Back to July 2011 Show

Ann Dee
& Ann's 440 Club

(1920 - 2005)

Entertainer and Club Owner

She took over the famous San Francisco lesbian club, Mona's 440 around 1955,
and it became Ann's 440, where she helped performers like Johnny Mathis and
Fran Jeffries get their start.

 

Listen / Download 44:33

This LP is probably from 1972, as from the two clippings below
we know the Purple Lion opened in mid-1971 and she
for sure performed there in August 1972

Her first LP "Free Again!" 1967

LIsten / Download 35:42

In 2011 I interviewed Robert Bouvard, who did female impersonation as Robbie Ross,
and I as he knew Ann Dee I asked if he thought she was lesbian (which he did)

Listen 2:10

Ann's 440 had closed by the beginning of 1962

below, mention of Ann's 440 Club as the location where Columbia signed Johnny Mathis

Obituary