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Note: , California, the son of James "Jim" and Hazel Adel [McCrimmon] Steinhoff. He attended school in Newark. He married Virginia "Ginnie" Rockwell in the late 1930s in San Francisco. He worked in San Francisco for a time, then at a lumber mill in Dunsmuir during WWII; he also worked in the construction business in Santa Rosa -likely with Leon Merrill, his brother-in-law. Bud and Ginnie adopted a son, James "Rocky" Rockwell Steinhoff in 1944. About 1945, the couple had twin girls: Penny and Peggie. Bud purchased the Purple Onion nightclub on Columbus Ave. in San Francisco in 1960. The famous North Beach basement club was opened by Bud's brother-in-law, Keith Rockwell, in 1952, and Bud owned operated the Purple Onion until his death in 1983. As the owner and manager of the nightclub, Bud had the opportunity to discover and further the careers of many now well-known comedian celebrities including: Jim Nabors, Phyllis Diller, the Smothers Brothers (who cut their first album at the club), Pat Paulson, the Kingston Trio (then a quartet), Maya Angelou, Bob Newhart, poet Rod McKuen, Ronny Schell, Milt Kamin, and Lorenzo Music. The family lived in Mill Valley, Marin Co., Calif. Bud also owned Tennessee Valley Stables in Marin Co. and the twins were involved in Horse shows and riding. Bud died in Terra Linda at Kaiser Hospital, aged 67. His obituary was published in the San Francisco Chronicle and in the Mill Valley Standard.
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NOTE: The compiler (Nick Sheedy) has had the opportunity to meet Jim Nabors numerous times in Bigfork and Whitefish, Montana where Jim now lives and Jim was very pleased to express his acquaintance with and gratitude to Bud Steinhoff.
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From a letter written on the back of photo-copied obituary, from Bud's sister, Adele [Steinhoff] Mento, to Betty Jane [Steinhoff] Sheedy shortly after Bud's death:
"My Dear Baby Cousin: Only you could grasp what a terrible loss -to lose Ducky [Hugh Steinhoff] and Bud [Irving Steinhoff]- meant to me. Your tough Cousin who never cries, no matter how the cracks widen in her heart, called Julia [a friend], and when she said "my "Bud" [a friend] and "Ducky" [Hugh] and now your little brother, "Bud" [Irving], the rain came down! Julia said: "Steinie, I have never seen you cry." God was good to me. Love, Adele. ... [continuing] ... Did you remember our cousin, Lolita King lived in la Grande, Ore.? Our moms loved her so! Peggy's [Rulien, daughter of Bud Steinhoff] baby is due any time. She still can't believe it after hoping so long. She is 34 yrs. It will be good for Ginnie [Virginia, wife of Bud]. He [the baby] is to be "Jason Bradford", or she is to be "Jessica Blair." When Bud left us, I hugged her and she said "how can anyone be so happy and so sad at the same time?" Rocky [James Steinhoff, adopt. son of Bud] is so good to Ginnie, spends three nights a week with her. Penny [Reiter, daughter of Bud Steinhoff] is like my mom: so capable, loving, and tower of strength for Ginnie. Peggy is wonderful, too, but is the vice president of a bank and so has been very busy. Now she will be really busy! How I would love to see your precious family. Steve [son of Adele] came for Thanksgiving, looks great, loves his job and is working Christmas so the ones with Children can be home.
... Love, Adele"
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From the San Rafael Independent Journal, November 17, 1983, Page 4A:
Irving ‘Bud’ Steinhoff; S.F. nightclub figure
Irving “Bud” Steinhoff of Mill Valley, who gave many famous entertainers their career starts at his Purple Onion nightclub in San Francisco, died Wednesday at Kaiser Hospital in Terra Linda after an illness. He was 67.
Steinhoff was born in Newark, Alameda County, and worked in the construction business before going into the nightclub business.
The Purple Onion was opened by Keith Rockwell, Steinhoff’s brother-in-law, in 1953. At the time the Steinhoffs were living in Santa Rosa, and one evening they dropped into the club for a visit.
The place was packed and so the Steinhoffs pitched in to help. Soon, they were working every weekend. In 1960, Steinhoff quit his job in the construction business, moving his family to Mill Valley, and the couple took over operation of the club.
During the 1960s, the North Beach club was a popular gathering place, especially for young people. The admission was 25 cents, and entertainers often made about $75 a week.
It was there that Phyllis Diller, the Smothers Brothers, the Kingston Trio, Jim Nabors, Pat Pausen, Rod McKuen, Milt Kamin, Ronny Schell and Lorenzo Music got their starts.
Changing times in the late 1960s saw the club’s customers opting for rock music, but the Purple Onion continued to survive amid its more tawdry North Beach neighbors.
A mix of middle-of-the road singers and comedians and the Steinhoffs’ service at the bar continued to keep the club filled with tourists, if not with local residents.
From time to time, one of the famous entertainers who started at the club would return for a special performance.
Steinhoff’s wife, Virginia, plans to continue running the club. In addition to operating the club, the Steinhoffs also at one time operated the Tennessee Valley Stables, where they and their children kept horses.
In addition to his wife, Steinhoff is survived by his son, James Steinhoff of Corte Madera; twin daughters, Penny Reiter of Corte Madera and Peggy Rullen of Foster City; two sisters, Adele Mento of Fremont and Aileen Merrill of Georgetown, Dorado County; and two grandchildren.
At his request, no service is planned. The family prefers memorial gifts to Hospice of Marin or a favorite charity.
Note: Irving "Bud" Steinhoff was born in Newark, Washington Twp., Alameda Co.
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