Gay Bars
- December 7th, 2008
- By Markiss
Gay Night Club and Bar Links
Gone but not Forgotten (Gay Bar History)
307
Rocky RacKoon’s Saloon & Eatery
If you remember more details about the circumstances surrounding why these or other bars closed down or if you notice any mistakes in the current open gay bar listings, please email me: mark @ azgays.com so that I may fix them and/or add your comments to this page.
Got any old photos, old bar advertisements or other bar memorabilia that can be photographed/scanned, please let me know.
307 was near the corner of Roosevelt and 3rd Street in downtown Phoenix. The owners said they would be re-opening in a new location in 2000 I think. It’s now a few years later, so I’m assuming it’s closed for good. 307 was known as a drag show bar as well as a place you could find male hustlers.
Boardwalk
4132 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ
This was an addition to the Forum disco, which is now Pumphouse II.
Boom
Got your pad and pencil ready… OK, first it was Bullwinkle, then Trax and later Boom. Boom closed some time in 2003 / 2004 I think. Later it reopened as Hot Pink, an 80’s retro theme, but only on Fridays. Now the space has reopened as Karamba, a Latin night club. Hot Pink continues on Fridays.
Buddy’s
This place was located at Osborn and 16th Street. I heard that someone from Roscoe’s left and took a lot of the employees over to this place and they renamed it Plazma. Stopped by a few weeks ago (10/2004), didn’t notice any big difference in the space. A few new plasma TV sets, looked about the same.
One of my straight girl friends has a husband named Buddy. Buddy and one of his buddy’s drove by Buddy’s one day and stopped in just for the namesake. Not knowing it was a gay bar. Guess they hung out there for a while not realizing it. Apparently something posted in the restroom clued them in. They had a good laugh.
Bulk
See Hotbods
Hotbods closed after its dance license got yanked due to noise complaints. The place later became an Hispanic hetero’ dance palace. That lasted a few years and then closed. Then in ‘92 or ‘93 it re-opened as the new Hotbods. They completely remodeled and changed the floor plan (big mistake in my opinion). It didn’t have the same feel as Hotbods AT ALL. I think it lasted about a year, then closed.
Bullwinkle
See Trax (now Karamba on current page)
All I know about this place is that it existed before Trax. Slightly ahead of my time. Guess that would make it late 70’s, early 80’s. Any other info on this place? Let me know.
Business card provided by Mark Kouts
Bum Steer
4620 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ
Great music that I really miss. Sounded like the stuff they play at Detour in SF. Bum Steer had a real Leather/Levi/Bear crowd. The place was really rustic looking. Very cruisy. Bum Steer closed just a few years ago, 1997 or 1998? I can’t remember. They tore the building down and built a new commercial building, some kind of “coach works” if I remember correctly.
Casa de Roma
“Casa de Roma was once called Me Casa Su Casa then changed names. It was on 16th street and kicked butt. It was small and plush inside and they had a small stage where they put on some great shows. I came out in 1970 and “Casa” was one of the few places to be on a friday or saturday night.”
— Chingers1, David June 25, 2002
“Hello,
Phoenix native here who ‘escaped’ to the big gay city of San Francisco almost 20 years ago now. How well I remember Casa de Roma – my first gay bar!! Drag shows, beer bust, general frivolity. Yes I also heard the reason it closed was because the owner got AIDS…
Also, know well Hisco Disco/ Hotbods (knew Hubert & Steve Golden; my boyfriend Alan did the lights!). But you have one major club missing – Miss Mattie’s Attic. It was the precursor to those two discos – crazy, wonderful place!”
— John Clarke, November 23, 2001
“…one thing I remember about Casa de Roma was the steak dinner barbeques they had every week and their comic headliner Cissy Goldberg who was a drag version of Toti Fields. “
— Michael Ellis, August 3, 2003
Cattleman’s Exchange
138 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ
From what I hear this place had an older crowd and had the “Hayloft” bar upstairs. I never personally went there. If you know more about it, let me know. At some point it became Johnny Mc’s and later Homme (see current page).
