Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Janos Kovacs House of Good ephemera collection
- Dates:
- 1971-1972
- Creators:
- Kovacs, Janos.
- Abstract:
- 41 pieces of House of Good ephemera including posters, flyers, a press release and a news clipping.
- Extent:
- .67 cubic foot 1 oversized flat box
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Janos Kovacs House of Good Ephemera Collection (SFH 788), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
41 pieces of House of Good ephemera including posters, flyers, a press release and a news clipping. Also includes 1 Avalon Ballroom poster.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Janos "John" Kovacs operated the House of Good music venue at 1839 Geary Boulevard from 1971 to 1972. Performers included John Handy, Shankar Ghosh, Sylvester, the Cockettes, and the band, Space Rangers. A footnote in rock history, the House of Good was initially a partnership with three others that came to include Tullah Hanley, a former professional belly dancer and art patron.
Kovacs was a Hungarian emigre whose family belonged to the Congregation Beth-Israel. He leased the former synagogue from the congregation, which existed there from 1908 to 1964 when they moved to a new building. Other producers hosted concerts at the Geary Street building from 1974 to 1977 before again becoming vacant. The abandoned building was purchased and restored by Tony Duquette in 1984 and called the Duquette Pavilion and the Canticle of the Sun of St. Francis. It was destroyed by fire in 1989.
- Acquisition information:
- Donated by Steve Kovacs, brother of Janos Kovacs, on June 24, 2025.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Tami J. Suzuki. During processing, 6 items were removed for conservation.
- Physical location:
- Collection is stored on site.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-06-28 23:49:50 +0000 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.
- Terms of access:
-
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. Additional copyright clearance may be required.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item], Janos Kovacs House of Good Ephemera Collection (SFH 788), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.
- Location of this collection:
-
San Francisco Public Library100 Larkin StreetSan Francisco, CA 94102, US
- Contact:
- (415) 557-4567