ECHO of DECO and the Senate Didn’T Like the House Bill
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no. 84 SOUTHSIDE PUBLISHED CENTRAL CITY BY THE SAN FRANCISCO Filipino WWII STUDY CENTER NOVEMBER vets let down 2008 again on payout Congress fails to STRIP CLUB pass bill that would MANAGER benefit 325 in S.F. ON SPOT BY T OM C ARTER SAN FRANCISCO DOZEN veterans from the war Pink Diamonds in the Philippines showed up will straighten A Oct. 8 at the Veterans Equity Center at Sixth and Mission streets P RIZE- WINNING H OTEL asking where to get forms to apply up, he vows for their long-awaited benefits for fighting the Imperial Japanese forces PAGE 2 during WWII. They’d read in the paper that Congress had approved the war benefits. “I can’t remember where they said they read that — I don’t read newspapers because I don’t trust TL HEALTH them,” said Luisa Antonio, the cen- ter’s executive director. “Maybe it CUTS HURT was the Philippine Tribune. But there are no forms and the govern- HOMELESS ment has never issued guidelines.” So the vets’ big win was bogus. “And the issue’s dead for this Put pressure lame duck Congress,” Antonio said. “I had to tell (the vets) that the on other Senate wouldn’t go for it.” Associated Press had reported programs that the House had overwhelmingly approved a bill PAGE 3 that would make one-time payments “The Republicans of $15,000 to Filipinos who are stopped it. U.S. citizens and $9,000 to nonciti- P HOTO BY L ENNY L IMJOCO They say… zen Filipino veter- Art Deco-tinged buildings at 125-29 Hyde St. were film exchanges for the Hollywood studios. Iraq is the ans. But the story priority, not the didn’t say the Filipino Veterans Philippines.” Equity Act of 2008 had passed, only Luisa Antonio that it needed the VETERANS EQUITY CENTER upper house vote. ECHO OF DECO And the Senate didn’t like the House bill. It would- (There were also film exchanges on Golden n’t even allow the convening of a BLIND Art movement Gate Avenue — but their architecture is not conference committee to fashion a Art Deco.) compromise. Thus the latest ARTISTS The Hyde Street film exchanges are in attempt, in a failed series of benefits and Hollywood no way as impressive as the many signifi- bills that started in Congress 15 EXHIBIT AT cant downtown Art Deco buildings, such as years ago, died. leave mark on TL the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Antonio two weeks earlier had CITY HALL Building at 140 New Montgomery St., the met with a group of 50 Filipino vets Shell Building at 120 Bush and the 450 and their spouses to update them on BY A NNE M ARIE J ORDAN Art Beat finds URBAN DESIGN REPORTER Sutter medical dental office building. But the legislation’s progress. The center one Tenderloin hotel — The Hamilton — has served more than 2,500 vets, show visionary was honored this year for its Art Deco con- spouses, widows and seniors in its N interesting footnote to Holly - tributions. nine years. Antonio is their advo- wood history still exists in the PAGE 7 The film exchange buildings on Hyde cate. She testified before the Senate Tenderloin. It comes by way of represent the style in a simplified form. Veterans Affairs Committee last year a few addresses on Hyde They are not massive, but probably were Street, between Golden Gate made of steel and precast concrete. Most are ➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 andA Eddy, that were known familiarly as a mere two stories high, with ordinary flat- film exchange buildings. top roofs. Constructed mostly in the 1920s, these And because they existed exclusively buildings, mainly situated in the 100 and for the use of the film industry, they were 200 blocks of Hyde, were used for 40 years never intended to be grand public places or so as convenient storage and distribution either inside or out. The Paramount Theater centers for Hollywood’s blockbusters of the in Oakland does that job well enough. day — and the not so great movies, too. Still, because of this specialized Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 20th Century Hollywood connection, it is reasonable that Fox, Paramount, Columbia, RKO and other the architects and their movie business studios required safe and convenient tem- clients wanted to have some streetside style porary facilities for their films once they incorporated into their looks — at least, on arrived in key cities and before the distribu- the exterior. For instance, not many other tors got bookings at local theaters. For fast small office buildings in the city have majes- and easy exchange of movies from place to tic lion heads for decoration. At 259 Hyde place, it made good sense to put the film St., where the Central City SRO exchange buildings within metropolitan Collaborative is now, there are eight such hubs. projecting plaques — think MGM — that Though the original role of the old film wrap around the building’s roofline from exchanges is long gone, some buildings still Hyde to the Eddy Street side. P HOTO BY L ENNY L IMJOCO survive in San Francisco. Those on Hyde And its neighbor at 255 Hyde, once the offer a bit of glamour in the way of their dis- local branch of 20th Century Fox, has on Ceferino Damil and brother Felix are tinctive Art Deco architecture — a style now ➤ among the dwindling 1940s vets. so closely identified with old Hollywood. