September 9th
 |
| Ogden Court House |
1900 IN COURT THIS MORNING JUDGE HALL HANDLES THE GAMBLERS AND SOME DRUNKS Late Saturday afternoon the case of Thomas Smith charged with attempted sodomy and assault and battery was taken up and Smith was given thirty days in the county jail. [
1933 Grace Hayes featured on
Orpheum
programme," Fanchon and Marco Orpheum Theater The stage
show without a doubt better than the premier offering last week, includes not
only Miss Grace Hayes but Niles Marsh, female impersonator. Deseret News p 6 [Niles Marsh
continued to perform on the vaudeville circuit (and especially the Orpheum
Circuit) despite the fact that, after the advent of talkies in 1929, the popularity
of live variety theater was starting to decline. Nevertheless, he still made
regular live appearances, often as the opening act before a feature film. Niles
Marsh was a female impersonator who began his career on the Broadway stage and
then, from the early 1920s to the mid-1940s, rose to become one of the best
known drag performers on the American vaudeville and nightclub circuits. He was
one of many such artists who, during that period, encapsulated what was known
as the Pansy Craze Standard p 6.
 |
| Niles Marsh |
1958 Tuesday- City Col. 5)
 |
| Stephen Holbrook |
1980 Utah State Rep Stephen Holbrook, a Gay man, opposed
repeal of food tax because it made large families pay a share of Utah taxes.
(Salt Lake Tribune
1980-A federal judge ordered the US Air Force to reinstate
Leonard Matlovich. The Air Force offered a settlement of $160,000 to avoid
reinstating him; he accepted in order to pay the legal bills accumulated during
his five-year fight.
 |
| Mel Baker |
1987-A San Francisco Superior Court jury awarded palimony in
the amount of $2.28 million to James B Short for the 19 years he lived with
realtor Charles Gale. It was believed to be the first Gay palimony case to be
decided by a jury.
1989- KRCL held its 10th anniversary celebration
at Liberty Park.
 |
| Cherie LynnTucker |
- [**27] cohabited with a member of
the same sex. Rather, the issue was whether a trial court could properly question the morality of a parent who had cohabited with another person
before the divorce and while still married. The trial court found that the
occurrence of this conduct during the marriage and in the presence of the child
demonstrated
.jpg)
 |
| Alan Ahtow on left |
- Inventory of The Utah Stonewall Gay and Lesbian Archives by Ben Williams [Much of which is now lost] National Magazines- A complete set of Advocate Magazines from 1997 to 1980 and partial sets for years back to 1974 First editions of several National Magazines including Out, Outfront, and several others Local Utah Gay and Lesbian Newspapers and Magazines Copies of the Gayzette 1976 (first local Gay publication) The Open Door, (1977-1981) Community News, 1984-85) A Complete set of The Triangle (86-87) A Complete set of The Triangle Community News ( 87-91) A Complete set o the Bridge (1991-93) A Complete set of the Angle (1991)A Complete set of The OutFront 1992-1993) A Complete set of The Womyn’s Community News (1990-1993) A complete set of The Pillar (93-97) Incomplete set of The Xchange (1996-) A complete set of Queer Fucker ‘zine (Utah’s Queer Nation pub.) A complete set of Salt and Sage ‘Zine (Utah’s Radical Faeries pub) A complete set of Center of Attention (The Stonewall Center’s Newsletter) A complete set of Positive News ( PWACU’s News letter) Incomplete set of The Labrys
2.
Local Utah Organizations Records Repository A
Complete set of the Minutes of The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah
(1987-1994) A Complete set of the
minutes and records of the Goodtime Bowling League
3.
Newspaper and Magazine Clipping files 1 full
filing cabinet National Gay and Lesbian News-AIDS Gays in Military Domestic
Partnerships Hate Crimes Local Gay and Lesbian News- Biographies of notable
personalities Hate Crimes against Gay and Lesbian people A complete set of AIDS
related obituaries from 1986-1994 Local Gay and Lesbian Organizations
4.
File folder on Major Gay and Lesbian
Organizations in Utah from 1970’s to present Contained fliers, by-laws,
promotions etc. From Affirmation to Wasatch Leathermen-as well as early Lesbian
groups such as Women Aware, 20 Jacob Rue Collective (Notable exception the
Youth Group File was taken without permission by an officer of that group and
never returned. Individual has long since left the state)
5.
Beau Chaine gave me a badly water stained and
mildewed original copy of the Incorporation papers of The Gay Community Service
Center and Clinic, the Community Center that Aunti De (Dean Walton) Empress of
the Royal Court and he tried to get established in 1984. (Duane Dawson of the
health clinic portion of the center went on to found The Utah AIDS Project 1985
which The Utah AIDS Foundation is a direct descendant. I fear they may have
been tossed when the archives were “packed” up and moved without my input.
6.
