This is a January 22, 1914 photo of legendary Blues singer Billie Holiday being booked in San Francisco on a narcotics charge.Ms. Holiday was in San Francisco to perform at Tenners Society Cafe which was located in the Fillmore district. While in San Francisco, she was staying in room 203 at the Mark Twain Hotel at Taylor & Geary. Acting on a tip, the SFPD raided her room and discovered a small amount of Opium and a pipe. She was arrested and charged but the charges were ultimately dropped on June 3, 1949. Ms. Holiday claimed that she had been set up.. During this era, African-Americans were not welcome in San Franciscos 1st class hotels and the Mark Twain was the best hotel that would accept them as guests. It was none other than Jack Benny who put an end to this policy of discrimination. Jack and his entourage had reservations at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Upon arrival, Jack was greeted by the General Manager who told him how delighted the Fairmont was that Jack had selected the hotel to reside at during his stay in SF. He continued to say that unfortunately & regrettably, African-Americans were not permitted to stay at the Fairmont and he suggested that Eddie Anderson (Rochester) would be more comfortable at the Mark Twain Hotel where he would be with his own kind. Jack Benny replied that if that was the case, that the Fairmont could forward all calls and mail for his group to the Mark Twain because that is where he and his family would be staying...with Rochester. The Faimonts Manager thought about this for a second and did a quick reversal and said that Rochester would be welcome after all. Hooray for Jack Benny !
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 22:07:26 +0000