Little Saigon in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Blanco's Café & Music Box
Uptown Tenderloin Lost Landmarks
— 1907 - 1940 —
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 17, 2015
1. Blanco's Café & Music Box Marker
French restaurant and “Parlor House”, Blanco's Cafe & Hotel was known as one of San Francisco's popular entertainment spots for the wealthy offering fine food, gambling and fancy women as a house of assignation. The great depression led to its 1933 closing. The Music Box took over in 1936 featuring burlesque performer Sally Rand who enticed clientele with risqué fan dances from 1939 until the establishment's 1940 closing.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.
Location. 37° 47.1′ N, 122° 25.128′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Little Saigon. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 859 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco CA 94109, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 851 O'Farrell Street (a few steps from this marker); Wally Heider Recording - 1969-1980 (approx. 0.2 miles away); 891 Post Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Midori Hotel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hotel Jefferson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sarcophagus of Thomas Starr King
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Great American Music Hall. Jerry's Brokendown Palaces, Thursday, April 12, 2012. (Submitted on December 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
2. Lost Landmarks. This marker is one of 9 Lost Landmark sidewalk plaques authorized by the Board of Supervisors on September 6, 2011. “These ‘Lost Landmark’ sites will greatly illuminate the forgotten history of these San Francisco sites of historic significance; now, therefore be it” (Submitted on December 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 17, 2015
2. Blanco's Café & Music Box Marker
Embedded in the sidewalk in front of the American Music Hall at 859 O'Farrell Street.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, November 17, 2015
3. 859 O'Farrell Street
This 2 story brick building designed by A.W. Edelman architect, was build in 1907 and housed Blanco's Café owned by Christopher A. Buckley, “the blind boss”, until 1923. When the restaurant closed in 1933, it was reopened in 1936 by famous stripper Sally Rand as "The Music Box". The Music Box Closed in 1940. In 1950 it was again called Blanco's and in 1968 it was Charles restaurant. It became the Great American Music Hall in 1974.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 587 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
