HOTBOD’S ABOUND

Thursday Mens Night

Phoenix - Was there anyone in Phoenix who was not at Hotbod’s last Thurdsay nite for their third anniversary? Judging by the vacuum packed and sealed dance floor we can only answer no.   The energy level was at a peak not seen in Phoenix since the old days of His Co. Disco. The good vibrations flowed as freely as the traditional champagne fountain.  We haven’t seen as many beautiful people in one place in a long time.   A few more nights like that and we’ll be ready to sell the paper and move into Hotbod’s.

Dance

• - District or Area: Central Phoenix
• - Owners: ?
• - Dates of Operation: 1980 – 1986
• - Previous Incarnations: Unknown
• - Later Incarnations: Bulk
• - Some images and / or text provided by: Observer & M. Kouts
  

  Hotbod's Desert Dance Palace

• - Do you remember this establishment?
• - Did you / have you owned or managed this business?
  • - Please contribute your story or corrections to our shared history by posting today

Hotbod’s Untimely Death

Christopher McPherson, Tucson Observer

Issue 110, August 27, 1986

Hotbod's Disco Neon Stars

If you weren’t at the new TOMMY’s beer-bust last night (Aug. 18, 1986) you weren’t one of the ‘in’ crowd. TOMMY’s — Located at 921 West Camelback Road in Phoenix — initiated a welcomed alternative to the otherwise dreary Monday nights many of us have had to suffer since the untimely death of Hotbod’s earlier this year.

Luckily for those of us who appreciate the best in dance music, HUBERT has come back from the closing of HB’s to practically flawless showing last night.

My First Gay Bar

Mark S. Suever, az | gays.com

It was right next to Liquor Wheel on Mcdowell, 3437 E. McDowell Road in Phoenix.  It was an address I knew well.

Hotbod’s was an 80’s era disco/dance club, very young and trendy crowd. Hotbod’s will always hold a very special place in my heart since it was the first gay bar I had ever been to.

Hotbod's Neon Planets

I was so impressed with the squares on the dance floor flashing in sync with the music. Remember those rotating police lights that came down at each corner and the cocoa scented disco fog?

Of course what disco is complete without a disco ball. Hotbod’s had about three of varying sizes. The orbited dance-floor like planet, one with neon rings like Saturn.

DJ Hubert

One of the most awkward things at Hotbod’s for me was the erotic artwork throughout. Around the dance floor were semi-nude photgraphs of muscled men in Speedo’s, or a studly shirtless cop with mirrored sunglasses. How I wanted to just gawk at them, really take in their hotness. But for some silly reason I didn’t want anyone to catch me looking. “Uh, Hello? We’re in a GAY BAR!”

Hotbod’s is where I met my first “trick”. I didn’t even know what a trick was at the time! This guy Gary, the chicken hawk spotted me right away.

DJ Steve

I think my age made me a trinket of sorts, I didn’t mind. Invites behind the scenes made me feel like VIP. Hanging out with Donny and Hubert up in the DJ’s sky box. How I wanted everyone down on the floor to see me up there. How easily impressed I was.

I’m not sure of the details of its demise. Rumor was that they lost their dance license due to neighbors’ complaints. Another rumor was that Trinity Broadcasting two doors down had much to do with it.

After a brief stint as a straight latino club, the space re-opened as BULK. They had rearranged the whole place and the new configuration just didn’t work. Bulk didn’t last long. Currently I think the property houses Inventory Adjusters, Inc.

Hotbod's Dance Floor

If anyone knows of Hubert, Donnie’s or any other employee’s whereabouts, please send them my way. I’d like to catch up.

marky@azgays.com

Mark (Admin)

http://azgays.com

Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness

Phoenix, AZ

- Owners:  Unknown

19?? ~ 19??

Women’s Dance / Neighborhood Bar

Later Became:  Club Vibe

——————-

Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness enjoyed a great run as one of Phoenix’s favorite lesbian bars. Its sister bar survives in Tucson under the same name. The Phoenix location was primarily a lesbian unlike the mixed Tucson counterpart. In 2008, managment at The Biz changed the name to Club Vibe.