Chupa
800 W. Madison St., Phoenix, AZ
Underground after-hours dance club on Saturday nights in the late 90’s. Very seedy neighborhood but they had the best house, techno, tribal and trance dance music in Phoenix. Chupa had a NY, LA, SF club feel to it.
I recently (2004) ran into the DJ who started the whole thing. He’s was working at Duck & Decanter downtown. I like him better as a DJ rather than my cashier.
Club Pulse
This is the space that used to be Boot Camp. It only lasted about a year in 2003/04 under this name. I think the owners sold the space to Cruising Central some time in ‘04. The name was changed to Cruising 7th Street.
The Club
According to one of our visitors, The Club was formerly Taylor’s next to Connection.
Club Roxy
4343 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ
Closed summer ‘99 and re-opened as Studio 43.
Connection
Across from the VA Hospital on 7th Street, next to DJ’s in Phoenix
Home of the annual Luau Party in their parking lot. They used to fill the entire parking lot with sand and convert it into a tropical beach setting. Someone told me that the VA hospital had something to do with the closing, they owned the building and didn’t want to continue leasing it. Someone else told me that the owner died of AIDS and his mother decided to close both Connection and Taylor’s, thinking she was doing the public a favor. They tore down the building and now I think its a boat sales lot. Wonder what happened to that stud of a bartender that worked the patio.
“Connections.. Probably my all-time favorite bar…I saw Divine perform there…that boat lot is Sacred Ground, ya know.” DJ Brian of Trax
Business card provided by Mark Kouts
————-
October 20, 2006
Re: The Connection
I don’t remember the name of the owner. I do know that he came down with aids. Before he died, he married a woman he knew so that he could leave the business and other of his assets to her. It surprised the gay community and was all the talk. I don’t remember his reasoning. I believe it had something to do with Estate Taxes. He had no heirs and didn’t want to have his estate taken by the government. The Savings and Loan to the east of the bar was putting a lot of pressure on the bar to close after the owners death and they eventually purchased it and tore it down. Work was that the Bank was going to use it for more parking, but, mostly it wanted the gays out of it’s backyard. Taylor’s had very little parking. It was a great bar and good lunch spot. They relied on the Connections parking lot for their customers. They were also owned by the same man who owned the Connection, as you pointed out.
Good job on the list. It brings back old memories – Merle Weaver
PS: Ed Young was a good friend of mine. I moved out of Phoenix in 1993 after selling my business and am now in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Yes, Ed would be in his 70’s by now. I am.
RainbowKW @ AOL.com
Just ran across you list and love it. More on The Connection, and Taylor, and DJ’s convenience store……Connection and Taylors were both owned by Dale Johnson (or Jones…I forget)….buthe also opened up the convenience store that still stands there…”DJ’s“…hisinitials. It was the only “regular” store I could by “Blue Boy”. Brad Bivvins 02/2008
Crowbar
Just down the street from the Westward Ho on central, Crowbar was very popular during the late 90’s. This was the place that owner Steve created after the Works closed down. There was much hope that Crowbar would be the next Works. Changed names in 2002 to “DWNTWN”. Now caters to an upscale Hispanic straight crowd.
Cruising Central
Located near Roosevelt and Central, Cruising Central was quite a gay bar dive. No… it was THE gay bar dive. I went in there once just to check it out. Everyone thought I was a hustler… you know, prostitute. I guess good looking non-working men don’t frequent Cruising Central. In 2004 the space formerly known as Boot Camp became this bar’s new home. The name was changed to Cruising 7th Street.
Dencity
7232 E. First St. Scottsdale, AZ
Desert Rose
Is now Misty’s (see current page)
Diamond Lils
Diamond Lils was on 24th St. It was a neighborhood bar and was around a long time.
“Stumbled on your great site, brought back lots of memories. I was born and grew up in Phoenix, moved to LA in 79 and since 86 have been in San Diego Have never been back to a Phoenix gay bar since 79.
The first gay bar I was every in was Diamond Lils on 24th, I was so nervous when I first walked in, (had just turned 21) it was kind of an old mans bar at the time, and every head turned to look at me, followed by lots of complimentary drinks.
