Mary's First and Last Chance
Historic lesbian bar in Oakland, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mary’s First and Last Chance (c. 1948 – 1956) was a lesbian and gay bar located at 2278 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, California, U.S.[1] It was once the focus of the 1950s California Supreme Court lawsuit Vallerga v. Dept. Alcoholic Bev. Control, when the bar challenged a state law for the right to serve gay patrons and won in 1959.[2][3]
Oakland, California, U.S.
| Mary’s First and Last Chance | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of Mary’s First and Last Chance | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Location | 2278 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 37.812459°N 122.268600°W |
The bar was opened in c. 1948 by Mary Azar, and her brother-in-law, Albert L. Vallerga.[4] Mary’s First and Last Chance liquor license suspended several times and ultimately revoked in 1956 based on a discriminatory 1955 California state law, and after undercover officers posed as patrons.[3][4] In December 1959, the court sided with Azar and Vallerga and reversed the revocation, and in a historic decision, the 1955 law was declared unconstitutional.[2]
