James Mallery, "City of Vice: Transience and San Francisco's Urban History, 1848-1917" (U Nebraska Press, 2024)

James Mallery, "City of Vice: Transience and San Francisco's Urban History, 1848-1917" (U Nebraska Press, 2024)

James Mallery's new book, 'City of Vice: Transience and San Francisco's Urban History, 1848-1917', takes you on a journey through the bustling streets of early San Francisco. This episode features an engaging conversation between host Stephen Houseman and Mallery, a historical architect with a passion for California's past. The discussion centres around how San Francisco, with its transient population during the Gold Rush, became a hotspot for activities deemed as vice by the 'respectable' society of the time.

From drinking and gambling to sex work, the city's history is unraveled through fascinating anecdotes and detailed research. Mallery shares his journey from studying migratory labourers to transforming historical buildings in San Francisco, including turning the Cadillac Hotel into a community museum. He delves into how the Gold Rush brought a wave of single men to the city, creating an environment ripe for vice due to the lack of moral oversight from women of strong moral authority.

The episode also touches on San Francisco's Chinatown and its unique challenges and stereotypes, as well as the impact of the 1906 earthquake on the city's geography of vice. Mallery provides a vivid picture of various neighbourhoods, including the Barbary Coast and the Tenderloin, illustrating how these areas became synonymous with vice. With light-hearted moments and deep historical insights, this episode offers a rich tapestry of San Francisco's urban history.

If you're intrigued by how historical events shape cities and their cultures, this conversation is a must-listen. Don't miss out on this captivating exploration of a city that defied conventional norms and thrived in its own unique way.