Description
Hattie and Minnie Mooser were hostesses who were a part of the bohemian and theatrical life of San Francisco. The collection
consists primarily of scrapbooks documenting the Mooser sisters' interest and work in theater and their businesses (the Tiffin
Room and the Aladdin Nite Club).
Background
Hattie and Minnie Mooser were sisters and hostesses who were a part of the bohemian and theatrical life of San Francisco.
They (along with their brothers George and Leon) were born in Nevada to Samuel and Rose Mooser, raised in Sacramento, and,
in 1900, moved to San Francisco. Hattie was involved in social service, and worked for the juvenile court, giving benefits
on its behalf with guest stars from local theaters. In 1918, Hattie founded the first municipal children's theater in San
Francisco, which later expanded into a children's art center and a tearoom. In 1921, Minnie helped Hattie open San Francisco's
first supper club, in Chinatown, called the Aladdin Studio Tiffin Room. In 1925, they opened the Aladdin Nite Club; because
of its refusal to sell liquor and thereby compete with other clubs which did sell liquor, it was forced to close in 1929.
In 1933, the two sisters managed the Beach Chalet in Golden Gate Park. During World War II, they volunteered as cooks and
hostesses at the Stage Door Canteen, a club for those serving in the military.
Extent
Number of containers: 2 boxes, 8 oversize boxes
(linear feet: 4)
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head
of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The
Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright
owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Availability
Collection is open for research.