Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast!

Parlor Partner Walt Presents in Las Vegas!

2009-08-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

Walt Anthony has been invited to present his workshop talk:
“Specificity and Endowment: The Art of Bringing Power and Credibility to Your Props and Presentations”
to colleagues at Jeff McBride’s annual “Magic and Meaning Conference” this October in Las Vegas.
This year is also a Mystery School reunion, and celebrates magic inventor/author Robert Neale’s 80th Birthday!

With "Carol Channing and Friends!"

2009-07-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Thank god I recovered my voice and stopped coughing by Saturday…

What a thrill to work with the Channing/Kullijian Foundation to raise awareness for Arts in Education!

Our San Francisco Magic Parlor presented Carol and Harry with a check for $500 “putting our magic where our mouths are” to support the Foundation!

David Miller won the crowd with his lyrical Linking Rings gleaming in his hands and flying through the air, and I made it through the three pieces specially scripted and themed for the evening’s topic.

A sparkling Joyce Aimee added nostalgic pizzazz to the evening, and dynamo Jan Wahl kept the show moving as our M.C.

Carol Channing was witty, wise, warm, and charming, the audience loved every minute. She performed my favorite “Ephraim” speech from Dolly, not a dry eye in the house.

At 88 Ms Channing is a lesson in timing and delivery, an hour with her is worth a year in acting class.

http://www.channingarts.org/

Magically,
Walt

"Eccentrics" are on Hiatus...

2009-07-05T18:02:00.000-07:00

_________________

The “Eccentrics” are on Hiatus,
to fulfill private booking commitments,
to update our show and renovate our Parlor!
Please check back later for our
Grand Re-opening dates. thank you!
_________________

"Eccentrics" WILL Travel!

2009-07-04T12:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, we can come to you!

Need one-of-a-kind entertainment
for your next Corporate Event
or Private Celebration?

We'll bring the San Francisco Magic Parlor
experience to your venue!

Choose Excerpts or the Whole Show,
with one,
two,
three, or
all four of our cast members...

Brian Scott of Brian Scott Productions,
Ruth Fraser of Tales Worth Telling,
David Miller of Paradox Magic,
Walt Anthony of Spellblinder Entertainment

...we'll customize an
"Eccentrics of the Barbary Coast" performance,
just for YOU, your group or organization

Contact us at SFMagicParlor@SBCGlobal.Net
or our website www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com
for your complimentary consultation.

And bring home the Bay Area's most unusual entertainment!

Thank You!

Wow! San Francisco Chronicle’s “96 Hours” ran a full page for “Eccentrics”!

2009-07-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

This article appeared on page F - 16 of the San Francisco Chronicle

© 2009 Hearst Communications Inc.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/02/NSQQ18E26Q.DTL

No Slick Tricks:

'Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast'

Andrea Abney
Thursday, July 2, 2009

Magician David Miller says that he usually prefers to "find the magic, find the piece," discovering a new piece of magic and then figuring out how to work it into a show.

These days, not so much.

But, when you're performing in a show about the colorful characters of San Francisco's past, there's just too much material to pass up.

"It was finding the piece first, and the magic gravitated toward that," says Miller, one of the stars of "Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast."

"We have these stories about these wonderful people and then we're able to illustrate that story though something magical happening," says Walt Anthony, another member of the show. "The magic supports the story happening; the story supports the magic. But they blend in such a way, people almost accept the magic."

The tales of some of the city's more famous residents - among them Emperor Norton, the self-proclaimed emperor of the United States; Mark Twain; and Oofty Goofty, a man who felt no pain and let people hit him for money - are told by the performers, who weave magic into their tales. But, Anthony says, it's not glittery, tricky magic.

"We have kind of a - is it too strong to say phobia? - against the slick, Las Vegas-style magic ... magic that's tricking you," he says. "No one likes to be tricked, really, but what we do need is to believe in the Easter bunny and Santa Claus and tooth fairy again, especially in times like this."

"Eccentrics" is about a dozen years in the making; Anthony began researching Barbary Coast characters after helping a friend who led a tour of the city. The performers first did the show six years ago, and they say they've spent six years looking for the perfect space to stage their show.

The performers tell about a dozen tales each night, from their ever-growing cast of characters. Most are from the era spanning the Gold Rush to the 1906 earthquake; they've added more modern people, like Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones and Anton LaVey, the founder of modern satanism.

And audiences suggest people for the magicians to tackle, including Glide Memorial Methodist Church's Rev. Cecil Williams or Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.

"We could be doing this for 30 years and still have more people to do," Anthony says. "The thing is finding magic that absolutely fits that character and that story."

And the performers have plenty of stories to choose from.

"We love the city so much. We're so proud to live here," Anthony says. "Nothing compares to this place, and it's our way to give back and also say that magic can be an art and a craft and maybe more than you've seen in Vegas or at your 6-year-old's birthday party."

8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. $30. Chancellor Hotel, 433 Powell St., S.F.
http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/.

- Andrea Abney, aabney@sfchronicle.com

© 2009 Hearst Communications Inc.

Historic New Cable Car runs past San Francisco Magic Parlor doors!

2009-07-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

A brand-new Cable Car hit the streets,

and runs right past our

San Francisco Magic Parlor

in the Chancellor Hotel,

No. 15 is an exact replica of an 1890’s car

climbing our hills at 9.5 mpr.

http://bit.ly/2UBA4

2009-06-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Before your 4th of July Fireworks…
Join our 3rd of July Fireworks…
with Magic, Mystery, Legend, and Lore…
at
“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast”
in the Chancellor Hotel San Francisco Magic Parlor!

http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/

Magic Parlor artists on stage with Broadway Legend Carol Channing

2009-06-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Magic Parlor artists on stage with Broadway Legend Carol Channing and Friends Saturday, July 18th to support Arts Education Foundation!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/24/DD7318439R.DTL

San Francisco based Conjurer and Teller-of-Tales Walt Anthony, is excited to be sharing the SFSU McKenna Theatre stage with Broadway Legend Ms Carol Channing at 7:00pm on Saturday, July 18, 2009.

“Carol Channing and Friends” is a one-night-only event bringing Ms Channing back home in her first San Francisco appearance after having to cancel last Autumn due to a broken leg.