Cassette Tape recording of Concerning Gays and
Lesbians on KRCL from 1987-1991 Cassette Tape recordings of The Utah Stonewall
Historical Society for Gay and Lesbian Study’s oral history program
including-Bob Waldrop Pastor of MCC 1977-1981, Dr. Patty Reagan founder o Salt
Lake AIDS Foundation 1986-1989, Ben Williams found of Beyond Stonewall Summer
Retreat 1988-1990, Greg Garcia founding member of the Wasatch Leathermen,
Candace Gingrich speech at the Utah Stonewall Center Cassette Tapes of the Gay
and Lesbian Community Council of Utah meetings Various Cassette Tapes of
addresses including: Dr. Jan Stout’s biological causation of homosexuality
given at Wasatch Affirmation 1986. Various Cassette Tapes of Womyn’s Music from
the Olivia Records female vocalists including Cris Williamson. Meg Christensen,
and others
7.
LP Records- Several rare recordings of Ray
Bourbon- Female Impersonator performer from the 1940’s and 50’s
8.
Gay March of Washington 1979
9.
Video Tapes-An interview with participants of
the 1969 Stonewall Riots taped by Bobbie Smith in Milwaukee, Wisc and given to
Ben Williams Coming out Series-
10.
Posters- Collection of Utah Gay Pride Posters Movie
Posters AIDS Awareness Posters Curtis Jensen of The Love Birds (1987-1989) gave
me the original posters for all their shows for safe keeping shortly before the
Utah Stonewall Center was closed. Michael O’Brien former Ex dir informed me
that one of our posters we had in the Stonewall Center was rare and worth
1000’s of dollars. It was taken down and location is unknown. We once had a
frame poster of the Basket Social at Fairmont Park from 1984 -a Gay Pride
Event. However because the Archives were never given a secured room it was
taken off the wall by someone and is missing.
11.
Syllabuses and Manuscripts A complete set
of college Syllabuses of Gay and Lesbian
Studies courses given to Ben Williams by Professor Martin Duberman of NYCC
(Author of Stonewall) Notes and Essays of Dr. John Reeves of Bunker Hill
Community College, Mass (former vice chair of GLCCU 1988)
12.
Rocky O’Donavan’s working copy of various essays
for The Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Utah O’Donovan’s complete record
of the struggle to have the U of U adopt its anti-discrimination clause
13.
Notes and essays from Ben Williams including Key
Note Addresses he gave at Pride Day 1988, and 1994
14.
Books- Signed autograph copies and first
editions including “The Trouble With Harry” signed by author Harry Hay founder
of the Mattachine Society (1951) for Ben Williams All books on coming out dated
before 1977 were housed in the Archives. Anything considered rare or special
collection (We once had a 1st Edition cope of Radcliff Hall’s Well of
Loneliness (1929) First Lesbian Novel allowed into the US. Bobbie Smith found
it in an old book store. We kept it out of circulation. When I resigned from
being the Utah Stonewall Librarian, sometime in 1995 when we did not have a
librarian but just volunteers, some good intentioned volunteer Stamped the book
with property of Utah Stonewall Center gave it a call number and put it on the
shelf for circulation. The marking of
the book probably destroyed the value of the book and the book walked out of
the center and we also lost the historical value of the book.)
15.
Paraphernalia- Several tee-shirts and bumper stickers from the Anita Bryant
Protest 1977 Various Campaign buttons from Royal Court Candidates
16.
A Plaster of Paris figurine of unknown origin
with the inscription Sapphos
2004, Ben Williams posted on Utah Stonewall Historical
Society Group Site wrote: Gay Bars never were and never have been about getting
an alcoholic beverage. Those who are upset that Gay culture is so identified
with tavern life have no concept of history, and often are individuals who are
the first to say being "homosexual" is only a part of me-i.e. "What
I do" as oppose to "What I Am." Those who hold on to the former
have never truly come out and often identify with Bisexuality and Log Cabinism.
(There you have seen my prejudices revealed.) Homosexuality, until 2003, has
mainly been an illicit behavior and until the 1970's an illicit state of being.
Homosexuals were not simply arrested engaging in sexual behavior in public, but
they were spied on, pursued to hotels and motels, sneak peaked on in park cars,
and even arrested in their own homes- ask Michael Hardwick if you don't believe
this. Often in public places, police officers initiated sexual behavior to make
an arrest, using enticing young cop decoys to entrap people. Heterosexualistic
society pushes homosexuals into the far reaches of conventional sexual practices,
then points to these practices as examples of homosexuals being perverted. The
Bastards! Rumors and innuendoes of being homosexual ended careers, and often
drove people to despair, self-loathing and suicide. Lillian Hellmann's 1930's
classic, The Children Hour was made into a Hollywood movie where Shirley MacLaine
is driven to suicide simply because of her desire for Audrey Hepburn. "I
feel so damn dirty!" Homosexual
lust alone, especially for the angelic heterosexual Audrey, was justification
for Shirley to kick that chair out from beneath her. It's a good thing that
LuVerne never told Shirley how much she enjoyed sharing an apartment with her
in Milwaukee, or the Sitcom "Shirley and LuVerne" would not nearly
have been so funny, with Lenny and Squiggy pulling LuVerne down from the
rafters. We all knew that the L was not for LuVerne but for Lesbian! While Gay
Bars were never safe, due to police raids, blackmail, or assault by
guilt-ridden heterosexuals, they were wellsprings, where the beginnings of homosexual
consciousness bubbled up. In these places we were not alone; were not an
aberration. There were too many of us to be simply freaks of nature. Also the
bars were the only semi-secure place homosexuals could meet even if discreetly.
