If you can believe it, I’d never been to Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco before! Now that I have photographed a wedding here, I LOVE it and can’t wait to go back. What a great place for a wedding reception! This place is so swank, and full of history. Here’s a blurb all about it, taken from the Bimbo’s website:

Agostino Giuntoli left Tuscany, Italy in 1922 at the age of 19 and sailed to America. He spent five years working his way to San Francisco and found a job as janitor at the famed Palace Hotel. From there he became a cook at a nearby establishment where his boss, Monk Young, was unable to pronounce his name and dubbed him “Bimbo”, the Italian word for boy. The name stuck for good.

In 1931, he and Young, now his partner, opened the 365 Club at 365 Market Street. San Francisco was weary of the Depression, needed some fun, and the 365 Club was there to provide it. The club was crowded with celebrities and stars from across America who were there to see and be seen. On stage, lines of long-stemmed chorus girls kicked high to the music; one of whom was Rita Cansino. Later, we would all know her as Rita Hayworth. Gin was served in coffee cups while everybody puzzled over the optical illusion provided by Dolfina, The Girl in the Fishbowl: She appeared to swim nude in the fish tank behind the bar… you can still find her there today.

When Bimbo’s moved to Columbus Avenue in 1951, the scene got even more exciting, with jugglers, dance teams, stand-up comics, crooners chantootsies, multi-course dinners, and more. Today, Bimbo’s still offers a lot of color and flare for the old and young alike.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from photographing this San Francisco wedding. Here, Camaguey is getting ready at the Hilton, just steps from St. Patrick’s:

Cameguey’s father looks so happy and proud!

Notice the marquee with John and Cameguey’s names!

I love this final shot, outside of Bimbo’s next to a vintage San Francisco Cable Car!

Hilton Hotel
333 O’Farrell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 771-1400

St. Patrick’s Church
756 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94103-3196
(415) 421-3730
www.spcsf.org

Bimbo’s 365 Club
1025 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94133-1701
(415) 474-0365
www.bimbos365club.com

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