Joining the Ultimate Broadway Baby and San Francisco native, are the Magical Stylings of Walt Anthony and David Miller (co-producers of “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast”) along with veteran Broadway Star Carole Cook, and International Chanteuse-Dangereuse Joyce Aimee.

Entertainer Walt Anthony shares a passion for the Arts and the pressing need to reinstate an arts-curriculum in the California educational system. Part of the Dr. Carol Channing / Harry Kullijian Foundation For the Arts mission is to smooth and expedite that process. (www.drchanningfoundation.org).

Walt Anthony states: “While reading, writing, and math feed the child’s mind, the Arts fuel their hearts and souls, fostering compassion, empathy, and wisdom during the school yearsand throughout their lives.” To quote Carol Channing: “Arts education is like fertilizer for students' brains, It opens their minds to every other subject."

A dynamic performer, Mr. Anthony has over thirty-years of practical experience as a professional entertainer. He has wit, exuberance, and an elegant style, making his performances unique and mesmerizing. Walt has a consummate acting and directing background, he has the ability to encourage and motivate, and inspires people far beyond the enjoyment of his performance. Walt Anthony has presented programs nationwide for media, organizations, and industry. The San Francisco Chronicle raved: “Shimmering fairy-tales are Anthony’s metier …conjuring up a façade of bygone elegance.”

Carol Channing is best known and loved for her portrayals of the irresistible Dolly Levi, the title character of the Broadway musical phenomenon, Hello, Dolly! and the endearing diamond-digger Lorelei Lee in the Broadway hit Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Just six years ago Ms Channing married her junior high school sweetheart, businessman Harry Kullijian, after a 70 year separation. Carol has committed her life to bring a refocus of the Arts in the public educational system of California, through scholarships, teaching and lecturing, and performing, hoping to engage the public support for Education in the Arts.

The purpose of The Channing-Kullijian Foundation is to launch a statewide awareness campaign heralding the benefits of reinstating Arts back into the curriculum of public schools of California and to provide funding of scholarships for students and teachers in the Arts.

WHAT:

“Carol Channing and Friends” with Conjurer Walt Anthony
WHERE:

McKenna Theatre,1600 Holloway Avenue, SF State University Campus
WHEN:

Saturday Evening, July 18, 2009 at 7:00pm
TICKETS:

$25 to $75 at http://www.cityboxoffice.com/ or 415- 392-4400

Those Magical Words: SOLD OUT!

2009-06-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

The words SOLD OUT are magical words for a performer to hear!

But, we also hate to disappoint any potential guests at our Parlor....
Last Saturday night we didn't even have standing room.

So why not reserve early and visit the "Eccentrics" next weekend?

http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/

And Other News:

“Eccentrics” Cast Members have been invited to share the stage with Broadway Legend Carol Channing on Saturday July 18th as a fundraiser for the Channing-Kullijian Foundation for Arts in Education….
more details to come!

http://www.cityboxoffice.com/performancedetailpopup.asp?evt=4513

Private Events and Tours in San Francisco Magic Parlor’s Future!

2009-06-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Our show “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” …a magical escapade! is having some far reaching results we had not anticipated --but are quite pleased about.

Guests at our show have been so enthusiastic about the magic happening right under their noses (and in some cases in their very hands) and the bizarre trivia and local history they hear-- they want to share the experience with friends, family, and work colleagues.

A Bay Area Library is booking an “off night” show, to host their own private performance in our Victorian Parlor next month, and we are in talks with a prestigious LA law firm about performing an abridged version of “Eccentrics” for their San Francisco corporate banquet in the Autumn!

Incidentally, all four of our “Parlor Partners” are available to perform their own special shows at private celebrations and corporate events, or you can gather two or three of us to tailor a piece just for your group.

Brian Scott and his “Access of Oddities” show is at:
http://www.brianscottproductions.com/

Ruth Fraser’s amazing storytelling and story-workshops are at:
http://www.talesworthtelling.com/

David Miller’s suave and charming array of shows are at:
http://www.paradoxmagic.com/

and you can learn more about moi, Walt Anthony, Conjurer & Teller-of-Tales at:
http://www.spellbinderentertainment.com/

And our wonderful host hotel, the history Chancellor Hotel on Union Square,
can assist with all your meeting and event needs with rooms, catering, or space,
their details are at:
http://www.chancellorhotel.com/

Success does have its drawbacks…..
Our cast is getting so busy with our private bookings and other theatrical ventures,
it’s getting to be a scheduling issue to get us all together every Friday and Saturday
as we continue our third “hit” month at San Francisco Magic Parlor!

So please try to visit us soon and see what all the excitement is about…

Information and Reservations details are at:
http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/

Thanks!

Magical Transformations: San Francisco Magic Parlor!

2009-06-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Magical Transformations: San Francisco Magic Parlor!

Sometimes a guest leaves behind a backpack or purse,
and comes back into our space well after the show to claim their item.

They always say:
“Wow! The room sure looks DIFFERENT!”
And we say:
“Yes, that’s the REAL Magic!”

Luques Restaurant in the Chancellor Hotel is a pleasant room,
done up mostly in soft earth tones, and a sort of Country French décor.

It is an unassuming and friendly space, and during the mornings and afternoons,
the restaurant serves up some great food, with great service, at great prices.

But, on Friday and Saturday Evenings….
it is our job to conjure a Magical Transformation,
so the room becomes an intimate, warm and comfortable, Victorian Parlor,
with nooks-and-crannies filled with magical possibilities!

This entails about a two-hour process before the show,
and then about another two-hours to re-set the room for breakfast service.

The elements we enlist to affect the transformation are small and simple…
we change up the lighting, we add damask tablecloths, swags and curtains,
we bring out delicate beaded glass Fairy Lamps, add a stage-platform,
antique tables and appointments, some parlor palms,
oriental carpets, and a crushed-velvet backdrop.

The “feel” of the room becomes completely different..
and our guests are transported back one-hundred years,
and begin to bond as a community of theatre-loving friends!

Our pre-and post-show music was recorded from actual
wax-cylinders played on those huge wind-up big-horned “Victrola” phonographs,
so it’s the exact parlor music folk listened to in olden days,
and this also helps set the mood and turn-back time.

