The "Fairoaks Project"

Browsing through the internet, looking at other’s blogs, doing something close to nothing at 3:30 A.M., I stumbled upon this blog with a picture of a naked guy (imagine that…). The photo was obviously quite old, and as I read further found out it was old indeed. The picture had been a restored Polaroid, from 1978. It was part of a collection called “The Fairoaks Project”. I followed the link on the blog to a site called “DRKRM”…there I read that the photos were made by a gentleman named Frank Melleno. This is the text copied from the main page of “The Fairoaks Project”:

“The late 1970’s were a dynamic era for the gay community bringing significant migration to San Francisco and increased awareness. California had repealed its Sodomy laws in 1976. Anita Bryant's (meddlesome cunt) crusade (Save Our Children) found an expression in California in the Briggs' Initiative (Prop 6) in 1978, which would have disallowed homosexuals to teach in schools. It failed to pass. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in modern history. was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1977 and assassinated in 1978. Large Gay Day Parades were being celebrated annually and the gay community in San Francisco was thriving, vibrant and sensual.

During this late 1970's, there were numerous venues for gay men to congregate, such as bars, social clubs, political action groups and perhaps a half dozen bathhouses. Unique amongst these bathhouses was the Fairoaks Hotel which was located at the corner of Oak and Steiner in the Hayes Valley district. The hotel was a converted apartment building owned and operated from 1977 to 1979 by a group of men who had formerly lived together in a commune. These men infused the Fairoaks with a different atmosphere than was evident at other bathhouse at the time. For example, all the rooms were normal scale (no cubicles), there were non-institutional furnishings, artists had been commissioned or allowed to decorate and paint the rooms, and it was generally lighter than a normal bathhouse. Most significantly, the Fairoaks was racially inclusive, and was promoted as a party location. This party atmosphere fostered a lenient climate for informal photography.”

Apparently, This place was NOT the baths we know today. This was a hotel, with actual rooms instead of the tiny cubicles with a bed and a video screen we now have. I suppose this would be like the Parliment House...I am unsure, as I have never been to Parliment house...yet.

Situated in a refurbished Victorian building near a ghetto, (as the modern Baths usually are...) The Fairoaks was known for its laid-back and racially integrated atmosphere. The author went on to say that the photos included were made in spring/summer 1978, and offers a never-before seen glimpse into pre-AIDS pandemic, pre-drug abuse gay sexual culture. I thought about it before I created this entry. I felt this relevant to this blog, as it's a peek ( as Homosexual Men) into our sexual past. The author described the baths as:

"Like a string of black pearls, San Francisco’s bathhouses adorned the city with a touch of louche glamour. The Hothouse. The Barracks. The Handball Express. Animals. The Club, Bulldog, Sutro and, down by the tracks, the Ritch Street Baths. The ever-notorious South-of-the-Slot, and so many more. (They were all officially closed in October 1984.) Each claimed a distinct character and clientele. But no place had quite the feeling of coming home once through the front door as did the Fairoaks... More than a pictorial record of a by-gone scene--or even of passing strangers with sticky feet--these photographs open a door into a secret gay world of sexual encounter and sweet innocence the likes of which will never be seen again."

I sat in wonder (and a bit of envy...) reading all of this and looking at the pictures. Beautiful men…a few in silly costumes…Several involved in sex acts (GASP! Sex acts in a Bath House?!? Perish the thought!). These were the days when sex did not constitute a death sentence. In 1978 I was in high school and did not know… or would not accept who and what I was. Now the statements from the websites said that the baths were closed in Oct1984. I assume that 1)the fear of disease, and 2) this actually meant the baths in San Francisco. As time and advances in treatment of HIV/AIDS passed, the baths began to appear again. As I read on my mind wandered to MY OWN first visit to a Bath. "Club Columbus"...Which will be my next entry...Oh and by the way; There's a book of the "Fairoaks Project" available here...

P.S.:

I sent an email on 08JAN2011 to the webmasters and the heads of "the Fairoaks Project" seeking permission to use the photos above. It is now 18JAN2011 and NO one could be bothered to respond, so...