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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
-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, http://www.brownpapertickets.com |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
http://www.SanFranciscoMagicParlor.com
Second weekend of our magical escapade "Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast" ended well! Folks from New Zealand, Canada, Wisconsin, Northern and Southern CA were our enthusiastic guests. Good houses even with the recession. Hope to see more Magic Café friends at the show! Magically, Walt |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
New Union Square Theatre is a Crowd Pleaser!
“Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast …a magical escapade!” Chancellor Hotel on Union Square is home to the San Francisco Magic Parlor. Reviews of “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast!” A real San Francisco treat; better than Rice-a-Roni… My wife and I attended the show and were absolutely captivated… The magic was beautifully executed. What a pleasure this was… We will be going back again in the future. Don't miss it! -------------------- Very good show. Really entertaining… I hope “The Eccentrics” will quickly start drawing in a steady flow of tourists… It's certainly deserving of putting on one's list of "must-do's" during a visit to San Francisco. -------------------- “Eccentrics” is a lovely, pleasing and entertaining show… The show clips along due to these very charismatic performers; the four create a feeling of a family or troupe sharing their stories and a few good laughs along the way… I have to admit I was smiling from ear to ear the entire time. This is a lovely , fun and intimate San Francisco experience. -------------------- I have to say we were impressed… I was watching the audience now and then, and I can guarantee you they all had a blast… A nice combination of history, humor, magic, storytelling, and individual personalities... with a very clear and definite point of view… I've never written a review in my life, but here's a three-word one: Go see it! -------------------- Thought it would be a great way to start our trip… A unique presentation incorporating magic, theatre and some history of San Francisco… Well done! The cast was engaging and the small intimate room added to the experience. -------------------- The wit and charm of the performers totally captured my attention. On top of that there was some amazing magic going on… They had some real antiques from the old-west they used to tell the stories and perform their magic…If you want to catch something different in town and avoid usual stuff this is the ticket, relax with a good glass of wine and enjoy the show. -------------------- The intimate setting created a wonderful environment in which to enjoy the performance… Sure to become a tradition like Beach Blanket Babylon! -------------------- 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. Our home is the charming and historic Chancellor Hotel on Union Square a perfect location accessible to both residents and visitors. WHAT: “Eccentrics of San Francisco’ Barbary Coast”…a magical escapade WHERE: San Francisco Magic Parlor in The Chancellor Hotel Union Square 433 Powell Street (between Post and Sutter Streets) WHEN: Every Friday and Saturday Evening, at 8:00pm sharp TICKETS: $30 Entertainment Charge - Refreshments Available Before Show www.BrownPaperTickets.com or 1-800-838-3006 INFO: www.SanFranciscoMagicParlor.com BLOG: http://sanfranciscomagicparlor.blogspot.com |
Darkwing Inner circle Nashville Tn 1850 Posts |
Walt, I wished I was in the SF area. I would give anything to see this show.
Hope you sell out every performance and break a leg. David PS; Let us know how it goes. |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
REVIEW: 'Eccentrics of Barbary Coast' takes a magical tour through S.F. history
Saturday, May 9 2009 By Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times With a part of the restaurant at San Francisco's Chancellor Hotel turned into a Victorian-era parlor, the characters in "Eccentrics of the Barbary Coast" have a cozy place for a homecoming. The low-key 90-minute show, designed as much for Bay Areans as for tourists, blends tales of legendary local figures, from Emperor Norton and Alma Spreckels to Jim Jones and Anton LaVey, with a parlor magic show. The result is a delightful nightcap following a busy day in the city or a nice theatrical after-dinner mint for those not quite ready to call it a night. The performers, magicians Walt Anthony, David Miller and Brian Scott, along with storyteller Ruth Fraser, take the stage with an elegant charm, spinning their yarns about the historical figures with magic tricks that are somehow keyed to the characters they are presenting. Spirits are summoned, for example, when they tell the story of Mary Ellen Pleasant, a wealthy San Francisco woman who was a leading abolitionist and supporter of the Underground Railroad, and later rumored to be one of the leading practitioners of Voodoo in the city. When Anton LaVey's story is told, an impossibly heavy wooden box said to contain the souls of those lost to LaVey's Satanist church, is lightened following incantations. For those who grew up and grew gray in the Bay Area, stories of more contemporary figures like Jones and LaVey seem a bit out of place on the same bill as the bull-goose loonies of the 19th century, such as Emperor Norton and Oofty Goofty (who made his living by allowing people to kick him or hit him with a baseball bat for a price). It doesn't help that memories of the Jonestown tragedy at Jones' compound, still feel fresh. For