Carol Doda Mural

Carol Ann Doda was an American cultural icon of the 1960s era. Born in 1937 in Vallejo CA, she grew up in San Francisco and attended San Francisco Art Institute while working as a waitress and lounge entertainer at the Condor Club in North Beach. She made history by wearing a topless bikini during her performance on June 19th, 1964, becoming the first noted entertainer in the United States to do so publicly. Doda's subsequent role in getting topless performances acquitted in the courts of San Francisco led to her rise as an international sensation, drawing crowds from around the world to witness her legendary act. Within two months of her original groundbreaking performance, the rest of Broadway Street's clubs were providing topless entertainment, while performers across America quickly followed suit.

​

In the local community, Carol Doda is often called the “Queen of North Beach.” Though she stopped performing topless in the 1980’s she remained a staple of the community. From singing in her band called “the Lucky Stiffs” to owning a lingerie boutique on Union street, her presence radiated throughout San Francisco, and those who had the pleasure of knowing Doda have only good things to say about her. 

Website