Special thanks to Sunset Magazine for permission to post this article and photographs!

Fun house fun

The Fun House at San Francisco's Playland-at-the-Beach will be in business at least through this summer. The surprise isn't that it will make way for a new commercial development, but that it has survived fire and the wrecker's ball for nearly 60 years to delight four generations of visitors. It dates back to a pre-plastic world; the wooden stairs and slide are grooved to a shining patina. There are hand-carved wooden horses, arched latticed rafters, and massive jesters; heads grimacing down from the ceiling. You'd expect that some of the rides and displays might be roped off and posted "do not touch." Instead, to a din of screams and laughter, all of the works still juggle or whirl or collapse as if new. It is an adventure just to enter. You pass the fat lady, slapping her knees and doubled over with laughter as she sping on her circular track in the front window; you'll also funble through the mirror maze and squeeze past whirling cloth bumpers; and just when you think you're safe inside, a blast of musty-smelling air stands your hair on end. The 75-cent admission provides at least an hour's worth of entertainment. On Great Highway between Fulton and Cabrillo streets, the Fun House will be open from noon to 10 p.m. every day until Labor Day; then it opens from 3 to 8 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. * * *