Even there we had to speak in code. "Do you have a light...dear?",
"Do you know Dorothy?", and “I have a red tie at home just like
yours," and more. Gay Friendly bars were mostly associated with the red
light districts of Commercial and Regent Streets, and later Second South in
Salt Lake City. Ogden
being a railroad town was wide open. Gay friendly bars were the only safe
places where Utah homosexual transvestites could cross dress. Heterosexual
males made little distinction between "loose women" and Sissy Men and
used each for personal sexual gratification. Often Sissy men were preferred
because they didn't charge and would perform oral sex which women are sometimes
loathed to do. I was told this in 1975 at Pioneer park by a cross dressing Gay
man who said hetero-men had no problem with him being Gay as long as he was in
a dress. (Don't ask why I was hanging out at Pioneer Park Utah group site recently
proves this point. It said: "Since moving to Provo 8 months ago, I have
found there is no safe place for gay men in Utah County to play. No gay bars,
no sex clubs, no saunas, OR safe cruising places. So, I'm hosting two parties.
I have had 3 parties since July 30th & they were phenomenal visual &
sensual experiences for all." While the homosexual gentleman, hosting
these Utah County parties, in a private residence, is more democratic by
posting such an invite to the general public, prior to the electronic mail age,
and the Supreme Court's 2003 decision on sodomy, such affairs were impossible-
except for small secret homosexual cabals. Invitees often brought acquaintances
or "initiates" to these top-secret parties which were very much
middle class soirees, only with the curtains drawn and the shades pulled down.
People dressed up, coats and ties for men, dresses and makeup for women. Drag
was not even a remote possibility. Cocktails were served, and small talk made.
These parties tried to imitate the cosmopolitan air of similar chic parties on
the east and west coasts. Lesbians had
their softball leagues and could be more "Tom Boyish", but at these
residential parties, it was required that a more formal attire should be worn.
However the Butches were allowed to wear sporty men clothing, with slicked back
or short cropped hair, to distinguish themselves from the fems who were in
party dresses. If one had not "come out" and did not consider
themselves homosexual, which was considered one step worse than being a
Communist in the 1950's and 60's, then the dangerous world of illicit sexual
encounters in semi-public places were all that was available. Quick anonymous
sex was also sometimes addicting as an adrenaline rush; as was the fear factor
of being caught. But anonymous sex
afforded the luxury of returning to whatever "normal" life one was
leading. It wasn’t really sex after all just fooling around. The 1960's
Bohemian Free Love movement never caught on in Utah. Utah was not a place to "Drop Out, Tune
In and Turn On." Hippie Communes, and such radical concepts as sexual
freedom, control over one's own body- were just plain "crazy talk."
Utah hippies and advocates of free love generally decided that California or
Oregon "Was The Place" not the barren Great Basin. I always had a
theory that Utah descendants, of Mormon polygamous families, inherited a
"horny gene" from their stud ancestor. The more a man copulated, the
more children he had, and therefore more likely to pass on his ability to have
prodigious amounts of sex. Those Mormon
men, who were not as potent, or were not driven by a desire for copious amounts
of sex, obviously had fewer descendants. Someone should do a study on the
Mormon Sex Gene. After all these were the days before Viagra. Some others
proposed a theory that socialized homosexuality was dominant in Utah because of
the lack of a sexual outlet for males with females. While the ratio of males to females was
pretty similar in polygamy days, access to the female population was limited to
the whims and dictates of Brigham Young as holder of the keys of who could
marry and who could divorce. When one
man married 26 women, it is obvious that 26 other men went without connubial
sex. Penalties for straying from marriage
vows were severe in Mormon Pioneer Utah. Adultery was a capital offense. Many a
pioneer journal recorded that heads of women were found in Utah ravines, cut off for this very offense.
