Most Recently: The Body Shop
Previously: The Midnight Sun; City Dump; the Midnight Sun
506 Castro Street
San Francisco, California 94114
Status: Vacant
History
Summary
| Name | Dates of Operation |
| The Midnight Sun | 1974 – 1981 |
| City Dump | 1973 |
| The Midnight Sun | 1971 – 1972 |
Details
The Midnight Sun began in 1971 at 506 Castro Street at the site of what was most recently the Body Shop. Then in 1973 it became City Dump before becoming the Midnight Sun again in 1974. That same year, they fielded one of the inaugural teams of the Gay Community Softball League.
It was decorated by Todd Trexler, who was hired to redo the interior every six months. Management would close the bar for a few days to change the theme: a circus theme one time, an Art-Deco Flash Gordon spaceship another time. The owners installed large television monitors and a state-of-the-art video booth to create the City’s (and perhaps world’s) first gay video bar.
The Midnight Sun continued there until 1981, when it moved to an old plumbing warehouse around the corner at 4067 18th Street, where it continued the video bar concept the same year that MTV debuted.
Since 1981, the space has been a retail space. Most recently it was occupied by the Body Shop, an international chain selling natural lotions, soaps, make-up, and similar products. They moved out in early 2014 and employees were transferred to the Body Shop’s other locations in the City. It’s been vacant ever since.
Sources
de Jim, Strange, San Francisco’s Castro, Arcadia Publishing, 2003.
“The Gay Community Softball League,” Uncle Donald’s Castro Street.
Leyland, Winston, Out in the Castro: Desire, Promise, Activism, Leyland Publications, 2002, 0-943595-88-6.
McKenzie, Roy, “The Body Shop Shuttered,” Hoodline, January 11, 2014.
Provenzano, Jim, “Midnight Makeover: Castro Video Bar Gets a Facelift,” Bay Area Reporter, October 3, 2013.
Todd Trexler Posters, accessed online September 29, 2014.
“A Tribute to Toad Hall,” Uncle Donald’s Castro Street.
Williams, Ron, San Francisco’s Native “Sissy” Son: A Coming Out Memoir, 978-1624079849, 2013.
Location
506 Castro Street, San Francisco
Hi, am am alumni bartender and founder of the soft ball league. April 26 the 1974. Toad Hall vs The Midnight Sun/ Club Boom Boom. The big game. Einar in a huge Frog Costume to mock TH. The Sun Boys Cheerleaders. 200 + fans. Big Midnight Sun banners. Playing leap frog across the field. Then Toad Halls turn. They ran out to jump through the big round paper Toad Hall banner. It just collapsed on about 5 players. The crowd went crazy. The Sun won the coin toss. Up to bat first, 10 runs later! Well after 7 innings it was Sun 26, TH, 7. Huge party on Castro. TH had to buy drinks all night. Maybe the first Gay parade Banners flying.
Hi all, just read it. David Ford and I helped to organise the first gay softball league. The big game was between The Midnight Sun, club boom boom, and Toad Hall. Since TH, had all the hot athletes. I decided to go with a psychological twist. We had huge banners, fully trained and outfitted cheerleaders. Also rented a huge frog Costume. About 150 fans. Einar in the frog coutume was histerical. We all did a frog jump over the field. Then Toad Halls turn. They put up a huge round team sign that the players were supposed to jump through when coming on to the field. The sign just collapsed with three of there players sprawled out on the ground. Just histerical laughter. I knew then the we would win. 27 to 7. Huge party on Castro St. Then into Toad Hall. Our frog was dancing on the bar. Free drinks for the Sun. Really fun. Then to the Sun for the victory celebration. It was incredible.