All the magical artifacts and antiques get lovingly packed-up
and go back into the hotel storage areas after each performance,
and our San Francisco Magic Parlor reverts to Luques Restaurant again.

So….
the transformation, in many ways, is part of the magical evening,
not just the stories and mysteries of San Francisco we present during the evening.

Please join us for a performance, and see for yourself.
Visit “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” website at:
http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/

Discount Packages in JUNE For Chancellor Hotel and San Francisco Magic Parlor!

2009-05-27T09:43:00.000-07:00

Our host venue The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square,
has put together some great June discount packages for our show
“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast”
so you can stay overnight in the City as a mini-vacation!

Package One:
· “Eccentrics” VIP Tickets
· with Discounted Hotel Room

Package Two:
· “Eccentrics” VIP Tickets
· with Discounted Hotel Room
· and a $50.00 Voucher for Dinner in the Lounge
and/or Breakfast at Luques

Package Three:
· “Eccentrics” VIP Tickets
· with Discounted Hotel Room
· and a $100.00 Voucher for Dinner in Union Square Area.

Call the Chancellor Hotel’s Reservation Line Directly to book:
415-362-2004
or
800-428-4748

There are a very limited number of packages available,
on a first-come first-served basis during the month of June,
and through the July 4th Weekend!

“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast”…a magical escapade!
San Francisco Magic Parlor
at the Chancellor Hotel
433 Powell Street
(Between Post and Sutter Streets)

Our home is the charming and historic Chancellor Hotel on Union Square, and both their full-service Lounge and Luques Restaurant offer great meals at affordable rates.

Join our Magical Journey through old San Francisco’s colorful and notorious past!

Celebrate San Francisco’s wild, wacky, and romantic past, with world-class entertainers Spinning Tales and Weaving Enchantment.

"Eccentrics" is San Francisco's New Hit!

2009-05-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

We're looking at another sold-out house for this Saturday's
"Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast" …a magical escapade!
Come visit and see what all the excitement is about.

www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/

....And if you want to make a fantastic weekend of it…
we offer a limited number of discount tickets to
overnight guests staying at the Chancellor Hotel!

See you at our San Francisco Magic Parlor!

Mega-Hit Star Trek / San Francisco Magic Parlor Coincidence!

2009-05-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Wow! Talk about a timely mega-hit coincidence…

I just found out there is a Star Trek novel
called “Spock meets Emperor Norton”

Of course, Joshua Norton is one of our “star eccentric characters”
at the San Francisco Magic Parlor!

Come and learn more about the odd and wonderful folks,
who made San Francisco what it is today,
all illustrated with magical happenings and tall tales!

“Barbary Coast Eccentrics” Window Display at Costume Party Store!

2009-05-11T09:31:00.001-07:00

The fantastic folks at “Costume Party”
(a lively store that features vintage clothing, formal wear,
and costuming solutions for every occasion)
were so excited about our San Francisco Magic Parlor opening in town,
they devoted an entire window display in honor of the
“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” show first month’s run!

For two-and-a-half weeks you could see their turn-of-the-century mannequins decked out in costumes very much like the ones we wear in the show, our posters and photos prominently displayed as well.

Costume Party is at 1058 Hyde Street at California Street, so it’s right on the Cable-Car line and across from the neighborhoods largest supermarket, so there’s lots of traffic in the area.

Whenever you need something unusual, odd, or vintage for a play, historical reenactment, or just for fun (like that Halloween extravaganza) Costume Party is a great place to wander through and explore. We found some of our odd props and costume pieces right here.

They are on the web at: http://www.costumepartysf.com/ if you want to get a feel for what they’ve got and you can call them at: 415-885-3377 to find out when they’re open for business.

It was so much fun to see “us” in the window looking back like a “virtual cast” at the “real cast” of Barbary Coast Eccentrics-- so a huge Thank You to Costume Party for putting us in their main window, and supporting the San Francisco Magic Parlor.

If you’ve not seen the show yet, visit http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/ we run every Friday and Saturday evening and you can get your reservations at Brown Paper Tickets 800-838-3006.

Another Photo from the “Costume Party” Window for San Francisco Magic Parlor…

2009-05-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Fans!

Another Photo from the “Costume Party” Window for San Francisco Magic Parlor…

Our friends at Costume Party are at 1058 Hyde Street at California Street.
http://www.costumepartysf.com/ Phone: 415-885-3377

“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” …a magical escapade!
http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/
Reservations at Brown Paper Tickets 800-838-3006.

Gathering the Barbary Coast Eccentrics… an inside story from San Francisco Magic Parlor

2009-04-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

Gathering the Barbary Coast Eccentrics…
an inside story from San Francisco Magic Parlor

After each show our audiences ask us questions,
often wanting to know how the show came about,
or how we did our character and magical research,
and most frequently, how we became a “cast”.

Well the story goes something like this…

I met my colleague and co-producer David Miller when he was still in his teens, at a magician’s banquet in Oakland, and later helped mentor him in the techniques of theatrical-based magic and magical performance-art. He also helped out a bit when a fledgling version of the San Francisco Magic Parlor was staged back in 2002. As David developed his company concept for Paradox Magic we began to collaborate on more and more projects.

I first learned of Brian Scott when he posted a newsletter listing, asking if Bay Area magicians would be interested in joining him as a magical contingent in the San Francisco AIDS Walk, I was the only one to come forward that year, and we found we had a lot of things in common, a common ground in theatre and magic theory, and a lot to share with one another in areas where we held different opinions. Brian Scott Productions has been part of the AIDS Walk for several years now, and we’ll be walking and talking about theatre and art in Golden Gate Park this year as well.

Now some magician’s can be “purists” and not want to combine other art-forms, and some storytellers can be pretty narrow as well, at least in the old-days. I’d heard about a monthly Storytelling Circle meeting in San Francisco, and decided to see if a tale-teller-conjurer would be shunned or welcomed. That is how I met the group’s organizer and hostess Ruth Fraser. I was welcomed into her circle with open arms, and enthralled by Ruth’s ability to spin a yarn that made the walls vanish and transported you to India. Ruth was fascinated by the idea of expanding storytelling with magic and a friendship was born. She’s since gone full-time with her company Tales Worth Telling.