Wayward men, however, were more likely to be simply castrated by bowie knife or
primitive tourniquet. Ouch! Nothing happened to Mormon aficionados of male on
male sex, generally. The most common practices, group and dual masturbation,
was a perennial pulpit denouncement, but one could live, (and keep ones balls),
with that. Gay Gentile men were left alone, unless they diddled with underage
Mormon Priesthood holders, then they were often assassinated. Masturbation,
frottage, and vaginal and anal intercourse were, before the days of better
penile and vaginal hygiene, the preferred sexual practices over that of oral
sex. Crotch odors from people who bathed infrequently and generally wore temple
undergarments until they rotted off of them, made keeping ones nasal organs and
taste buds away from such a pungent region paramount. Oral sex is a by-product
of modern plumbing. It was a matter of taste. When I first moved to Utah I was
amazed how easy it was to have sex here with nearly any man as long as you did
not talk about it or kiss. You don't kiss until "over the altar" but
pretty much anything else went. Perhaps it was because so many temple-going
elders did not feel they were violating their oaths of chastity by having sex
with men because the oath only, at that time, pertained to not having sexual
intercourse with the "daughters of Eve". I guess the sons of Adam
were fair game or so it seemed. And of course Lesbian sex was not even sex in
Utahn Patriarchy..Where's the Penis? No Penis no sex. Simple. Besides women were more naturally sensual
and inclined to fleshly pleasures. Can't be trusted to be hard. Real men -Priesthood men may have sex but
don't go getting mushy. Going soft is bad....When I attended BYU, from 1973 to
1976, there was nary a bathroom stall that did not have some homosexual
graffiti on it. I remember one in the Smithfield House that pleaded, "I
really need a BJ. I am so desperate."
In fact once I had barely sat down on a stall in the Jesse Knight
Building Southern California , so I rushed
out of the bathroom, and was trailed by this young fellow sniffing my trail. I
guess he thought I had entered the stall for sex and he was sooooooo desperate.
I had no idea that, that particular men’s room was a predominant cruising
epicenter. Perhaps my Gay instincts led me there. LOL. It would be several months before I broke
down and decided to let myself be
"seduced". As they say-When in Rome .
I soon learned what was meant by the ditty, "BYU, BYU where the girls are
girls and men are too!" or the joke "You know why the man eating lion
starved to death at BYU?" I think you know the punch line. I also
developed a sexual fetish for male one piece Mormon Temple Garments from time
spent at BYU. Now that's perverted. When I was cast out into Outer Darkness in
1976 (kicked out of BYU and moved to SLC) I soon discovered a local phenomenon
and it wasn’t Gravity Hill. The closer one got to Temple Square the cruisier the bathrooms
became. There was a direct correlation between the amount of homosexual
bathroom graffiti and the distance from Main and South
Temple . Maybe it was
gravity hill after all. LOL But that's another story. Prior to 1970 only the Radio City Lounge was
openly identified as a Gay Bar, although its owners were straight, however in
1970 a Lesbian bar called Perky's opened on 3rd West
- Connell
“Rocky” O’Donovan wrote: Actually there were many Gay bars in Salt Lake
prior to 1970, some so identified, others "undercover". This is all from memory, so excuse the
lack of details.... The first was the Keystone Saloon. It was open in the 1890s, and was
located in the "red light" district of Commercial Street. It featured a backroom where men could
go for sexual assignations. Some
Mormon men were arrested there in 1896 for having anal sex in the backroom
while a crowd watched them! In the 1920s, a Greek family owned Beehive
Confectionary (a sandwich and sweet
shop downtown on State Street), and their Lesbian daughter (whose name escapes
me, Maria something maybe?) was a waitress there. Her Lesbian friends
began to congregate there and eventually the family secured a liquor
license and the place became the Beehive Lounge. It had a mixed clientele, mostly Lesbian
though. When the Beehive
Lounge moved to its current location,
it became a straight bar. For men in the 1920s, there was the Opera Bar (I
think on
- Ben
Williams wrote: The emergence of a
Gay community in Salt Lake City due to the efforts of the radical Gay
Liberation Front in the 1970’s displaced the Gay friendly bars of Pre-Stonewall with openly Gay Bars.
Prior to 1970 only the Radio City Lounge was openly identified as a Gay
Bar, however in 1970 a Lesbian bar called Perky’s opened on 3rd
West and operated for 5 years. It was not at first identified as an openly
Gay Bar but its owner was a Lesbian. Joe Redburn’s Legendary Sun Tavern which opened in
1973 was the most important bar in the development of a Gay identity and
community in Salt Lake City and actually all of Utah. Two pioneer bars
opened in Ogden in the early 1970’s
the Sweetwater Tavern
- Owned by Helen Runnells who opened the 1st openly Gay Bar in 1974 in that city. Sweetwater was located at 25th and Grant. Another bar called Bobby’s First Endeavor operated on 12th St. below Wall Ave
- By 1976, the director of the Gay Community Center stated in an article:“There are five Gay bars in Salt Lake and only two churches which will accept Gays. ” These bars were probably the RADIO CITY, The SUN TAVERN, NAME of the GAME, PERKY’Ss, and RUSTY BELL
- In 1978- Mike Reid of Gay Service Coalition accused the Gay bars of fighting amongst themselves “ With only four bars here in town there is no reason to be always fighting”- However there were at least five bars operating in SLC at the time: RADIO CITY, THE SUN, THE RAIL, CLUB COMBACK, THE UPTOWN PLAC
- One of the main complaints in the 1970’s was heterosexuals coming to the bars to look at Gay people. “ The general gawking public, who visit Gay bars like they would a zoo, to stare, laugh, imitate, feel threatened, and live, and curious reporters who confronted with 2 males and 1 female Gay, 2 of whom cannot gives names for fear of losing employment, interview, listen and discover an oppressed minority, one of the few remaining victims of religious persecution.”
