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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Magnolia ThunderPussy!


*Warning not a average Robyn posting...strong language and content, in respect for some of my regular readers*


This mystery trip was back in April! Yes...April. Adrien booked a walking tour of the Haight and Ashbury area! I LOVED IT! I am such a Jerry Garcia fan and really loved our tour guide. She was kooky and had fab stories. She has personally done(I mean meet)everyone from Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Hendrix, The Doors, Janis Joplin...and many, many more! The pic of the house below at one time housed the Hell's Angels! I know...get out! They lived right next door to Jerry Garcia. And how it was explained to me from my hippie tour guide, this is how Jerry came about having the Hell's Angels as his security.

This is Jerry Garcia's house. No big deal to most but to me...it rocked!

Here is a pic of our hippie-chick tour guide (looks as if she is trying to cup the whatnots of the mural...lol) She could talk and talk...and her stories were like listening to the history channel. We walked miles and miles, but some of the best miles.

And this brings me to the next photo. There I was standing on a crowded street corner taking everything in. When...BAM...hippie-chick tour guide says "Magnolia Thunder-Pussy used to have a place..." I burst out so loud with laughter, I swear everything came to a halt. I was rolling. That name alone evoked quite a picture in my mind. But seems she was a coolie-o type of chick. And really did live the hippie style life. Where what's mine is yours. Check out the blown up menu you will roll with laughter!

Double click on photo below to zoom in. I am telling you it would rock if we had a place around here where I could order the likes of "Pineapple Pussy".


And this is what I found when I Google searched! I only wish I had been able to meet this crazy-sex-pot growing-joint smoking-getting her drink on-loving gal! Can you imagine how fun that must have been back then. Yep...those were the days (well my friends Walker and Inner Voices still seem to be living the 'puff-puff-pass-get-their-drink-on' life style...lucky bastards!)
Magnolia Thunderpussy (c. 1940 – 15 May 1996), born Patricia Donna Mallon, was a San Francisco burlesque performer, radio personality, filmmaker and restaurateur. Thunderpussy operated two San Francisco restaurants in the 1960s: the one at 1398 Haight Street, which bore her name, featured a late-night delivery service and erotic desserts such as the "Montana Banana" (two "balls" of ice cream, whole banana, whipped cream and chocolate shavings) and the "Pineapple Pussy" (a hollowed pineapple filled with strawberry ice cream covered with whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a cherry).
Thunderpussy worked at several well-known dining and entertainment venues during her career, including the Boarding House (David Allen's nightclub on Nob Hill) and Capp's Corner (a restaurant in North Beach).
The Haight Street site is now occupied by a brewpub (also called "Magnolia" in memory of Thunderpussy).


There are crazy stores that line both sides of the main street. Crazy I tell ya! You have total chaos down there. Street performers and Hippies alike. Now of course the Hippies have a darker look, very rare to see tie dyes around. More like grunge.


And because the Hippie movement started in San Francisco, the fire department now has the Grateful Dead's logo on all their engines. Now, tell me that doesn't ROCK!

One of the best mystery trips for me. Very close to my rock-n-roll heart! And I am one for history and storytelling. I could have hung out all day listening to our Hippie-chick tour guide's stories. I would highly recommend this walking tour for anyone wanting to get immersed in some of San Francisco's diverse history.
Here is the simple link: Flower Power Walking Tour
With much love,

42 comments:

Maija said...

I knew this was going to be a fun post!!

Walker said...

I would have been honord to meet someone like Magnolia Thunderpussy.
She sounds like a fun down to Earth type of person I would love to hang out with.

It's a lifestyle that's demonized by law.
That's all I am going to say on the subject.
What I will say is enjoy the life that makes you the happiest.

Jerry Garcia is (Legends never die) an Icon of that era and one of my favorites alongside the likes of Neil Young Tom Petty, Frank Zappa, Jim Croce...

Great post.

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

What a great, interesting and FUN post! I would have loved to be along with you on that day. The whole thing cracked me up...sounds like it was a blast!

just bob said...

