Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre Is on the Market for $10M

Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre Is on the Market for $10M

SAN FRANCISCO — The end could be near for the fabled Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre in San Francisco’s Tenderloin.

The 12,920-square-foot building that houses the adult entertainment venue is up for sale.

Considered the most famous strip club in San Francisco, the Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell opened up for business in 1969 by pornographer brothers Jim and Artie Mitchell.

The Mitchell brothers produced and directed porn movies such as “Behind the Green Door” and became better known than many of the adult entertainers who may have worked at their O’Farrell Theatre. Both of them are long gone.

Susan Jordan, the San Francisco real estate broker who has the listing, said one reason current theater operators are interested in unloading the property is that it’s tough to cover the building’s $37,000 monthly rent.  

The asking price for the theater, located at 895 O’Farrell St., is $10 million to buy or $39,000 a month to rent, according to Jordan, an agent with Starboard Commercial Real Estate.

While Jordan tries to find a buyer for the property, business still goes on at the theater — full nude shows, lap dances and five themed rooms. Admission is $20, with additional a la carte offerings.

Jim and Artie Mitchell’s adult business began in Antioch, Calif., where Jim graduated from the high school in 1962.

The brothers sold nude photos to magazines in San Francisco during the late '60s, opened the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theater and started making porn loops.

Jim and Artie Mitchell reached cult status in 1972 with "Behind the Green Door," starring Ivory Snow model Marilyn Chambers, followed by "Resurrection of Eve" in 1973, and several other full-length films notable for high production values, wit and social commentary during the 1970s Golden Age.

The Mitchell brothers produced hundreds of adult films, and they faced and beat more than 100 arrests on obscenity charges, which they never avoided. San Francisco police would call them and they would come in to get booked.

In 1991, Jim Mitchell shot and killed his brother, Artie, at his home in the Bay Area. Jim Mitchell's lawyers claimed Artie, 45 at the time, was in an alcoholic tailspin and threatened to kill Jim. 

When Jim Mitchell entered Artie's home, he was armed with a rifle, a handgun, a knife and a box of ammunition. He fired eight shots, three of them hitting his brother, one fatal shot in the head. When police arrested him as he walked from the home, he had a .22-caliber rifle in his pants leg and a revolver in a shoulder holster.

Jim Mitchell was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served three years in San Quentin. He was released in 1997 and became no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the Mitchell Brothers business. He died in 2007 at 63.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Missouri Republican Behind FOSTA-SESTA Renews Attack on OnlyFans

Rep. Ann Wagner, the Missouri Republican legislator who was the original architect of FOSTA-SESTA, has renewed her call for federal action against OnlyFans.

Idaho Legislature Passes Republican Age Verification Bill With Full Democratic Support

The Idaho legislature has passed the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

SINematica Names Emily Pink March's 'Most Valuable Performer'

SINematica has crowned Columbian star Emily Pink as Most Valuable Performer for the month of March, with a spotlight scene opposite Yannick Shaft and Erik Everhard.

Agatha Vega, Nicole Aria, Angel Gostosa Co-Star in SexLikeReal's 'Sexual Anthropology'

Agatha Vega, Nicole Aria and Angel Gostosa co-star in SexLikeReal’s latest scene, “Sexual Anthropology.”

MYLF Debuts New Series 'Oye Mami'

MYLF has released the premiere episode of its newest series, "Oye Mami," titled "Fighting for a Promotion."

Cecelia Taylor Toplines Latest Volume of Bryan Gozzling's 'Hookup Hotshot: E-Girls'

Cecelia Taylor headlines director Bryan Gozzling's "Hookup Hotshot: E-Girls 15," from Evil Angel.

Valentina Nappi, Katrina Colt Star in Latest 'Lez Be Bad'

XBIZ Award winner Valentina Nappi stars with Katrina Colt in "Cheating in Plain Sight," the latest episode of Adult Time's "Lez Be Bad."

Pre-Nom Period for 2024 XBIZ Creator Awards Ends Monday

The deadline for pre-nomination entries for the 2024 XBIZ Creator Awards is Monday, March 18 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Partners With Anti-Porn Lobby NCOSE

Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a press statement last week prominently highlighting her partnership with religiously-inspired anti-porn lobby NCOSE, an organization that seeks to criminalize all sex work and eradicate adult content, and that has an extensive, well-documented history of championing state censorship and opposing LGBTQ+ rights.

Age Verification Trade Group Weighs In on UK Consultation

The Age Verification Providers Association (AVPA) filed earlier this month its response to U.K. media regulator Ofcom's consultation soliciting feedback on the regulation of adult websites under Part 5 of the Online Safety Act.

Show More