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Bay Curious

Bay Curious

The Girl in the Fishbowl at Bimbo's 365 Club

Bay Curious · Nov 13, 2025 · 16:53

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Rita Hayworth, Robin Williams, Adele — these are just a few of the huge stars that have graced the stage of Bimbo’s 365 Club over its 94 years in San Francisco. But the act the club is most famous for is Dolphina — or the “Girl in the Fishbowl.”  Dolphina isn’t a person, though; she’s a character who’s been played by many different women since 1931. When Dolphina
performs, it looks like there is a real, live woman, shrunk down to 6 inches,
swimming in a fish tank at the bar. How did this quirky act come to be?


Additional Resources:


The Girl in the Fishbowl: The Secret Behind San Francisco's Quirkiest Nightclub Act

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This story was reported by Bianca Taylor. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Olivia Allen-Price, Gabriela Glueck and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED.
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Episodes: Bay Curious

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