BARS of the 1970’s
Corner of SOUTH
TEMPLE and FOURTH WEST
 |
| South Temple |
- The ROSE BOWL 363 West South Temple, The Rose Bowl a Gay club that opened August 1977 just east of the Sun Complex. It advertised drafts 35 cents drafts and 35 cent mixes. Owner may have been Rose Carrier. It closed after about a year and the place was reopened in 1978 as the RAIL
- The RAIL 363 West South Temple The Rail opened east of the Sun Tavern on 21 November 1978 at the old Rose Bowl location. It was owned by Krazy Pete. Some bartenders were Rose Carrier, Krazy Pete, Jerry, Bill, Maxine, Gary, and Randy. On Memorial Day Weekends Rose Carrier held her annual Pajama party at The Rail. In final league game of 1979 The Inter-Bar Volleyball League The Rail defeated Radio City two games to none and then defeated the Sun two games to none. The league had the support of Joe Redburn, Susan Denny, Krazy Pete, Larry White, and Weldon Young.
- THE SUN TAVERN at 1 South 400 West SLC On 7 February 1973, local talk show personality, Joe Redburn opened The Sun Tavern on the northwest corner of South Temple and 400 West. The Sun Tavern was Utah’s first Gay bar owned by a homosexual and oriented from its opening towards a Gay clientel in Salt Lake City. The Sun more than any other bar shaped the face of the Gay Community in the 1970’s and was a de facto Gay Community Center. The tavern was often the first Gay experience in the coming out process. The reputation of the SUN was legion. The SUN was a political as well as a social organization. It funded fledgling community organizations such as LGSU, it provided space for the first Gay Community Center, as well as bringing top rate entertainment to Salt Lake City. Disco Diva, Gloria Gaynor appeared at The Sun Tavern in 1975, as well as Charles Pierce and His Star Impressions in 1977. Pierce performed at The Theater of the Sun in the Sun Tavern, which was used for live comedy theater. Pierce brought his troop to Salt Lake for the first time ever engagement in the Rocky Mountain area. One of his pieces to finish the show was a dialogue between Talula Bankhead, and Bette Davis wearing a red dress. The most famous celebrity associated with the SUN in the 1970’s never performed there. On January 11, 1978, Paul Lynde, most famous for being the center square of Hollywood Squares and guest of The Donny and Marie Show taped in Orem, was busted outside the Sun Tavern for interfering with a police officer. A charge of public intoxication was dismissed but the incident caused Lynde to lose his position on the Donny and Marie Show. In 1975 the Daily Chronicle wrote “1 South 400 West is probably the best place to get drunk and have a good time in the city. But sometimes they get too exclusive and they bar the door to any of the poor straights who can’t stand dancing next to jocks. By 1978 the Sun was described as the
“Largest Gay Complex in the Rocky Mountain Area. Joe Redburn as owner of the SUN put money back into the community and supported almost every progressive movement of the seventies. The Sun was the location of many firsts in the Gay Salt Lake City community. Rose Carrier hosted the first of her annual Pajama Parties at The Sun Tavern. On the 5th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village, the Sun organized a a Kegger party to celebrate Gay Pride. Over 200 Gay men gather at approximately 8000 West along the south-east shore of the Great Salt Lake, commonly known as “Bare Ass Beach”, for the festival sponsored by Joe Redburn of the Sun Tavern. This was the first public celebration of Gay Pride in Utah. The first Gay Community Center was organized May 1975 in the Taylor Restaurant and Grill, a building secured by Joe Reburn, and located just south of the Sun at 11 South 400 West SLC. .The “Gay Community Service Center” held its meeting on Mondays and established a Gay-Crisis line 533-0927 which was in existence for nearly 25 years. The Gay Help Line was the first listing in Salt Lake telephone book with the word Gay in its discription. Joe Redburn served as treasurer for the center. The Salt Lick Seagull Awards Banquet, held at the Sunset Room, is Salt Lake City’s first official Gay awards banquet in 1976. Approximately 30 awards were given that night including, “Best Baths Attendants”, “Judy Garland Comeback of the Year” and “Best Advise Bitch of the Year”. In 1978 the first Annual Mr. Gay Utah contest was held at the Sun Showroom. It was Utah’s first entry in the Mr. Gay America Contest. Grover Smith, a native Utahn winner of the Mr. Gay Utah Contest. The East Room next to the Sun was opened as Salt Lake City’s first Gay after hours disco restaurant in December 1979. The SUN hosted many community events outside of the bar such as its annual picnic in City Creek Canyon. The Sun Tavern with KSXX bought out the whole Trolley Square theater for the 10 p.m. showing of The Ritz on 24 November 1976. An article written on the event stated: “Naturally the audience was 99 and 44/100 percent pure Gay. I’ll say this for the homosexual