Collection Guide
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Finding aid to the Alfie Kulzick Chatterbox Bar Collection
1979-2005
SFH 663
SFH 663
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 557-4567
info@sfpl.org
Title: Alfie Kulzick Chatterbox Bar Collection
Creator:
Kulzick, Alfie
Identifier/Call Number: SFH 663
Physical Description:
1 manuscript box, 2 oversized flat boxes
(3 Cubic Feet)
Date (inclusive): 1979-2005
Date (bulk): 1986-1990
Abstract: The Chatterbox was a neighborhood bar and hard rock/punk venue located in San Francisco's Mission District at 853 Valencia
Street from 1986 to 1990. The club hosted many local bands such as White Trash Debutantes, the Jackson Saints, Motorcycle
Boy, Osgood Slaughter, Spot 1019, Stone Fox, and the Dwarves.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in
English.
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Collections that are stored offsite should
be requested 48 hours in advance.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.
[Identification of item], Alfie Kulzick Chatterbox Bar Collection (SFH 663), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public
Library.
Donated by Alfie Kulzick in 2018.
Researchers are encouraged to see also:
Chatterbox : biography of a bar, San Francisco 1986-1990 book by Alfie Kulzick,
Chatterbox [videorecording] : biography of a bar, San Francisco 1986-1990 / directed by Alfie Kulzick.
Also, please see the San Francisco Punk Archive located in the San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library,
currently being processed.
During processing, the entire collection was re-foldered and re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.
Three issues of Calendar Magazine (Music Calendar), July, 1984, vol. 3, no. 8, February, 1986, vol. 5, no. 3, and November
1, 1988,vol.7, no. 23 transferred to the Art, Music & Recreation Center at SFPL:
Calendar magazine
; Flip Side, Summer, 1989,no. 60 to the San Francisco Punk Archive at the San Francisco History Center at SFPL.
Two Mabuhay Gardens calendars: August 11-18, 1979 and June 30-July 7, 1979 to the San Francisco Punk Archive at the San Francisco
History Center at SFPL.
The Chatterbox, named for a song by the New York Dolls' Johnny Thunders, was a neighborhood bar and hard rock/punk venue located
in San Francisco's Mission District at 853 Valencia Street. The location has been a drinking establishment for many years,
including the first lesbian bar in the Mission District, the Ebb Tide (circa 1966). Other bars at this location were Luke
& Larry's (1940's), Graffiti (1980's), the Chameleon (1990's), and Amnesia (2000-2020).
It was opened by Alfie Kulzick, a Wisconsin transplant, in 1986. The club hosted bands such as White Trash Debutantes, the
Jackson Saints, Motorcycle Boy, Stevie Stiletto, Osgood Slaughter, Haunted Garage, Spot 1019, Stone Fox, and the Dwarves.
The Chatterbox closed in 1990.
References: Citywide historic context statement for LGBTQ history In San Francisco, Donna J. Graves and Shayne E. Watson,
2015.
This small collection contains material documenting the Chatterbox from 1986-1990. Included are a small amount of administrative
records including show calendars, lease, and permits; book proofs for
Chatterbox: biography of a bar,
band fliers for the Chatterbox and other Bay Area venues, band stickers, and magazines. Of note are band fliers for nearly
all the shows held at the Chatterbox and a few fliers from the late 70's and early 80's documenting the early San Francisco
punk scene.
Arranged into 4 series: Series 1: Administrative, Series 2: Writings, Series 3: Events, and Series 4: Publications.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bars (Drinking establishments) -- California -- San Francisco
Rock music -- California -- San Francisco
Punk rock music -- California -- San Francisco -- fliers
Heavy metal (Music) -- California -- San Francisco
Subculture -- California -- San Francisco
Fliers (printed matter).
Printed Ephemera -- Specimens
Post-punk music
Chatterbox (San Francisco, Calif.)
White Trash Debutantes (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Jackson Saints (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Osgood Slaughter (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Meices (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Motorcycle Boy (Musical group)
Spot 1019 (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Stevie Stiletto (Musical group)
Voltage (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Housecoat Project (Musical group)
Short Dogs Grow (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Stone Fox (Musical group) (San Francisco)
Haunted Garage (Musical group)
Gargoyles (Musical group)
Sister Double Happiness (Musical group)
Pigmy Love Circus (Musical group) (San Francisco)