398:(Angela Maria DeSpirito, 1919–2005), took over Mona's 440 Club in the mid 1950s and completely changed the direction of the club — starting with a new name, Ann's 440 Club. While the club still employed lesbian waitstaff and had lesbian clientele, its main focus was no longer on the queer culture and woman empowerment, but more focused on entertainment. Ann Dee wanted a place to be able to showcase her talents when she so desired and booked performers that fit her preferences. While under Ann Dee's ownership, the club gave
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303:. In 1936, the San Francisco Chronicle published a "Cocktailing, Dancing, and Dining." In the guide, Mona's was described as a "bohemian" club, which was a coded way of describing it as sexually unconventional. The bar became the first openly lesbian club that was geared towards the local gay community as opposed to
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Abstract: Photographs, scrapbooks, and news clippings of a friend of Ann Dee, Violet Nassos. Ann Dee was owner of Ann's 440 Club in San
Francisco and Ann's 151. Ann's 440 Club was one of the first openly lesbian and bi-sexual clubs in San Francisco. It contains one scrapbook of Ann Dee materials,
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DEE, Ann (DE SPIRITO, Angela Maria) - 1920 - 2005. Ann Dee, of Ann's 440 Club, San
Francisco fame, is credited with giving such entertainers as Johnny Mathis, Fran Jefferies, Lenny Bruce, T.C. Jones, Charles Pierce and many more their start. Ann passed March 22, 2005 in Joshua Tree, CA, where she
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resided. Ann Dee, a chanteuse; a cabaret, supper club and even a jazz singer recorded under
Capitol Records label and was considered by her peers as a singer's singer. She is survived by her brother Lee and sister-in-law, Bebe De Spirito; nephew, John; niece, Debby Foley; and many loving friends.
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in North Beach and was subsequently renamed Mona's 440 Club. The new space quickly became popular with both straight and gay patrons, including straight women looking to relax and unwind and tourists looking for a show. Mona's 440 Club was considered to be a part of the San
Francisco
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One of the biggest draws to Mona's was their large variety of in house entertainment. Kay Scott and Babe Scott were part of the original group of entertainers to perform at Mona's 440 Club and due to their performances they became local
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Since its launch Mona's became one of the most popular lesbian bars in the United States and its popularity helped pave the way for more lesbian bars to open in the same neighborhood, making it a "well-known lesbian enclave".
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performance, as well as her ability to fit in with the growing popularity of sex and race tourism post prohibition. Bentley was recognized for her performances wearing a tuxedo and top hat. Eventually, she moved to
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In 1941, Mona relinquished control of the club to new manager, Babe Scott. Babe Scott was known as "the woman who plays baseball like a veteran." Scott's legacy was the performers she brought to the club.
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the bar attracted women that were left at home who were looking for entertainment and the company of other women, friendly and romantic. In its later days, the bar also attracted servicemen on leave.
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Over the time, the vision of the club changed. The couple hired singing waitresses, and some of the female waitresses dressed in
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hangout for writers and artists. They covered the floors with sawdust to help create the "bohemian" atmosphere.
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celebrities. The popularity of the performers drew in others who also wanted some of the same recognition.
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culture, however the bar stuck to cross-dressing in order to remain lawful. During
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Marquee at Mona's 440 Club for Gladys
Bentley in North Beach, San Francisco
649:"Ann Dee Obituary - (2005) - San Francisco, CA - San Francisco Chronicle"
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Mona and Jimmie
Sargeant, a married couple, opened Mona's in 1934 on
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Due to its popularity and growth in patronage, the bar moved to 440
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272:. In 1936, the couple moved the bar to a basement location on
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711:"Ann Dee, 85; Singer, Club Owner Helped Start Mathis' Career"
512:"12 Bars That Made San Francisco Gay, In Chronological Order"
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Wide-Open Town: A History of Queer San
Francisco to 1965
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Wide-Open Town: A History of Queer San
Francisco to 1965
458:"Before the Castro: North Beach, a Gay Mecca - FoundSF"
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of that era were an important part of the history of
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Gladys
Bentley was a frequent entertainer at Mona's
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49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
695:photos, and club activities compiled by "René ".
280:Originally, the couple imagined the club as a
243:clientele into the 1950s. Mona's and the gay
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624:"Ann Dee -- singer, North Beach club owner"
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
181:37.79843991590179°N 122.40465148049657°W
764:. Simon & Schuster. pp. Ch.10.
679:"Guide to the Violet Nassos Collection"
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827:Defunct LGBTQ nightclubs in California
186:37.79843991590179; -122.40465148049657
807:Defunct lesbian bars in San Francisco
787:1950s disestablishments in California
560:. Quill Driver Books. pp. 84–86.
394:Once Mona sold the club, entertainer
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782:1936 establishments in California
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802:Event venues established in 1936
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239:in 1936. It continued to draw a
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558:San Francisco's Lost Landmarks
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812:Music venues in San Francisco
602:"LGBTQ Business and Commerce"
260:Union Street, Columbus Avenue
249:LGBT culture in San Francisco
514:. 2013-09-20. Archived from
490:. Univ of California Press.
16:Lesbian bar in San Francisco
817:Nightclubs in San Francisco
541:Boyd, Nan Alamilla (2003).
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556:Smith, James R. (2005).
545:. U of California Press.
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377:to continue her career.
762:Black Is the New White
741:Queermusicheritage.com
609:National Park Services
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760:Mooney, Paul (2009).
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420:LGBTQ portal
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36:verification
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721:21 February
688:21 February
659:21 February
633:21 February
438:Peg's Place
402:his start.
375:Los Angeles
362:Moms Mabley
322:sex tourism
301:Finnochio's
270:prohibition
231:to open in
229:lesbian bar
201:Lesbian bar
184: /
172:122°24′17″W
159:Coordinates
776:Categories
746:2017-04-27
653:legacy.com
586:2017-04-30
522:2017-04-27
467:2020-04-08
444:References
237:California
169:37°47′54″N
151:California
69:newspapers
737:"Ann Dee"
297:male drag
99:June 2017
406:See also
282:bohemian
143:Location
396:Ann Dee
241:lesbian
83:scholar
628:SFGATE
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433:Maud's
381:Legacy
255:Mona's
215:Closed
207:Opened
153:, U.S.
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605:(PDF)
218:1950s
90:JSTOR
76:books
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492:ISBN
364:and
245:bars
210:1936
197:Type
62:news
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