S2: Ep 13: Jo Schuman Silver & Beach Blanket Babylon
Season 2 Episode 13: Jo Schuman Silver
Jo Schuman Silver was the producer, director, and writer of the legendary Beach Blanket Babylon.
A gem of the city's culture, Beach Blanket Babylon was the world's longest-running musical revue in live theater history, and was started by Jo’s late husband, Steve Silver, in 1974. Beach Blanket Babylon was often described to be “as San Francisco as it gets,” with elaborate costumes and extravagant hats featuring city landmarks such as mechanical cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Transamerica Pyramid. Audiences were entertained with original comedy sketches and political satire. In the San Francisco-style, no subject was off limits, but everything was performed in good faith and good taste.
After taking over the company for her late husband Steve in 1995, Jo not only maintained the company’s high standard of performing art, but created new sketches to stay up to date with current events, all while using her husband’s original drawings for sets and costumes. In this way, Jo kept her husband’s legacy alive while allowing it to change and grow. Jo closed Beach Blanket Babylon on New Year's Eve 2020, not because of lack of funds, but because it was time. It had a prosperous run at Club Fugazi for 45 years. We were thrilled to get to speak with Jo about her and Steve Silver’s work and the legacy of the show. We hope you enjoy it as well.
For more information about Beach Blanket Babylon and Jo Schuman Silver, please visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beach_Blanket_Babylon;
Meet Jo Schuman Silver!
