1980s (98)

Business · Appleton 1101 West 1987 or early 1988. 1101 West was for many years Appleton's most popular gay/ lesbian bar, and for a time its only bar. But you could never tell from its activities: they always acted as though they h Business · Green Bay 1124 Club Baths The existing ad mentions a party on October 17, 1981 with "Free Food & Beer" and "Reduced Membership Fees". The ad mentions the business as "Green Bay's Finest" with Saunas, Showers, Movies and Cable Business · Milwaukee 27th Street Danceteria The 27th Street Danceteria opened in March 1985 under Chuck Cicirello, a prolific Milwaukee gay-bar operator whose earlier ventures included the Neptune Club and the Factory bars. The building had pre Business · Oshkosh After Dark Lounge The After Dark Lounge opened at 2839 Harrison Street in Oshkosh in 1980. Located on the outskirts of town, the bar was prone to harassment and even a few physical altercations inside the bar and in th Business · Milwaukee Artony's Keefe Avenue that operated from roughly 1980 to about 1984. It is remembered as a venue frequented mainly by members of Milwaukee's Black LGBTQ community. Little documentation survives. The bar advert A Business · Elm Grove Auctioneers Inn II / QuickSilver Nightclub Auctioneer's Inn II was owned by George Prentice (who the following year opened the wildly successful LaCage gay dance bar). The Inn had previously been known as the old Left Guard Restaurant. Business · Green Bay Body Shop Body Shop bar in Green Bay was opened when the owners of the Manhole (Joe Mallien and Mike Dziuba) decided to relocate and begin anew. It was an extremely popular bar in Green Bay. It was the "home" b Business · Milwaukee Boot Camp Saloon Boot Camp Saloon was a Milwaukee levi/leather bar at 209 E. National Avenue, opened in 1984 and operated by Si Smits. Competing at first with the older Wreck Room, it grew into a leading leather bar a Business · Green Bay Brandy's Washington Street, owned by Jerry Hoffman and Duane and open from 1985 until a fire destroyed the building on February 27, 1989. Hoffman reopened in May 1989 at a new address as Brandy's II. Business · Green Bay Brandy's II Brandy's II opened in May 1989 at 1126 Main Street in Green Bay after the original Brandy's burned in February 1989. Owner Jerry Hoffman continued the country and leather bar tradition at the new loca Business · Milwaukee C'est La Vie C'est La Vie was a long-running Milwaukee gay bar founded in December 1974 by Clarence Germershausen, known throughout the community as "John Clayton." Located amid a dense cluster of gay bars on Sout Business · Milwaukee Cafe Melange Old World Third Street, owned and operated by Larry Krueger from 1987 to 1997. It offered a 1930s-style cabaret atmosphere with live music, and the John Schneider Orchestra served as its house band fo Business · Madison Cardinal Bar The Cardinal Bar at 418 E. Wilson Street was opened in 1974 by Ricardo Gonzalez in the former Cardinal Hotel, and for many years it was Madison, Wisconsin's leading gay dance bar. Conceived in part to Business · Milwaukee Cheeks Disco Richards Street that appears to have operated for only a few months in 1981. Its existence was largely lost to history until 2022, when researcher Michail Takach located a single advertisement in a 19 Business · Madison Cheri's Back East Cheri's Back East, also advertised simply as "Back East," was a Madison, Wisconsin bar at 508 E. Wilson Street that operated from about 1984 to 1989 and drew a mixed clientele of women and men. Little C Business · Lake Geneva Christophers Christophers Bar was opened in May 1985 in a newly-built extension on the Georgian Guest House in Lake Geneva. It was called a "gay nineties club for country gentlemen". Business · Milwaukee Clay's Castaways Kinnickinnic Avenue between 1984 and 1986. Described as a relaxed neighborhood bar, it went through a confusing series of names, appearing variously as "Clay's Castaways," "Castaways," briefly "Castaw Business · Sheboygan Close Encounter Close Encounter advertised as "Sheboygan's Only 'Real' Gay Bar" when it opened in June 1986, being welcomed in In Step's "Steppin' Out" column in the June 26-July 9, 1986 issue. But the bar was short- Business · Milwaukee Club 219 The location had earlier housed the dance bars Gary's and Circus Circus, and emerged as Club 219 after a brief stint as a bar called Trash. For much of the 1980s it was the city's leading destination Business · Kenosha