So our show at the San Francisco Magic Parlor which has found a comfortable and wonderful home at the Chancellor Hotel, serves as a way to give back to the City we love, to share our art in performances just for the public, and to showcase our talents for those seeking entertainers for corporate and private events.

Just like trying on different hats and costumes for a play, or like seeing the chemistry that comes from mixing different pieces of magic or different stories for a performance, between 2002 and 2009 I worked with a number of performers in a number of venues hoping to discover just the right chemistry and alchemy to assemble the “perfect” cast to work together on and off stage for the “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast”.

At last discovering a space that met my list of venue criteria in the Chancellor Hotel Union Square in the late summer of 2008, I now had to fine-tune my list and criteria for performance-art partners for the San Francisco Magic Parlor. Right at the top of my list were: David Miller, Brian Scott, and Ruth Fraser, and like our host hotel they all were able to capture and share the vision of what the show could be like.

So, now you know most of the story… and you’ll have to think up other questions to ask us as you exit our parlor theatre after a performance of our magical escapade “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast”!

Magically,
Walt
Walt Anthony, Spellbinder Entertainment
“spinning tales and weaving enchantment”

The Barbary Coast Eccentrics are “on the map”!

2009-04-21T11:28:00.000-07:00

Word is getting out…

and word is getting out fast.

We even found our fans at last Saturday’s
1906 Earthquake and Fire Commemoration event!

We hoped that word-of-mouth would help build the
“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” reputation,
but we had no idea how fast word would begin to spread.

As we embark on our last weekend of April,
we’ve had anywhere from great to over-flow audiences,
we’re getting ‘almost’ embarrassing raves on our comment cards,
the Chancellor Hotel guests have loved the show,
and viral-praise is spreading over the internet theatre communities.

Not bad for a little show, in a little theatre, with a little (but dedicated) cast!
If you’ve not joined in on the fun…
why not explore what we have to say about the San Francisco Magic Parlor
right here on our Blog, or visit our website at:
http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/
to find out how to get your reservations.

We only seat about three-dozen guests at each performance,
and we try to get to know everyone who visits our Parlor,
so advance reservations will guarantee that we don’t fill up before you arrive.

No, elephants don’t vanish and automobiles don’t levitate,
and we don’t have a bevy of fishnet chorus-girls,
but we do “spin tales and weave enchantment”.

We know we’re not everyone’s “cup-of-tea” but,
if you love trivia, oddball history, tall-tales and stories, and intimate magic
…we think we have a great evening to offer.

And please do us a huge favor…
help keep the word-of-mouth campaign going,
pass the good news along,
send friends and colleagues to this Blog,
or heck,
come join our Facebook Fan Page for San Francisco Magic Parlor.

OK, time to open the script and polish a bit for the Friday and Saturday shows…
See you at the Chancellor!

We have another new Fan!

2009-04-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

“My wife and I attended (Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast) and were absolutely captivated.

The scripting was tight, tight, tight, and the magic was beautifully executed.

What a pleasure this was. A real San Francisco treat; better than Rice-a-Roni.

We will be going back again in the future. Don't miss it!”

info at: http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/

The San Francisco Magic Parlor is a Great Success! Thanks All!

2009-04-13T09:50:00.000-07:00

The second weekend of our magical escapade "Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast …a magical escapade" is wrapped up!

Folks from New Zealand, Canada, Wisconsin, Northern and Southern California were our enthusiastic guests, we’ve made a good number of new friends.

Good houses even with the economic-downturn and recession.
Hope to see y’all here soon!

While you’re thinking about it, why not join our San Francisco Magic Parlor Facebook Fan Page?

Commemorating the 1906 Quake and Fire Anniversary in 2009!

2009-04-06T14:36:00.000-07:00

“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” Cast members in period costumes will be present at Lotta’s Fountain (at Kearney and Market Street) to commemorate the 1906 Earthquake and Fire in the early morning of April 18th.

We’ll pass out souvenir wooden-nickels and invite the crowd to visit the San Francisco Magic Parlor in the Chancellor Hotel that evening.

The oldest surviving monument in San Francisco, Lotta's fountain was dedicated in 1875 at the intersection where Market, Kearney, and Geary Streets connect downtown. In 1999, the fountain, which had suffered neglect in the past decades was totally refurbished to its 1875 appearance. Commemorations of the earthquake are held every year at 5:12 a.m. on April 18th at the intersection.

Opening Weekend audience comment cards revealed a HIT, and we’re getting more and more positive buzz online, on Facebook, and being “Tweeted” around and abount!

...Very creative and entertaining!...
... Our first night in San Francisco (not Frisco) wisely spent...
...History and hilarity, an amazing combination!...
...Well done! Loved it all...
...Wow!!! What a great performance and history about SF...
...Really enjoyed the show learned about San Francisco history and was thoroughly amazed...
...Wonderful blend of infamous tales and charming parlor magic, they made the audience feel so much a part of the story, I loved it!...

You too can join our Magical Journey through old San Francisco’s colorful and notorious past! Our home is the charming and historic Chancellor Hotel on Union Square a perfect location accessible to both residents and visitors. Celebrate San Francisco’s wild, wacky, and romantic past, with world-class entertainers Spinning Tales and Weaving Enchantment.

Share libations and delicacies one-half-hour before the show in our elegant and intimate theatre every Friday and Saturday Evening at 8:00pm sharp. Performance-artists Walt Anthony, David Miller, Brian Scott, and Ruth Fraser deliver wonder to savor, bringing to life memorable portraits of wild-and-woolly characters with a theatrical flair!

Our Victorian Parlor is elegant yet informal in ambiance an intimate velvet-draped stage is the focal point of the salon, the cozy theatre seating only about three-dozen guests. Audiences gather for a ninety-minute show abounding with local anecdotes and lore presented by captivating and consummate conjurers and tale-tellers.

Reservations are highly recommended due to the intimacy of our theatre, and tickets are available from: www.BrownPaperTickets.com or 1–800–838–3006.

Some of the Word-for-Word Comments From Our First Weekend Audience Members!

2009-04-05T00:44:00.000-07:00

...Entertaining, informative, clever. Our first night in San Francisco (not Frisco) wisely spent...

...History and hilarity, an amazing combination!...

...Wonderful blend of infamous tales and charming parlor magic, they made the audience feel so much a part of the story, I loved it!...