I need to add one bar to your list, and make a correction, believe me, no one knows the Phx bar scene of the 70’s better than me. Maybe the most popular bar in the early 70’s was the Sportsman’s Lounge on 7th St. across the street from a car dealership, it was somewhere near Indian School Rd. Hot young crowd every night for several years. They lost their lease in the late 70’s and it became a straight bar.
Mi Casa, aka Casa de Roma, another fantastic, fun spot. Their lease was owned by an adjoining beauty school/salon, there was insufficient parking, so eventually the Casa was torn down and sadly became a parking lot. It had a young hot bartender, Richard Rubidoux who was also a buddy of mine.
The owner, Bill, a friend of mine, also at one time owned Mattys and the Forum. He did not die of aids, but was in a terrible auto accident, which left him severely physically and mentally impaired. This was shortly before I left Phoenix,, so I assume he never recovered.
I used to go out almost every night in the 70’s, knew all the regulars, my best friend and roommate at the time was the well known Dennis Jones, who did die from aids a few years ago.
Another good friend, but older was Ed Young, I have lost contact with him, but suppose he would be in his 70s now if he is still living.
The only bar currently still open that I know is the NuTowne, I was there for their opening night about ‘74 I think, and worked occasionally there as doorman.
Again, thanks for the memories, those years were the most fun of my life, if you have any questions, maybe I can recall some other things.
The Sportsman was on the west side of 7th street across the street from a car dealership, it was somewhere near Indian School Rd. It became a straight bar, but dont recall the name.
You have the Connection on the list, but before it became the Connection it was named The Sugar Shack in the same building. I remember in the early 70s my roommate Dennis Jones won a live pig in a raffle there, we fattened it up in our back yard for about a month and then he took it to a butcher and we had a big bbq for a bunch of friends!”
Mark R.
May 6, 2006
doc Gireaux, 12032 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ
Live bands, blues, soul and more. Never got a chance to check it out, was only around about a year or so during 1999-2000. I heard it was a good concept, possibly a not so great location? Towards the end the name changed to Ten2One.
Durango’s
This was a bar located within Flex Baths. It has since been converted into a sex maze.
Farrah’s East
40th Street @ Indian School, Phoenix, AZ
Currently a Szechwan or Chinese restaurant now…the best nights were Thursdays and Sundays although they never had any drink specials… once they moved to the west side they never got the crowd like they had before.
Farrah’s West
On Grand Ave southeast of 43rd Ave & Camelback
The Fineline
The Fineline was open for 17 years at 101 West Drachman and was owned by Dick Plowman. One of the DJs there was Clint, now spinning on the weekend at Harley’s in Phoenix. It stayed in operation until April 28th, 1998. Roughly one month later, the Fineline re-opened at 2520 North Oracle Road on May 21st, 1998. Trouble soon arose for the building when the Liquor License transfer was denied by the City of Tucson. The building was located in the Balboa Heights Neighborhood Area, and they simply did NOT want a club with “kids” serving alcohol in their backyard. Time after time, the license was denied. Finally, it came to the point where it was either purchase the building or move out. Because of the lack of liquor license and the problems with the Balboa Heights Neighborhood Association, the choice was made to close the Fineline again. The final night was October 2nd, 1999.
Forum, The
4132 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ
Now The Pumphouse II (see current page)
Foster’s
4343 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix, AZ
I’m not sure why they closed, anyone? It re-opened as Club Roxy, a lesbian bar for a brief period then re-opened as Studio 43 during the summer of ‘99, “An Upscale Dance Club”, then it became Mine Shaft, a leather bar in January 2000. Mineshaft failed and it turned straight for a while. Some time during 2004 it reopened as the “e lounge” catering to a lesbian crowd.
Garage, The
16th Street north of Thomas Rd., Phoenix
Graduate
23 W. University Ave. Tucson, AZ (520) 622-9233
Closed Summer ‘99
One of the first places in the Old Pueblo to cater to Gays and Lesbians was the Graduate Bar located on West University. It closed nine years ago in June but it isn’t forgotten. What follows is the story, written by Mark R. Kerr for The Observer and planetout.com on the place.
