Frigging (Mad) in the Rigging

Unfinished History

The Balclutha at Hyde Street Pier in Fisherman's Wharf.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

You can still visit this magnificent square rigger, the ship Balclutha, built in Scotland in 1886, off Hyde Street Pier in Fisherman's Wharf. Put on display at the 1939 World's Fair on Treasure Island, it was later moved to its present location.

In 1959, Comedian Jonathan Winters climbed into the Balclutha's rigging and refused to come down, shouting to the police gathered below: "Where am I from? I'm from outer space, man, outer space. I'm the man in the moon. I'm John Q. What's it to you?" Winters was eventually captured; as he was dragged off the boat, he yelled "this boat is a fake, it's got an outboard motor on it."

Balclutha berthed at the Hyde Street Pier San Francisco Maritime Museum National Park, seen from Russian Hill, Ghirardelli Square at left, Alcatraz and Angel Island across bay behind.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Winters was placed in an isolation cell at San Francisco General Hospital's psychiatric ward. Winters's free performance at the Balclutha capped a series of increasingly bizarre shows at the Hungry I nightclub, where he had delivered rambling monologues about Alcoholics Anonymous, almost started a riot by making offensive remarks about Harry S. Truman, and collapsed in tearful hysteria after breaking his cigarette holder.

--Dr. Weirde

Balclutha seen from Aquatic Park beach.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Jonathan Winters on his album cover "Down to Earth" published in 1960.

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