...It was wonderful I would recommend it highly to friends!...

...As a native San Franciscan who has grown up on SF lore, it's a great treat to hear the stories told with a magical accent. Bravo! Both magic and storytelling were amazing...

...Excellent! Quite the experience! Thanks gang!...

...Fun! Loved the history and the magic! Great show! Had a great time...

...Very creative and entertaining!...

...Well done! Loved it all...

...Wonderful mix of San Francisco's rich history, eccentric citizens throughout the years mixed with magic!...

...As a native San Franciscan, I enjoyed hearing the stories of those who blazed the trail before me. It was a fantastic show, thank you so much!...

...Wow!!! What a great performance and history about SF...

...Really enjoyed the show learned about San Francisco history and was thoroughly amazed...

THANKS EVERYONE AND
KEEP THOSE CARDS AND EMAILS COMING!
Your "Eccentrics" at San Francisco Magic Parlor

-Contra Costa Times- New play 'Barbary Coast Eccentrics' brings quirky legends to life

2009-04-03T00:52:00.000-07:00

-Contra Costa Times-

New play 'Barbary Coast Eccentrics' brings quirky legends to life

By Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times 04/02/2009

There are those, particularly natives of San Francisco, who consider the city and its lore the world's fourth (or fifth) great religion.

At one time San Francisco schoolchildren would be taken to Fort Point or Mission Dolores, where a teacher, often slightly overcome with emotion, would urge her young charges to contemplate the city's earliest years. Kids could trade Christopher Dairy milk cartons for end zone tickets to 49ers games, and the big deal would be the grizzled, six-gun-shooting miner mascot rather than the football.

Close to Thanksgiving, when it was time for Santa to arrive in department stores, the Emporium would host a parade led by Emperor Norton I, emperor of the United States and protector of Mexico, who would hand out the currency he issued himself.
Yes, Emperor Norton was crazy as a bull loon, but the fact is, the old emperor never had to buy a meal in his adopted hometown, and when he did, he would cover the tab with his self-made currency.

Norton may well be at the pinnacle of San Francisco's pantheon of eccentricity, but he's by no means alone on the pleasantly demented dais. And it is upon that amazingly sturdy premise that Bay area magician/entertainer Walt Anthony and a cabal of conjurers have launched "Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast," an intimate piece of Victorian-style parlor theater and magic show playing in the Chancellor Hotel, across Powell Street from Union Square.

Magic of one kind or another is what brought Anthony and David Miller, Brian Scott and Ruth Fraser together for "Eccentrics," but what sealed the deal was the idea of centering the show and the magic around various characters of San Francisco's distant and recent past. In the just over two centuries that there has been a San Francisco, the city has brewed a rich bouillabaisse of characters that has helped give the city, for better or worse, its reputation for tolerance.

What Anthony and the group hope to do is introduce audiences to these characters during 90-minute shows, each of which will feature a slightly different list of characters, as well as different stories from each, along with magic tricks performed on a small stage at the front of the room.

"This will be a lot like the parlor entertainments — salons — of the 1890s," said Anthony, quickly adding that the characters on any given evening may be from anywhere between the founding of Mission Dolores in the 1700s to yesterday, if a proper contemporary eccentric an be included in the show. "This is where people will sit in the room with some of these characters and the show will emerge from right in here."

Anthony and his colleagues are sitting in the corner of the Chancellor's restaurant that will be turned into the parlor each Friday and Saturday night to hold the small audience.

Each of the four main performers (and others who will be playing other characters) has been researching back alleys of Fog City eccentricity, and has come up with a number of characters, from Emperor Norton and Mark Twain, to the more contemporary Anton LaVey (high priest of the Church of Satan) and Jim Jones (founder of the Peoples Temple).

And there are others, including:

GERTRUDE ATHERTON: One of the city's wealthy socialites, Mrs. Atherton was a beauty who enjoyed displaying what she had. She also was an author whose tales ran to the racy side, much to the embarrassment of her family. She actually had a long career as a writer, from the 1800s to 1946, when her last book was published.

LOLA MONTEZ: Back in the 19th century, this Irish lass, who claimed to be a Spanish dancer, conquered Europe and had affairs with Franz Liszt and King Ludwig I of Bavaria. She came to California and wowed San Franciscans with her spider dance, which involved wearing rubber tarantulas and shaking them out of her costume, which also resulted in her exposing large portions of her body.

SHANGHAI KELLY: If you've ever heard of someone being "shanghaied," you can thank Kelly, the San Francisco waterfront denizen who perfected the art — kidnapping and drugging hapless men who woke up hours later to find themselves on ships halfway to Shanghai, as conscripted sailors.

MARY ELLEN PLEASANT: Considered the mother of civil rights in California, Mary Ellen Pleasant used a lot of her fortune to fund the abolitionist movement in America before the Civil War, and also helped bring runaway slaves to California on the western branch of the Underground Railway. At the same time, there is evidence she was a voodoo priestess, practicing her craft from the family mansion on Octavia Street, which, rumor has it, is still haunted by her.

OOFTY GOOFTY: Oofty may be the best (literal) whack job in San Francisco lore. He came to the city with a circus dressed as the Wild Man of Borneo, with horsehair stuck to his body. He yelled "oofty-goofty" when anyone approached his cage. Later, he fell and suffered an injury that left him immune to pain. That allowed him to make a living by allowing people to hit him with a baseball bat for a fee — 50 cents a whack.

Reach Pat Craig at pcraig @bayareanewsgroup.com.

WHAT: "Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast"
WHERE: Chancellor Hotel, 433 Powell St., S.F.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays beginning tonight in an open-ended run
RUNNING TIME: 1 hour, 30 minutes
TICKETS: $30, 800-838-3006, www.brownpapertickets.com

Eccentrics Truth and Fiction on Mark Twain's Barbary Coast

2009-03-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

Author, Journalist, and Lecturer Mark Twain said:

"All of us contain Music and Truth, but most of us can't get it out."

San Francisco Magic Parlor attempts to provide you with the Truth about the people we talk about, and we hope that brings some Music to your hearts.

Twain also said:
"San Francisco is a city of startling events. Happy is the man whose destiny it is to gather them up and record them."

We feel privileged to have gathered a few of those startling events to share with you during 'Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast ...a magical escapade!'

