I once dealt with a real nut case who was genuinely surprised to learn that although I’d lived in San Francisco my whole life, I’d never been to the Church of Satan’s building on California Street.
I’m unclear as to whether this building was the Church itself, Anton Szandor Lavey’s private residence, or both.
Anyway, this nut I was talking to acted really surprised. He seemed to think that was like living in SF and never riding a cable car or driving across the Golden Gate Bridge.
So could somebody please tell me where I might find this place? I just want to see the outside of the building.
LaVey’s home, a big ol’ black Victorian in SF, has a hell of a history (NPI). Used to be a speakeasy and bordello, was purchased by LaVey in the fifties (1956?). While living in it he founded the CoS, and it was more or less the Church headquarters for ages. He got into some legal trouble (a number of messy civil suits, IIRC) and had to sell the house a few years before he died in '97, and the Church is currently fighting to repurchase it.
Where exactly, it’s located, I have no clue. Sorry. But you might be able to find out here: www.churchofsatan.com
I don’t remember the exact street address, but LaVey’s house is (was?) on the north side of California near 24nd Avenue or so, in the Richmond district, near the VA Hospital. Much more of an Edwardian than a Victorian.
It was painted a dark grey with black trim and had a high lath-and-chain-link fence smack in front of it. Planted directly in front of it was a telephone pole with a lot of wires rigged to it.
It was indeed a speakeasy in the 20’s and the entire basement was tricked out like a nightclub. LaVey eventually had all his musical equipment down there and would play his synthesizer at all hours. Lots of crazy wild secretive parties, etc. For a while he kept his lion there and his neighbors would complain to the cops because it would roar in the middle of the right.
When he got older he mellowed out considerably … as I recall, he lost the house in his divorce.
The precise address is 6118/6120/6122 California St. The original building was demolished and replaced with a hideously green and beige apartment building.
