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Bay Curious

Why San Francisco's Fillmore District Is No Longer the 'Harlem of the West'

Bay Curious

KQED

History, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.9999 Ratings

🗓️ 25 June 2020

⏱️ 15 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Last year, this question won a public voting round on BayCurious.org: "The Fillmore district used to be known as the Harlem of the West. What's the story behind what happened to the city's once vibrant Black community and culture?" In this episode we explore the rise of the Fillmore as a cultural center for jazz, and the "urban renewal" that ultimately changed the identity of the neighborhood, and forced out many of its residents. Additional Reading and Listening: Why San Francisco's Fillmore District Is No Longer the "Harlem of the West" Playlist: We made a Spotify playlist featuring artists who played at venues in the Fillmore Reported by Bianca Taylor. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Asal Ehsanipour and Rob Speight. Additional support from Erika Aguilar, Jessica Placzek, Kyana Moghadam, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Carly Severn, Bianca Hernandez, Ethan Lindsey, Vinnee Tong and Michelle Wiley.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

From K-QED.

0:02.0

The Fillmore District is a neighborhood in San Francisco whose boundaries change depending on who you ask and when. These days, it's known as the area defined by Turk Street

0:15.2

and Gerei Boulevard nestled in between the Tenderloin, Hayes Valley, and Pacific Heights.

0:21.0

The Fillmore might ring a bell because it's home to the famous Fillmore Auditorium mentioned in another Bay Curious episode for serving apples to its guests.

0:30.0

But the Fillmore District is also known for something else.

0:34.0

Jazz.

0:42.0

Back during the 1940s and 50s the film war was the spot on the West Coast to see the

0:47.4

greats Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie, who we're hearing now.

0:55.0

It even got the nickname The Harlem of the West.

0:59.0

So just how did this small neighborhood become a national stage for jazz? And what is it like now?

1:05.0

You selected these questions in a public voting round on Bay Curious.

1:11.0

last year.

1:12.0

And today, we're going to bring you some answers.

1:14.3

I'm Olivia Ellen Price and this is Bay Curious

1:27.1

Bay Curious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company,

1:30.1

still family owned, operated, and argued over.

1:33.4

Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold,

1:36.6

and taste how trailblazing runs in the family.

1:39.7

Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find your new favorite beer today.

1:45.0

All righty.

1:47.0

So we're delving into how a small neighborhood in San Francisco became an epicenter for jazz.

1:53.1

Reporter Bianca Taylor brings us the story.

...

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