Chuck Arnett

Charles "Chuck" Arnett (February 15, 1928 – March 2, 1988) was an American artist and dancer who was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana and died in San Francisco.

Arriving with letters of introduction and names of people to contact from his time as a dancer in New Orleans, he quickly settled into the life of those in Manhattan who referred to themselves as "theatrical gypsies."

[9] The bar and the murals were made famous by the June 1964 Paul Welch Life article entitled "Homosexuality In America,"[9] the first time a national publication reported on gay issues.

[7] Arnett created art for other San Francisco gay bars and businesses such as the Ambush,[11] the Balcony,[12] the Red Star Saloon[13] and a psychedelic black light mural for The Stud.

[23][22] Another of the works of art is bronze bootprints along the curb which honor 28 people (including Arnett) who were an important part of the leather communities of San Francisco.

In 2006, historian Jack Fritscher wrote:[26]"If there is a gay Mount Rushmore of four great pioneer pop artists, the faces would be Chuck Arnett, Etienne, A. Jay, and Tom of Finland.