Club 94 The Club 94 consisted of two rooms: the left (north) side was the original bar building, which had existed for some time. To the right (south) was an addition which housed two additional bar counters, Business · Milwaukee Dance, Dance, Dance 2nd Street in Milwaukee, opening in late 1987 or early 1988. It hosted shows and pageants and provided a raised platform for go-go dancers at other times. Over time the space was gradually absorbed in Business · Madison Dangle Lounge The Dangle Lounge, at 119 E. Main Street in Madison, Wisconsin, was opened in 1966 by brothers Al and Thomas Reichenberger. Originally a piano bar, it became the first all-nude go-go bar in Wisconsin Business · Milwaukee DK's Tavern National Avenue, operating from about 1985 to 1988. Run by an owner known as Dotie, it occupied a building that had been home to the popular lesbian bar Sugar Shack since 1976, and for a time it held Business · Milwaukee Doubleday's Pub & Restaurant Doubledays was yet another attempt to bring an LGBT restaurant into this space. But it was apparently extremely short-lived. D Business · Eau Claire Downtown Express Downtown Express at 101 Graham Street in Eau Claire was a combined bar and restaurant that opened in January 1988 after a sale in late 1987. The venue drew LGBTQ patrons until the building owner lost Business · Milwaukee Essinger's Essinger's was a West Side Milwaukee tavern that operated as a gay-and-straight bar for under a year, first appearing in bar listings in December 1984 and last listed in September 1985. An older famil Business · Milwaukee Factory "3" Broadway. Set in a downtown warehouse building with 6,000 square feet of space and high ceilings, it was designed as a large dance and show venue echoing Cicirello's original Factory bar. Despite earl Business · Milwaukee Factory II Factory II was a Milwaukee gay dance bar at 130 E. Juneau Avenue, open from December 1982 to September 1984. It was opened by Chuck Cicirello following the success of his original Factory bar, though Business · Milwaukee Fannies Washington Street, opened in September 1983 by Sharon Dixon, a former partner in the lesbian bar Sugar Shack. Known for theme parties, drag shows, a fenced outdoor patio and sports leagues, it raised Business · Milwaukee Finale Finale was an east-side Milwaukee gay bar opened in 1975 by partners Earl and Frank Thalacker. Remembered as a friendly neighborhood bar that also drew patrons citywide, it expanded into the rear of i Business · Milwaukee First Street Tavern First Street Tavern, also known as 1st Street Tavern, opened in late 1981 or early 1982 on South 1st Street and was run by owners Larry Fleege and Leroy Stern, who lived behind the bar. It catered lar Business · Milwaukee Frankie's Cabaret 1st Street that opened in November 1986 with heavy advertising and fanfare. Despite its promotional push, it operated for less than a year, closing at the end of May 1987. Business · Milwaukee Gay Street Station Gay Street Station opened in mid-1986 at 1637 W. Pierce Street, holding its grand opening on August 1, 1986. Decorated in a turn-of-the-century railway-station style and billed as a beer saloon with a Business · Lake Geneva Georgian Guest House Georgian Guest House was first advertised in 'In Step' vol 1-issue 10 and in the Classifieds in vol 1-11 (June 1984). Advertisements outlined its features as being a European Style Mansion 'bed and br Business · Madison Going My Way? Going My Way? opened on July 1, 1977 at 111 W. Main Street in Madison, Wisconsin, in a remodeled and enlarged former venue (the Turtle Club). Promoted as Madison's largest gay bar, it offered multiple Business · Milwaukee Grand Avenue Annex Grand Avenue Annex was a Milwaukee bar at 746 N. 7th Street, opened in August 1986 by the owners of the nearby Grand Avenue Pub during a period of uncertainty over the Pub's lease. Both bars were clos Business · Milwaukee Grand Avenue Pub The Grand Avenue Pub, also known as "The GAP," operated on Milwaukee's West Wisconsin Avenue from June 1982 to July 1988. Functioning equally as a bar and restaurant, it served a busy lunch trade for Business · Green Bay Grand West It first appeared in the Bar Guide of 'In Step' magazine vol. 3-12 (June 1986). Sources indicate it was owned by Michael DeGrand and Tim Westland. Tim had previously been a manager of the Napalese Lou Business · Milwaukee Hot Legs Video Nite Club Hot Legs Video Nite Club opened in late 1984 in the former Shadows