people, they certainly have the ability to laugh at themselves. When Chris, the head queen said, “Oh I’m so glad I’M Gay,” I thought the roof was going to fall in from the audience’s resounding cheer.” By May 1978The SUN TAVERN began showing free movies every night except Mondays. In an era before VCRs and DVDs this was a big deal. While many other bars refused to be political, fearing an alienation of patrons the SUN always took a stand. Joe Redburn actually ran against Jill Atwater in 1976 for a seat in the state legislature. He lost. In 1977 The Sun Tavern hosted a community luncheon with Sgt. Leonard Matlovich, in 1978 Joe Redburn dedicated a night at Sun Tavern to support the anti-Brigg’s movement in California. Shirley Pedler Ex-Director ACLU addressed a full house in the Sun Tavern’s show room and $1300 was raised. The mid 1970’s were a time of run away inflation as the cost of fighting the Viet Nam War came home with a vengeance. President Ford asked Americans to wear WIN Buttons (Whip Inflation Now) as his solution to the economic crisis. An article from October 1975 stated that both Club Baths and the Sun had their own plans to fight inflation. “The Club Baths and The Sun have something for fighting inflation. Each Tuesday night after the bar closes you can get into The Baths for only $3.00. You must present a card to the Baths that is available at the Sun every Tuesday night. So far it’s been a big success with the Sun Staff there in “full bloom”. In 1979 the Sun Club and Joe Redburn sponsored Denver’s Gay Pride Marching Band coming to Utah to participate in Utah’s Gay Pride Day. The Band was called the Denver Mile High Freedom Marching Band directed by Tom Robinson. After the march the band appeared on The Sun Club patio in the evening. The SUN Tavern formed an Inter-Bar Volleyball League to build a sense of community between the Gay taverns in SLC. Joe Reburn was asked his opinion of disco in 1977 as the genre was peaking. There had been complaints that the bars were playing too much disco. Joe Redburn of the Sun answered: “I totally agree that disco is boring. We have had disco music at the sun for 2 and a half years and I’m as tired of it as any one. When we try to break out of disco we get complaints and loss of business. I understand the boredom of disco...it is hard to dance to.” In the late fall of 1978 several unsolved murders occurred among Gay men in Salt Lake City. One of the more notable was that of Douglas Ray Coleman. Coleman was shot to death in a box car behind the Union Pacific Railroad Station at 177 West South Temple was last seen leaving the nearby Sun Tavern.
Original Carving now located in the Trapp
.jpg) |
| The Sun |
- THE UPTOWN PLACE at 15 South 400 West was opened as a woman bar in 1976 after the closure of the Gay Community Service Center. The Uptown Place was advertised as “Serving the Lesbian Community”. In May 1977 a fund raising dance was held at the Uptown Bar for The Boise Seven. The dance was sponsored by the Gay Service Coalition, which replaced the Gay Community center. By June 1979 The Uptown located was known as the main women’s bar.
SECOND
SOUTH
- STUDIO 8 located at 8 West 200 South was started as a straight bar but had a large Gay Clientele. In 1979 it switched to being a Gay Bar and lasted until about 1980/81. Studio 8 “Comes Out “ as a Gay Bar. The most fabulous Gay Bar Salt Lake ever had.Studio 8 has benefit show for The Boise Seven “. The Boise Seven were 7 women who were fired from the Boise Police Department because they were alledged toi have been Lesbians. Salt Lake City being the largest Gay community in the intermountain region west of Denver raised several fundraisers to help with these women’s legal bills in their lawsuit against the city of Boise.” Minor civil rights celebrities the bar advertised that several of the women “will be present, ” at the event
STATE
STREET
- RADIO CITY Lounge at 147 South State Street. Advertized all through the 1970’s as “The Original and first Rocky Mountain Gay Bar”. It was the only Gay Bar to survive the 1960’s.
- THE NAME OF THE GAME JR. at 535 South State Grand opening of The Name of the Game Jr was held in 1975. It began a transition from a straight bar to a Gay Bar in December 1974. the bar was owned by Harold and David and managed by Max. Max stated, “Our initial motive was for purely business reasons. We would rather have an open crowd so that Gay did not feel alienated. Gays get down a lot more and are less trashy than some of the straight street people we get in here.” The bar offered free drinks on Mondays and Tuesdays from 8-10 PM for ladies, and men in drag, a first for any Gay Bar. The bar was still known as a Gay establishment in 1976 and was listed as one of the places that distributed SLC Gay paper, The Salt Lick.
SECOND
WEST
- Satan’s Playpen Lounge 1067 South 200 West Satan’s Play Pen was a Leather biker bar where some of the early members of the Gay leather community was tolerated by bisexuals and straights. Not openly accepting.
