| In the 1930s and 1940s, it was located at 3906 San Pablo and called the "Key Cafe & Cigar Store", with a card room in the rear. By the 1980s, the club had fifteen card tables. The club was decorated with sports themed photographs and oil paintings.
Licensed and majority owned by Angus G. "Mac" MacDonald from 1943 until his death in 1970, and then owned by his daughter Corliss Mears. In 1951, after a fire, the Key Club card room moved two doors down to 3910 San Pablo. Also called the "Key Card Club". The "Santa Fe Club" was on the same block.
Advertisement from 4/1/1977 (Oakland Tribune). Photograph circa 1980 (Courtesy of Rosamond Press). The original 3906 location is on the right in the photo, and the later 3910 location on the left, and the Key Hotel is between them. |