For more than 30 years, it was more than just the first watering hole for gays and lesbians in Tucson. But June 6 was “graduation day” for The Graduate, and hundreds of Tucsonans turned out to say good-bye. Dave Huff and Frank Schepis, the current co-owners of the bar, said the owner of the property had sold the land to developers who plan to turn the area into an apartment complex. An auction of various items and memorabilia from the bar, with more than $2,000 raised for two local AIDS organizations, was the highlight of the final call for the club, well known for raising monies for AIDS groups and charities.
The neighborhood bar with the national reputation, located at 23 West University, got its start in 1962, according to Bill Schober, who was the manager of the establishment then called Mr. Jim’s. Schober said the place was a beer and wine bar only, since you didn’t need a liquor license to serve those. It also didn’t have a sign on the front, since Gays and Lesbians weren’t out back then — one could only find out about it by word of mouth.
Mr. Jim’s was a place many Gays and Lesbians found support for coming out and comfort in the face of loss, celebrated their relationships and enjoyed the state’s first drag shows and other Lesbian and Gay entertainment, especially during the pre-Stonewall era in Arizona. Mr. Jim’s was also a place where both Gays and Lesbians got along as a community. Schober stated that was the policy of the place. Always tending bar was a Gay man and a Lesbian. If one bartender favored one group over the other, they were fired. If any customer did the same, they were 86′ed from the bar.
In 1968, the bar could finally afford to get a liquor license and the club changed it’s name. Camu’s was the first name, which didn’t go over well. Later in the year, The Graduate was chosen as the new name. Despite those outward changes, the purpose of the place remained the same. Many groups, such as Partners, the Tucson Knight Owls and Desert Leathermen, were formed at there, and there held their fundraising events to better the Tucson Gay and Lesbian community.
In later years, discussions about AIDS by the first Tucsonan diagnosed with the disease took place at The Graduate, when AIDS was still thought of as a “Gay cancer” by the federal government and long before any AIDS service organization was around. People could get information on various Gay and Lesbian topics, meet their love (and many of those long-time couples were on hand for the last round), find out about lesbian and gay books, see a friend and get a meal — no, it wasn’t just a bar, it was the first Gay and Lesbian community center in Tucson.
In a couple of reports on the area by the Tucson City Government, The Graduate is referred to as “a bar that caters to homosexuals with no sign on the front.” The Graduate was more than that, especially to many in attendance who bid on memories at that “graduation day” auction. Now, the little bar on West University is a memory, a good one for the many who came through its doors … and its infamous plastic curtain.
From: http://tucsonobserver.blogspot.com/2008/05/history-of-lgbt-tucson-graduate.html
Grand Camel
On 43rd Ave., north of Camelback
“I used to go there occasionally on Thursday nights for the wet underwear contest” DJ Brian of Trax
Harpo’s
“It was around 1st Street and was either on McDowell or even a bit south of that. It had a show bar where different drag acts performed, Tish Tanner, Lady Cassandra, Penelope Poupe, etc. Lots of fun. There was also a quiet bar and a disco. They had a small kitchen as well, but I don’t remember anyone eating. I believe it was owned at least in part, but Tony Bartoli and Jimmy Karkula? It was great fun while it lasted. It was the first place I discovered Long Island Iced Teas…unfortunately, I discovered them about six times and ended up driving the wrong way on a one-way street! In any event, Harpo’s was elegent and fun and drew a very eclectic crowd, from hustlers to drag queens. It was great fun. This took place in the early eighties and only lasted a couple of years. Just in case you wanted to know. Thanks for your list. It brought back some great memories of my growing up in Phoenix and getting to start my Gay life there.” J. Hartgraves SF, CA
Hamburger Mary’s
5111 N. 7th St., Phoenix
Later became Burger Betty’s during 2006 and changed ownership again to become Jaded. See also “Options“.
