Born in San Francisco in 1944, Steve Silver grew up in the Marina District, later settling in Russian Hill[A]. He attended Lowell High School[1] and then San Jose State University. After college he was a doorman and ticket taker at a North Beach[2] nightclub. His stage career began when he and some friends tap-danced on a sidewalk in Union Square[3] and made enough money to return the next evening. They started being hired to work parties as dancing trees, or gorillas on roller skates.
On June 7, 1974 Silver opened his show, Beach Blanket Babylon, in the back room of the Savoy Tivoli restaurant in North Beach. There were 11 cast members donning huge pineapple hats, reminiscent of Carmen Miranda, and belting out show tunes. It proved to be such a success that Silver moved the show to Club Fugazi, a 400 seat theater and nightclub on Green Street. It was located on the ground floor of the Italian Community Center.
Beach Blanket Babylon evolved into a cabaret show following Snow White as she journeyed around the world in search of Prince Charming. The show consisted of skits and songs parodying cultural and political issues of the day. The acts were continually updated. Cast members wore over-the-top costumes with, and I barely ever use this word, ginormous hats topped with themes such as the City Skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. In it’s 45 years, BBB became the longest-running revue in the country. Because of its celebratory tribute to San Francisco, it remained immensely popular with both residents and tourists alike.
In late 1994 Silver married long term friend and socialite Jo Schuman. In February 1995, on his 51stbirthday, Silver dedicated the AIDS Memorial Grove[4] in Golden Gate Park[5], which he had raised the funds to create. Silver died of complications from AIDS four months later. Schuman went on to manage BBB before finally shuttering on New Years Eve, 2019.
In 1996 the 600 block Green Street was renamed Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard. The show may be gone, but it will always be remembered.
[1] Lowell High School: see story coming October 20th
[2] North Beach: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=5026
[3] Union Square: story coming July 25th [4] AIDS Memeorial Grove: https://thesanfranciscophoenix.com/?p=5103 [5] Golden Gate Park: story coming April 4th
