Showing posts with label Juanita's Galley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Juanita's Galley. Show all posts
June 1, 2021
January 1, 2021
December 27, 2017
December 26, 2017
The 9 Lives of The Charles Van Damme Ferry & Juanita Musson
The Charles Van Damme Ferry ~ 9 lives
commemorative hand-made accordion book
Like the proverbial Phoenix rising from the flames, both The
Charles Van Damme ferry (link below) and Juanita Musson (link below) are experiencing a rebirth with a limited edition of commemorative hand-made accordion books commemorating the boat. It is available with donattions of $100 or more (link below).
The County of Marin has approved the planning and designs submitted for the Charles Van Damme artifacts to be restored and exhibited in the new Waldo Point Park. Lew Cook the owner at Waldo Point Harbor agreed to an amendment to Waldo Point’s redevelopment to include this public exhibit. The Charles Van Damme ferry 100 yr old paddle wheel and steam stack will return to it’s original resting place but in a new restored form.
In the sixties, the Charles Van Damme was home to the notorius restaurant owned, operated and run by Juanita Musson.
photographer unknown
The County of Marin has approved the planning and designs submitted for the Charles Van Damme artifacts to be restored and exhibited in the new Waldo Point Park. Lew Cook the owner at Waldo Point Harbor agreed to an amendment to Waldo Point’s redevelopment to include this public exhibit. The Charles Van Damme ferry 100 yr old paddle wheel and steam stack will return to it’s original resting place but in a new restored form.
In the sixties, the Charles Van Damme was home to the notorius restaurant owned, operated and run by Juanita Musson.
from the The Charles Van Damme Ferry ~ 9 lives
commemorative hand-made accordion book
The film, The Last Free Ride (A Hip Pirate Movie),
originally shot on 16mm film, was made in 1974 by independent
filmmakers Roy Nolan and Saul Rouda. This film (subtitled "a hip pirate
movie") re-creates actual events from the Sausalito houseboat community
at Waldo Point. Many of the participants play themselves in these
re-enactments. This includes the 'Battle of Richardson Bay' from 1971,
during which residents challenged county officials who wanted to develop
the waterfront (also known as the "house boat wars"). Includes scenes
of: performances and music by Joe Tate and his rock band The Red Legs;
narration by Saul Rouda; hippies riding through San Francisco on the
back of a truck; counterculture life on the Sausalito docks; building of
the 'Richmond' ship; a hearing at Marin County Civic Center; mud
wrestling and a wild party on the Charles Van Damme ferryboat. As Rouda
puts it at one point: "We had rejected the system and were quite happy
to live outside of it's stifling conformity (link below)."
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
Marin Independent Journal ~ the Charles Van Damme on the move again
Alcoholic Outsider Artist ~ Remembering the singular Juanita Musson
Alcoholic Outsider Artist ~ Remembering the singular Juanita Musson
YouTube links:
Joe Tate ~ Charles Van Damme Song
Long live the Charles Van Damme
and the spirit of Juanita Musson!
Styrous® ~ Tuesday, December 26, 2017
~
July 15, 2017
March 3, 2013
Juanita's Galley
Charles van Damme 1967
photographer unknown
I
was writing another article about the year 1958 (see link below). The
ferries that crossed the San Francisco bay were discontinued that year.
Writing about it brought to mind one of the most fantastic personalities
concerning ferry boats that ever lived. She was Juanita Musson who ran various restaurants from 1953 to 1984. But it is Juanita's Galley in Sausalito in the early 1960's I will never forget.
One of the old San Francisco ferry boats, the Charles van Damme, built in 1916, was a sidewheel ferry that carried cars and passengers between Richmond and San Rafael for 40 years. It was bought by Donlon Arques at auction in 1959. He brought her to her final resting place at Gate 6 in Sausalito. Juanita opened her restaurant, Juanita’s Galley, on the first level of the ferry.
I distinctly remember Juanita; she was quite a piece of work; when someone who was obviously a tourist came in and stood hesitantly at the door, she would scream at them (no matter WHERE in the restaurant she was at the moment) to quit gawking at the door and sit anywhere. She was so loud (crass is a better word) it sometimes made the tourist scurry back out the door. No matter, there were more people waiting to get in. Her most famous quote was, "Eat it, or wear it!" She could arrive at a table holding her pet pig or monkey and might answer a complaint about the food by dumping a heaping plate into the patron's lap.
I distinctly remember Juanita; she was quite a piece of work; when someone who was obviously a tourist came in and stood hesitantly at the door, she would scream at them (no matter WHERE in the restaurant she was at the moment) to quit gawking at the door and sit anywhere. She was so loud (crass is a better word) it sometimes made the tourist scurry back out the door. No matter, there were more people waiting to get in. Her most famous quote was, "Eat it, or wear it!" She could arrive at a table holding her pet pig or monkey and might answer a complaint about the food by dumping a heaping plate into the patron's lap.
waiting for the next tourist
photographer unknown
She
was born Juanita Hudspeth in rural Texas in 1923. She lived around the
southwest in her youth, and married a soldier named Richard Musson in
Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1944. After the war ended, Richard Musson was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco.