Best Women’s Bar / The New Times
Best Lesbian Club / The Echo ‘93 – ‘02
Best DJ / The Echo
Best Dance Bar / Arizona Republic

Yelp Reviews:
Bonnie G. – Tempe, AZ
9/2/2006 Had a great time here! Had only two problems-1) No purse allowed? How am I supposed to dress sexy and have pockets at the same time? Taking away a femme’s purse is a federal crime!-2) Really hard to find if you don’t know it is in a SHOPPING CENTER! I had never seen a club before in like a supermarket shopping center….but the space is actually quite big!

Cher T. – Laveen, AZ
3/4/2008 I’ve only been to this place twice. But both experiences were pretty cool. I had fun, we went on a sunday night because we had a couple of people who were 18 – 21 with us and on that night… 21 and over get in for FREE!! whoo – hoo!! and the youngsters get in for like 5 bucks or so… i really can’t remember when.

There’s a 2 drink minimum i think but I didn’t really drink anything. It was ackward dancing around their big ol’ fence. It was like… keep the jail bait away!! ha ha ha!! but it was cool, I got to cross the dreaded fence and I even fell while doing so! I missed a step and face planted infront of a bunch of trannys. not cute.

It was alright though, it didn’t have all the drama like straight clubs. I haven’t been to another gay club, but I’d definatly go back. This time, I’ll be sure to watch out for those steps!!

I’m always worried about how to label people, especially “my” people.  Homosexual is much to clinical.  “Gay” worked for me, for a while at least.  Then the lesbians were confused, some wanted to be gay, some opted for “dyke”.  Along came GLB, and we forgot a few people… GLBT.

Some of the more… angry “womyn” decided they should be first, before the us oppressing white gay myn, so we moved the “L” to the beginning and that made it LGBT

Whoops, we forgot another group.  Those on the fence.  Those not ready for a label.   

QUESTIONING

“Q” was added, for “questioning“.  Questioning their sexuality, questioning how to label themselves. Questioning if their friends and parents will disown them, or say… DUH!

Let’s not forget the queers,  just tell them the Q is really for them.

LGBTQ?

Doesn’t exactly roll off your lips, huh?

That’s why I’m proposing, are you ready?

GLESBITRANSIAN

For those still “questioning”, use an asterisk*

GLESBITRANSIAN*

For the angry womyn, **

GLESBITRANSIAN**

For the angry myn, ***

Here is another personality type list I found online.  If you don’t know by now, personality typing is my obsession.  It explains just about everyone I come in contact with, well, almost everyone.

Click on the platypus to discover which animal you are most like.   Can you guess my type?

• INTP
  • Orangutan
    • solitary, slothlike and prone to ponder questions
• ENTP
  • Chimp
    • they like to throw feces at you
• ENTJ
  • German Shephard
    • they like to bark orders
• INTJ
  • Panther
    • solitary, silent and deadly
• ENFJ
  • Prairie Dog
    • they talk a lot and are always busy, and are as cute button
• INFJ
  • Owl
    • they gaze upon others while analyzing their every action
• INFP
  • Platypus
    • mysterious and misunderstood
• ENFP
  • Hyena
    • they like to travel in packs and laugh a lot
• ESTP
  • Wolf
    • also like to travel in packs and laugh, but are more likely bite
• ESFP
  • Rabbit
    • they love reproducing as frequently as possible
• ISTP
  • Snake
    • predators that can bite if handled improperly
• ISFP
  • Panda
    • cute, lovable, lazy and harmless
• ESFJ
  • Magpie
    • loves gossiping, high on their moral perch
• ISFJ
  • Beaver
    • cute hardworking mammals that love a comfortable home
• ISTJ
  • Oxen
    • stubborn but handles a heavy workload without complaining
• ESTJ
  • Border Collie
    • good at mobilizing disorganized hordes

Bronco’s
3015 North 16th Street
Phoenix, AZ?

- Owners:  Ken and Glenn

1981 ~ 19??

Country Western Neighborhood Bar