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Patron's at Compton's Cafeteria.

Poster for the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Poster for the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972.

Costume for the character, Mother Fu (performed by Russell Blackwood) from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Smoking jacket worn by Russell Blackwood (Thrillpeddlers founder and artistic director) during introductions to shows at The Hypnodrome theatre.

Yellow insect headpiece used as part of a costume in an unidentified Thrillpeddlers production. This item is undated.

Tech lighting map for the Thrillpeddlers production, Blood Bucket Ballyhoo.

A series of photographs mounted on poster board depicting the installation of the Hypnodrome Theatre, the long time home of the Thrillpeddlers located in the SoMa district of San Francisco.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the corinthian greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the ionic greek architecture order.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Poster advertising Creepshow Camp, an arts education program that taught horror and science fiction performance skills to youth.

Stage designs for the Thrillpeddler's production, The Bloody Debutant.

Sequined costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the corinthian greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the corinthian greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the ionic greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the ionic greek architecture order.

Costume for the character, Mother Fu (performed by Russell Blackwood) from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Costume for the character, Mother Fu (performed by Russell Blackwood) from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Purple costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Sequined costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Sequined costume from the Thrillpeddlers revival production of Pearls Over Shanghai. Pearls Over Shanghai was originally a Cockettes musical written by Link Martin and Richard Scrumbly Koldewyn.

Thrillpeddlers was a San Francisco-based multigenerational queer theater company specializing in Grand Guignol plays and Theatre of the Ridiculous.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the doric greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the doric greek architecture order.

Headpiece from the Thrillpeddlers revival production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972. This headpiece is meant to resemble the doric greek architecture order.

Script for the opening scene of the Thrillpeddlers production, A Visit to Mrs. Birch and the Young Ladies of the Academy, containing stage cues and other annotations. This production was featured as part of Shocktoberfest 14.

Program for the Thrillpeddlers show, Farewell to the Hypnodrome. Farewell to the Hypnodrome was the final Thrillpeddlers' production held at the Hypnodrome Theatre due to the sudden sale of the building. Ticket sales revenue for this show were used to help cover the cost of moving.

Chart listing special effects used during Shocktoberfest XV.

Mink stole belonging to Eve Finocchio, the owner of Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Mink stole owned by Eve Finocchio, the owner of Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Hat worn by Finocchio's doormen. This item is undated.

Hat worn by Finocchio's doormen. This item is undated.

Green lace gown worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Large format photograph of performer that was displayed at Finocchio's. This item is undated.

Large format photograph of performer that was displayed at Finocchio's (rear). This item is undated.

Painted portrait of a performer that was displayed at Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Painted portrait of a performer that was displayed at Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Red lace gown worn by performers at Finocchio's. This garment was designed by Pat Campano and is undated.

Red lace gown worn by performers at Finocchio's. This garment was designed by Pat Campano and is undated.

Pink feathered hat worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Pink feathered hat worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Red folding fan used by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Red folding fan used by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

A group of attendees at a Halloween drag event.

Set piece reading "Alwayz Eze" used in the Thrillpeddlers production, Hot Greeks. Hot Greeks was originally a Cockettes musical written by Martin Worman and Scrumbly Koldewyn in 1972.

The James Dewsnap collection contains two full-length nude portraits of Scott O'Hara by San Francisco artist David Ross; transcripts of 16 interviews from 1994 that Dewsnap conducted with Jackie Phillips, the lead "comedienne" at Finocchio's from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s; and an unpublished book-length typescript on Phillips’ life, called "Oh, what a drag! The life and career of Wacky Jackie Phllips, Finocchio's riotous redhead, as told to Jim Dewsnap."

An oral history of longtime Finocchio's comedy queen Jackie Phillips, taken by James Dewsnap and later incorporated into Phillips' autobiography ghostwritten by Dewsnap.

The autobiography of longtime Finocchio's comedy queen Jackie Phillips, as told to and ghostwritten by James Dewsnap.

Drag queen in a light blue leotard and large feathered headpiece standing on the street.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Roz Joseph (1926–2019) was a San Francisco-based photographer who in the mid-1970s photographed the pageantry and activism of the city’s diverse drag cultures at Gay Freedom Day parades, Halloween celebrations, Imperial Court coronations and drag and costume balls. The collection consists of matted color photographic prints, notebooks of slides, interviews and manuscript materials, and various ephemera.

"Ambi Sextrous." Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

"Ricky". Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Photograph by Roz Joseph. From her series of photographs of the San Francisco drag scene in the mid-1970s.

Jean-Baptiste Carhaix (1946-2023) was a French photographer. The collection includes photographs of early members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and images of events, including AIDS fundraisers and marches.

Program for Crusade, a softball benefit for the 1982 Gay Olympics, presented by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

This collection contains materials relating to Finocchio’s, one of the oldest and best-known female impersonation clubs in the world. The term, "female impersonators" is a historic term that comes from a straight-coded Victorian theatrical form and continued until the mid-20th century before merging into what we now call drag. Finocchio's performers included what we now know as drag queens, trans people, and cis men in drag.

A list of jokes performed by Finocchio's emcees during shows. This item is undated.

A list of jokes performed by Finocchio's emcees during shows. This item is undated.

Business card for Young's Wigs, located in Oakland, California. This item is undated.

Sign with hours of operation of Finocchio's. This item is undated.

Red lace gown worn by performers at Finocchio's. This garment was designed by Pat Campano and is undated.

Green dirndl dress worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Hat worn by Finocchio's doormen. This item is undated.

Mink stole owned by Eve Finocchio, the owner of Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Decorative textile from Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Multicolor top and skirt worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

A run of show listing the schedule of performers and their acts at Finocchio's nightclub.

A run of show listing the schedule of performers and their acts at Finocchio's nightclub.

Promotional postcard advertising Finocchio's nightclub. This postcard uses the term "female impersonators" to describe performers, which is a historic term that comes from a straight-coded Victorian theatrical form and continued until the mid-20th century before merging into what we now call drag.

Red folding fan used by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.

Illustrated menu for the restaurant, Enrico's, which was directly below Finocchio's. The illustration depicts the facade of both Enrico's and Finocchio's and was created by Wendy Wheeler.

Painted portrait of a performer that was displayed at Finocchio's nightclub. This item is undated.

Large format photograph of performer that was displayed at Finocchio's. This item is undated.

Silver necklace worn by Finocchio's performers. This item is undated.