THIRD
WEST
- Perky’s at 66 North 300 West, SLC was a Lesbian bar which opened in Salt Lake City in 1970. The woman owner was a named Perky. Last name unknown and probably a nickname. It was important for the development of a woman identified community within the Gay community. The bar closed in 1975. In 1975 the Gay Community Service Center Newsletter interviewed people at the Sun, Radio City, and Perky’s on a program aired by KSL on homosexuality. The following comments were quoted: The KSL series on homosexuality was conducted like so many other subjects which are controversial-in order not to offend anyone, it must be treated with so much caution and delicacy that it also fails to do anything substantial like inform, enlighten, educate, or elevate people to a higher level of understanding. This ignorance only adds to the already tremendous waste of human resources. Sorry KSL but the attempt was somewhat impotent”. “It was good that KSL had the guts to air this type of show, but their bigotry and hypocrisy exposed its ugly head somewhat.” “The KSL series on homosexuality reminds one of something called depression soup- damn little meat-lots of water-hardly any substance- and served lukewarm in a cold bowl.” “Visions of Clock Work Oranges! I think Dr. Card and others like him ought to be subjected to his own therapy for treatment of his aversion to homosexuality.” When the First Gay Freedom Day was held at City Creek Canyon in 1975 a shuttle service ran to and from the site for those who didn’t have transportation. Pickup points were Radio City, The Sun, and Perky’s. In an article written by Babs De Lay for the October 1975 issue of the Salt Lick it was announced GAY BARS PERKY’S CLOSES. “After five years of dedicated service to the Gay community Perky’s closest her door and sold out. In an exclusive interview with Perky, she had the following to say about her bar. “Five years of the bar business is enough for me. IT takes a lot of hours and time to run a bar. I grew up without having a Gay bar to go to. We had to go out you people’s homes to socialize. When I opened up the bar we had a fantastic group of girls that were all very grateful to me. We really had a good time, but there were two groups of girls; the ones who started out with me, and the younger girls that came out in the past few years. For the older girls it was harder being Gay. We had to be cautious about our selves. Originally we couldn’t dance in the bar, but after a few months the police let us alone. The younger kids have it a lot easier with the attitudes changing and the new bars. They don’t have the hassles we used to have. The spirit of the neighborhood bar isn’t felt anymore. I enjoyed both group of girls. They were in two different ball games. The young ones kept me young. The whole five years was a really neat experience. The kids were good to me it was a good living, and we had a lot of great times together. I believe that the only way to go out is to go out on top.” Perky is planning to spend more time with her family. She also stated, “I’ve got some pokers in the fire, so I can’t really say what I plan on doing. Let the young one’s take over. People will always be good to me.” The Gay community regrets the loss of Perky and her bar. We all wish her well with her future plans. Perky’s is now a straight bar for your general information.”
- THE COMEBACK CLUB at 551 South 300 West was opened in 1977 by Mac Hunt at with the slogan “Where the friendly Men are”!- It was advertised as a private bar open to the entire Gay Community but club membership was not required. “Lighted, flashing dance floor, Disc Jockey every Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Food served. Every Sunday a Brunch. Every Wednesday is Spaghetti Night for all you can eat for $2.50.” In an article about disco music Mac Hunt was interviewed and stated: “I’m tired of disco music. However most of the customers seem to request this type of music. We comply with requests and give what is most requested. So we are forced to play the music that customers request.” On Valentine’s Day Party 1978 the club celebrated its first anniversary. In the spring of 1978 controversy erupted between Mac Hunt and the Gay Service Coalition which published the Open Door, only Gay newspaper. A GSC meeting was held discharged Cam Morrison for his mishandling advertisement with Club Comeback. A final disposition of small claim courts proceedings ordered the Comeback Club to pay Open Door $96.00 for advertisements. The Comeback Club advertised in three issues of the Open Door but was not informed by Cam A. Morrison concerning the costs of the ads. The Open Door arbitrated and settled for the cost of only one ad in the paper. The Comeback Club was then ordered by the small claim court to pay the Open Door which they did. The club as did many others, allowed political meetings in their buildings. On June 14, 1979 the first meeting of The Stonewall Club was held at The Comeback Club. The Stonewall Club founded as a vehicle for Gay political action. However to involve younger college students meetings were shifted to the Denny’s Restaurant on North Temple which had a large Gay clientele.
