I-Beam (nightclub)
Coordinates: 37°46′10.38″N 122°27′4.07″W / 37.7695500°N 122.4511306°W
The I-Beam was a popular nightclub in San Francisco that was located in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood at 1748 Haight Street. Before opening the club, Sanford Kellman had an impromptu party there and found that all the neighbors complained about the noise. Therefore, Sanford Kellman was required by the City government of San Francisco to soundproof the entire building at great expense, delaying the opening of the club for several months. On the opening night of the club in October 1977, groups of bare-chested men in jeans and construction hats carried I-Beams on their shoulders into the club.
The I-Beam began as a seven night a week Gay Club in 1977, the second largest Gay Dance Club in San Francisco. The City Night Club also known as the Cabaret was the first large Gay Club in North Beach district. As the crowd left the I-Beam for the newer clubs South of Market such as The Trocadero and later on Dreamland, the I-Beam opened only for five days a week. Randy Schiller who built the new sound system for the club was operating a recording studio where he had a long list of bands recording in his studio decided that we should reopen on Monday nights which started "Monday Night Live." with local bands.
Inside the I-Beam the main room was forty feet by sixty feet. There were Mylar covered cardboard I-Beams hanging from the ceiling above the center of the dance floor. At the entrance there were framed pictures of various astronomical objects such as galaxies and planets put there by former astronomer Sanford Kellman. Randall Schiller installed an award winning sound system including lighting and later on video.There was a large room in the front near the entrance with pinball machines and pool tables. Friday and Saturday nights at the I-Beam hosted heterosexual dance parties later on.
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