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End of a San Francisco Legend
Jul. 13th, 2007 04:28 pmPorn lord Jim Mitchell dies at 63
For almost two decades, Jim and Artie were SF A-list. Top SF politicians would go to the O'Farrell and no one would care because it was the Mitchell Brothers. They were in every gossip- column, made Herb Caen on a regular basis, and were just everywhere, like Cyril Magnum and the Brown Twins.
The O'Farrell is still there, as are the beautiful murals along the Post St. side of the building. But the place started getting shabby after Jim killed Artie, and the decline continues. The Mitchell Brothers saw sex as an art form, and the theater in the old days reflected that. Today? It's another strip club in the Tenderloin.
I met Jim once, years ago. I was home on leave and went to the city with some friends. Jim carded me, and I, being under age, used my military ID. He gave me a VIP pass for the night.
Great martinis.
Jim Mitchell, the porn czar who co-founded the Mitchell Brothers O'Farrell Theatre and who later shot his brother to death, died Thursday night at his Sonoma County home. He was 63.
Paramedics were called Thursday evening to Mitchell's home near Two Rock in western Sonoma County, said Sgt. Mitch Mana of the county coroner's office. They could not revive him, and Mitchell was declared dead about 8 p.m.
The cause of death was not immediately known, but foul play was not suspected. An autopsy was conducted today, Mana said.
Mitchell grew up in Antioch. He and his brother, Artie Mitchell, opened their adult theater in San Francisco on July 4, 1969. The two also produced a string of pornographic movies, including "Behind the Green Door" with Marilyn Chambers in 1972.
In 1992, Jim Mitchell was convicted of kicking in the door of his brother's Corte Madera home and shooting him to death.
Prosecutors described Mitchell as a controlling, angry man intent on reining in his brother. The defense described the killing as a tragic accident.
Mitchell served five years in San Quentin State Prison before being paroled in 1997.
For almost two decades, Jim and Artie were SF A-list. Top SF politicians would go to the O'Farrell and no one would care because it was the Mitchell Brothers. They were in every gossip- column, made Herb Caen on a regular basis, and were just everywhere, like Cyril Magnum and the Brown Twins.
The O'Farrell is still there, as are the beautiful murals along the Post St. side of the building. But the place started getting shabby after Jim killed Artie, and the decline continues. The Mitchell Brothers saw sex as an art form, and the theater in the old days reflected that. Today? It's another strip club in the Tenderloin.
I met Jim once, years ago. I was home on leave and went to the city with some friends. Jim carded me, and I, being under age, used my military ID. He gave me a VIP pass for the night.
Great martinis.
