Pete Mattioli, a Navy veteran, nightclub entrepreneur and celebrated horse breeder, died Nov. 7 at his home in Santa Rosa from complications of lymphoma. He was 94.
Mattioli was best known as the former co-owner of the Condor nightclub in San Francisco, where in 1964, topless dancer Carol Doda made her groundbreaking debut – an event that would shape the city’s entertainment scene for decades.
From coal miner’s son to nightclub owner
Born on June 20, 1931, in Peckville, Pennsylvania, Pete Mattioli grew up in San Francisco after his family moved to North Beach when he was 11. The son of Pietro Mattioli, a coal miner from Sassoferrato, Italy, and Elena Furiosi Mattioli, who hailed from the Umbrian region, Pete was the third of four children. He attended local schools and later joined the U.S. Navy in 1952, serving at bases in Northern California and Guam, where he worked as a lifeguard at a military beach resort.
After his honorable discharge, Mattioli returned to California, briefly working with his father in a vineyard before deciding to pursue his passion for the service industry. He worked as a bartender at renowned spots like Trader Vic’s and the Iron Horse before becoming a partner in the Condor nightclub in 1958. Located at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Broadway, the Condor was a neighborhood watering hole when Mattioli and his partner, Gino DelPrete, took ownership.
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Topless dancer Carol Doda in front of the legendary Condor club on Broadway in San Francisco in this undated photo. (Getty)
In 1962, the pair expanded the Condor, adding a stage and live entertainment. The club became famous in 1964 when Doda, hired as a waitress the previous year, became the first topless dancer in San Francisco. Her act, which involved dancing atop a grand piano, eventually evolved into a famous stunt where she would descend from the ceiling on an elevator platform.
The performance sparked controversy and led to the arrests of Mattioli and Doda in 1965. However, a judge ruled that the charges could not be substantiated under the community standards of the time, resulting in their acquittal.
A second career in the cutting horse world
Mattioli’s business ventures extended beyond the Condor. He was a partner in several other San Francisco establishments, including Del Vecchio’s Restaurant, Roland’s Restaurant and the nightclub Sneaky Pete’s. But it was his love for horses that would become his most enduring legacy.
In 1973, Mattioli purchased Cal Bar, a quarter horse already recognized as a champion working cow horse. Under Mattioli’s care, Cal Bar went on to win the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association Open Cutting competition and the PCCHA Novice division in 1974. He later served on the boards of both the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association and the National Cutting Horse Association.
Pete and Benita Mattioli on horseback. (Courtesy of Benita Mattioli)
In 1974, Mattioli sold his San Francisco business interests and moved to Santa Rosa, where he established the Double Bar M Ranch, a horse breeding and training facility. His passion for the cutting horse world was evident as the ranch flourished. Mattioli was honored as one of the founders of the Sonoma County Horse Council and received several awards, including the Equus Hall of Fame Award and the Award of Excellence from the Sonoma County Fair Board.
Mattioli’s interest in nightlife also brought him back to the business in the late 1970s, when he purchased the Music Box nightclub in Santa Rosa. The venue became a city hotspot, frequented by notable locals, including Oakland Raiders players.
“He tried to run a nightclub the old-fashioned way, treating his employees with respect,” his wife, Benita Mattioli, recalled. “His handshake was his word and his bond.”
In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Mattioli had a deep love for travel, exploring Europe, Asia and South America with his wife. They even ventured to the Korean Demilitarized Zone and East Berlin during the Cold War. Pete, a fluent Italian speaker, cherished his trips to Italy, where he felt a strong connection to his heritage.
A life shaped by travel, partnership and community
Mattioli’s family remembers him as a warm, generous man with a zest for life. He married Benita in 1981 after meeting her on Waikiki Beach in 1970. They were partners in business and in life, and she often recalled his unwavering respect for her.
“He never missed an anniversary or a birthday,” she said. “We had a love that was unbelievable.”
Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat
Benita and Pete Mattioli at their home in Santa Rosa, California, on Friday, January 3, 2020. Benita Mattioli wrote the book ‘Three Nights at the Condor,’ based on Pete’s ownership of the Condor Club in San Francisco during the 1960s and 1970s. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat
Benita Mattioli’s book ‘Three Nights at the Condor,’ which is based on her husband Pete’s ownership of the Condor Club in San Francisco during the 1960s and 1970s. Photograph taken at the Mattioli’s home in Santa Rosa on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Alvin Jornada / The Press Democrat)
In 2017, Mattioli and Benita sold their ranch and retired to Oakmont, where they continued to enjoy life together. Pete also spent time sharing stories of his wild years in North Beach with friends and family. In 2018, Benita published a memoir of his life titled “Three Nights at the Condor.” In 2024, Jonathan Parker Films released a documentary, “Topless at the Condor,” which included interviews with Pete.
Mattioli is survived by his wife, Benita; his daughter, Amy Withington of Emmett, Idaho; and his grandson, Takoda Withington of Santa Rosa. He also leaves behind his sister, Elaine Loosigian of Fresno, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pietro and Elena Mattioli.
In accordance with his wishes, a private memorial service will be held aboard a yacht, with his ashes scattered beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. The family expresses deep gratitude to the doctors and caregivers at Providence Memorial Group and Compassus Hospice. Memorial donations may be made to Providence with Compassus.