June 8, 1989
Connie Francis: Where the Boys Were
Mr. Marcus READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The huge crowd was spilling out all around the corner of 12th and Harrison streets last Sunday, when the beer bust for Project Open Hand landed the legendary Connie Francis for a benefit at the SF Eagle. Almost 800 people were there, piled up high all over the place as the world’s tallest 13-year-old girl, Tatiana, emceed the event that saw Jim Cvitanich, Mark Abramson, and Gail Wilson judge some four contestants in the Connie Francis Look-Alike Contest.
The highlight of the afternoon, though, was the appearance of the diminutive Connie, who wowed ’em the night before at her show at the Circle Star Theatre.
Chris Medina, who daily toils over the stoves at Project Open Hand preparing hot meals for home delivery to AIDS/ARC patients, was barbecuing chicken while the jubilant crowd sent up applause approaching 900 decibels for the “happening.”
Miss Francis was overwhelmed by the wave of adoration that came furiously across the patio. She obligingly signed her autograph on record albums, records, photos and mementos of her triumphant days as a bonafide superstar. One dude even got the seat of his white Levi’s autographed, not to mention T-shirts, Levi jackets and other regalia offered up by the crowd.
Connie Francis performs
Ms. Francis wasn’t supposed to warble a note that afternoon, but she was so impressed by a mah who paid $2,600 for a black-and-white blow-up of herself, she hugged him throughout her warbling ofone of her great hits, “Where the Boys Are.”
Gail Wilson, ever a trooper, auctioned off other memorabilia. At my deadline, I couldn’t get a final total, but I’d bet it garnered close to $5000.
Needless to say, the Eagle staff managed to serve up cold beer,
push out the cocktails and keep the boisterous crowd under control. It was another one of those “happenings” that could only occur in San Francisco.
High praise for everyone connected with the whole event. And thanks to the Cal Eagles M/C for providing security for Ms. Francis when she arrived.
Allen White was sweating this one out, I’ll tell ya!
