All About the Girl in the Fishbowl: Swimming at Bimbo’s 365 Since 1931
By Lucy Bikahi
Bimbo’s 365 Club is an iconic piece of San Francisco’s artistic history; since it first opened its doors in 1931, it’s been an integral part of the city’s nightlife. Within the realm of Bimbo’s 365 Club, with its velvet curtains, warm lighting, and plush carpets, exists Dolfina, the ‘Girl in the Fishbowl’. She greets you at the door and watches over the club from behind the bar. But who is the person behind Dolfina, the mysterious girl behind the glass, who has existed as long as the club itself? I sat down with Hanna Longwell, who is one of the club’s current Dolfinas, as well as the director for Openlight Films’ upcoming Girl in the Fishbowl documentary, in order to learn more about this elusive woman in the fishtank.
Lucy: So my first question is: What about being a Girl in the Fishbowl at Bimbo’s drew you in? Why did it speak to you?
Hanna: The first time I lived in San Francisco, I had heard rumors that there might be some sort of mermaid at Bimbo’s 365 Club, which was super intriguing. And then I just stumbled into this opportunity. I met your dad [Elias] at Le Sandwich, and I was just chatting with him about his catering business. He mentioned he caters at Bimbo’s 365 Club, and I asked if it was true that there were mermaids there; he told me his friend was one of the mermaids. And I kind of jokingly asked, “Are they hiring?” and they were! So I ended up getting connected with Bimbo’s, and I think a few weeks later, I had my first Girl in the Fishbowl performance.
L: And what about it drew you in? What spoke to you? Why was it something that you wanted to do?
H: Honestly, when Elias mentioned it, the only word I needed to hear was mermaid. I’ve always loved The Little Mermaid and wanted to be a mermaid, so it was super intriguing. And then I was able to go see the club itself! I’ve always been really interested in anything vintage, so it was really cool to almost step back in time when I went there. I really just wanted to be a part of the club and its history.
L: You said you heard about rumors about there being mermaids upon moving to San Francisco- what had you heard? What were the whispers?
H: I just knew that there was some sort of optical illusion where it looked like a girl was swimming in a fish tank. Technically speaking, Dolfina, the Girl in the Fishbowl, isn’t a mermaid. She doesn’t have fins or a tail; but people tend to refer to her as such, probably due to her being a girl in a fishtank and the underwater symbolism associated with that. I thought there might be someone actually swimming in a big tank or maybe one of those martini-glass-type things. Once I met Elias, he explained how it’s an optical illusion created by light and mirrors. As soon as I heard that, I was super interested and wanted to learn more.
L: You wanted to explore the mystique.
H: Yes. It was very mysterious. And from what I understand, it is one of the few surviving live illusions from San Francisco’s nightclub “golden era,” so to speak. I just wanted the opportunity to check that out.
L: Absolutely. So, what have been some of the highlights throughout your time being a Girl in the Fishbowl so far? What experiences have really stood out to you?
H: My very first night was definitely a highlight. I remember it vividly. I had no clue what I was stepping into. I remember getting down there and lying on the velvet turntable and then flipping the switches, turning the lights on, and starting the rotation. And I remember, as I’m about to start my first shift, just hearing all these whispers and people chatting above me from the bar asking, “What’s going on?” and “Is the Girl in the Fishbowl here?” So that was super cool- before I even started my performance- just hearing all the excitement around it. Another night that sticks out was when I performed during a private birthday party, and I heard that there was going to be a really big special guest there that night. I didn’t know who it was, but I ended up getting a text asking if I wanted to come up and check out the performer. And it was Diana Ross!
L: That’s amazing.
H: I got to be like 10 feet away from her. She was right there! But yeah, it’s super cool because whenever I do perform, I’m able to come up either between rotations or at the beginning or end and check out what’s going on. It’s just so fun to be a part of the action in that way, too, especially walking around afterwards. It’s just such a crazy experience, because no one knows you’re the Girl in the Fishbowl. So it’s this secret thing; I almost feel like a superhero.
L: You’re walking around, and you know but no one else knows.
