Saturday, October 13, 2012

A Who’s Who of San Francisco’s Eccentrics – “Big Alma” Spreckels


I thought it would be fun to talk about some of the historic locals who “appear” at the San Francisco Magic Parlor.

 From the Barbary Coast days… until today we’ve had a parade of wild and wacky people who’ve made San Francisco what it is.

Each person, place, or episode from our past is illustrated with a specific magical happening during our show.

Let’s begin with “Big Alma” you’ve met her, even if you don’t remember, if you’ve been to Union Square!

Who Was “Big” Alma Spreckels

Alma de Bretteville Spreckels can be seen today standing proudly atop the monument in Union Square.  She reigned supreme in San Francisco Society almost from her birth in 1881 until her death in 1968.

Known both as “Big Alma”– she was six feet tall – and “The Great Grandmother of San Francisco,” she was a wealthy socialite and influential philanthropist, who among her many accomplishments donated the California Palace of the Legion of Honor to the City.

Want to find out more? Come visit her (and me) at our show “Astonishment!” at the Chancellor Hotel in Union Square… just across the street from Alma.

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