{{Short description|Bar in San Francisco}} {{Infobox restaurant | city = [[San Francisco]] | state = [[California]] | established = {{start date and age|1962}} | image = File:Wild Side West.jpg | image_caption = Wild Side West sign (2006) | name = Wild Side West | street_address = 424 Cortland Avenue | coordinates = {{Coord|37.739186|N|122.417194|W|type:landmark_region:US-CA|display=title, inline}} | country = United States }} [[File:Wild Side West door.jpg|thumb|Wild Side West door (2006)|200x200px]] '''Wild Side West''' is a historic [[lesbian bar]], founded in 1962 and located in the [[Bernal Heights, San Francisco|Bernal Heights]] neighborhood in [[San Francisco]], [[California]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2017-08-24|title=The History and the Mystery of San Francisco's Wild Side West|url=http://sfbaytimes.com/history-mystery-san-franciscos-wild-side-west/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=San Francisco Bay Times}}</ref> As of 2021, Wild Side West is San Francisco's last remaining lesbian bar,<ref name=":0" /> although the bar currently serves a more diverse Queer crowd much like the nearby [[El Rio (gay bar)|El Rio]] bar.<ref>{{Cite web|author1=Robin|date=2014-11-11|title=The State of the Lesbian Bar: San Francisco Toasts To The End Of An Era|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/the-state-of-the-lesbian-bar-san-francisco-toasts-to-the-end-of-an-era-262072/|access-date=2021-06-29|website=Autostraddle|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622200922/https://www.autostraddle.com/the-state-of-the-lesbian-bar-san-francisco-toasts-to-the-end-of-an-era-262072/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Downing|first=Shane|date=2020-05-21|title=Bay Area Dive Bars Say They're Hanging in There — but Only by a Thread|url=https://sf.eater.com/2020/5/21/21260152/bay-area-dive-bars-coronavirus-shutdown-san-francisco-oakland|access-date=2021-06-30|website=Eater SF|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
== History == Founded in 1962 by Pat Ramseyer and Nancy White, from 1962 until 1968, the bar was located in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], [[California]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Wild Side West's Wild Life|url=https://www.ebar.com/bartab/nightlife//154842|access-date=2021-06-30|website=The Bay Area Reporter / B.A.R. Inc.|language=en}}</ref> Wild Side West was named after the film ''[[Walk on the Wild Side (film)|Walk on the Wild Side]]'' (1962) featuring [[Barbara Stanwyck]].<ref name=":0" /> In 1962, it was still illegal for women to be bartenders in California, so the bar existed in rebellion, with women serving the drinks.<ref name=":0" />
From 1968 until 1976, the bar existed in the [[North Beach, San Francisco|North Beach]] neighborhood.<ref name=":0" /> During the North Beach-era, the bar was also a refugee for local strippers.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" /> In the 1970s, it became known for advancing the careers of female musicians and singers who performed there included [[Cris Williamson]], [[Ronee Blakley]], and the all- women R+B band Sweet Chariot. Ramseyer was also a percussionist who played in the band BeBe K'Roach, and sometimes jammed with fellow musicians in the bar, while Nancy White sang Broadway Show Tunes.<ref name="White Obit">{{cite news |title=Nancy Jane White Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=nancy-jane-white&pid=120994805 |access-date=Nov 26, 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=December 6, 2008}}</ref><ref name="Stein">{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Ruthe |title=Women Who Are Banding Together |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=March 6, 1975}}</ref> The bar also hosted poetry readings by noted poets [[Kay Boyle]], [[Ruth Weiss (beat poet)|Ruth Weiss]], [[Robert Duncan (poet)|Robert Duncan]], and Nanos Valoiritis.<ref name="Breaking">{{cite book |last1=Grace |first1=Nancy Mccambell |title=Breaking the Rule of Cool |date=2004 |publisher=University Press of Mississippi |isbn=1578066549 |page=75 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h8nr0BqIsssC&q=wild+side}}</ref><ref name="Poetry">{{cite news |title=Semester's Music Finale at SF State |url=https://sfchronicle.newsbank.com/doc/image/v2:142051F45F422A02@NGPA-CASFC-1513F33591292C78@2440724-15126394A1AB78D6@21-15126394A1AB78D6@?search_terms |access-date=May 31, 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 17, 1970}}</ref>
