The Moulin Rouge / Soul Train / Hippodrome / Stone

412 Broadway | map |

Opened: It's unknown when it first became an entertainment venue. The building has had multiple tenants and many different formats over the years. The location is on the north side of the street just west of Montgomery. The On Broadway Theatre was across the street at 435 Broadway. 

 

This venue at 412 Broadway was running as the Moulin Rouge from about 1963 until 1967. The club had a capacity of 700. As the Moulin Rouge it was operated by David Rapken. He also ran the Galaxie, a venue at 501 Broadway that later was called the Off Broadway.

 

A March 1964 view of the venue as the Moulin Rouge. It's an Alan J. Canterbury photo in the San Francisco Public Library collection.  

A matchbook from the Moulin Rouge era. Thanks to Harry Angus for sharing this on the page about the venue on his site Jerry's Brokendown Palaces. 

"Nudie movies from noon." Thanks to Harry Angus for locating this April 1967 listing from the Chronicle.

Later in 1967 it became Mr. D's, a name that was used until 1969. Harry notes: 

"Tony Bennett opened this room in 1967 when it was called Mr. D's, an elegant supper club. Sammy Davis Jr., had a modest financial interest in the venture. The owner was Joe DeCarlo, a talented and accomplished impresario, as well as U.S. Naval sharpshooter who served at Iwo Jima...

 

"The San Francisco Office of the Assessor-Recorder says that this building was built in 1968. Maybe there was a fire? On June 12, 1968, Mr. D’s, San Francisco's newest supper club and touted as the largest, re-opened grandly with a classy, polished one man show by Bobby Darin, backed by a 23-piece orchestra."

Harry notes that performers during the Mr. D's era included The Righteous Brothers (June 1968), Tony Bennett (again, July 1968), Ray Charles (August 1968), Paul Anka (August 1968), Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas (January 1969) and Three Dog Night (November 1969).

 

By 1972 it was called The Seven Divinities. In the second half of 1973 it was The Matrix, a reboot at this new location. Harry notes that it was an operation of Peter Abrams, John Barsotti and Dave Martin. He lists notable shows in 1973 including The New York Dolls, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Iggy and The Stooges along with The Tubes. 

 

In 1974 it became known as the Soul Train, an operation of Oakland promoter Dick Griffey and Don Cornelius, host of the TV show. Richard Pryor recorded a live album at the club.

 

A 1975 photo taken by Tom Gray prior to the venue's reopening as the Hippodrome. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for sharing this from his collection. Harry Angus notes that the proprietor was Lewis Chin.

 

A May 14, 1975 opening day ad for "Bullshot Crummond." Thanks to Jack Tillmany for locating it. The show had a nearly four year run.

 

Matches from the Hippodrome. Thanks to Harry Angus for sharing the image.

It closed as the Hippodrome in early 1980. Later in 1980 it reopened as The Stone, an operation of Freddie Herrera and Bobby Corona.

 

The look as The Stone. It's a photo by Dave Hunter that was located by Harry Angus. 

 

 The logo for The Stone. Thanks to Harry Angus for the image.  

Harry comments that shows of note when it was The Stone included Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker (opening show, 1980), The Jerry Garcia Band (many shows, 1980-1987), Prince (1982), Wilson Pickett, James Brown, The Four Tops and The Temptations. The lease was later taken over by John Nady. 

The look of the building as The Stone in 1995 with "Bye" on the marquee. It's a photo by Keta Bill Selvin. Thanks to Harry Angus for locating it for the page about the venue on his site Jerry's Brokendown Palaces.   

 

Harry notes that the building was mostly empty for the second half of the 1990s. On March 15, 1999 it reopened as the Showgirls Cabaret. 

 

 

 

A 1999 photo from Harry Angus of the venue as the Showgirls Cabaret. 

 

The Showgirls Cabaret at night. Thanks to Harry Angus for the photo. 

In January 2000 it became Boys Toys. In By 2012 it had become the Penthouse Club & Steakhouse. 

Status: It's now an "adult entertainment club" called Vanity After Dark. 

The location in 2021. That's Montgomery St. on the right. Photo: Google Maps

More information: Thanks to Harry Angus for researching the dates and operators for the various incarnations of this location. See the page about the venue on his site Jerry's Brokendown Palaces for a more complete discussion of various performers who appeared here.

Jack Tillmany's Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres of San Francisco" can be previewed on Google Books. It's available from Amazon or your local bookseller.  

We had lots of other venues using the Hippodrome name at various times. See Hippodrome 555 Pacific St. | Hippodrome 560 Pacific St. | Embassy Theatre 1125 Market St. | Union Square Theatre 160 O'Farrell St. The 555 Pacific St. Hippodrome was also for a time known as Moulin Rouge.

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