8th Street
8th and Minna was to be the first of two visits to San Francisco. At 3,500 square feet, it had two store fronts and a large garage downstairs and three apartments upstairs.
When we were in the building, there were two doors on facing 8th Street. Session clients used the door on the left, while the door on the right was for events and parties.
It is amazing, as I look back today, how many couples met at our parties. Someone once said that I was doing everything I could to work myself out of business. The idea of getting singles together so they could become couples and then no longer attend BackDrop events might seem ludicrous to some. But there are times, usually around four o'clock in the morning, while I am lying in bed, when I smile. How many children were conceived because of a BackDrop party?
Incidents that come to mind and bring smiles.
- We had a really cute lady named Ginger on staff. I often wonder what ever happened to her and her husband.
- There was a fire down the street from us. Police and fire trucks responded, along with every news agency in the Northern Hemisphere. Each of the staff had to check out the fire one at a time. After a parade of ladies in short dresses and heels walked down the street, I was asked who and what a BackDrop is, and who the girls are. I said we were making a movie (which we were that afternoon), and several of the news guys wanted to interview "our props!"
- HBO visited BackDrop to tape a segment for "Real Sex episode #13". The director had little knowledge of BDSM, although several members of the camera crew did. After being told to reshoot one particularly simple and boring snippet, I put my foot down and said no. I heard one cameraman ask, "If there is conflict between the director and the master, who wins?" I responded, "Whoever owns the building!"
- As part of this program, I will never forget 'Bad Boy Roger' dancing about in a pink nightgown.
- I slipped and fell one morning while taking a shower, putting my foot through the wall. Once again, we remodeled a bathroom.
- One evening, four of us went to House of Prime Rib for dinner. During dinner, a lady at the adjoining table walked by me and took a bit of a fall. I caught her on the way down. She sued the restaurant, claiming she had broken her pelvis. During court depositions, I reported that she had apparently slipped on ice that had fallen on the floor. When asked if the ice had been picked up, I answered, "Yes." - "Did they pick up all of the ice?" - "Yes" - "Did you get down on your hands and knees and check to see if all ice had been cleaned up?" - "No, masters don't do hands and knees!" - Their attorney then said, "Your Honor, we would like another recess!"
- In September of 1993, WorldCon held its Annual SciFi convention (ConFrancisco) in San Francisco. Multics and the Arisia people held a three-day "alt.sex.bondage" party at the BackDrop clubhouse in conjunction with ConFrancisco.
- Susan decided she wanted to return to teaching, and I felt San Francisco would not be the best or safest venue for her. I sold the session business to Ed and Damian (also known as Makita, 'the finest name in power tools') and she changed the name to Castlebar. I moved the club, Susan, and I to Mountain View.
- The following year, Damian moved Castlebar 'and her chicken' to Old Bayshore Highway across from Gilman's Hardware store.
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