R.I.P. The Brown Twins of San Francisco

[write-light.livejournal.com]

I'm sad to report that Marian Brown has died, just a year after her twin sister Vivian.  They were fixtures in the San Francisco landscape, identical (and identically dressed) twins who functioned as quasi-ambassadors for the city.  Spotting them was a kind of game, and we had the great good fortune to see them, by accident, at a hotel restaurant near Nob Hill many years ago.  They were charming.

But this is vintage ads, and THEY MADE AN AD. :D  (although technically not a vintage ad, being from around 2004)



This was a local (recent) ad for a community fundraiser to help them with housing, end-of-life care, etc.



More about them HERE, HERE, and HERE.  Trust me, if you don't know the Brown Twins, you want to know about them.  They will bring a smile to your face.

Comments

Aw :(

[podle.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting this. I grew up in the Bay Area and lived in San Francisco for many years. Spotting the Brown Twins during my day was always a treat. They were super friendly and sweet and always dressed beautifully. This seems like the end of an era.

[kshandra]

I choose to believe that Vivian was waiting at the Pearly Gates for her sister, with Herb Caen documenting the arrival for the Celestial Chronicle.

This pic made me think of exactly that.

[write-light.livejournal.com]

Re: This pic made me think of exactly that.

[kshandra]

<3

(I just did a quick search to see if I could find the Chronicle commercial from a few years back with the twins walking around town...only to pull off their masks at the end of the spot and reveal Matier & Ross. No luck, sadly.)

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

I used to see them all the time when I lived in SF; usually around Market Street or Union Square.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I always loved seeing them walking around town. So sweet. And chic!