March 2007
An Open Letter to our Community:
By now, many of you have heard that Burger Betty’s has been sold to new owners. For more than five years, starting as Hamburger Mary’s Phoenix and changing to Burger Betty’s, we have proudly served the LGBT community. We want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who supported us, as we in turn supported our community. From the day we first opened our doors, the members of this community embraced our venture with their business, their energy and when we needed it their constructive criticism.
We established our restaurant with the goal of bringing our community a new type of gathering place for food, drink and fun. We think we succeeded. We hope you agree, and we encourage you to visit and support Burger Betty’s new owners. We wish them every success.
Sincerely,
Lawrence Moore
Paul Rottas
Curtis Steinhoff
Gary Weiner
Founding Owners,
Hamburger Mary’s Phoenix / Burger Betty’s
Hayloft
See Cattleman’s Exchange
This was the upstairs bar at Cattleman’s Exchange which is now Johnny Mc’s.
His Co. Disco
“Hello. Funny Hisco Disco. Started going there when I was 16. Lets see. 1978. 16th Street and Indian School. South of the canal. Think it is an instrument store now. Great place. Raised lighted dance floor. Ohhh. Great aint it. Can’t remember when it closed but it was sort of reincarnated as Hotbods. All I remember is that the chandeliers where moved from Hisco to Hotbods and so was part of the dance floor. But Bullwinkle was open in the interim from Hisco to Hotbods …. lets … could tell ya lots more if ya want to know.” Ty
Hours
3455 E. Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ
I noticed an ad for Hours “Farewell” in the September 22, 1999 issue of the Observer. It said, “This weekend will be the last as Hours and owner, Lee Nordmark. Come in for dancing & fun!! Let’s reminisce about our last 9 years together! Meet the soon-to-be owner.” Later changed names to Valentina’s in late 1999.
J’Bee’s
Later became Harley’s 155 which was torn down in 2006 to make way for Phoenix’ light rail line. (see current page)
Jeckyll’s
It was on the curve where Drachman turns into Oracle. It opened in the fall of 1976, my first year at the UofA, billing itself as “Tucson’s Newest and Gayest Disco!” They even advertised in the UofA campus paper! A nice little place attracting a wide variety of patrons, it had a wood dance floor, two bars and an elevated seating area. I think there was a $2 or $3 cover charge (outrageous!) on the weekends.
Johnny Mc’s -
138 W. Camelback Rd., (602) 266-0875
Formerly Cattleman’s Exchange and currently Homme
Junior’s
Junior’s was a show bar that was hot in the early seventies. It was short lived but they served the finest chinese food in town.
Joshua Tree/Backpocket
Burned down and sold. Was rebuilt and renamed as Stonewall/Eagle The new owners of Stonewall/Eagle had also owned Rumor Has It (2222 N. Stone) and closed that down when they opened Stonewall/Eagle.
“Joshua Tree, wow..my “coming out” bar in 1980. first gay bar I ever went to.. (when I was 18) It took me 45 of driving up and down the street before I had the courage to pull into the parking lot but I soon became a bar fixture there.” DJ Brian of Trax
Khaos (or was it Chaos?)
Hip little bar a few doors down from Trax on McDowell in Phoenix. I’m guessing it closed down in the mid 90’s. Used to be Bobby’s.
M & M’s – 727 W. Camelback Rd. Phoenix (currently Charlie’s)
M & M’s Where Charlie’s is now, as just before or after in the same location”Pair-a-dice” or Paradise, I can’t remember. But I had Pamela Stanley singlive right to me on stage there. I think both bars came and went in the sameyear…. Brad Bivvins
Mr. Fatfingers
Mr Fatfingers catered to a more mature crowd during the 70’s, was a very nice little place. Later became Apollo’s.
Mr. Mister’s
1019 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ
Is now the Rhythm Room, a str8 bar.
Metro Dance Factory
4201 East Thomas
See Preston’s
METRO AWARDED “BEST GAY BAR” 1996
Phoenix New Times
“If those three late, great Phoenix gay bars His Co. Disco, Casa de Roma and The Ramrod had ever sired a child, the unholy spawn probably would have looked a lot like Metro.