However, Mr. Mark Twain also said:
"While I am a well-spring of truth, but you can't bring up the whole well with one bucket. Often the surest way to convey misinformation is to tell the strict truth."

So you may rest assured our tales are taken from pure fact.... if gussied up with a bit of embroidery.

We open this Friday Evening and hope to see you there!

What is Theatrical Magic?

2009-03-24T08:33:00.000-07:00

What is Theatrical Magic?

We describe
“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” as a “magical-escapade”
and by that we mean it is something in-between
a Theatrical Performance and a Magical Performance…

Indeed it is a form of Performance-Art
…and a bit of old-fashioned Cabaret.
So we’ve settled upon the term “Theatrical Magic”.

What is Theatrical Magic?

Since ancient days, people clustered in groups and invented stories to explain the unexplainable— the Seasons, the Elements, the Stars.

The Stories, Fables, and Myths which arose were filled with Wonder, Magic, and Healing, and provided a foundation upon which a people explored their beliefs.

Shaman Priests, Druid Teachers, and Wise Women all understood the power of the Spoken Word — while in our time “entertainment” is epitomized by canned-comedy on television— the gulf has widened between our amusements and our inner truths.

At the San Francisco Magic Parlor we recognize the necessity of re-introducing these ancient forms of amusement in a new guise.

Why can a movie, with plot-twists and special-effects, move us so deeply when most live entertainers move us only to laugher— if they elicit any emotional response at all?

As a contemporary raconteurs and conjurers, our Parlor Performance-Artists combine and weave the Art of Magic and the Art of Storytelling to evoke for today’s audience a sense of Astonishment, Emotional Intensity, and Wonder— things lost to many of us since childhood.

The united powers of the Mythical and Magical can take us on a kaleidoscopic journey of feelings and experiences. They hold a mirror to our mind, and reflect the truth of the Human Experience in the guise of Entertainment.

-Your “Eccentrics” Cast at the
San Francisco Magic Parlor-

-----
The Chancellor Hotel Is Home To
"Eccentrics Of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast"
-a magical escapade-
Friday & Saturday Evenings 8pm

www.SanFranciscoMagicParlor.com

www.BrownPaperTickets.com
-----

We’re almost “home”!

2009-03-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

We’re almost “home”!

This is our Tech Week!

We load into our host venue The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square,
to create the San Francisco Magic Parlor space,
with period décor, set pieces, props, artifacts, our stage and backdrop curtains
…all the things we’ll need to transport our audiences back to 19th Century San Francisco.

As the week progresses we get to work on the sound and lighting,
and nail down each vignette and magical occourace in preparation for you,
our future audiences, arrival.

So, this week is when we work at all the theatrical-magic that can capture the imagination, and make the history of old San Francisco come alive once again…

Tickets are currently available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/ or by calling 800-838-3006.

We hope to see old and new friends at
“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast …a magical escapade!” soon.

Here’s a little background on each of our Barbary Coast Eccentrics…

2009-03-20T10:22:00.000-07:00

It takes a lot of different ideas and points of view,
and a huge array of interests, skills, and talents,
to put together a show where there wasn’t a show before.

San Francisco Magic Parlor’s four Performance-Artists
come from varied backgrounds, places, and experiences,
but we all share a deep love of San Francisco,
a passion for words, ideas, and theatre,
and a belief that magic truly lives in each heart and soul.

Here’s a little background on each of our Barbary Coast Eccentrics…

SPELLBINDER ENTERTAINMENT
spinning tales and weaving enchantment

Walt Anthony, Conjurer & Teller-of-Tales is a dynamic performer who has over thirty-years of experience in entertainment, and a consummate acting and directing background, as well as expertise in corporate training. He has the ability to encourage and motivate, inspiring people far beyond the enjoyment of his magical performances.

Spellbinder Entertainment strives to bring a deeper, intrinsic meaning to our performances- our shows touch the heart, and empower through archetypal myth and symbol. Walt has wit, exuberance, and an elegant style, rendering his performances distinctive and mesmerizing.

PARADOX MAGIC
transforming my dreams into your realities

David Miller, a magician who charms his way into every audience’s heart, is a prominent and respected entertainer within the Bay Area. A “magician’s magician” David exuberantly mystifies and astounds, leaving his audience with enduring memories.

Paradox Magic has been perfecting magical artistry for over a decade, David believes true mastery of the Magical Craft is a continuous creative endeavor. David Miller is the magician for all your special occasions! Paradox Magic is the entertainment of choice for Business Events, Social Gatherings, Libraries and Schools.

BRIAN SCOTT PRODUCTIONS
twisting reality - for your entertainment!

Brian Scott, master mindreader and magician, has been performing both nationally and internationally with his unique blend of magic since 1991. His down-to-earth yet mysterious personality adds a certain level of wonder to any situation. Brian Scott’s background in theatre and acting has allowed him to not only entertain with his magic, but also to promote movies and consult on theatrical productions.

Brian Scott Productions is a full-service professional magical entertainment provider, operating out of the San Francisco Bay Area. Brian Scott’s unusual offerings in magic allow him to work with a broad range of clients throughout the year, ranging from large corporate functions to intimate private parties. His passion though, lies in helping organizations use his show Access to Oddities as a very successful fundraiser.

TALES WORTH TELLING
sophisticated narrative and monologue

Ruth Fraser, contemporary raconteur is inspired by sharing her fresh approach to “telling” in community and corporate venues, entertaining at private parties and business events, supporting a nonprofit’s or company’s vision through the use of parable-coaching techniques.

Ms Fraser grew up knowing how magical storytelling can truly be. She learned that the mundane, the frightening, even the miserable, could be transformed by the words: “Let me tell you a story about that!” Tales Worth Telling has discovered that stories are even more important to adults than to children. Life can be tough and the chances to transform this rough world are all too rare.

San Francisco Magic Parlor at Ms Carol Channing’s Benefit Show

2009-03-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

As “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” is aligned with the cause of Carol Channing’s and husband Harry Kullijian’s Foundation for the Arts, Our eccentrics David Miller and Walt Anthony traveled to the wilds of Los Gatos to attend a benefit Gala Concert for the Foundation where Carol performed with the 60-piece California Pops Orchestra.