bar space on South 2nd Street, run by co-owners Kathy and Karen. For a time it was Milwaukee's leading lesbian bar, fielding a softba Business · Milwaukee Jazz 2nd Street in Milwaukee, opening in October 1988. Promoted as a calmer adult retreat, it offered wine, imported beer, ice cream and blended drinks, along with weekend appearances by local singer Charl Business · Milwaukee Jet's Place Kinnickinnic Avenue, open from 1986 to June 1991. Opened by a woman known as Jeanette ("Jet") primarily as a women's bar, it drew a broad following and was known for its Sunday afternoon parties. The Business · Milwaukee Kisses Its bar and dance floor occupied two levels connected by an open stairway, and the space featured brick walls and small nooks, giving it a lively if somewhat cramped feel when busy. The location later Business · Milwaukee La Cage La Cage (also styled La Cage Aux Folles and, for a period, simply "Cage") is a Milwaukee dance club at 801 S. 2nd Street that opened in 1984. It quickly became the city's dominant gay dance venue, aid Business · Milwaukee Loose Ends Loose Ends opened in February 1986 on Fond du Lac Avenue on Milwaukee's north-central side, in a space formerly known as Gloria's Place. Opened by Karen, Harry, and Loren Buettner, it drew a steady mi Business · Milwaukee Lost & Found The Lost & Found opened in late 1978 at 618 N. 27th Street, just south of Wisconsin Avenue, and was promoted as Milwaukee's first women's disco and later as Wisconsin's largest women's bar. Owned by P L Business · La Crosse Loveboat Bar We have almost no information about The Loveboat Bar in La Crosse. Listings in early "Gay Guides": (For more information on the Guides, click here.) Business · Eau Claire Maggie's Maggie's at 505 West Barstow Street in Eau Claire operated as a restaurant by day and gay bar by night from roughly the mid-1980s until December 1988, when competition from Downtown Express contribute Business · Wausau Masquers Masquers opened in December 1989 by 'David and Dan', whose previous bar, the R-Bar, had been destroyed by fire in August 1989. They held a Grand Opening late in February 1990. The bar was rather short Business · La Crosse Memories Memories in La Crosse first appeared in Wisconsin LGBT media in 'In Step' magazine vol. 4-20 (November 1987), appearing regularly in the In Step "Guide' listings through v10-01 (December 1992), after Business · Milwaukee Mickey's Dynasty 7th Street for less than a month in early 1987. The space had previously been a gay bar called the Grand Avenue Annex. Its main draw was proximity to the established Grand Avenue Pub and a nearby bath Business · Milwaukee Mr. Ric's Mr. Ric's was a restaurant in Milwaukee at 714 N. Broadway, operating from approx. 1980? until unknown. Business · Milwaukee Music Box Music Box opened in October 1984 on North 27th Street in the former site of the Lost & Found bar, advertising itself as being under new management. The bar offered dancing, a video system, and a mix o Business · Fond du Lac Myrna's Placealso Sabrina's and Carry's Lounge For as long as the webmaster can remember, Fond du Lac has had trouble keeping a 'gay' bar in operation. In the early 1980s an attempt was made in the building at 2 N. Main Street at Division St. EVen Business · Green Bay Napalese Lounge View Images & Articles- Broadway location (1983-1999). View Images & Articles- Cedar St. location (1999-2022). Business · Milwaukee Niko's 2nd Street opened around 1982 by owner Niko Stathis. Accounts of it vary widely, with patrons remembering it as a blue-collar neighborhood bar, a punk club, or a restaurant; it is most often recalled Business · Milwaukee Nitengales National Avenue in Milwaukee, opened in September 1989 by co-owners Linda and Carrie following a series of teaser advertisements. Billed as the city's newest women's bar, it became popular for its rec N Business · Milwaukee Non-Sequitur It appears in the bar directories of several Wisconsin LGBTQ periodicals between October 1981 and May 1983. No advertisement or other mention of the bar beyond these listings has been located. Business · Milwaukee Nut Hut The Nut Hut, long known as Kathy's Nut Hut, was a Milwaukee tavern on West Scott Street that became the city's longest-running women's bar. It grew out of a neighborhood bar that Sharon Dixon opened i Business · Racine Our Place Early in October 1998 the partners split up, and Darren reopened the bar a month later as the single owner. Darren also