Carol Doda Research Paper

Legendary San Francisco stripper Carol Doda, whose splashy act helped introduce topless entertainment to the city more than 50 years ago, died at age 78.

Doda died Monday in the city from complications of kidney failure, friend Ron Minolla disclosed Wednesday.

Doda first went topless in 1964 at the Condor Club — a move that changed every nightspot on busy Broadway in San Francisco.

During its heyday in the early 1970s, the street in North Beach buzzed with more than two dozen clubs where carnival-like barkers beckoned passers-by to watch bare-breasted dancers. The era spanned some 20 years.

Doda later had an acting role in "Head," a 1968 film featuring the Monkees, and was profiled in Tom Wolfe 's book "The Pump House Gang."

Doda, known for her augmented bust, rode onto stage atop a piano on an elevator platform, debuting the same day President Lyndon B.

It wasn 't long before the big news in town was "The Girl on the Piano."

Doda became a legend and the Condor Club had an illuminated sign carrying her likeness.

Doda left the club in 1985 and later owned a lingerie store, performed in a rock band, did modeling and comedy, and sang and danced at another club.

In 1964 Doda made international news, first by dancing topless at the city 's Condor Club, then by enhancing her bust from size 34 to 44 through silicone injections.

Her breasts became known as Doda 's "twin 44s" and "the new Twin Peaks of San Francisco.

Doda said she was never married. While very young, she gave birth to two children with whom she had little contact: daughter Donna Smith Terzian, who predeceased her, and son Tom Smith.

Doda used to sing at Tupelo in North Beach. Friends are planning a private memorial to be held there sometime in the next few weeks.