A combination of the raucous dance-?til-you-drop atmosphere of the first, the pseudo-swanky intimacy of the second and the rough-trade ambiance of the third, this high-decibel bacchanal manages to offer something for just about every taste.
Wanna boogie? Wedge your way onto the crowded dance floor and lose yourself in the sea of buffed booty-shakin? humanity.
In the mood for something a mite more mellow? Slip out to the alfresco cocktail patio and dish under the stars.
And if you?re feeling really raunchy, check out the action in the adjoining leather lounge. Whip it good!”
Millennium
Sometime during 2000 or 2001 they changed the name to AMP. Overall it still had the same feel as Millennium. Closed sometime in 2002?
Moonstruck
Later became His Co. Disco
Options
Restaurant and bar was near that Denny’s on 7th Street, north of Camelback Road. Later it became Hamburger Mary’s restaurant and bar, followed briefly by Burger Betty’s and currently a place called Jaded.
Padlock
Changed names to Cell Block in July 2007, also
see Shooterz
Pair-a-Dice 727 W. Camelback
M & M’s Where Charlie’s is now, as just before or after in the same location”Pair-a-dice” or Paradise, I can’t remember. But I had Pamela Stanley singlive right to me on stage there. I think both bars came and went in the sameyear…. Brad Bivvins
Park, The
24th Street north of Thomas closed in 2002 or 2003.
3114 E. Cactus Road
Phoenix, Arizona
Located 1 1/2 blocks west of Highway 51, on Cactus. The Phoenix Eagle Bar was an upscale Leather Dance Club, featuring Video VJ on Friday & Saturday Nights. The front hallway walls were covered in Black Leather, with a long bar that ran almost the length of the main bar.
Owner Bill Fischer of Phoenix was always on hand to greet customers and make them feel at home. They were the home to many of the community clubs and organizations. The back bar, called the Eagles Nest, was a private bar open to those in leather, where a boot black and masseur were on duty on weekends. It was also home to the Brotherhood of the LeatherLords. as well as their very own Motorcycle Riders Club. It had a smoking patio on the side of the building. It also had a shop called Off Chute which was located inside the bar. The bar, closed down to become the Retro Bar.
The Leather crowd filled up the bar on weekends, with standing room only crowds.
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2008 zbilltx
Mark:
Thanks for the request. I have written a letter below hopefully answering your questions and letting you know about the Eagle, my vision and experience of the Eagle.
I was in the Marine Corps in the 70’s, stationed in Yuma Arizona, but traveled to Phoenix almost every weekend, so your web site has brought back memories of Casa de’ Roma, Miss Matty’s Attic, BoardWalk, and other places that meant a lot to me in those earlier years. Back in those days, (more years than I want to count, I entered a Hot Buns Contest at Miss Mattys Attic, AND WON. Whodathunkit? So it was nice to read the stories of days gone by and reminisce. Thanks for a great job.
I used to work at the Padlock several years ago. A recurring question was “Where can we go to dance?” It was for that reason, the Phoenix Eagle was opened in July, 2006. I had a vision to bring an upscale Leather Dance Club to Phoenix, where not only the Leather Community, but everyone would feel welcome, men and women alike. I wanted people to come in and feel like we were genuinely glad to see them, they weren’t just another dollar on the bar, but a person behind that dollar. The concept was sound, and we had many clubs and organizations that made the Eagle their home. The Phoenix Eagle Tallons Softball Team, Universal Brotherhood of the LeatherLords, Bears of the West, 2 dart teams, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Arizona Women of Leather, Eagle Motorcycle Club, Eagle’s Bowling Team, along with several others. We were selected as the location for scenes in two separate movies by a studio looking for a venue for the bar scene in the movie. We were featured on 1480 KPHX for guest appearances for musicians and guests of 1480 KPHX.