So in addition to being one of the mermaids, you’re also directing a documentary on the Girl in the Fishbowl and the history of Dolfina at the club. I was wondering, as you’ve been researching, how you’ve found the Girl in the Fishbowl to speak to the fabric of Bimbo’s, North Beach’s, and finally, San Francisco’s culture and history? I think there are different levels, you know– the club itself, but then also North Beach as a neighborhood and its history as an artistic hub and place of performance. Essentially, I’m wondering, how do you think the Girl in the Fishbowl speaks to that history, as it is such a long held tradition?
H: Yeah, it’s been really interesting as we’ve been diving in and doing more research into the documentary, because the Girl in the Fishbowl is such a timeless thing. It has barely changed since it first started back in 1931; essentially, it’s this untouched piece of San Francisco history. And I feel Bimbo’s is similar in that sense — when you walk in, you really are just teleported back in time. There are so many vintage pictures and mementos that anchor you in its history, even as the city around it has changed so dramatically over the decades.
The Girl in the Fishbowl really embodies that continuity. It represents the elegance and artistry that Bimbo’s has always been known for — which is why you see her everywhere in the club, from the logo to the front doors to the statue when you first walk in.
L: It’s a sort of like motif…
H: I think Bimbo’s is such an iconic part of North Beach and of San Francisco. So you asked how the Girl in the Fishbowl speaks the fabric of Bimbo’s- I would say it’s a motif, and part of Bimbo’s’ DNA. It’s also so reminiscent of San Francisco from the 30s onwards. And you know, San Francisco definitely has these really deep roots in art, music, performance and nightlife. I think that the Girl in the Fishbowl is representative of that in a way. One thing that was interesting to hear came from a Girl in the Fishbowl who performed in the 90s, who remembered all of the dot-com era patrons coming in and it was like they stumbled in on a San Francisco secret that they weren’t supposed to know.
L: Yeah, it feels like a very local thing.
H: It’s almost like a secret. And people have either seen the Girl in the Fishbowl and maybe don’t quite understand what it is or have never heard about it.
L: So the Girl in the Fishbowl, as you said, is a long-held tradition at Bimbo’s. How has it felt to step into and be a part of such a long-held legacy?
H: It’s been such an honor. Throughout my work on this documentary, I’ve found nineteen total Girls in the Fishbowl, and I’ve met with six so far. It has meant the world to me that they’ve been open to sharing their stories and giving me guidance. When I first began performing, I got instructions basically saying: you lay down, you put your knees to the side, and then you just do slow, swimming motions for five minutes on, ten minutes off. But that’s about all I knew. And it’s super interesting, because you have no idea what you look like upstairs when you’re in the fishbowl. So I had a lot of questions, and I always want to do the very best job I can. I was always asking, “Can I do this better?” But there wasn’t a previous Girl in the Fishbowl there to show me how it’s done or give me her tips. Because of that, it’s been really special being able to connect with the previous Girls in the Fishbowl and to see how everyone has made it theirs. Holly puts glitter all over her face and body, for example, and some of them put seashells in their hair. Some wear wigs. They’ve just really made it their own. And it means a lot that they’ve shared their experiences with me.
Another really interesting observation has been how much I have in common with a lot of the previous girls. One of them’s a redhead, one is a vegetarian; I’m both of those things. Some have also been very interested in vintage from previous decades. And then I think aside from that, aside from those little commonalities, we just have a shared life experience in a lot of ways. The Girl in the Fishbowl is something that’s been really empowering for me personally, but I know that previous Girls in the Fishbowl have also been really proud to have held that title. They’ve pointed back to it as one of the things that they’re most proud of in their lives. I feel the same way.
It’s just been so cool to get connected with these women who have such different experiences, but also similar ones, and build a sense of community. With each of the women that I’ve interviewed, what I’ve really respected and loved is that they’ve all lived life on their own terms. For example, one of the previous Girls in the Fishbowl, Anna, is in her nineties and now lives in Austin, Texas. But when she was performing in the 50s, she was married to a Pentecostal preacher, and was secretly performing. She had a number of different gigs she would do that I’m pretty sure her husband wasn’t aware of. I think they [the Girls in the Fishbowl] have all been risk takers in a way, and stepped out of the norm. That’s something that is definitely very vulnerable.
