Mona's 440 Club was one of the first lesbian bars in the United States and the first in SF, opening in 1936.
It was intended by Mona and Jimmie Sargeant as an artistic hangout, but market pressure helped morph it into a "place where girls can be boys".
During the war, under the leadership of Kay and Babe Scott Mona's booked some of the best comedians and singers of the time including Gladys Bentley, Frances Faye, Moms Mabley and Beverly Shaw.
Ann Dee took over in the 50s, renamed the club Ann's 440, and famously signed Johnny Mathis, but the free-wheeling bohemian vibe was gone.