We featured some of the best music in town, with a light show and video every weekend. Saturday was the biggest night, and people packed the bar to socialize and dance. We had a daily buffet, along with a Sunday BBQ and Tea Dance. The Eagle’s Nest bar was limited to those in Leather, because I felt it necessary that those in Leather have their own space where they could relax, and it was quieter so they could talk more freely. We had a boot black and masseur on duty every Friday and Saturday night in the Eagle’s nest.
We had looked at many bars, including those in the “corridor” prior to picking it’s location. What we found was mostly run down buildings in need of major overhaul, at a ridiculous price. In most major cities, Leather bars are generally away from the “mainstream” bars. The Eagle was located 10 minutes from Indian School 1 1/2 blocks west of Highway 51, so we felt that in relationship to bars like NuTowne, we weren’t out of line in the distance one had to travel.
We were fast becoming known throughout the country as the Premier Leather Dance Club, and had the support of all of the owners of Eagle Bars throughout the country, many of which had traveled to Phoenix to visit the bar, and lend support. This is evidenced by comments left on Gay Cities, and other related web sites that supported the Eagle.
We hosted SW LeatherSir/Leather boy contests. That contest brought in over 480 people. We blocked off a portion of the parking lot, complete with canopies, tables, and a dunking booth to cool off. The food was catered by a local restaurant. We had standing arrangements with our neighbors including a strip mall, to utilize their parking, so there was never a problem finding a place to park. With that many people, we set up camera’s with video not only in the bar, but outside so that everyone was able to watch the events on stage. We were also selected as the host location for International LeatherSir/leather boy contest.
To educate the community, we had “Living in Leather” classes each Wednesday evening to discuss relationships, protocol’s for living in leather, dealing with relationships, and a variety of other topics. I wanted to let people know that Living in Leather, is a state of mind, a way of life, not just what you can put on every weekend to look good. My very own Master Z was available on occasions to talk with people, and also did “demo’s” in the bar. We had the support of a good friend of mine, of Raging Stallion Studios who helped promote the Phoenix Eagle. Our staff was the best in town, and very loyal to not only me, but to the Eagle. They went above and beyond in their efforts, and did a great job.
Because of differences in opinion on the bar and it’s operation, I decided to leave the Eagle and sold my interest to my business partner. My “long distance relationship” with Master Z, was difficult as distance didn’t allow U/us to spend a lot of time with each other. January 2009 will be the 5th Anniversary of O/our relationship, so I decided to move to Dallas to be with my family there. The name was changed to Retro Bar soon after I left and the atmosphere was redone to reflect that name change.
Pumphouse, The
4132 E. McDowell Rd., (602) 275-3509
Re-opened as Scandals January ‘99 then reopened as Pumphouse II in September ‘99. (see current page)
Phaz
Was a show bar version of Farrah’s is now Harley’s 155
(see current page)
Preston’s
4102 E. Thomas Rd., Phoenix, AZ
This place always reminded me of a Marie Calendar’s that had been converted into a disco.
Rainbow Room
Well… with a cheesy name like that, did anyone really expect it to stay open as long as it did? Puh-leese… “Rainbow Room”? Anyway, this space was located downtown in the Sky Lounge, upstairs. In November 2004 it reincarnated into “Flux”, which used to be on Thursday’s there, but it was too dead. Flux is billed as an “alternative” dance club. I’m thinking it’ll probably be a very mixed crowd.
Ramrod Bar
Black Canyon (I-17) north of Van Buren.
Described as a small “Nu-Towne” with a crowd similar to “Cruisin Central”.
Rita’s Rendezvous
3455 E. Grant, Tucson, AZ
Changed names to Hours.
Rocky RacKoon’s Saloon & Eatery
4622 N. 7th St. Phoenix, AZ
Roun’ Back
2107 W Camelback Rd., Phoenix, AZ
“I was reading the Arizona Gay Bar History on your site…talk about memories! What was the name of the bar that was on Camelback Rd down around 23rd, 25th avenues? It was on the south side of Camelback…entrance was in the back and there was an adult bookstore right next door to it, if I remember right the bookstore was painted yellow…. It was just a neighborhood type bar… pool tables, juke box, etc. It closed around 1994, 1995,the building itself was torn down and not quite sure what was built after it. E. NIGMA”
I found this reference in the 1995 issue of the Gay Yellow Pages. This is the first I’ve heard of this place.
