Old Wives' Tales at 1009 Valencia Street - 1988

About This Item

Old Wives' Tales was a famous female-owned lesbian bookstore established in 1976 by Carol Seejay and friends, with a loan from the Bay Area Feminist Credit Union, in response to a groundswell of women's culture and numerous other female-centric businesses such as bars and bathhouses. The store operated as a collective, and later as a non-profit. It moved to this space in 1980, but closed October 29, 1995. In the 1950ss, 60s and 70s, homosexuality - in addition to being illegal and viewed as immoral and an "illness"- was also a taboo topic. Hence, the need for gay bookstores. By the 1990's, gay books were sold everywhere, and gay bookstores began to close. See related slides for more views of Old Wives' Tales.

Created by
Kirkeberg, Max
Date
2/15/88
Slide ID
MiW-Valencia-1000-E-06
Type
35 mm slide
Format
TIFF
Source
Max Kirkeberg Collection
Locale
San Francisco, California
Rights
Public
Views
2477

Related Items

Old Wives' Tales at 1007/1009 Valencia Street - 1988 Old Wives Tales bookstore at 1009 Valencia Street - 1983 The former site of Old Wives Tales bookstore at 1009 Valencia Street - 2012 826 Valencia Street - 2012 The Socialist Action Bookstore at 298 Valencia Street - 2004 Socialist Action bookstore - 2004 Sign for Abandoned Planet Books at 518 Valencia Street - 2008 Celebrate Women's Resistance sign on Valencia Street near 19th Street - 1988 Borderlands Cafe at 870 Valencia Street - 2012 Amelia's Cocktails at the southeast corner of Sycamore Street and Valencia Street - 1983 Amelia's Cocktails at the southeast corner of Sycamore Street and Valencia Street - 1988 Signs at the Chatterbox bar at 853 Valencia Street - 1988 Bombay Express Indian Cuisine at 534 Valencia Street - 1988 Elbo Room at southeast corner of Sycamore Street and Valencia Street - 1995 Elbo Room at southeast corner of Sycamore Street and Valencia Street - 2012 "We only serve nice people" sign at the entrance to Elbo Room - 2012 Casa El Salvador located at the northwest corner of Valencia Street and 21st Street - 1982 Specialty Laundry and the Chatterbox bar at 853 Valencia Street - 1988 Telephoto north on Valencia Street from Mission Street - 1988 1193 Valencia Street at the left - 1973