[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    IN RECOGNITION OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEACH BLANKET BABYLON

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                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2014

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the world's longest running 
musical revue that is politically incorrect, brilliant and hilarious. 
Beach Blanket Babylon has drawn sold-out audiences in its hometown San 
Francisco for 40 years and isn't showing any signs of slowing down or 
getting old. The New York Times is right to call Beach Blanket Babylon 
``no less a part of San Francisco than the Golden Gate Bridge or Coit 
Tower.''
  Every performance of Beach Blanket Babylon takes the audience on a 
fast-paced journey around the world with Snow White on her search for 
Prince Charming. She encounters an always-changing cast of characters 
from politics and pop culture. Everybody who is anybody has been on 
stage: President Barack Obama, the Queen of England, Lady Gaga, Tina 
Turner, Prince, Hillary Clinton, Justin Bieber, Elvis and da Mayor 
Willie Brown have all endured sarcastic interpretations of current 
events.
  I fell in love with the show the first time I saw it, in part, of 
course, because of the outrageous hats. These creations range from a 
giant heart made of red curls to the Skyline of San Francisco with a 
growing Transamerica Pyramid to a five tier wedding cake. Balancing 
those heavy and top-heavy sculptures is no easy task for the 
performers. They wear braces on their hips and shoulders to distribute 
the weight. The mechanical hats are so heavy that they are attached to 
stands that roll on the stage and are hidden in the costumes of the 
performers.
  I was told by a secret source that auditions for Beach Blanket 
Babylon are ``the craziest thing ever.'' They start out innocent 
enough: sing a song, say for example Stand by Your Man. Next thing you 
know, you'll be asked to sing it with a French bulldog accent or the 
personality of the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz.
  The late Steve Silver, with his sense for the absurd and whimsical 
imagination, was the genius who gave birth to Beach Blanket Babylon in 
1974. The show grew out of street performances in North Beach, the 
famous Italian neighborhood of San Francisco. Since Silver's passing in 
1995, his widow Jo Schuman Silver has produced the show and continued 
his vision and legacy.
  In 1983, Beach Blanket Babylon did a command performance for the 
Queen of England and Prince Phillip at Davies Symphony Hall. In 1988, 
the de Young Museum presented an exhibition of 15 years of Beach 
Blanket Babylon hats and costumes. On the 20th anniversary, BBB 
performed at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House and today, on 
the 40th anniversary, BBB is giving a special performance at San 
Francisco City Hall featuring current Mayor Ed Lee, former Mayor Willie 
Brown, former Secretary of State George Schultz and his wife Charlotte 
Schultz as Wonder Woman.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor the 40th anniversary of Beach Blanket Babylon, a San Francisco 
institution that has sharpened the minds and provided hearty belly 
laughs for over 6 million fans during 15,000 performances. I have 
enjoyed the show more than a dozen times and will continue to be a 
regular at this unique San Francisco theater experience. May it last 
for at least another 40 years!

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