4067 18th Street
San Francisco, Califonia 94114
(415) 861-4186
Midnightsunsf.com
Status: LGBT Bar
Previously: A plumbing warehouse
In Their Own Words: Midnight Sun, SF’s premier video bar in the heart of the Castro. Voted best Happy Hour in SF. 2 for 1 everything ’til 9:00 p.m. daily. Home of Mahogany Mondays.
History
Summary
| Name | Dates of Operation |
| The Midnight Sun | 1981 – present |
Details
The Midnight Sun began its existence in the 1970s at 506 Castro Street, most recently home to the now-closed Body Shop, before moving to its current location around the corner at 4067 18th Street in 1981.
The location had been a windowless plumbing warehouse, which led to its name. It’s considered to be the very video bar in the country, launching at nearly the same time as MTV and choosing music videos rather than records, which in the past would often be interspersed with clips from sit-coms and variety shows. During their runs, the bar would also host viewing parties for gay-popular shows like Queer as Folk and Sex in the City.
In 2011, the bar was acquired by new owners, a consortium of gay men who also own QBar, The Edge, and now Beaux. It got a hefty make-over, with the bathrooms moved to the back and a new sitting area in the front where the old bathrooms were located, along with – the biggest change of all – windows opening onto the street. Twin Peaks made history in 1973 when it became the first gay bar in San Francisco, and possibly the country, to install plate glass windows at a time when other gay bars avoided windows to provide anonymity and privacy for their customers who often needed to be discrete. The Midnight Sun bookended this history when it became the final gay bar in the Castro to acquire windows.[1]
The comedy clips have now been dropped and go-go boys have been added. A removable stage has also been created in the back. The Ethel Merman Experience performs there regularly, and RuPaul’s Drag Race season 5 contestant Honey Mohogany hosts a Monday night drag show that also serves as a viewing party during the season.
Notes
[1] Lucky 13 (2140 Market Street) still doesn’t have windows. But it doesn’t market itself as a gay bar, and while there are certainly some gay patrons (like pretty much everywhere else in San Francisco), we’re listing it as primarily a straight/mixed bar.
Sources
Bajko, Matthew S., “Midnight Sun plans facade, restroom upgrade,” The Bay Area Reporter, May 3, 2012.
de Jim, Strange, San Francisco’s Castro, Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
Provenzano, Jim, “Midnight Makeover: Castro Video Bar Gets a Facelift,” The Bay Area Reporter, October 3, 2013.
Uncle Donald’s Castro Street, accessed online June 6, 2014.
Location
4067 18th Street, San Francisco
Hi all.
My name is Tom Newman. I was a bartender at the Sun in 1973 and 1974. Looking back, we started the goodtime softball league. Huge victory over Toad Hall. 28 to 7. First gay parade on Castro after the victory. It was so much fun. Just a fond memory. Used to have chats with Harvey over Calistoga Water. He had super long hair at the time. Anyway, living in Savannah. Just turned 70. If anyone is writing down the history of the Castro revolution. Hope they contact me. Lot’s of great stories and photos to share! Tom
Did you know Jim Boyd? He was my Uncle, my mother’s brother. He was the absolute coolest person I have even know. I miss him so much. One in awhile I hear from people who knew him and it helps me feel closer to him. He was there around the same time.
I knew Jim Boyd when he was manager of the Midnight Sun. . . Jim would come into the Welcome Home Restaurant where I worked in the early 1980s. . he was one of the sweetest guys and by the way I had the biggest crush on him.
Hello Tom Newman
I am Jimmy Lee Owens. I live in Berkeley CA. I am 8 years older than you. I was boyfriends with David Ford before the opened the 1st Midnight Sun on Castro.
When I first met David he had just completed a tour of duty with the Air Force at Castle Air Force base in Atwater, CA. When David took out the lease on the property on Castro Street
I contributed some hours with him in the initial rehab of that space
We were very close friends ~ before the bar opened ~ and a few years afterward.
During the decade of the 1970s I was behind the bar at Sutter’s Mill.
When David opened the Neon Chicken with Manuel Lago ~ I celebrated the opening with them.
I have been thinking of David for close to 40 years. I have never found anyone who knew him then – or knows whatever happened with David. Can you provide any info?