In 1977, Ramseyer and White moved the bar to 424 Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights and they purchased the 1890s [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]]-style building.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2014-04-20|title=Taking a walk in SF's Wild Side West bar|url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/features/taking-a-walk-in-sfs-wild-side-west-bar/|access-date=2021-06-30|website=The San Francisco Examiner|language=en-US}}</ref> Behind the house is a multi-level garden for outdoor meetings, nicknamed ''Pat's Magical Garden''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The garden has many toilets used as planters, these were collected after they were thrown through the bar’s windows in the early years after the move to Cortland Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bicchieri |first=Paolo |date=2018-03-28 |title=20 Essential LGBTQ Bars in San Francisco and the East Bay |url=https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-gay-bars-san-francisco |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=Eater SF |language=en}}</ref> Notable people that have frequented the bar include [[Janis Joplin]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Joan Baez]],<ref name=":3" /> [[Bob Dylan]],<ref name=":3" /> [[Madeline Gleason]],<ref name=":3" /> and others.
Wild Side West has been active in the community and is a venue for community fundraising such as for an annual breast cancer fund Benefit for the Boob, the Bernal Library Art Project, the [[St. James Infirmary Clinic]], and Lyon Martin Health Services.<ref name=":3" />
It has frequently been cited as one of San Francisco's remaining 'historic' bars. In 2013, it was recognized by San Francisco Architectural Heritage Organization on its original list of 25 Legacy bars that have, "intangible significance" that reflect the spirit of the city.<ref>{{cite news |title=San Francisco's Oldest Bars |url=https://www.sfgate.com/food/slideshow/San-Francisco-s-oldest-bars-91003.php |access-date=June 1, 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref><ref name="Offtrack">{{cite book |last1=Planet |first1=Off Track |title=Off Track Planet's Travel Guide for the Young, Sexy and Broke |date=2015 |publisher=Running Press |page=34 |isbn=9780762457113 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wRnTDQAAQBAJ&q=%22wild+side+west%22 |access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Legacybars">{{cite news |last1=Nolte |first1=Carl |title=San Francisco's Legacy Bars: A Toast |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Sand-Francisco-legacy-bars-a-toast-4398893.php |access-date=June 1, 2021 |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=March 31, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Dineen |first1=JK |title=High Spirits: San Francisco's Legacy Bars |date=30 October 2015 |publisher=Heyday, 2015 |url=https://www.amazon.com/High-Spirits-Legacy-Bars-Francisco-ebook/dp/B017EDPHCG |access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Historic">{{cite web |title=Nine Historic Bars in San Francisco |url=https://www.neighborhoods.com/blog/9-historic-bars-in-san-francisco |website=www.neighborhoods.com |access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Boulware">{{cite book |last1=Boulware |first1=Jack |title=San Francisco Bizarro |date=2000 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |isbn=0312206712 |page=62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VPWQ04Vbf10C&dq=%22wild+side+west%22+%22jack+boulware%22&pg=PA62 |access-date=June 1, 2021}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|LGBTQ}} * [[Lesbian Bar Project]] * [[The Lexington Club]] * [[List of lesbian bars]] * [[Maud's (bar)]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons}} * {{Official website|https://www.wildsidewest.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wild Side West}} [[Category:1962 establishments in California]] [[Category:1962 in LGBTQ history]] [[Category:1960s in San Francisco]] [[Category:Lesbian bars in San Francisco]] [[Category:History of women in California]] [[Category:Nightclubs in San Francisco]] [[Category:Restaurants established in 1962]]