She was fodder for Herb Cain's column in the San Francisco Chronicle.
“I first ran across Juanita, or she across me, when she opened
Juanita’s Galley in Sausalito during the middle 1950s. She was and is a
big girl — some 225 pounds of quivering, pulsating heart concealed in an
amorphous mass. Since she liked to eat and drink, obviously, she liked
other people to drink and eat. “– Herb Cain, Chronicle, 1975
“Juanita
Musson has been described as the drinking man’s Julia Child. I don’t
know if that’s accurate, but I like the sound. Style writer Cynthia
Robins called her brash, bibulous and bawdy. Now, that I know about.” — Jim Wood, Examiner, 1991
M.F.K. Fisher said, "I often ate at her place...because she was such a colorful character..." "The food
was good home-cooking, prepared with a mother's love & served with
the style of a lubricated longshoreman."
“Her
‘ear muff' prank consisted of sneaking up behind an unsuspecting diner
and swinging each muumuu-wrapped breast up against the victim’s ears.
Then she would cackle loudly and leave." — Sonoma Index-Tribune, 2/28/11 (she muffed me once! It was the second time in my life that had happened; the first not by her, but that's another story.)
The Hell's Angels, Robert Mitchum, Sterling Hayden, Joseph Cotten, Noel Coward and other celebrities, as well as lawyers, judges and politicians were regular hangers out at the Galley. The Smothers Brothers, Shelley Berman, the Kingston Trio, Jonathan Winters and Bill Cosby found their way across the Golden Gate Bridge following late-night performances in San Francisco.
Juanita wearing her "uniform" muumuu (1976)
photo by Lewis Steward
Not surprisingly, she was friends with madam and eventual mayor of Sausalito, Sally Stanford. Juanita was asked if she'd worked for Stanford and she'd reply, “I never charged a nickel from a horizontal position.”
Juanita
herself said more than once she was no angel, “but I ain't never turned
away an animal that didn't have a home, and I ain't never turned away a
man who was hungry.”
She
was fond of animals - most of her places featured assorted pets of some
kind, wandering in and out. They included monkeys, chickens, goats,
dogs and cats (that would NEVER get past the health department now). Once or twice she adopted an orphaned fawn deer (see fawn link below).
After
three bawdy years, it was closed by a gang fight and what has been
gracefully called the triumph of Juanita's "generosity over her business
sense." The Internal Revenue Service seized the Galley as Juanita was
somewhat careless about taking care of her taxes.
Jaunita Muson (2006)
photographer unknown
Juanita died from a stroke on February 26, 2011, at Agua Caliente Villa, a resort hotel turned retirement home in Sonoma County. She was 87. Her ashes were scattered in the bay off Sausalito.
the ferry boat, Charles van Damme
Charles van Damme 1940's
photographer unknown
Charles van Damme1800's
photographer unknown
Charles van Damme in later years
photographer unknown
There is a great video with the
ferry boats in operation on YouTube
There are two books concerning Juanita Muson
Juanita: The Madcap Adventures
of a Legendary Restaurateur
and
Juanita's Eat It or Wear It Cookbook
cover illustration by Janis Kobe
photo by Styrous®
after the recipes there are some great photos
with commentaries by Juanita,
well worth buying for the
entertainment value if nothing else
Links to Juanita stuff:
Most
of the information I got was from the links listed below but there was
MUCH more information in them than I have used. Check them out to find
out more about Juanita and the Charles van Damme.
OurSausalito.com: S.S. Charles Van Damme Ferry Boat -- "The Ark"
The Sausalito Historical Society webpage devoted to Juanita.
Wikipedia, Ferries of San Francisco Bay
ferry boats in operation on YouTube
Juanita talks about her pet fawn on MarinNostalgia
(CAUTION: it is PG rated).
Adios, Juanita, I don't think anyone who met you will ever forget you.
Styrous ~ March 2, 2013
There are two other related (believe it or not) Viewfinder articles:
20,000 vinyl LPs 22: Van Cliburn & Sputnik
~
March 2, 2013
Juanita's Galley on a ferry boat no less!
Charles van Damme 1967
photographer unknown
I
was writing another article about the year 1958 (see link below). The
ferries that crossed the San Francisco bay were discontinued that year.
Writing about it brought to mind one of the most fantastic personalities
concerning ferry boats that ever lived. She was Juanita Musson who ran various restaurants from 1953 to 1984. But it is Juanita's Galley in Sausalito in the early 1960's I will never forget.
One of the old San Francisco ferry boats, the Charles van Damme, built in 1916, was a sidewheel ferry that carried cars and passengers between Richmond and San Rafael for 40 years. It was bought by Donlon Arques at auction in 1959. He brought her to her final resting place at Gate 6 in Sausalito. Juanita opened her restaurant, Juanita’s Galley, on the first level of the ferry.
