Bob Mann
Robert Kevin Mann
29 Jan 1951 - 14 Feb 1990
Clubs & Associations
Foggy City Dancers
Midnight Squares
Times Squares
Western Star Dancers
Obituary
Robert K. Mann
Jan. 29 1951 - Feb. 14, 1990
It wasn't so much because he was so attractive and such a good square dancer when he arrived in San Francisco for the 1986 Third Annual Gay Square Dance Convention, but it was when we saw the six-foot Statue of Liberty complete with torch and tablet kicking up its heels with the rest of the dancers that we knew someone special had landed in our midst.
Bob was born and raised in Seattle, lived with his family in Hawaii for several years and then struck out on his own. He spent two years as impressionist Jim Bailey's road manager, spent time in domestic service to other Hollywood notables and then moved on to New York where, in addition to his continued domestic service there, he also became a founding member of Times Squares the only square dance club gay or straight in Mannhattan.
Again feeling a need for change Bob traveled around the world for a year, danced his way across the United States and arrived in San Francisco in time to dance with 260 other dancers at the Closing Ceremonies for Gay Games II.
With the aforementioned convention the very next weekend Bob decided to make San Francisco his new home and became resident manager of the Dolores Plaza Condominiums. He worked diligently to make the complex a clean, safe and secure one on the fringes of a troublesome area of the city. For his efforts he was highly rewarded by both the owners and the management company.
Dancing with the Western Star Dancers, the Mighnight Squares and PACE kept Bob busy, happy and even back in "show biz." In 1987 the Western Star Dancers put on their talent showcase "Club La Star" for which Bob created the dazzling Follies costumes, choreographed the finale and helped the show be nominated for that year's Community Awards.
After that Bob helped then Grand Duchess Flame stage the routine which won Best In-Town number at Coronation 1988.
Talented, witty in the best sense of the word, ever patient and helpful whenever he could be, Bob's passing brings home once again the true tragedy of this epidemic the loss of our best and brightest.[1]
Remembrances
Milestones
Once again Bob Mann has left New York and, yes, the TIMES SQUARES. For those unfamiliar with the early chapters of this continuing saga --Bob left in May 1984 for a year abroad. Most of us recall his return in May 1985.
It is fitting to remember Bob in these pages, since he was the first caller for SUNDANCE. As most of us know, the TIMES SQUARES grew out of a desire on the part of a handful of SUNDANCERS for more advanced square dancing than as possible on alternate Fridays with several new faces (and feet!) present each time.
November 12, 1983 marked the beginning of Gay Square Dancing in New York City!! SUNDANCE had scheduled a Square Dance to be held at the Jan Hus Presbyterian Church on East 74th Street. The outing leaders were our own Mark Davis (Who's idea it was), Bob Mann and Edward Sherman. Bob Mann volunteered in his own inimitable way, to be the caller.
The evening turned into great fun for the lucky 50 who signed up for the limited capacity event. Sentiment was immediate for making Square Dancing a regular SUNDANCE activity.
In the Winter of 1983-84, the now twice monthly dances became, perhaps, the most popular SUNDANCE event. Bob was the caller for five months, carrying with him his own sound system --later the SUNDANCE system. He brought, too, his unbounded energy, enthusiasm and skill in teaching us many of the basic Square Dance steps --steps he had learned in his High School days in Oregon where was president of his Square Dance Club.
After Bob bowed out to take his 'Round the World trip, the two dozen or so regulars hung in for a month until Ron Masker arrived to call for the group. Half of those regulars are now either in the TIMES SQUARES or members of the current Tuesday class.
All of us look forward to dancing with Bob Mann at the San Francisco Jamboree, and at the various· Fly-in events throughout the country for a long time to come. We pay tribute to his leadership and enthusiasm which kept the group alive in its' critical stages and paved the way for his worthy successors.
— Bob Rosenthal [2]
A member of Times Squares from 1985 to 1987, Bob died on Valentine’s Day, two weeks after his 39th birthday. Some of us remember Bob as the first caller of gay square dancing in New York. He called for Sundance from November 1983 to April 1984 and enthusiastically taught the basic steps to the varied group that would participate from time to time. It was this group that the Times Squares evolved. Many of us danced with Bob in Denver, San Francisco (where he appeared nightly as Miss Liberty), Portland and Phoenix convention. He danced – as he did everything – with high energy, spirit and flair. At the end he was at peace.[3]
Memorial Panel
- 1UL | Times Squares
Photos
At Explode The Rose, 1987
Obituary (Bay Area Reporter)
Obituary photo
