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HIGH GEAR

STAFF

September, 1975

HIGH GEAR newspaper is a publication of the Gay Educational & Awareness Resources (GEAR) Foundation, of Cleveland, Ohio. It is distributed free of charge in any establishment and with any organization, that will permit distribution. We are a non-profit publication, and all proceeds not used to pay the printing costs and service fees are set aside for the use of the GEAR Foundation's Community Center.

The presence of the name or picture or other representation of an organization, place of business, or persons(s) in HIGH GEAR is not necessarily indicative of the sexual orientation of such organizations, businesses, or persons, and may not be used as evidence of the sexual orientation of any contributors.

We welcome all contributions of written materials, art work, or photography, by members of the gay community. All materials submitted for publication are subject to editorialization, unless directed to the FORUM column. We cannot guarantee the return of any materials submitted for publication, whether used by HIGH GEAR, or not, unless it is accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Anyone interested in working on the staff of HIGH GEAR, should inquire by calling, 631-5330, or writing to HIGH GEAR STAFF, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101.

Businesses or organizations wishing to advertise in HIGH GEAR, may obtain advertising rate sheets and other information by calling 631-5330, or writing to Advertising, HIGH GEAR, P.O. Box 6177, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101.

The deadline for HIGH GEAR publication dates is as follows:

Advertising by the 20th of

every month, camera-ready and composition ads.

Written material by the 25th

of every month.

News items until publication.

✰✰ LETTERS ✩✩

Dear Editor:

Mick

Roses to the following people: (Bartender, Leather Stallion), Dorian (Leather Stallion) and to Mr. X (a Cleveland cop, para-medic, funeral director, and member of

the gay community).

Each of the above gentlemen should receive a dozen roses from the gay community. On Friday, September 25, 1975, after the Stallion closed, there was an accident on St. Clair involving a. biker from the Stallion and Mick. Mick, Mr. X, and Dorian who were on their way to the 620 stopped to help the biker. Mick and Dorian directed traffic, Mr. X saw to the needs of the injured biker.

After the biker was taken to the hospital, Dorian and Mr. X, and another Stallion took the biker's wheels into safe keeping. Mick and Mr. X went to the hospital to see how the biker was going. He was in good condition.

It's acts of unity like this which make me proud of being gay. Everyone could have left Mick and the biker alone, and not have bothered with them.

But when members of the gay community like Mr. X and Dorian have the guts to help a fellow gay when he is in trouble, then there is hope for the community after all.

As for Mr. X whoever you are, I hope you are around when I might need you. The really beautiful part about it, was when Mr. X flashed his piece of tin and everyone immediately changed their attitudes. The cops on the scene were respectful, the firemen were gentler than they might have been. Also there was no hassling, even with the Stallion colors showing.

To Mick, Dorian, and Mr. X, you make me feel proud that I

am gay.

Respectfully yours, E.M. Campbell Cleveland, Ohio

Dear Editor:

Managing Editors

Advertising

Photography.

General Staff..

...John Nosek, Loen Stevens .A.G. Madigan

...Robert Keith, Matt Phillips

.Rudolf Haaken, Jerry Jusczyk,

Marc Lewis, D. Lorenz, Art MacDonald, Donna Minkler, Matt Phillips, Anne Ritchey, Ray Unger.

Published by......

The Gay Educational and Awareness Resources Center

Circulation: 10,000

Distribution: Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Columbus, Dayton, Kent, Lima, Toledo, Warren, Youngstown

I am writing in regard to your article "Bar hopping Through the Midwest" which appeared in your Sept, edition. As an experienced "bar-fly", I wish to take issue with your reporters observations in both Detroit and Chicago. Although I do not know the author of the article, he has got to be associated with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association from the sound of it.

It is true that Chicago has bars which could be directly compared with some of Cleveland's, but then doesn't every major city? Your reporters have made no mention of the neighborhood bars in Chicago .which make up a major part of their bar scene. Such bars are the Snake Pit, Shari's, Carrol's Coming Out Pub, Butterfly, Glory Hole, Knight Out, and the Kings Ransom to name only a few. These do not include any in the western suburbs which has a gay scene almost separate from that of Chicago. You also make no mention of the excellent gay restaurants such as My Brothers Place, Le Pub dining room, Grubstake, and the Up North.