newcomers and out-of-towners, though, those two are just more cogs in the amazing wheel of eccentricity that has spun San Francisco into a magical town of fog, food and foolishness. If nothing else, the show gives hosts another destination to take visitors — and, except for those unusually well-versed in San Francisco lore, the "Eccentrics" show will offer surprises and new information to those who live here. Anthony, Miller, Scott and Fraser are all seasoned performers who put their audiences at ease and gently lead them into the tales, just as they might do with guests in their own homes. The small venue has a charmingly intimate feel that really does seem like a comfortable parlor. The show is still in its early stages and could use some additional visual elements — slides, perhaps, of locations mentioned in the stories — to help flesh out the theatrical nature of the performance. Theater Review • WHAT: "Eccentrics of the Barbary Coast" • WHERE: Chancellor Hotel, 433 Powell St., San Francisco • WHEN: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, open-ended • RUNNING TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes • TICKETS: $30; 1-800-838-3006, http://www.brownpapertickets.com, http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/ SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER - Entertainment 'Eccentrics' celebrates San Francisco's mavericks By: Christina Troup 04/29/09 Walt Anthony absolutely adores The City. He jumps at the opportunity to play the role of tour guide when friends and family come to visit. About six years ago, Anthony, who has more than 25 years of experience in stage magic and acting, began to experiment with the idea of blending theater and magic in a way that would take audiences on an emotional journey as well as highlight the place he’s proud to call home. With the help of David Miller, Brian Scott and Ruth Fraser, he created “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast,” a colorful chronicle of San Francisco’s sumptuous past. Evoking the atmosphere of a Victorian parlor Fridays and Saturdays at the Chancellor Hotel, Anthony and company weave together vignettes about San Francisco’s wide array of eccentrics. “San Francisco protects and nurtures its eccentrics, rather than rejecting them like other big cities might,” the Chicago transplant says. Anthony says the aim of the show is to “be truthful without being factual all the time, since sometimes legend outweighs the fact.” Who are the “eccentrics?” Mary Ellen Pleasant: On one hand, Mammy Pleasant was a civil-rights activist who used her fortune to further the abolitionist movement, but was also rumored to have been a voodoo priestess. Joshua Norton: The businessman who lost his mind proclaimed himself “Emperor of These United States,” and was embraced by The City rather than shunned. Alma Spreckels: “The Great Grandmother of San Francisco” coined the term “sugar daddy,” supposedly invented the garage sale and persuaded her first husband to donate the Legion of Honor to San Francisco. Anthony says additional legends may be added, possibly including contemporary characters such as Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones. “I find that people who come to San Francisco … come here wanting to know what happened during the Gold Rush, what happened after the earthquake and want to know who these people are that the streets are named after,” Anthony says. “They really love hearing about The City and that’s why they leave their hearts here.” IF YOU GO: Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast Where: Chancellor Hotel, 433 Powell St., San Francisco When: 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through July Tickets: $30 Contact: (800) 838-3006; http://www.brownpapertickets.com THE SAN FRANCISCO TRIBUNE: Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast un show de magia y alegría Tres fantástico magos y Buenos cuentistas se reúnen para relatar historias inéditas de las personas más coloridas y excéntricas de nuestra bella ciudad de San Francisco. Aparte de los excéntricos de la historia, también veremos en acción a tres excéntrico comediantes y actores en un show de aproximadamente hora y media de duración. Los excéntricos de San Francisco es un show para todos, pero especialmente para turistas que llegan nuestra ciudad por una visita corta y gracias a Ruth Fraser, Walt Anthony, David Miller y Brian Scott, quines cumplen con una brillante actuación, aprenden mucho sobre nuestra venerada historia. El recorrido empieza con caracteres singulares de principios del siglo XIX con relatos inéditos de la época de búsqueda de tesoros y del oro, con [personajes tan típicos como Mark Twain, quien paso el invierno mas frío de su vida en un verano en San Francisco; con famosas prostitutas y mujeres exhibicionistas de la altura de Lola Montez, o filantrópicas de un corazón de oro como la gran Alma Spreckels. Este bello recorrido histórico es muy divertido y es siempre acompañado por increíbles actos de magia, como la mesa que se eleva sin ser tocada. Por más que nos matamos buscando, no pudimos ver ningún cable, un truco fenomenal; o por ejemplo el truco de las cartas que se terminan clavando en una espada solitas, estas eran las mismas escogidas secretamente por el público respetable. Eccentrics of San Francisco's Barbary Coast es un show estupendo, merece ser visto por chicos y grandes; es un show de magia, risas y cultura general que se presenta en el Hotel Chancellor, sito en el 433 Powell St, San Francisco. Se presenta hasta el 4 de julio. Informes: http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/ ROUGH TRANSLATION: Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast -a show of magic and happiness- Three fantastic magicians and good storytellers gather to relate unpublished histories of the most colorful and eccentric people of our beautiful city of San Francisco. Apart from the eccentrics from history, also we will see in action three eccentric actors and comedians in a show of approximately an hour and a half in duration. Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast is a show for all, but especially for tourists who come to our city for a short visit, and thanks to Ruth Fraser, Walt Anthony, David Miller and Brian Scott, will enjoy a brilliant performance, and learn a lot about our venerated history. The journey begins with singular characters of the beginning of the 19th century, with unpublished histories of the search for gold epoch, with personages as typical as Mark Twain, “who spent the coldest winter of his life in a summer in San Francisco”; with famous prostitutes and women exhibitionists of the fame of Lola Montez, or with the philanthropic golden hearted, big Alma Spreckels. This beautiful historical trip is very entertaining and it is always accompanied by incredible acts of magic, as a table rises without being touched. However much we killed ourselves looking, we could not see any cable, a phenomenal trick; or for example the trick of playing-cards that ended up being stuck on a sword, and were the same cards chosen secretly by the respectable public. Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast is a marvelous show, it deserves to be seen. It is a show of magic, laughter and culture that that is presented in the Chancellor Hotel, situated at 433 Powell St, San Francisco. It appears until July 4. Info at http://www.sanfranciscomagicparlor.com/ THE BARBARY COAST NEWS http://www.thebarbarycoastnews.com/ A funny thing happened on my way to Union Square* *(I was captured by magicians) With an out-of-town visitor in hand—someone who’s seen most everything there is to see in San Francisco—my guest and I wandered out one recent Friday evening to see something completely different—a night of magic and storytelling at the Chancellor Hotel. Calling their presentation Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast this group of four magicians and storytellers weave tales of the sometimes weird people and events of the early Barbary Coast into their magic tricks. So you get a little history with your entertainment! Set in the Victorian Room, an intimate first-floor dining area inside Union Square’s Chancellor Hotel, legends of another time in San Francisco come alive. My guest loved hearing tall tales of vigilantes, Shangai Kelley (whose bar was, I believe, right down Pacific Avenue—a stone’s throw from The Commons), hookers and a voodoo queen—those individuals who peopled The City 150 years ago. The performers began their magic presentations in April and will continue until July 4, 2009. The 90-minute show, which is available on Friday and Saturday nights only, begins sharply at 8 pm. The room accommodates a maximum of 40 people, so it’s important to reserve your space if you plan to attend. |
mumford Special user 652 Posts |
Very nice press Walt, you are on my "to do" list when I make my next bay area visit. Congratulations.
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Discount Packages in JUNE For Chancellor Hotel and San Francisco Magic Parlor!
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. _____________ “Eccentrics of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast …a magical escapade!” The Chancellor Hotel on Union Square San Francisco Magic Parlor. Join a Magical Journey through old San Francisco’s colorful and notorious past! Housed in the charming and historic Chancellor Hotel on Union Square. Celebrate San Francisco’s wild, wacky, and romantic history, with world-class entertainers Spinning Tales and Weaving Enchantment. Reservations are highly recommended due to the intimacy of the theatre. WHAT: “Eccentrics of San Francisco’ Barbary Coast”…a magical escapade! WHERE: San Francisco Magic Parlor in The Chancellor Hotel Union Square 433 Powell Street (between Post and Sutter Streets) WHEN: Every Friday and Saturday Evening, at 8:00pm sharp TICKETS: $30 Entertainment Charge - Refreshments Available Before Show http://www.BrownPaperTickets.com or 1-800-838-3006 INFO: http://www.SanFranciscoMagicParlor.com BLOG: http://sanfranciscomagicparlor.blogspot.com ___ “A real San Francisco treat; better than Rice-a-Roni… My wife and I attended the show and were absolutely captivated… The magic was beautifully executed. What a pleasure this was… We will be going back again in the future. Don't miss it!” ___ |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
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 night we didn't even have standing room, so why not reserve early and visit the "Eccentrics" next weekend? http://www.SanFranciscoMagicParlor.com And please don't miss Christian's "Now and Again" just a hop,skip, and jump down the road from us, may he have sell-out crowds as well. Viva The Magic! Walt |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Working on a new show “Tales of Enchantment” for Summer/Fall seasons, and hope to re-open our San Francisco Magic Parlor in the historic Chancellor Hotel on Union Square!
It is an evening of Theatrical-Magic including humorous, mysterious, and ethereal stories drawn from San Francisco lore, bygone legend, and world cultures, all illustrated with magical happenings which evoke both dreams and phantoms. With Walt Anthony, Conjurer & Teller-of-Tales and Magical Guest Artists Will keep everyone posted, Magically, Walt |
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