With over one-quarter of our youth dropping out of school, and studies proving that exposure to and participation in the Arts can both motivate attendance and raise test scores like the SAT significantly, finding ways to build a broad Arts curriculum and funding teachers to teach these programs is more crucial than ever in today’s economy… “Look, this is about our children, our grandchildren, our country. We don’t need to save the arts. We need to help the arts save our kids.”

The event was a huge hit, and as Ms Channing rehearsed we talked with Harry Kullijian about ways our San Francisco Magic Parlor can raise awareness and help support this fantastic organization during the coming year.

At the after show reception we brainstormed a bit more with board members then had our photo taken with “Hello Dolly” herself, the couple promised they’d make it to our “Eccentrics” show next time they tour to San Francisco, which we hope will be for another concert this Autumn …we also talked about the possibility of making Ms Channing appear magically for her entrance on stage!

Sign Of The Times! shhh....there's magic inside...

2009-03-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

Here's our sign for

"Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast"

hanging from the awning of our venue host

The Chancellor Hotel Union Square!

Come visit us during April and

join the fun at San Francisco Magic Parlor!

A Few MORE Of Our Favorite Barbary Coast Eccentrics...

2009-03-10T14:07:00.000-07:00

A Few MORE Of Our Favorite Barbary Coast Eccentrics…

A Who’s-Who…

Who Was Oofty-Goofy?

This character started out as “The Wild Man of Borneo” in a Barbary Coast sideshow. When people came up to his bars, he would growl and mutter "oofty goofty!" hence his name. He became a curious one-man industry when he discovered that he felt no pain. People could sock him, kick him, etc. and it would not bother him. He let saloon denizens abuse him for four bits a whack.

Who Was Lotta Crabtree?

The “Madonna” of her day, remembered for her enormous talents, sparkling personality, and marketing savvy, Lotta Crabtree, was a protégé of the infamous Lola Montez, began her career as a copper-haired girl who wowed the miners at San Francisco's Bella Union and elsewhere in the Mother Lode. She grew up to be a famous actress in her own right, toasted on Broadway, winning awards. Her unique gift to the city -the cast-iron monstrosity known as Lotta's Fountain located at Montgomery and Market- earned her a permanent place in our City’s heart.

Who Was Lola Montez?

One of the more colorful characters of the 19th century was Lola Montez, who claimed to be a Spanish dancer, although she was actually Irish. She was best known for her "Spider Dance", a sort of tarantella which involved shaking rubber tarantulas out of her clothing in such a way as to provide generous views of her person.

Who Was Gertrude Atherton?

Gertrude Atherton was a woman with several fatal flaws: She was a great beauty who wanted to display as much of that beauty as possible in uptight Victorian times. She was a social climber who loved to spend and party. She incurred the wrath of her purist mother-in-law Dominga who held the purse strings. She hated her wimpy husband and raucous children. And she became an authoress… one who wrote scandalously racy romantic novels which embarrassed the family.

Tickets Now On Sale! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/50624

"Go West Young Man" …Gold Rush Headlines Called…

2009-03-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

"Go West Young Man" …Gold Rush Headlines Called…

Our show’s grand opening in 2009 marks and celebrates the 150th anniversary of California’s 1849 Gold Rush!

We invite you to pull up a chair in our Victorian Parlor and experience life as it was in San Francisco from 1849 through the “Panama Pacific International Exhibition” the World’s Fair of 1915.

The young men (and a very few women) who did head West to Gold Rush country, were dubbed “The ‘49ers”.

Throngs arrived, panning for gold and dreaming big dreams, from every class of eccentric, nonconformist, and oddball, these were the wild-and-woolly folk who built San Francisco.

Some of them were bizarre to begin with, some seem to have become odder as a result of Gold Rush “fever”.

Perhaps this is what led playwright Oscar Wilde to later wryly comment: “It is an odd thing, but everyone who disappears is said to be seen in San Francisco. It must be a delightful city and possess all the attractions of the next world”.

Our online Box Office is now open at Brown Paper Tickets, and a few seats are reserved for day-of-event sales at the TIX Booth in Union Square.

Please be our guest and see what our magical escapade “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” is all about!

A Few Of Our Favorite Barbary Coast Eccentrics…

2009-03-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

A Few Of Our Favorite Barbary Coast Eccentrics…

A Who’s-Who…

Who Was “Big” Alma Spreckels?

Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, can be seen today standing proudly atop the monument in Union Square. She reigned supreme in San Francisco Society almost from her birth in 1881 until her death in 1968. Known both as “Big Alma” -she was six-feet tall- and “The Great Grandmother of San Francisco” she was an wealthy socialite and influential philanthropist, who among her many accomplishments, donated the California Palace of the Legion of Honor to the City.

Who Was Emperor Joshua Norton?

Joshua Norton was a successful nineteenth-century businessman who lost his fortune and turned up wandering San Francisco's streets destitute... and arguably insane. Norton marched into a newspaper office with an "official" proclamation declaring himself the First Emperor of the United States, the paper printed it and the rest is history.

Who Was Mary Ellen Pleasant?

Courage, Immense wealth, philanthropy, and heroic civil rights deeds are among the legacies inextricably woven into the Mary Ellen Pleasant saga— oddly coupled with voodoo, intrigue, blackmail, betrayal, and death. Lauded from the Civil War throughout the Victorian era as a staunch abolitionist but also as San Francisco’s Voodoo Queen. “Mammy” Pleasant conducted her thriving businesses –and Voodoo– from her massive mansion on Eucalyptus-lined Octavia Street. It is said she haunts the street still…

Tickets Now On Sale! http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/50624

Our Secret...Chancellor's Astonishing Praline Pancakes!

2009-03-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

The cast of "Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barabary Coast" says:

You've not brunched... or lived ... until you've had the astonishing Praline Pancakes at the Chancellor Hotel Union Square...

Mmmmmm!

Our Box Office officially opens on March 1st

2009-02-27T09:54:00.000-08:00

Our Box Office officially opens on March 1st
selling tickets from April to July 4th weekends,
hope to see you at the show(s)!

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/50624 or 800-838-3006

“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast …a magical escapade!”
The Chancellor Hotel Union Square is home to the San Francisco Magic Parlor.