I distinctly remember Juanita; she was quite a piece of work; when someone who was obviously a tourist came in and stood hesitantly at the door, she would scream at them (no matter WHERE in the restaurant she was at the moment) to quit gawking at the door and sit anywhere. She was so loud (crass is a better word) it sometimes made the tourist scurry back out the door. No matter, there were more people waiting to get in. Her most famous quote was, "Eat it, or wear it!" She could arrive at a table holding her pet pig or monkey and might answer a complaint by dumping a heaping plate into the patron's lap.
I distinctly remember Juanita; she was quite a piece of work; when someone who was obviously a tourist came in and stood hesitantly at the door, she would scream at them (no matter WHERE in the restaurant she was at the moment) to quit gawking at the door and sit anywhere. She was so loud (crass is a better word) it sometimes made the tourist scurry back out the door. No matter, there were more people waiting to get in. Her most famous quote was, "Eat it, or wear it!" She could arrive at a table holding her pet pig or monkey and might answer a complaint by dumping a heaping plate into the patron's lap.
waiting for the next tourist
photographer unknown
She
was born Juanita Hudspeth in rural Texas in 1923. She lived around the
southwest in her youth, and married a soldier named Richard Musson in
Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1944. After the war ended, Richard Musson was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco.
She was fodder for Herb Cain's column in the San Francisco Chronicle.
“I first ran across Juanita, or she across me, when she opened
Juanita’s Galley in Sausalito during the middle 1950s. She was and is a
big girl — some 225 pounds of quivering, pulsating heart concealed in an
amorphous mass. Since she liked to eat and drink, obviously, she liked
other people to drink and eat. “– Herb Cain, Chronicle, 1975
“Juanita
Musson has been described as the drinking man’s Julia Child. I don’t
know if that’s accurate, but I like the sound. Style writer Cynthia
Robins called her brash, bibulous and bawdy. Now, that I know about.” — Jim Wood, Examiner, 1991
M.F.K. Fisher said, "I often ate at her place...because she was such a colorful character..." "The food
was good home-cooking, prepared with a mother's love & served with
the style of a lubricated longshoreman."
“Her
‘ear muff' prank consisted of sneaking up behind an unsuspecting diner
and swinging each muumuu-wrapped breast up against the victim’s ears.
Then she would cackle loudly and leave." — Sonoma Index-Tribune, 2/28/11 (she muffed me once! It was the second time in my life that had happened; the first not by her, but that's another story.)
The Hell's Angels, Robert Mitchum, Sterling Hayden, Joseph Cotten, Noel Coward and other celebrities, as well as lawyers, judges and politicians were regular hangers out at the Galley. The Smothers Brothers, Shelley Berman, the Kingston Trio, Jonathan Winters and Bill Cosby found their way across the Golden Gate Bridge following late-night performances in San Francisco.
Juanita wearing her "uniform" muumuu (1976)
photo by Lewis Steward
Not surprisingly, she was friends with madam and eventual mayor of Sausalito, Sally Stanford. Juanita was asked if she'd worked for Stanford and she'd reply, “I never charged a nickel from a horizontal position.”
Juanita
herself said more than once she was no angel, “but I ain't never turned
away an animal that didn't have a home, and I ain't never turned away a
man who was hungry.”
She
was fond of animals - most of her places featured assorted pets of some
kind, wandering in and out. They included monkeys, chickens, goats,
dogs and cats (that would NEVER get past the health department now). Once or twice she adopted an orphaned fawn deer (see fawn link below).
After
three bawdy years, it was closed by a gang fight and what has been
gracefully called the triumph of Juanita's "generosity over her business
sense." The Internal Revenue Service seized the Galley as Juanita was
somewhat careless about taking care of her taxes.
Jaunita Muson (2006)
photographer unknown
Juanita died from a stroke on February 26, 2011, at Agua Caliente Villa, a resort hotel turned retirement home in Sonoma County. She was 87. Her ashes were scattered in the bay off Sausalito.
the ferry boat, Charles van Damme
Charles van Damme 1940's
photographer unknown
Charles van Damme1800's
photographer unknown
Charles van Damme in later years
photographer unknown
There are two books concerning Juanita Muson
Juanita: The Madcap Adventures
of a Legendary Restaurateur
and
Juanita's Eat It or Wear It Cookbook
cover illustration by Janis Kobe
photo by Styrous®
after the recipes there are some great photos
with commentaries by Juanita,
well worth buying for the
entertainment value if nothing else
Links to Juanita stuff:
Most
of the information I got was from the links listed below but there was
MUCH more information in them than I have used. Check them out to find
out more about Juanita and the Charles van Damme.
OurSausalito.com: S.S. Charles Van Damme Ferry Boat -- "The Ark"
The Sausalito Historical Society webpage devoted to Juanita.
Wikipedia, Ferries of San Francisco Bay
Juanita talks about her pet fawn on MarinNostalgia
(CAUTION: it is PG rated).
Adios, Juanita, I don't think anyone who met you will ever forget you.
Styrous ~ March 2, 2013
There are two other related (believe it or not) Viewfinder articles:
20,000 vinyl LPs 22: Van Cliburn & Sputnik
~
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