I have a lot of respect for all the women that I’ve connected with, who have been the Girl in the Fishbowl. It’s been really cool to see this sense of community form, with them all wanting to meet each other. A lot of Girls in the Fishbowl haven’t met any other ones. I’m hoping to do some sort of event with the documentary where we have a reunion for them. There are all these vintage pin-up posters and old playing cards on the walls, and one of them had a note from Darla Tucker that said something like, “Goodbye from Darla after three years of performing as Dolfina,” and it had her address. I remember my very first night, being so intrigued by who Darla was, what her story was, and feeling close to her just by being down in that basement. I wanted to hear her story.
L: That experience actually speaks to my next question. So you’ve been heading this project, as the director of the Girl in the Fishbowl documentary; What inspired you to begin exploring this history and do a deep dive? What was the story that made you want to get into the weeds of everything?
H: I would say Darla’s note was definitely the catalyst. I really wanted to meet who the other Girls in the Fishbowl were. I remember asking, “Can we do a mermaid meetup? Do you have the contact info for the other mermaids?” Just really wanting to connect with anyone else who had been in the role, and beyond that, just wanting to hear some of the stories about the previous Dolfinas. One of them, Donna Powers, was a Richmond City District Councilwoman in the 90s.
I understand her opponent tried to orchestrate a coup in order to get her out of office because she was also performing as the Girl in the Fishbowl at the time. They have ministers come out to say “she was a bad influence on girls”, and it actually ended up helping her keep her seat due to the publicity! She even went on to win a second term. I just thought it was so badass. So just starting to hear some of these really interesting stories and wondering how many other women have held that role- I think that was definitely what kicked everything off.
Darla’s thank-you note, left on the wall of Dolfina’s dressing room
L: Okay, this is kind of a fun question! What has been your favorite niche fact or experience that you’ve uncovered while researching? What’s a fun little something about San Francisco, or specifically about Dolfina, or about Bimbo’s, that has stood out to you?
H: Oh, where to begin. I’m uncovering a lot, but a few things do kind of stick out. One fun fact: there was a Man in the Fishbowl, also known as Chris Isaak. So for one of Chris Isaak’s birthdays- I’ve heard firsthand accounts of this- he got in the fishbowl, and did some rotations!
L: Oh my god.
H: Here’s another fun one- Nedra, one of the previous Girls in the Fishbowl, was performing, and Wayne Coyne, from The Flaming Lips, came downstairs and was videotaping, and chatted with her while she was performing as Dolfina. We found a video of that, which is just the coolest thing ever. That was really fun to come across. Let’s see. Another fun experience from researching the documentary was when I met up with Holly at Savoy Tivoli. She was the first mermaid I met. She showed me how she does her moves in the fishbowl. She actually got up on the pool table at Savoy! It was the first time I’d seen anyone else perform! It was honestly really helpful. She gave me a lot of tips and I really appreciated that! I found out about Peachy’s Puffs; they’d go around to different events with these candy trays, almost retro, like from the 50s. It used to be a cigarette and candy girl service.
L: Oh fun!
H: One of the Girls in the Fishbowl, Darla, was actually a Peachy’s Puff too. I thought that was super cool. She also performed at the Lusty Lady, which I found out was one of the only women-run strip clubs in San Francisco, which is awesome. She was also a roller derby doll in San Diego. Those are some of the things I’ve found while researching that initially stand out.
L: Finally, what do you want people to walk away with upon viewing the Girl in the Fishbowl documentary- after learning about her, her story, and the story of all the different Dolfina’s and this legacy, what is the takeaway? I know you’re in process so it’s obviously still always changing and shifting. But as of right now, what is the thing that you most want people to walk away with?
H: I really want to honor all the women who have kept the tradition alive over the years and celebrate them. Just celebrate them as an art form. I really want to preserve this and capture their stories and this unique piece of San Francisco history. One of the big themes that I’ve been seeing is a sense of empowerment through being the Girl in the Fishbowl. It’s something I’ve personally felt and also something that I’ve heard reverberate in those stories from the previous girls as well. The only other thing I would mention is something I really liked that Darla said: she likened the role of the Girl in the Fishbowl to a secret society of women across decades. I just love that idea, and I think that’s really cool. I mean, just overall, that sentiment, and I’m so honored to be part of that tradition.
Bimbo’s 365 Club
1025 COLUMBUS AVENUE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
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