I-Beam (nightclub)

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The I-Beam was a popular nightclub in San Francisco that was located in the Haight-Ashbury at 1748 Haight Street from October 1978 to July 1992. It was founded and owned by Sanford Kelleman, a former astronomer. The building it was located in was the former Park Masonic Hall. It started out as a popular gay disco (dance club). Since it closed at 2AM, afterwards, people went to the Trocadero Transfer, which was open until dawn. Inside the I-Beam was shaped like a giant cube about thirty feet on each side. In the early 1980s, New Music night was instituted on Tuesday night at which emerging new rock groups played, and Saturday night became a heterosexual dance party.

The most popular gay night was always the I-Beam Sunday Night Tea Dance which took place from 6PM to 2AM on Sunday night. Free passes were routinely handed out in the gay neighborhoods of San Francisco. Michael Garrett was the DJ.

In January 1988 three go-go boxes (cubes four feet square with a black and white checkerboard pattern of squares one foot by one foot on top; thus the surface of each go-go box had a checkerboard pattern of 16 black and white squares) were installed in the club, and on Wednesday night, the Boy Club was held, for which young male Go-Go dancers were hired by the I-Beam for the first time. The Boy Club continued until the end of 1988. From 1988 to 1992 many fun events were held at the I-Beam such as strip contests and appearances by gay porn stars.

Many well known groups played at the I-Beam such as the New Order and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The former location of the I-Beam reopened as a bar/nightclub venue, although it is no longer a significantly gay hangout. The enduring"Trax", down the street a few blocks, is the center of the Haight's gay scene; (such as it is). Drinks are $2 all day and night Tues.