Gayway Gulch was the temporary marketing name given to 12th Street between Franklin and Broadway. 1 It was an attempt to tie into the Western theme of the 1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition (GGIE) on Treasure Island by echoing the "Gayway" name assigned to the midway or fun zone of the GGIE. 2,3,4
As part of the event, they had a Pony Express marathon, a 2,000-mile horse race. Shannon Davidson of Texas was the winner, alternating between his two horses, Ranger and Rocket. 5
Businesses who were part of the full page spread included:
- Walt's 405 Club (405 - 12th)
- Danceland (405 - 12th, upstairs)
- Cafe Coney Island (12th and Franklin)
- Hotel St. John (415 - 12th)
- Garibaldi Tamale Cafe (411 - 12th)
- Deadeye Dick's Waldorf (417 - 12th)
- Hong Kong Restaurant (Franklin between 11th and 12th)
- Ambrose The Tailor (410 - 12th)
- Wonder Bar (427 - 12th)
- Rose Room (431 - 12th)
- Sportland (429 - 12th)
- Louis' Smoke Shop (12th and Franklin)
- Roosevelt Theatre (416 - 12th)
- Nick & Gus (433 - 12th)
- Oakland Electric Shop (407 - 12th)
- Ingram's Chili Parlor and Lunch (403 - 12th)
- Sea Cave (441 - 12th)
- The Chuck Wagon (1216 Franklin)
- Red Lion (1218 Franklin)
- Silver Cafe (456 - 12th, 1205 Broadway)
- Louis Cafe (466 - 12th)
Other businesses a bit further away with ads on the page included:
- Palomar Dancing Academy (7th and Franklin)
- Monterey Room / Mario's Restaurant (1210 Franklin)
- Peacock Cafe (419 - 15th)
- Don's Cafe (4500 Market)
- Tienstsin Cafe (431 - 13th)
- New Canton Chop Suey (418 - 13th)
- Helnick's Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge (800 - 3rd Avenue)
Links and References
- ad Oakland Tribune February 13, 1939
- Doggone, Pardner, the Whole City's Gone Plumb Loco Over This Here Fair! Oakland Tribune February 8, 1939
- Frontier Days Revived Here Oakland Tribune February 10, 1939
- The Gayway page from the Official GGIE Guidebook
- Pony Express Winner Gets Rip Roarin' Welcome Here Oakland Tribune March 24, 1939
- Golden Gate International Exposition Wikipedia