Rumor Has It
2222 N. Stone, Tucson, AZ
See Joshua Tree / Backpocket…
Rusty Nail
The Rusty Nail was on the north side of town. A nice place
Sammy’s
Sammy’s was an 80’s dance bar on McDowell just east of SR-51. From what I heard, the owner became sick from AIDS and they had to close the place. I think this building now houses the fraternal order of the Eagles. Sammy’s closed down just about the time that I started to come out. I went there a few times with my fake ID. This is where I first heard Donna Summer’s 1982 hit “I’ve got my finger on the trigger, Love is in Control“. *
* This link should open up your RealPlayer Audio player and play a brief clip of this song from CDNow. If you don’t have RealPlayer, you can download it free from RealNetworks.
“Monday night for $2.00 all you could drink beer bust and on Tuesdays they had “new wave” night. My shoes used to always stick to the beer soaked carpet in there….squish…squish”
DJ Brian of Trax
Scandals
See Pumphouse
Shamu’s
24th Street north of Thomas
Shooterz
998 East Indian School Rd
Pool and darts, used to be a The Wave and before that La Cucaracha, Mexican Food Restaurant, followed by Padlock and currently Cell Block.
Sportsman’s Lounge
Was on 7th St. Hot young crowd every night for several years. They lost their lease in the late 70’s and it became a straight bar.
Sugar Shack
7th Street, North of Indian School
Later became Connection
Stars
536 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ
Lesbian and gay piano bar
CLOSED – Summer 2000
Stonewall Eagle
2921 1st Ave., Tucson, AZ (520) 624-8805
CLOSED- Summer 2000
Studio 43
This place didn’t last long, only a few months, used to be Fosters, was marketed as “Phoenix’s Upscale Dance Club”. Puhleese, no wonder it failed. For starters they could have come up with a better name. Obviously it was taken from the movie Studio 54. What a let down it was walking in expecting something like Studio 54 and getting what you got. As of Spring 2000 this place is Mine Shaft, a leather bar.
Talk of the Town
See Desert Rose
Taylor’s
Taylor’s was more restaurant than bar, it was next door to Connection, across from the VA Hospital on 7th Street, next to DJ’s in Phoenix. The building was torn down and is now part of the new Montecito Elementary School’s parking lot. The owner died of AIDS and his mother decided to close both Connection and Taylor’s, thinking she was doing the public a favor.
“The Club was not the original name of Taylor’s, it was the other way around. Taylor’s was renamed The Club and changed from a dinner club into a dance bar. It was called The Club the last couple of years before it was closed. The story I heard was that the owner left the bar license to
the employees when he died and they continued running it and changed it into The Club.
Michael”
Valentina’s
3445 E. Grant, Tucson, AZ 85716, (520) 327-9390
The peoples bar where everyone is welcome.
CLOSED- Summer 2000
Water Hole, 8830 N. 43rd Ave., Glendale, AZ 85302 – 623-937-3139
Where the fun begins in Glendale. Pool, darts, food. Closed 04
The Wave
998 East Indian School Rd
Drag bar with amateur strip on Sunday’s. See also
The Works
Near the Scottsdale Civic Center
This was once a really cool dance club right out of LA, NY or SF in Scottsdale! The Work’s popularity worked against the club. During after-hours the under 21 crowd would arrive, some of them straight. Then more of them were straight. It got to the point where the gays hit the door at 1am knowing the immature, breeder boys would arrive soon. There were many fights, most of them between the straight guys, finally someone got shot and killed in the parking lot. I guess fighting must be part of being 19 and heterosexual or something. Anyway, they closed down and the owner started Crowbar in Phoenix sometime later.
Note to Me:
Bars Moved to Gay Bar History WP Tag:
Ain’t Nobody’s Business, Apollo’s, Buddies, Bronco’s, Hotbod’s, QT Lounge, Trax, Winks
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