Flashback Friday: The Holy City Zoo, Robin Williams, and the Magic of San Francisco

Courtesy of the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection, Robert Durden Color Slide Collection

Welcome back to Flashback Friday—a series where I share some of my favorite weird, wonderful, and occasionally hidden stories from San Francisco’s past. This City is full of history, but beyond the landmarks and famous addresses, it’s the people who have made it truly special.

Lately, everyone’s been buzzing about the recent sale of Robin Williams’ former home at 540 El Camino Del Mar in Sea Cliff for $18 million. But while the headlines focus on the price tag, I can’t help but think about the man himself—his legacy, his impact, and the magic he brought to San Francisco. Long before he became a household name, Robin Williams was just another comedian trying to make people laugh. And he did that in one of the most legendary, yet under-appreciated, spots in San Francisco history—The Holy City Zoo.

So today, we’re taking a step back to remember where it all began—not in a grand mansion, but on a small, unassuming stage in a bar that shaped the future of stand-up comedy.

My Memories of the Magic

It got me thinking—not just about his career, but about his connection to The City and, in some ways, to me. When my family left the Soviet Union and arrived here, I was just a baby. I don’t remember the journey; I only remember growing up in San Francisco. And I remember Robin Williams.

I first saw him at the old Petrini’s supermarket on Fulton while shopping with my mom. I wasn’t sure if I recognized him as Mork or as Vladimir, the man who defected to the U.S. in Moscow on the Hudson. Maybe it was both. Even as a kid, I felt an odd sense of familiarity with him, a connection that didn’t quite make sense at the time. But looking back, maybe it was just the magic of Robin Williams—he made everyone feel like they knew him.

My friend’s mom lived in the Lake District near 32nd Avenue, and every Halloween, she took us trick-or-treating through Sea Cliff because the houses there gave out the best candy. Every house delivered, but Robin’s was hit or miss. At his place you never knew whether you were getting apples, full-size Snickers, or a toothbrush. Looking back, it was just another example of how he was different. Thoughtful. Unexpected. And always just a little ahead of the rest of us, yet connected with all of us.

Years later, I missed seeing him perform at the Inner Richmond’s Dirty Trix Saloon (now Scarlet Lounge). For me, it was, and still is, a couple blocks away from home, and I’d swing by often for a mellow nightcap, but that night was different. The line was out the door, so my friend and I went to Rocket Room instead (now Neck of the Woods)—only to find out later that Robin had made a surprise appearance. What I didn’t realize back then was that the tiny little bar I skipped that night wasn’t just another neighborhood watering hole. It was once The Holy City Zoo, a place that shaped the future of stand-up comedy.

The Holy City Zoo: 408 Clement Street – A Launchpad for Legends

Robin Williams’ comedy career may have officially started in the late 1970s, but before he was a household name, he was just a guy bartending at The Holy City Zoo in exchange for stage time.

The tiny club at 408 Clement Street was more than just a dive—it was a proving ground for some of the biggest names in comedy. In its heyday, it was the kind of place where you could sit in a cramped room, sip a drink, and unknowingly watch a future legend take their first steps toward stardom.

It wasn’t just Robin who found his voice there. The Holy City Zoo helped launch some of the greatest comedians of our time, including:

Dana Carvey – Before Wayne’s World, he was honing his craft here.
Paula Poundstone – Her signature observational comedy took root in this tiny club.
Aisha Tyler – Another San Francisco native who got her start at The Zoo.
Patton Oswalt – Cut his teeth here before becoming one of the most respected comics in the industry.
Margaret Cho – The SF-born comedian tested her material in this very spot before her career took off.

For comedians, The Holy City Zoo wasn’t just a stage—it was a rite of passage.

The Magic of San Francisco

San Francisco has always been a haven for the misfits, the risk-takers, and the ones who didn’t quite belong anywhere else. It’s a city of poets, artists, and visionaries who believed they could find gold—whether in the hills, in the arts, in LSD, or in something as simple and powerful as laughter.

Robin Williams was one of those people. He found something here, and in return, he gave this City so much of himself.

So yeah, an $18 million sale is interesting. But let’s not forget the man. Let’s not forget the laughter. Let’s not forget what made San Francisco home to one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

✨ Na-nu Na-nu, Robin. We miss you.

Stop by next week for more the City’s great memories - few may be as legendary as Robin himself, but all a magical part of why I’m so proud to call San Francisco “home.”