Powell Bush Turk Eddy Polk Mason Post Taylor
While feeding my phillumeny habit recently I had a lucky strike with these terrific vintage Japanese made matchbox labels of businesses in and around San Francisco. All are from around the 1900’s, so most of these places are long gone but who knows, maybe someone out there has some stories or more info? These were tiny images as I found them so I’ve had to give them a bit of the ol’ rezzing and razzing.

This one is a beauty, Black Cats were very popular in the 1900s. And as luck would have it there still is a Black Cat at this location.
From the Black Cat‘s website:
The Black Cat is located in the historical Verona Hotel (1910), Black Cat (originally 1906) has been given a rebirth as a restaurant, bar and live jazz venue in the heart of the Tenderloin of San Francisco.

Unfortunately the Santa Cruz Brewing Company appears to be gone but judging by the results that my searches returned, beer brewing is alive and thriving in Santa Cruz! Good job Santa Cruz.

I got a few hits on Fay C. Beal, a popular bloke by all accounts…


There is The Owl Tree on Post and Taylor—not to be confused with The Owl posted above. Straight Foods a Specialty? No comment. The poor owl is more tawdry than tawny.

The Essex Hotel is still there and is one of SF’s low income/affordable housing initiatives.

I got nothing on the Pup Cafe I’m afraid. The way Cabaret Show appears to have been added as an afterthought I’m imaging a colorful scene of the sort that the Tenderloin has always embraced.