The 1907 saloon at this corner is the last standing bar of the Barbary Coast (once a playground for San Francisco’s rough and tumble gold fevered 49’ers). The saloon first opened its doors in 1907 as the Andromeda Saloon. During San Francisco’s wild Barbary Coast days, angling executives, sharp talking politicians and homesick sailors all rubbed elbows while brazen prostitutes flaunted coquettish charms at the brass rail of the ornate bar.
The 49’ers, and later Barbary Coast inhabitants, were infamous for their general lack of respect, but the Andromeda Saloon earned wide respect in 1913 when Jack Dempsey gained employment there. Mr. Dempsey went on to become World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. The Andromeda was still an exciting place in 1939 when, as rumor has it, public enemy number one, Baby Face Nelson, was captured here by the FBI.
Prohibition wiped out most of San Francisco’s old saloons. The Andromeda survived by serving clams and oysters and calling itself the Andromeda Cafe. (They still served alcohol, but for purely medicinal purposes….) Sadly, during this period too, the bar’s mahogany woodwork received its first of many coats of paint.
In 1977 two local restaurateurs renovated the bar, renaming it the Albatross Saloon. Six months were spent restoring the saloon to its original splendor. Once more, the beautiful stained glass windows flanking the oak doors welcomed all who entered. The 1907 tile floor, which matched the self-flushing “spittoon” (used for more than just spitting in the saloon’s Barbary Coast era) was covered with antique wood planking. The original ceiling complete with a sky light was discovered and restored.
The most famous feature of the saloon, aside from the beer of course, is the bar which elegantly balances flame mahogany columns against a backdrop of beveled glass mirrors. These mahogany columns are cut and polished to reveal the wood grain as fiery flames surging upward. A solid plank of mahogany runs the entire length of the bar.
Nearly as famous as the bar is the fan. Running overhead the length of the bar is an enormous rotating contraption of brass and palm fronds. Run by a tiny motor via leather belts the1916 Pukka Walla fan stirs the winds of romance and the sounds of laughter.
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