Many Thanks. ~ Jimmy Lee Owens
Hello Jimmy, I work at United California Bank with David Ford, Dick Kawecki and Gif Porter. We all joined David working together at gge Midnight Sun in the 70’s. I was a door man, Gig was a bartender and David Ford and Dick Kawecki were owners and managers. David gave Dick Kawecki’s younger brother a job at the Neon Chicken. Fun times together and such great memories. I still have one of the original T-shirts from the original Midnight Sun Bar.
Hi Jimmy,
Well three years on. I still think about you, David and Dick. How hard we worked on making all the stuff for the new midnight sun. I was 22 and had the biggest crush on David. So many great times. Check out. The Barnard Street Tattler. I have written down a lot of stories!
Jimmy! I am David’s niece. He was my favorite Uncle. I am going to try and track you down, but if you see this hefore I do, please email or call me rhiannon4lha@outlook.com or 813-777-3693
Hi Tom. My lover and I moved to SF in 1974, and Midnight Sun was one of our hangouts. So different back then from the way it grew and moved now. We left for LA in 1976, I took Mark to Oregon where he found the business partner he needed to find, I found the man who would remain with him to the end (23 years) and maintained a loving friendship the whole while. I returned to SF at the breakup in 1978 and became involved with Trocadero Transfer. I am writing about my life at present and would like to share time reminiscing about the “pioneering days” in old San Francisco sometime. I am semi-retired working for a horse trainer during the racing season in Saratoga County.
Feel free to contact me anytime.
Happy Easter, Namaste, jc
Hi John,
Same here. 912-228-1805. Feel free to call! I was involved in so much of the gay revolution! Always the power behind the throne! Hope to hear from you! Best, Tom
I’m Desiree Crooks. 62 yrs young (and not looking a day over 35!) and a newer regular. I’m a straight woman who adores the gay community. I started coming to Midnight Sun quite by accident 6 months ago and have been a fixture here every Wed night. BeBe was my first friend here and ever since I have come out of a very dark place and found a home and family (ever growing!) here.
I used to come in the 80s to hang out and drink. Reading Armistead Maupin’s Tales Of The City and seeing The Midnight Sun mentioned was a total thrill for me.
I found my voice here and will continue to sing here long after I become famous hahahaa!
Hi all,
First to Jimmy. It has to be you that came up with the space ship concept, for the remodeling of the bar. Got rid of those guilts hanging on the walls. I have and still am involved in an online paper. One of my articles is, (The Gay Elder) I am telling stories about my journey from Minneapolis to San Francisco. The Barnard Street Tattler.com
You might enjoy it. There are several articles that you and David are featured in. Do you remember the song. “Midnight at the oasis, put your camels to sleeps?” Sorry to say, David is not with us anymore. Call me, 912-228-1805. Tom the bartender. How is Stuart Wilson. I hear he is now a realto.
Hello Everyone,
Funny hearing about the Midnight Sun after 50 years. My name is Tom, too, and I was doorman and part-time bartender in 1972 when the Sun was owned by Hilton and Tom Colford. I loved how they used to completely redecorate to a different theme every few months like Marylyn Monroe tribute, Middle Earth, and Tinseltown themes. I lived for a while on Church Street above Delores Park, then on Sanchez with the Gay Switchboard crew, and finally at the Youngmen’s Hotel next to The Levi’s factory. I left in Spring of 1973 so missed most of the above.
Hi John,
Same here. 912-228-1805. Feel free to call! I was involved in so much of the gay revolution! Always the power behind the throne! Hope to hear from you! Best, Tom
Hello
I recently found the Quilt panel for C Stephen Wick who spun the records snd showed the clips at the Midnight Sun in (at least ) the ’80’s.
Does anyone remember him?
Thank you
Wow, her is my contact number. 912-228-1805
What happened to the ownwrs Clyde & Tom?
What about bartenders and managers Brett & Loyd?
And Den?
What about VJs Bruce, Greg and Sam?
Kindly let me know.
Thx
The Midnight Sun was the first gay bar I visited during my first trip to San Francisco in 1995. I was 30 and it was my first visit to America. When ordering my first drink at the bar, I was accosted by an adorable young French tourist in a sweater, and immediately fell desperately and unrequitedly in love with him. From recollection, it seemed fairly preppy at the time – cashmere sweaters and the like – but quite a nice bar.