Sounds like quite a pilgrimage. I'm glad you had a great time!

just bob

Skeeter said...

A GREAT post!!! Love it. San Francisco has so much to see and do. I just love being a hippie :-)

Best wishes,
Skeeter

Anonymous said...

Cool trip. I laughed looking at that menu. Dave thought it was cool too.

Anonymous said...

You two have the funest trips. Id like to go sometime.
Where U headed next?

Karen said...

Both the hippie tour guide and Magnolia Thunderpussy sound like a hoot. I love people who are colourful and just themselves no matter what society says they should be. I say to them in my best Aussie speak "Good on ya". And good on you for sharing such a fun time.

Junie Moon said...

What a hoot! I've lived in San Francisco and visited the city since but never knew about the things you posted today. How amazing and fun!

INNER VOICES said...

this was a fun post! and walking tours of the city are the best. ive done a taino mural self guided tour and several other versions of bar crawls... again, sorry to have missed you when your were here!!!

The Mistress said...

Coincidentally, I was thinking about looking for my SF house pics to post something similar.

I created my own Summer of Love walking tour (I didn't know someone had created a Flower Power Walking Tour) and mine included Charles Manson's house.

Nice pics!

Rosemary said...

I love it Robyn!!!
Great post! Sounds like it was an amazing Mystery Tour!!
You crack me up!
Enjoyed your post, knew I would.
Rosemary

Anonymous said...

Definitely not your usual kind of post, Miss Robyn!

But love it anyway!

Px

Naturegirl said...

Robyn this tour was fun! Hippies brought back a ghost town in Arizona called Jerome..and there too one can see so much cool stuff..I should post about my experience visiting all the aging hippies who now are respectable shop keepers in Jerome.
Now how did I guess that you'd pick the ~pineapple pussy~ that was on the menu! "2 balls" of icecream sounds good to me! tee hee. :)NG

Leah said...

I'm a total Deadhead (well, in spirit, in life only went to one show), so much appreciated. Now I'd also really like to see Charles Manson's house!

Great post, Robyn!

Cece said...

Sounds like a blast. And the menu is priceless.

Cece said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
~Kristen~ said...

Girl, I do believe this has to be one of my most favorite-est-est of all your posts!!! Talk about Tangy!!! LOL It sounds like you and Adrian had a fabulous time!

I have been to Haight-Ashbury but didn't know about the walking tour. Now if I ever get back to San Fran I *MUST* do it!!! Everyone who knows me knows I would make a beeline for any place called Magnolia Thunderpussy anyway!!!!!! THAT is something that needs pics to be believed!

GREAT post girly!!!

Hugs!!!

Suzanne said...

Well living in the Bay Area for so long, you know I've been to Haight-Ashbury, but never took the walking tour. Wow. What a loss. I'm taking it. When I go down next time, I'll take Random Chick with me and we'll have a blast. You can come too. We'll make a weekend of it and stay at the Hyatt! Girlie weekend!!!

I LOVE Magnolia. What a chick. She's my hero. I read the entire menu and it's way too funny. "Bob, get me a Pinapple Pussy my dear man!" Yes, I do believe the menu at the Cafe will be changing!!!

When we were at Berkeley we lived just across the street from Echivery Hall on Ridge Road (the engineering building) in Tree Haven. Just up the street is the famous ampitheater where concerts are held (we were on the north side of campus). Every year the Greatful Dead visited and the hippies came from far and wide. It was a blast. I'm from around Woodstock NY, so it felt like Heaven.

This post is amazing and I love you. You are such an amazing woman and friend. I learned something new today. I like that.

Love you to bits,
Suze XO

Terri Steffes said...

TOOOOO fun! I am glad it was a rocking time for you girl! Another side of you is revealed!

Skeeter said...

Hi Robyn!

Just stopped by to say "Hi!" and check out that cool fire department logo. Too good.

Best wishes,
Skeeter

Holly Loves Art said...

Love this post! I used to spend many, many weekends in S.F. during the 80's and 90's. I still have a freind who lives smack dab in the middle of the Haight and has for 25 years!

