When it comes to the history of Feminism, Carol Doda is one of the most important figures that most people have never heard of. Oddly enough, I owe my life to this woman and that’s not an exaggeration in any way.
Born in Vallejo in 1937, her parents divorced when she was young and she ended up working as a Cocktail waitress when she was 14 because it was a much different time. Soon after she started attending the San Fransico Art Institute, she ended up at The Condor Club in the North Beach neighborhood. Nobody expected her to make history, but this was during the 60s and man, the times were a-changing.
Regardless of what you think about nudity, porn, kink, whatever, the bottom line is that, as long as it doesn’t involve kids and/or animals and everyone involved is eagerly consenting (read that again), it doesn’t matter. People have the right to do as they please with their own bodies. If you don’t want to see it or participate in it, don’t.
The exact way things played out is still a bit of a mystery but from everything we know, the club owners did not want her to do this. They were not exploiting her or pressuring her in any way, and in fact, they were scared that the place would get shut down. Carol Doda did not give a fuck and on June 19th, 1964, she did her show topless.
“So? What’s the big deal?” you might be asking….
Well, remember, this was 1964 and this was the first time in the US that a woman had dared to show her Breasts on stage and at the time, it was a huge fucking deal. And yes, she, along with the owners of the club, Pete Mattioli and Gino del Prete, were arrested on April 22nd, 1965. She stood her ground and beat the charges, making it clear that it was her body and she was going to show it off.
Like it or not, she helped women.
Even if you don’t want to show your titties, she went to court to make sure that you have the right to do that, that you have control over your body. Keep in mind, she wasn’t young or naive; she was 26 and knew how to play the audience. Go watch any interview she did; she was the one in control, she was playing those dudes and flipping the script. She was calling the shots.
A few years later, in 1969, she made headlines again when she became the first dancer to perform fully nude. This went on until 1972, when the city ruled that this wasn’t allowed in places that served booze. And yes, the Condor Club did take advantage of the publicity and even put up a new sign featuring her since they weren’t stupid. It should come as no surprise that she was one of the first performers to have breast enhancement surgery, and according to rumors, they were insured for $1.5 million by Lloyd’s of London.
She wasn’t a one-hit wonder either…
Along with dancing, she was also featured in a few films, including Jack Nicholson’s directorial debut “Head” where she played a character named “Sally Silicone,” alongside the Monkees. She was also a spokesperson for San Jose channel 36 during the 70s and even formed a band that played in the area during the 80s while still dancing part-time until she was 42. Later in life, she opened a store called “Carol Dodas Champagne and Lace Lingerie Boutique”.
How do I owe my life to this woman?
Well, real simple, my Mom was a dancer in the late 70s. In fact, my Mom was a bad ass dancer to the point that word spread to another club owner a few cities away and he had to come see for himself. About two years later, I appeared. Had it not been for Carol, my parents would have never met. I should also mention that, a few years later, my Mom bought the club she had worked at and ran it successfully until she sold it to its current owners and opened a fine dining joint. I grew up working in both.
All good things must end.
Even the brightest star fades out and the world lost her on November 9th, 2015, due to an ongoing battle with kidney failure. This doesn’t mean that the city she loved forgot about her. In 2022, the Condor was recognized as a legacy business in the city and a plaque was placed on the side to commemorate the importance of the spot to the community. A few blocks down, a mural was painted of her, and while tame, it captures that mischievous look in her eyes perfectly.