Planet Fillmore Orbit

Once Africans arrived on the American continent their skills took over their instincts. Living in abundance in the motherland, there had been no shortage in what resources an African could draw from. As seamen, from the outset of humanity, these men of the earth were ample in their one with natural elements. As whalers, as mariners , as frontiersmen and women, as bull dogging bronco bustin' herders and wranglers, as trackers, as scouts and as domestic diplomats. Anything necessary to bring civilized conditions that could include educators, barbers, minister, shamans and voodoo queens.

Rendering of Alexander Leidesdorf's Hotel at Kearny and Clay. Mid 1800s

A peek at a moment in time as the growing urban culture that began in Harlem, NY during the early 1900s made its way, right along with African Americans, through port city after industrial city. Bringing along the burgeoning culture of song, dance, poetry and literature to inspire stage and screen writers and authors to flourish in the streets and gatherings of the urban environment.  This is a reminiscent glide through a monumental period in  the Fillmore of San Francisco during the 40s through 60s. A pivotal evolving moment in our country's cultural and social maturity happened here. An historic Port City with a shining light on the hill and a beckoning valley of magical mist, when any challenge could be overcome. Sit back and let Buddy Bean paint the picture. 

Why Buddy Bean?  Buddy Bean walked out of slavery and found his way  from turpentine camps in east Texas along railway construction;  Stevedoring along the rivers from the gulf around the Caribbean and back  in time to be denied a US Naval general assignment as wood ships became  steam and America's Navy offered black sailors nothing more than mess duty, Buddy would rather walk the path from Memphis to Pittsburgh and  work in the Ohio valley as a coal packer than Porter for the 1898 "equal but separate" Navy. He surfaced in the first World War and saw duty in  the French Foreign Legion where recognized as a man of honor and principle  for the values and ferocity which he brought to the fight. A fight that wasn't his, but  made it so in the name of truth and justice. As the War ended, Buddy  remained on French soil and soaked up the eagerness of the French people around Montmartre to  feel the rising popular culture, as jazz from Harlem and New Orleans  became all the rage in France. Buddy, and his Black musicians brothers,  many from Harlem, richly rewarded to taste the sweet flower of  appreciation. Still the experience left him sober to conquer that  which was home. Working a merchant ship, steamed west back to the  Americas. In time to find the folly of the great Gatsby had left much  the United States under a great depression. For Buddy, there were plenty  of ways a brother with a little life under his belt could fine a way to  make a living. And he did. Buddy, now nearly 70 years in, would counsel  generals and admirals through the 2nd World War. Go on to continue  living a life with purpose on into another 70 years of life. Much of that life playing a  harmonica to speak his natural born truth in burgeoning urban neighborhoods such as Beale Street in  Memphis, the Hill district in Pittsburgh, the South Side in Chicago,  Tremé and Congo Square in New Orleans out west in Seattle, Los Angeles  and finally ending up in San Francisco's Fillmore of the 1940s through 1960s. 

Last  heard, Buddy had opened a pie shop in Ghana. Specializing in Bean pies.  Makes me hungry and thirsty for life just thinking about it. 

Lance Burton

Kaiden Patterson is here! 

And, makes a statement for the ages to absorb, consider and take seriously. 

Written by Aisha Smith

Sponsored by the Joseph and Susie Smith Family Traditions.

Bunny Simon Receives Award for Blues Impresario from 'West Coast Blues Hall of Fame'

Bunny Simon made a lasting impression in San Francisco. As a civil rights activist he marched along side Martin Luther King, Jr. As an entrepreneur he owned 8 successful nightclubs including the celebrated and popular Playpen on Divisadero St. For 25 years Bunny entertained the area with famed talent. Known far and wide as one of the most ingenious business men to have operated inside the Western Addition. And, while 1 of 16 children he is also noted for raising a large and proud family of his own. PFC invites you to listen to this old school radio interview for a bit of insight into a few of Bunny's magic moments shared with JJ Parson- GM, Announcer of the deeply regarded KPOO community radio station in San Francisco. Bunny Simon passed away July 20, 2019. His remarkable legacy will remain forever. This is a salute.

In the first of a four part series, Lewis Watts shares with the listeners his and co-author Elizabeth Pepin Silva's journey in bringing about the nearly 250 page beautifully illustrated book "Harlem of the West".  The fastidiously researched document itself, brought forward to the public in aesthetically pleasing reproductions of original photography and inspirationally gathered personal oral histories, is a 'slice of life' in San Francisco's "magical" 1940s through 1960s Fillmore neighborhood. Elegantly designed, we are introduced to an exciting contrast in lifestyle of previous decades, and given an insight into what it took to assemble this worthy treatment of a fascinating, all but forgotten, 30 year era of high life culture that vanished virtually overnight.  "Harlem of the West" is fantastic. A 'MUST HAVE' for anyone who may ever had heard of The Fillmore, now or then.

Lance Burton

The Fillmore was one of the few neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area where people of color, particularly Black people, could go for entertainment in the 1940s and 50s. Like many of the 'cities of industry' where Blacks migrated for work as WWII began, Fillmore was the place where one could find the pulsating sounds that drove people to return night after night to hear the best live jazz and blues music the country could offer. In this episode, we listen to Elizabeth Pepin Silva describe her journey to find out what happened and why it happened that The Fillmore is "No Mo". In doing so, she learns and tells about some of the greats that made the Fillmore Corridor swing. As virtually every great musician of the day came to play at clubs and dance halls that lined the neighborhood. If you've heard the names of the greats...you can bet, they played the clubs of the Fillmore. The journey is titled "Harlem of the West - The San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era" and is available in Bookstores. This is the 2nd of a 4 part episodic series featured here on The Planet Fillmore Orbit.. You'll find Part 1 also here on the roster. Lewis Watts is the co-author of the book and is highlighted in episode one. Continue to follow the pattern and find episodes 3 & 4, standing by for your listening entertainment. 

Lance Burton

 Character in the Community

Harlem of the West 

The Fillmore.- Part 4

It is what it is. But it is not the Fillmore we once knew. Still, we are taking time to build anew. We will always remember The 'MO'. If you forget, just come right back here and tune right back in to the warmth, vitality and infinite possibilities the Fillmore offered at the crossroads of the Golden Gate. This is the center of the evolution of the planet and the new world order.

"Just let it do what it do

and be thankful it does what it does".

Harlem of the West - 

Photograph by David Johnson

Once upon a time there was a place created just so the people could  begin  to live in a harmonious world of  opportunity. A fun filled valley of music, dance and spiritual growth.  It was called The Fillmore. The 'Mo'. For years it was driven  by goodwill, energy, creativity and the strong work ethic of the  people of color who lived there. They had come from another land, filled with  danger just to live, work, raise and educate their children. For the longest time that was not the case in the valley of Fillmore 1940s/50s.