. I was as excited as having sex, really. I havent read Billboard mag in ages if it still exits. I wish I kept those photocopies, but the recent post from Jim Hopkins has some interesting dated lists from the DJ. When I went to the clubs, I basically knew them because I read all about em, even if I havent heard them before.
Then one time, I passed a SF music shop back in late 70s, off of Market, and heard a great song. Went in to ask attendant, and they showed me the album cover. I already had the album at home and didnt recognize it. It was the middle of Get On The Funk Train. That was really funny. OMGD, I already have that!
Then one time, I passed a SF music shop back in late 70s, off of Market, and heard a great song. Went in to ask attendant, and they showed me the album cover. I already had the album at home and didnt recognize it. It was the middle of Get On The Funk Train. That was really funny. OMGD, I already have that!
Posted Nov 19, 09 | 11:33 pm by dancer56
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