Original Article at: http://www.barbarycoastnews.com/2014/04/22/sf-dungeon-peeks-into-barbary-coasts-bawdy-past/

San Francisco’s Barbary Coast occupies an iconic and notorious space in the City’s history.

From its gangs and corruption to bars and brothels, it was, by all accounts, a dangerous, dirty, dark existence. That’s why it was perfect fodder for The Dungeons, a part of global Merlin Entertainments.

The San Francisco Dungeon, slated to open June 26 at Fisherman’s Wharf, will be the ninth Dungeon and the first in the United States. Other Dungeons explore the seedy underbellies of cities such as London, Edinburgh, York and Amsterdam.

“They’re all different because they have different regional histories,” said Adrea Gibbs, general manager of The San Francisco Dungeon and Madame Tussaud’s San Francisco. “In London, they have Jack the Ripper. In Edinburgh, there was a character named Sawney Bean who was a cannibal. There is a story about Sawney and his incestuous clan who would steal people off the road and pickle them and eat them.

“We have notorious characters like Miss Piggott. She would invite people to come in and imbibe and enjoy the company of her ladies, and would get them to the point there she’d inevitably murder them for their money or sell them into slavery – ‘shanghai them’ and sell them to the ships.”

Other storylines at The San Francisco Dungeon include “Gold Rush Greed” and its violence and corruption, “Streets of San Francisco” with the heinous Hounds gang, and the Ghosts of Alcatraz.

A creative team out of the United Kingdom develops the concepts and does historical research to make sure the experience is authentic. The San Francisco Dungeon hired 36 actors ranging from the ages of about 18 to nearly 70 who will dress in period costume and deliver a 360-degree peek into the bawdy past of the Barbary Coast.

“There’s so much to it,” Gibbs said. “We really take you back. If this was a movie, you are in the movie. You are actually going through these pieces of history. And because we involve the audience in all of it, now everyone is part of the story.”

The drama even extends to the odors of the eras, Gibbs added: “We’re going to have smells that are going to make you think you’re in these dark, dank places. You’ll smell the ocean when you’re getting ready to be taken to the slave ship.”

Merlin Entertainments, which attracts nearly 60 million guests per year at attractions such as the Dungeons, Legoland and Sea Life Aquariums, also plans to open its fifth Madame Tussaud’s in the United States at Fisherman’s Wharf concurrently with the San Francisco Dungeon. It also will be regionally specific, with figures of local treasures such as Francis Ford Coppola outside Zoetrope Café, Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Harvey Milk and Carlos Santana.

“We’re just very, very excited to be here,” Gibbs said. “We’re looking forward to being able to share a very unique piece of SF history.”

FAST FACTS

The San Francisco Dungeon and Madame Tussaud’s San Francisco

Projected opening date: June 26, 2014

The San Francisco Dungeon -

Admission: $26 adults, $20 children ages 4-12 (not recommended for anyone under the age of 10), age 3 and under not permitted.

Madame Tussaud’s San Francisco -

Admission: $26 adults, $20 children ages 4-12, free for age 3 and under with paid adult.

Packages and special pre-sale reduced rate tickets to be announced online soon.