"Miracle Mile" circa
mid-1970's
Photo by: Henri I Leleu
Chuck Slaton and Ron Morrison
signed a lease for 375 11th Street (the current
DNA Lounge) in 1981 and turned the auto body
shop into one of SOMA’s infamous leather
bars, opening in August 1983.
And they had some hot fuck bartenders – Chuck
Slaton is in the middle, with chaps and
cap, arms folded.
Chaps was very
active in helping to raise a lot of funds
for AIDS as it hit San Francisco in the early
80’s. Some of the funds raised went to Ward
5-B at San Francisco General, with sponsorship
of fundraisers like “Men Behind Bars”, Christmas
tree lightings, Ward 5-B Weekly dinners,
and film screenings.
Chaps even had a title holder’s in its day
– Chaps Bartender Patrick Toner won Mr. International
Leather in 1986.
CHAPS II, Chaps Bar San Francisco is located
in the spot where the Ramrod ruled the day
from 1968 to 1983 (see image above). This
picture was taken sometime in the mid 70’s.
Original CHAPS business card:
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