The Purple Onion

The Purple Onion was a comedy club and music venue located in a basement at 140 Columbus Avenue in North Beach. The underground space held around 80 people and served as a stage for stand-up comedy and live music performances.

The venue opened its doors in 1952 and shaped San Francisco's entertainment scene for decades. After closing in 2012, the basement space attracted new operators who transformed it for different purposes.

The name reflected the playful spirit of San Francisco's nightlife scene during the Beat era. Visitors came to experience both comedy and live music in a setting that defined the city's entertainment culture.

The underground space was cramped, creating an intimate experience but also meaning visitors needed to arrive early for a seat. Regular weekend shows drew more people than the official capacity, so standing and crowding were typical.

Performers like Phyllis Diller and Richard Pryor launched their careers on its stage during the club's best years. The basement proved so valuable that it lived on under different names like Doc's Lab, showing how much this space mattered to San Francisco.

Location: California

GPS coordinates: 37.79670,-122.40500

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:23