The city of Detroit offers the bar goer quite a change from what Cleveland has to offer. Monday night is the go-go boy contest at the Cafe Gigi. Monday night gays also are admitted free to the Rooster Tail Disco on the Detroit River which is beyond compare in this part of the country. Then there are the bars such as Gold Coast, Adobe, Blueboy, and probably one of the oldest and most popular bars in the Midwest, The Woodward. For years visitors have heard Andy proclaim "Tonight's the night", or "Get yourself a hot one". Also, there is no mention of the breakfast at Tiffany's on Sundays. Tiffany's probably the hottest bar in Detroit presently, is known best for their Sunday afternoons when everyone no matter what their plans are for the day, stops in to see what's happening. All day long they offer drink specials, (with each record, a different drink is on special). This goes on all afternoon and it's really an experience.

In Chicago on a Sunday, there is even more to choose from. Carrols has drink specials all day and a simple, but free buffet late in the afternoon. The Gold Coast has movies (two showings) and drink specials as does Le Pub and Sundays, (also

the name of a popular Chicago bar you failed to mention). The major bars stay open until 5 a.m. on Saturday nights.

In Cleveland we cannot do much about bar hours but we can do something about the bar themselves. In Detroit there is an association of gay businesses of which most of the bars and baths belong to. The Escape Lounge, your "first runner-up", is not a member. This association, the BTI, has brought organization to the entire scene and all have benefited. The bar owners are not the fierce competitors like they once were and instead have dedicated themselves to the gay cause. Twice each summer they sponsor picnics at Warsaw Park in the distant suburbs and people come from four states as well as Ontario by the thousands. Obviously they couldn't come (excuse the pun), if they didn't enjoy themselves.

Cleveland COULD be the same way. Thanks to Jack Campbell, Jerry Batel, and Tiffany Jones, we are making headway. The Bayou Landing is the biggest thing we've seen in a long time. They post going-ons in other cities, have free movies during the week, and for a change, give you a decent drink. Your article seems to knock the idea of gimmicks but why? If the gimmicks are done during the week, more people will come out on a weeknight. As things are now, why should they go downtown just so they can find themselves as 1 of 10 people in the bar. For example, try to move around in the 620 when they have a drag show. It might be a gimmick but Bruno makes lots of money, we see lots of people, and everyone has a good time. Who knows, you might even meet someone INTERESTING...! Without a doubt, gimmicks is what we need to bring out a weeknight crowd. The bars will always have their weekends and the bar owners know it.

So reporters of High Gear, next time you decide to go bar hopping, PLEASE invite me along. I'm sure I'll be able to show you around. How about Columbus or Toledo next weekend? If we leave right now we can be there by....!

For a gayer Cleveland, R. Bryan Steppe The Watergate 26151 Lake Shore Blvd. Euclid, Ohio

Leon Stevens replies: It is true I did not mention the "neighborhood bars" of Chicago but I also did not mention the "neighborhood bars" here such as Godmother's II and the Nantucket. Chicago features a gay information service listed in the phone directory which recommended a number of bars for their current popularity. This source reported that The Snake Pit was 'just that, a pit." The same was said of of its etymological relative, The Glory Hole. People I talked to at Le Pub said the food was overpriced and rather bland. And I could have seen the movie at The Gold Coast but "I've already seen "Spartacus" several times.

I understand both from straight and gay sources in Detroit that although The Rooster Tail features some decorative gays, it is now frequented largely by a straight clientele. While in Detroit, several gay Detroiters cited Menjo's to me as the "in" place, and the Escape Lounge as its second. Perhaps the establishments you mention have more character than patronage (which may well be to their credit).

Bryan, you also accused me of knocking gimmicks. I did not intend to. I like them but they are not always worth a hundred mile pilgrimage.

I still believe despite your objections, our sister cities were rendered justice. If I am in league with The Greater Cleveland Growth Association so must be Time magazine which listed Cleveland as an excellent place to live whereas Chicago and Detroit were respectively rated good and adequate. In any case, can only an Iscariot praise Cleveland?

One promise though, the next time I go cruising in foreign ports, I'll be sure to consult your expertise first. By the way, thanks for reading HEAR GEAR. It is a true pleasure to be so elegantly and eloquently grilled.