announced plans to open another bar, "Miss P's", down the street, but we have no Business · Milwaukee Papagaio Papagaio was a Milwaukee dance club opened on North Broadway in December 1981 by Bobby Bell, who had previously run the Red Baron disco. Inspired by Rio nightlife, it became known for booking groundbr Business · Milwaukee Park Avenue With a multistory dance floor, towering light displays, and an opulent interior, it catered to a mostly straight crowd except on Sunday nights, when it operated as a gay night under the name "Sundays. Business · Milwaukee Partners Partners operated from 1989 to 1992 at 813 S. 1st Street, in a space that had long housed the popular Your Place bar. After Your Place was sold in June 1989, it reopened in July 1989 as Partners under Business · Milwaukee Peter's On 4th Peter's On 4th was a restaurant in Milwaukee at 748 N. 4th Street, operating from c1984? until c1985?. Business · Milwaukee Phoenix Phoenix was a Milwaukee gay bar at 235 S. 2nd Street that operated from 1978 to 1993, occupying the remodeled space of the former Oregon House. For years it served as the southern anchor of a cluster Business · Madison Pirate Ship Surviving documentation is limited; it appeared in regional bar listings and was briefly described in a 1976 article as a large downtown bar with rustic decor. Recollections describe a dark, wood-pane Business · Appleton Pivot Club Opened early in 1986 as one of the largest gay bars in the state, and located on Highway BB just off I-43 in Appleton, the location had a sizeable parking lot and no nearby businesses or residences to Business · Stevens Point Platwood Club Little is documented about it, but it hosted events for the Mid-Wisconsin Gay Alliance and appeared in LGBT media bar guides through October 2002. A 1998 account noted that its longtime manager, Todd Business · La Crosse Players They appear to have done most of their advertising in the short-lived 'G-Street magazine' (2001-2002). But because the bar doesn't seem to have advertised much (or at all) in state-wide LGBT periodica P Event · Milwaukee PrideFest Milwaukee PrideFest Milwaukee is Wisconsin's largest LGBTQ+ festival, held annually at Henry W. Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee's lakefront. Community Pride celebrations in Milwaukee date to 1988; the festival Business · Wausau R-Bar R-Bar opened early July of 1986 by 'David and Dan' in the ground floor of a 3-story building in Wausau. They advertised as "Central Wisconsin's ONLY gay-owned and operated nightspot". In January 1989 R Business · Madison Rod's It became an LGBT landmark, at one point housing three LGBT businesses within the hotel: two bars and a cafe. Business · Madison Sam's Regent Street, operating from about 1979 until May 1984. Little is documented about it beyond a 1984 remodeling and a recurring "Sunday Night Satin Show" drag revue. The bar closed in May 1984 when it Business · Milwaukee Shadows 2nd Street in Milwaukee, opened by Frank Thalacker in February 1980. The 45-seat establishment served old-fashioned American food and quickly earned a strong reputation among locals and traveling gay Business · Milwaukee Shadows II- The Top Shelf Shadows II- The Top Shelf opened on December 11, 1987 in the former Hot Legs space on South 2nd Street, operated by Dan Hewett and co-owned with Matthew Gorden, who owned the building. A news account Business · Madison Shamrock Bar & Grille The Shamrock Bar & Grille at 117 W. Main Street is one of Madison, Wisconsin's longest-lived LGBT bars, opened in 1986 just a block off the Capitol Square. For much of its existence it was the only do Business · Sheboygan Sherlock's Home Sherlock's Home, owned and operated by Gordy Bourret, opened in April 1981, in the German-styled rathskellar tavern building which has occupied the corner of South 8th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue i Business · Milwaukee Short Circuit Lounge Short Circuit Lounge was a Milwaukee bar on West National Avenue that opened in September 1988, advertising a comfortable atmosphere and neighborhood-bar prices. Little else is documented about the bu S Business · Milwaukee Something Different bar Something Different was a bar on North Teutonia Avenue in Milwaukee that became a mixed gay and lesbian establishment in December 1987, when ownership passed to the previous owner's daughter, Kim, who Business · Milwaukee Station 2 - The Eastern Connection Station 2 - The Eastern Connection