F I R S TP R E V969NEXTLAST

'Re-Righting' History in San Francisco
In 1983 the San Francisco's famed Court of Historical Review and Appeals determined that the Martini, was in fact invented in San Francisco and not New York City, as some claim. Other landmark rulings by the court hold that Abner Doubleday did not invent baseball, Mark Twain never actually said, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco" and the U.S. government really does own Alcatraz.

The Court of Historical Review and Appeals began in 1973 when San Francisco civic leaders asked Judge Harry Low to decided a point of city history dating back to 1905. The hearing attracted a lot of attention and it was decided to continue the unique court. Although it is a mock court, a number of notable attorneys and civic figures have argued cases and appeared as "witnesses", sometimes in character as historical figures. The court's judgment is symbolic and has no legal authority but the court has been presided over by a number of actual or retired judges, including U.S. district court judges. The court's colorful proceedings are often reported nationally.

Other cases tried by the unusual judicial body have shown that San Francisco's Ernest Thayer is the real author of 'Casey at the Bat', both fortune cookies and chop suey were invented in San Francisco, Shoeless Joe Jackson was not guilty in the 1919 Black Sox scandal, the legend of Cinderella originated in Italy, Elvis Presley is truly dead, and that sadly, the piano accordion the official musical instrument of San Francisco.
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