Have a great week!

Holly

Cece said...

I'm glad it makes you happy to see me here. It makes me happy to make you happy. Hope work is treating you nicely, "Green Eyes". I hope you weekend went well. I have had a pretty restful one. I am also on vacation this week, so I am very happy about that. Talk to you soon.

Terrie Farley Moran said...

You were in the Haight!

That is totally cool!

Terrie

Kookaburra said...

G'day Robyn,

Thanks for the tour of the Haight. San Francisco looks so much like Melbourne. Your visits to my blog are always appreciated. I thought that the Title was the name of a new James Bond Movie.

Mark.

debra said...

Thanks for a great look at San Francisco. My aunt lived in the area and I remember visiting her. The Hight was a bit calmer in when I was there, but cool nonetheless

Travis Erwin said...

Cool post. But being as to how I'm nearly a carnivore I think I'll skip that pineapple dish.

Reb said...

What a fun post. I would like to visit San Francisco some day.

Dawn Wheeler said...

Wow what a fabulous trip ,you go to all the best place xxxDawnx

Suzanne said...

Baby, I'm emailing. Take a peek. Oh, you went to San Fran?!!! Of course I'm laughing.

XO

Jennifer Hayslip said...

Omigosh I am cracking up over TP!!! hee! hee! Isnt San Fran and H.A. such a cool and fun place to visit??? Cant imagine the crazzy dazed and confused fun times people had there! LOL!!!
Glad you had a blast!!! Smiles! XO

Larry Rollins said...

I was fortunate enough to have known Mother Magnolia during the 1968 to 1969 period when she had the restaurant going. I remember there being a set of crossed swords on the walls at each table. These swords were of the "nerf" variety and one could be hit directly across the face and it would not hurt at all. Every now and then Magnolia would come out of the kitchen with a sword of her own and start sword fighting with the cusomers. Soon the entire place would be on their feet slashing and "stabbing" anyone that came near. It would soon end though and we would all go back to our deserts and meals. Great and fun place and I must admit that memories of Magnolia Thunderpussy have caused me many giggles over the years that I would have to explain to those around me as "Oh nothing".

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Unknown said...

I knew Magnolia "TP" when she had her place in the Haight and at the Boarding House (I used to date one of her waiters). Maggie was sweet, a bit soft-spoken, and quite modest. I guess she would let her menu do her talking! She had a great sense of humor, and I remember how they used to plan the daily specials for the next day. One night at the Boarding House, someone called the police because Charlie Daniels and his band were whooping it up in their dressing room after the show and things got rowdy! I also remember that Henny Youngman was a regular performer at the Boarding House. I got to see some great shows and eat some great food! The stuffed pork chops were good, and the Pineapple P was my favorite dessert. Thanks for jogging my old cobwebbed memories!

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Anonymous said...

Doing my family tree and have found out that Magnolia Thunderpussy ( Patricia Mallon) was my second cousin would have loved to have met her. Denise

Unknown said...

I remember Patricia Donna Mallon "Magnolia Thunderpussy" when she had a takeout and delivery on Castro Street and 24th Street across from The Peaks Bar in Noe Valley. The Peaks Bar was a local Irish Bar. I was living on 18th Street up from Castro. The Castro was not yet a Gay Neighborhood but there was a gay bar up the street called The Pendulum. Magnolia had great ice cream treats like Montana Bananna's , Pineapple Pussy, and a split pea soup called Febe Phobes and they put in plastic toys like you would find in Cracker Jacks. Cliff was running the hardware wearing his black Ben Davis with the chimp and tight black t-shirt. Magnolia was a regular in Herb Caen. There was a hippie commune on Castro at 19th Street. The last time I saw Patricia was when she was working for Capps Corner before she was in the motor cycle accident.

RobertoLombardo@ymail.com said...

I used to live on Polk street back in the 60's with three friends, we used to get stoned and order a Montana Banana to be delivered. They were huge,six people would have a problem finishing one. Some wild days back then and fun.