WASHINGTON — The show has claimed the title of the longest continuously running musical. Now, the San Francisco marvel that has been a top stop for tourists and locals for over 45 years, is bidding adieu to fans.
"Beach Blanket Babylon" is a campy wonder that pokes fun at politics and pop culture. The show was only supposed to run for six weeks back in 1974 when it first started, but it fast became an ingrained part of San Francisco culture alongside other top tourist attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and the cable cars, the San Francisco Chronicle points out.
For decades the show has evolved and changed constantly to feature main stream characters in American life like Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey, the Associated Press notes. Performers are known for their colorful costumes and over sized hats.
As for why the show is closing, Jo Schuman Silver, producer for "Beach Blanket Babylon" told the San Francisco Chronicle, "there was no reason — I just started thinking, wow, how much longer do we go?”
The show will take its last couple of curtain calls on New Year's Eve. Silver told her staff of 85 about the planed ending of the show in April.