Chancellor Hotel Union Square home to San Francisco Magic Parlor

2009-02-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

We’ve very excited and fortunate to be housed within a venue which itself dates back to the Panama Pacific International Exhibition of 1915, is right on the Cable-Car line in the very heart of San Francisco, and is consistently a top-rated hotel on Trip Advisor’s website!

Chancellor Hotel Union Square is home to “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast …a magical escapade!

The charming Chancellor Hotel was built back in 1914 just eight-years after the earthquake of 1906, in anticipation of the crowds which would visit the Panama Pacific International Explosion, the San Francisco World’s Fair which opened in 1915. The hotel has remained a family-owned boutique hotel still maintaining its classic old world ambiance.

This historic boutique hotel provides guests with old-fashioned charm and service in a contemporary setting, and being in the heart of San Francisco affords guests access to world class restaurants, shopping and theatre surrounding Union Square. All 137 rooms and suites were freshened and renovated in 2007 with updated décor.

Our show “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast” …a magical escapade, is performed in the San Francisco Magic Parlor housed within Luques Restaurant located right off the lobby.

The Chancellor is in a prime location for both tourists and business travelers. Public transit, including the city’s famous Powell/Hyde Cable Car line, is right outside the lobby doors. Off-site parking is available at the Sutter/Stockton Garage or the underground Union Square Garage.

San Francisco Magic Parlor Supports a Foundation for the Arts efforts!

2009-02-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

“While reading, writing, and math feed the child’s mind,
the Arts fuel their hearts and souls, fostering compassion, empathy, and wisdom
during the school years and throughout their lives.”

-San Francisco Magic Parlor 2009-

The San Francisco Magic Parlor is aligned with the mission and goals of the Channing-Kullijian Foundation for Arts in Education, and kindly requests your energy and support for this fine organization and crucial cause.

Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts
FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS

The purpose of The Channing-Kullijian Foundation is to launch a statewide awareness campaign heralding the benefits of reinstating Arts back into the curriculum of public schools of California and to provide funding of scholarships for students and teachers in the Arts.

FACT: The Arts bring creativity and critical thinking skills to other subjects such as science and math within the schools’ curriculum.

FACT: Students who are engaged in the arts have a better attendance rate than those who are not engaged in the arts.

FACT: The Arts in all public schools enrich and endure for a lifetime.

Quoting Carol Channing
"It’s got to be included in education because what it does, it fertilizes young minds. When they are exposed to the arts, they get brighter in everything else. That’s what happened to me."

Please consider contributing your support or services or please send your tax-deductible donation of $25.00 or more as an autograph request or simply to donate funds!

The foundation website is: http://www.drchanningfoundation.org/

The stories of San Francisco

2009-02-23T11:24:00.000-08:00

It seems that anyone who has traveled to San Francisco, or who has lived here for any period of time, has a story to tell. Those stories are never dull, and they almost always have one, if not more eccentrics as the star. This show is no different.

When Mr. Walt Anthony, one of San Francisco's current day Eccentrics, asked me to be a part of this escapade, I couldn't say no - just thinking of all the wonderful tales and adventures that we would be sharing on a weekly basis, with audiences from around the world. excited me.

In addition to sharing stories with you on stage, I look forward to sharing with you some of those stories that come from the show itself. With a live performance you just never know what will happen and usually there are things that will only happen once - and if you happen to not be there the night of those "once in a lifetime moments", we will be sure to share them with with you here.

As we enter the final stretch before opening night, I see the vision of a show that started as a small flickering flame now burning as a bright and blazing fire...and we can't wait to have you come in and warm yourself beside that fire very soon.

A Link to our Press Release

2009-02-21T08:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a Link to our "Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast" Press Release:
http://www.prlog.org/10186468.html

And, to learn more visit the "Life at the Chancellor" Blog for our host The Chancellor Hotel!

See you in April!

We're Official! Magic Parlor Sign on Chancellor Hotel...

2009-02-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

Should you happen to stroll by the Chancellor Hotel,
while walking along Powell Street just off Union Square,
or if you give a quick peek from the Cable Cars…
you will spot a slightly out-of-time sign suspended
from the hotel forest-green awning, proclaiming:
"home to"
Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast… a magical escapade!

Now that the “San Francisco Magic Parlor” sign is officially hung,
we feel we’re really in the race for our April Opening….
indeed economy or high-water, we open in San Francisco!

Magically,
Walt, David, Brian, and Ruth
Performance-Artists
http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/

2009-02-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

This is our new Poster Art by San Francisco's Jason Facer!

2009-02-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

Great San Francisco news to share— welcome a new performance venue to the Bay Area!

Join us for our Grand Opening April of 2009 in our home at the charming and historic Chancellor Hotel on Union Square. Celebrate San Francisco’s wild, wacky, and romantic past, with world-class entertainers Spinning Tales and Weaving Enchantment.

We’ve had a warm reception each time “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast”…a magical escapade! has been presented, the highly praised show is now permanently housed within the San Francisco Magic Parlor at the Chancellor Hotel, 433 Powell Street, right on Union Square.

Share libations and delicacies one-half-hour before the show in our elegant and intimate theatre every Friday and Saturday Evening at 8:00pm sharp. Performance-artists Walt Anthony, David Miller, Brian Scott, and Ruth Fraser deliver wonder and wizardry to savor, bringing to life memorable portraits of wild-and-woolly characters from San Francisco’s colorful and notorious past!

Our Victorian Parlor will be elegant yet informal in ambiance —a comfortable room where both tourists and locals can experience distinctive magic with a classic theatrical flavor— without totally emptying their pocketbooks. An intimate velvet-draped stage will be the focal point of the salon, the cozy theatre seating only about three-dozen guests.

Audiences will gather for a ninety-minute show abounding with local anecdotes and lore presented by captivating and consummate conjurers and tale-tellers. We’re partnering with the terrific folks at the Chancellor Hotel to re-establish the San Francisco Magic Parlor in a perfect location accessible to both residents and visitors!

We truly hope our long-term venture will send folks back home from the Bay Area with very magical memories of their California visit! Reservations are highly recommended due to the intimacy of our theatre, and tickets are available from: www.BrownPaperTickets.com or 1–800–838–3006.

Further details at www.SanFranciscoMagicParlor.com.