San Carlos Chickens' Ball

The San Carlos Chickens’ Ball is a unique event – it is a variety show set in the 1890′s Barbary Coast of San Francisco. It includes tales of the Barbary Coast and may include Gold miners, bawdy girls, or other characters from times past. Below the history for each year of the Ball, beginning in 1940 and continuing until the present, can be explored in more detail. [Note: Additional content will be linked to as we add it to the website.]

Historical pictures can be explored in more detail on our shutterfly photo share website. If you have picture or videos to share, please upload them to the shutterfly photo share website. If you have pictures/video/memorabilia to donate please contact us.

Chairman – the Chickens’ Ball has been sustained by a group of Chairman (called Nest Tenders) throughout the years.

Dedications – each ball is dedicated in honor of a particular group or person(s).

Chickens’ Ball History – year by year:

1. 1940 – Part 1 Introduction to the Chickens’ Ball, 1940 Chickens’ Ball details
2. 1942 – A New Ball
3. 1944 – Even War Can’t Stop It
4. 1946 – An Enduring Tradition is Being Built; 1946 Chickens Ball Program
5. 1948 – A Hot Ticket; 1948 Chickens’ Ball Program
6. 1950 – Enquiring Minds Want to Know;
7. 1952 – You’re the TOPS; 1952 Chickens’ Ball Program
8. 1954 – Champagne Days in San Francisco; 1954 Chickens’ Ball Program
9. 1956 – Barbary Coast Highlights;
10. 1958 – Gay ’90′s;
11. 1960 – Reflections of the Gay ’90′s;
12. 1962 – Gilded Ghosts of the Barbary Coast;
13. 1964 – A Thirteenth Toast to the Barbary Coast;
14. 1966 – Gaslight Gala;
15. 1968 – Fashionable Game;
16. 1970 – The Sixteenth Shake of the Crystal Quake
17. 1072 – Saints & Sinners
18. 1974 – Vaudeville 1900 One More Time
19. 1976 -
20. 1978 -
21. 1980 – The Red Rose Saloon; 1980 Chickens’ Ball Program
22. 1982 -
23. 1984 – Dreams of the Golden Gate; 1984 Chickens’ Ball Program
24. 1986 – A Night at the Gilded Cage; 1986 Chickens’ Ball Program
25. 1988 -
26. 1990 -
27. 1992 -
28. 1994 -
29. 1996 – Gaslight Nights at the Fandango Palace
30. 1998 – Gold Fever
31. 2000 – Plays the Palace
32. 2002 – Tales from the Moulin Rouge; 2002 Chickens’ Ball Program
33. 2004 – Plumes & Bloomers Under Glass; 2004 Chickens’ Ball Program
34. 2006 – A Ball Remembered; 2006 Chickens’ Ball Program; Chairman;
35. 2008 – Star Spangled Spectacular; 2008 Chickens’ Ball Program; Chairman
36. 2010 – One World
37. 2012 – Belles of the Barbary Coast