REDWOOD ROAD (1700 WEST)
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| The Rusty Bell location (2013) |
- THE RUSTY BELL 996 South and Redwood Road In July 1975, the Rusty Bell was opened by its owners Paul Douglas, Mac Hunt, and Jim Beveridge. While the owners of the Rusty Bell were Gay men, the bar soon became a Lesbian establishment. The Rusty Bell like other early Gay Bars were community minded organizations. Some being more political then others. In October 1975, Rusty Bell held a 1950’s Party to raise building funds for the Grace Christian Church, a Lesbian break off church from the Metropolitan Community Church. The following month a two Lesbian activists Shirley Price and Camille Taratagila , after a year long engagement, exchanged wedding vows at the Rusty Bell. Rev. Bob Darst pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, in a double ring ceremony, married the two. “Marty was the best man, and Hilda was the matron of honor. Shirley wore a white satin gown of her own design and Camille wore a baby blue pants suit. The reception was held immediately afterwards with an abundance of champagne and wedding cake, No marriage license was required, as the state of Utah does not recognize Gay marriages as yet. The vows are recognized by the church and Shirley stated that “To us the vows are as legal to us as any other marriage ceremony. The license makes no difference to us because we take our marriage vows very seriously. The wedding between Shirley and Camille was the first wedding to be held at The Rusty Bell since the bar opened. In December 1975 The Western Rustlers, a Lesbian organization sponsored by The Rusty Bell hosted a Sub for Santa. First known Gay organization to contribute to the Sub for Santa Charity. The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire held their first Coronation at the Rusty Bell on 14 January 1976. The Court was originally called The Imperial Court of Utah. The 1st Reign was called The Salt and Pepper Court. In the 1980's it became an exclusive Lesbian bar known as Puss N Boots
·
WILMINGTON
AVE, SUGAR HOUSE
- BOGARTS at 1225 Wilmington Avenue in Sugarhouse This bar had a checkered past. It was at best Gay friendly however in December 1979, Women Aware, a Lesbian feminist organization sponsored a Christmas Dance there
- SISTERS location unknown All that is know about this Lesbian establishment is found in the Jan 1976 issue of the SALT LICK where it was listed as a distribution place along with Cosmic Aeroplane, Open Book, Club Baths, The Sun, Radio City, The Sunset Room, Rape Crisis Center, Name of the Game Jr., The Munch Shoppe, Mother Earth, MCC, Grace Christian Church, and Round Records.
OGDEN
- Sweetwater Tavern. Helen Runnells opened the first openly Gay Bar in 1974 in Ogden called Sweetwater at 25th and Grant
- Bobby’s First Endeavor on 12th St. below Wall Ave. in Ogden
2005 Friday-Empress 28 Heidi Ho West Waters hosts "Back
To School" @ the Paper Moon. Show Time
9pm Bar Charges will apply ($6 for non Bar members and $5 for Bar
members). All proceeds from the show
will benefit the RCGSE General Fund.
2005 FridayGay Bingo! Multi-Purpose Room ( 7-9pm
) The theme is "Supreme Court Rules Bingo-Land Can be Addictive" Vote for your favorite supreme court justice
by playing bingo. The Super Supreme Court Justice, herself...Justice Windy Night
O'Virgin will be presiding. She will hear all cases brought before her in
Bingo-Land. Plan your strategy and see if you can win your case by upholding a
winner! Admission $5, includes your first game board.
2006 Andrew Steven Reed 1981 ~ 2006 Passed away September 9, 2006,
in Bountiful, Utah. Born March 23, 1981 in SLC, Utah . As a little boy sitting on Grandma's
knee, she'd fill his head with poetry, stories of fantasy, adventure and song.
"The time is not now, but it won't be long." A poem for Andrew she
wrote one day. "Andrew loves beautiful things," she'd say.
Gymnastics, figure skating, piano and violin, artistic creations are all part
of him. He grew tall in stature in beauty and grace. Long I'll remember his
beautiful face. He was "Best Friend" to many, touched so many hearts,
loved all kinds of people and enjoyed all the arts. It is true that Andrew
loves beautiful things, cause Andrew himself is a Most Beautiful Being.
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| Jacob Whipple |
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| Will Carlson |
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| Troy Williams |
2010 Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
Declared Unconstitutional QSaltLake Staff Servicemembers United, the nation’s
largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, proudly hailed
today’s announcement that U.S. District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips has
ruled that the 17-year old “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law is unconstitutional.
Judge Phillips also indicated that she will issue a permanent injunction
barring the Department of Defense from carrying out further discharges. “This
is an historic moment and an historic ruling for the gay military community and
for the readiness and integrity of our Armed Forces” said Alexander Nicholson,
executive director of Servicemembers United and a former multi-lingual U.S.
Army interrogator who was discharaged under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ “As the
only named injured party in this case, I am exceedingly proud to have been able
to represent all who have been impacted and had their lives ruined by this blatantly
unconstitutional policy. We are finally on our way to vindication.” The case
through which the law was struck down, Log Cabin Republicans vs. U.S.A., was
originally filed in 2004 by the gay Republican organization Log Cabin
Republicans. Servicemembers United’s Executive Director, J. Alexander
Nicholson, is the sole named injured party in the lawsuit.2015 Long-time gay activist Val Mansfield died September 9 with family by his
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| Val Mansfield |
This
is an intergenerational Event
- Ducky Tolley Isn't everything in our community an intergenerational event.....I have never seen "age limits" on any events yet, unless it is 21 and over....but maybe I am misunderstanding what this means...
- Ben Williams Sage events are generally geared more for the interest of Gay men and women and trans Elders in the community but the pot lucks are always cross generational... SAGE Service and Advocacy for Gay Elders is the oldest national organization for GLBT seniors,
- Ducky Tolley Well you learn something every day!
2017 Rev. Bruce M Barton former pastor of the Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City died in Oroville California after declining heath. He was born 1 August 1946 and died at the age of 71 years. His husband Bruce Harmon, Emperor 20 of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire preceded him in death. He is survived by his son Troy Barton named for Rev. Troy Perry. The "Bruces" were a power couple in Salt Lake City building and shaping our Gay Community for two decades.
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