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Pink Diamonds manager hires ex-Tenderloin police captain to plan security for strip club BY T OM C ARTER management’s problem to deal with, not his. ing citizen feedback. He said he’s met with Even so, as the club’s shoddy record has other club owners about security problems. lengthened, some residents have voiced Pink Diamonds has a dress code to keep NDER mounting pressure from police and the community, the manager of concern about his laissez faire role. a certain element out, turning away baggy the Pink Diamonds strip club on Jones Pink Diamonds has hired Richard Cairns, jeans and hoods. And Muhammad told of U who walked the Tenderloin as a beat cop in outreach ambitions to donate clothing and Street announced in a public meeting Oct. 29 that he has hired a retired San Francisco the 1970s and was a captain here in 1986 Thanksgiving turkeys to the poor. police captain as a consultant to help solve before retiring in 2001 at Treasure Island. In the club’s defense, he said, Ten- the club’s violence problems outside. He’s a pal of TL Capt. Gary derloin police have made 5,000 Also, the club will put surveillance cam- Jimenez since their Police arrests so far this year, and not a eras outside and increase the security guards Academy days 38 years ago. single bust was inside the club. monitoring outdoors, especially at closing “I’m not on anybody’s side,” “When we The Entertainment Commis - time, Manager David Muhammad told a Cairns said. “I’m not defending come up with sion’s Davis gave Muhammad the gathering of about 50 neighborhood resi- anyone. We (he and his assis- clearest advice of the evening. dents, police and city officials sitting on tant) are evaluating the situation a plan, we’ll “The noise shouldn’t be rows of folding chairs in the carpeted, nice- and when we come up with a heard in any residence,” Davis ly appointed strip joint. plan, we’ll make it available. make it said. “Get a consultant.” Entertainment Commission Executive Then I’m gone.” Put up signs reminding Pink Diamonds Right off, though, he recom- smokers and loiterers outside to can’t seem to shake Director Bob Davis advised the club to hire available. Then a noise abatement consultant as well. mended that the club ban peo- be quiet and respect the neigh- its past and is under ple who are arrested outside for I’m gone.” borhood, he continued. Have a heightened scrutiny Notably absent was building owner Terrance Alan who serves on the Enter- having guns or dope. clean and controlled area in a 50- to shape up and stop “Arrested for cocaine, Richard Cairns foot radius of the club and a line tainment Commission. Alan refused to com- EX-TL POLICE CAPTAIN the rowdy crowds banned forever,” Cairns said. policy, he advised. Fifty feet is a outside late at night. ment for The Extra’s October story that high- lighted the club’s troubles, saying it was “Stop them here and they’ll go to common requirement among Broadway. At least they won’t be here.” agencies, including the state Alcoholic Assistant District Attorney Brian Beverage Control department. Buckelew attended to learn what “concrete” But Pink Diamonds doesn’t have a steps are being taken to stem the violence. liquor license. It doesn’t even sell food or Just about everyone during the two-hour drinks and hence is not licensed by the meeting acknowledged that controlling a Entertainment Commission. It’s not subject raucous early morning crowd is a tall order. to commission actions. It made no differ- In recent weeks, residents have complained ence to Davis whether Muhammad was run- of being jarred awake by wee-hours noise ning a more collegial operation. from crowds, fights and vehicular traffic. “The club’s responsible for the conduct One from next door said his bedroom shook of patrons leaving,” Davis said. “It’s not easy from the noise and vibrations. but it can be done. Take more responsibili- Police say many partygoers migrate to ty. This meeting is a good start.” the self-described “gentleman’s club” from TNDC’s Steve Woo wasn’t satisfied with the equally troubled Suite 181 Club on Eddy just talk from Muhammad.