I have searched and searched for information on the Li Po Lounge, 916 Grant Avenue, Chinatown, San Francisco, San Francisco County, California and from what I understand the place is still as rockin’ a bar as it was when it opened in 1935 with really great cocktails. From what I understand, also, is that the decor has not changed since it first opened, with the exception of a new door.
When my granddaddy James Paul Stalls, Jr was in the Seabees he had shore leave in San Francisco. He went to the Li Po Lounge where there were women who were there specifically to have their photos taken with the servicemen. I have tried to research this to see if the women worked for the bar or the photographer, but so far no one has information on this, including the owner of Li Po Lounge. She told me that the bar has changed owners several times, and she is sure that anyone who would know has probably passed.
So, here is the photo card and the photo, dated September 16, 1944. The inside of the photo envelope says “May your evening at Li Po’s be a most pleasant one,,, Your Host Wilbur Wong”. The photo was taken by Coronet Pictures. The address for Coronet Pictures is now the Hotel Abri. Before that it was was several hotels, also, going all the way to the early 1930s.
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