opened in late October 1987 at 1534 W. Grant Street, established by owners Lois and Sheri as a larger and more successful follow-up to their first bar, Gay Street St Business · Racine Stealers They first appeared in media in the April 23, 1982 issue of 'Escape' magazine with the ad "Racine's Newest, Hottest Disco". In the next (May 7, 1982) issue of Escape, the bar listed opening times and Business · Milwaukee Sugar Shack The Sugar Shack, at 135 E. National Avenue in Milwaukee, was the city's first lesbian bar owned by and for women. Opened in May 1975 by JoAnn Kilsdonk with business partner Sharon Dixon, it advertised Business · La Crosse Tattoo's Tattoo's II Tattoo's in La Crosse opened as primarily a lesbian bar. It is believed to have opened sometime in 1982, first being listed in 1983 national Gay Guides. It was then listed in the Bar Guide listings of Business · Milwaukee Teddy's Teddy's was a Milwaukee bar and discotheque on North Farwell Avenue run by Tony Machi, who opened the venue as The Barn in the late 1960s and renamed it Teddy's in 1973. After a substantial 1975 inves Business · Milwaukee Ten Hundred East The earliest located advertising dates to January 1973, but patrons recalled it being open several years earlier. Before the 1973 arrival of the city's first large gay disco, the Factory, it was widel Business · Milwaukee The Alternative 1st Street that opened in July 1988 under co-owners known as Pete (also called Pat) and Beverly. Marketed as an Art Deco-styled venue, it served a mixed crowd of women and men and later added a disco Business · Milwaukee The Beer Garden Widely regarded as a lesbian bar, it also drew a strong male crowd and was known for dances, contests, softball teams and food, including a popular Sunday brunch. The original owners, Roger and Sally, Business · Milwaukee The Factory Bar The Factory was a landmark Milwaukee dance bar at 158 N. Broadway, opened by Chuck Cicirello (also known as Chuck Balestreri) in March 1973 shortly after he closed his earlier venture, the Neptune Clu Business · Green Bay The Loftaka MJR's Loft The Loft (also known as MJR's Loft) at 2328 University Avenue in Green Bay was a gay bar and dance venue serving college-age and adult LGBTQ patrons in the Fox Cities area. Business · Milwaukee The Red Baron Bar The Red Baron, also called "The Baron," was a Milwaukee disco that opened in June 1977 with three main-floor bars, a central dance floor, elaborate disco lighting, and a lower-level lounge. Shortly af Business · Milwaukee Thinking of You Thinking of You, On Broadway occupied the building just north of the Wreck Room bar. The corner presence with large windows featured miscellaneous gifts (candles, cards, etc.) T Business · Milwaukee Tina's / Tina's RTI Tina's was a series of Milwaukee bars run by Ilet "Tina" Terry that served the city's African American LGBTQ community for well over a decade. Operating from a succession of north side locations, the Business · Milwaukee Triangle Triangle was a Milwaukee bar on East National Avenue that opened in June 1988 after Al Thomas bought the former lesbian bar D.K.'s and reopened it as a gay bar. Situated amid a growing concentration o Business · Milwaukee Unicorn Unicorn was a short-lived Milwaukee gay bar that opened in early 1984 in the basement of the Sidney HiH building at 300 W. Juneau Avenue. It was owned by Gus Hosseini, who also managed the building an W Place · Milwaukee Walker's Point Walker's Point is Milwaukee's historic LGBTQ+ neighborhood on the city's near south side. From the mid-twentieth century onward, South 2nd Street and surrounding blocks became the densest concentratio Business · Milwaukee Walker's Point Cafe The business briefly (in 1991) advertised it as "Walkers Point Cabaret.. and Cafe". Business · Green Bay Who's Bar Who's Bar in Green Bay was the successor to the Body Shop bar when owner Mike Dziuba transformed it late in 1984. (A June 1985 advertisement in 'In Step' magazine vol. 2-12, pg 31, advertises their '3 Business · Milwaukee Your Place Your Place, widely known as "The Y.P.," was a highly popular Milwaukee gay bar from May 1965 to July 1994, and was the first gay bar in what became the city's primary gayborhood. Opened by Jim Dorn an Business · Green Bay Za's (on Bodart) ZA's Videobar opened on Thursday, July 20 1989, by Mark 'Za' Mariucci (who went on to open several other bars as well, and also founded and ran 'Quest' magazine, a Wisconsin LGBT periodical for 25 yea