Gay life is nurtured in many a bar

By Jane Scott.

Gay bars are a bad scene, some older gays say. The places are demoralizing meat racks, just a place for a pickup, they declare.

"That's not so," said Sam Crookshanks, 25, the manager of Traxx, 1812 Payne Ave. "They're places to socialize, to relax without being hasseled. To meet new friends."

"Where else would I meet them? In a church social?" asked Tim, 19, an Ohio State freshman.

Traxx has modern lettering on the door, but otherwise looks like any other saloon in the area. It's set beside a police parking lot, amid bars and billboards.

But in four months Traxx has become the swingiest gay bar in the city. And, it is the only one with a roof garden.

Stars sparkled in the sky. Strings of colored lights twinkled overhead. Patrons sat in the cool breeze at six

One of a series

picnic tables. You could almost forget the faded Cleveland Gas Incinerator sign on the abutting wall.

"Our clientele is youngish, from 18 to 28, but I'd say most of them are from 20 to 26," said Sam.

"This is the third bar I've managed. First the old Dante's (2948 W. 25th St.) and then Twiggy's (2537 St. Clair)."

(Dante's, which had advertised as "a hell of a place to meet," closed down about seven years ago, shortly after a holdup killing outside. Twiggy's is temporarily closed because of a fallen ceiling.) *

It's Friday night. Gay hot line volunteers Jim and Don are escorting me on the tour. Men in shorts or leisure suits come up to the roof garden and talk quietly. Three gay women come in and sit at the side, their eyes a little wary.

Part of the Traxx success is the decor. Part-owner Hank Berger has put in Tiffany shades, Tiffany mirrors and hanging flower baskets. Although the space is tight, he has a bar, dance floor and booth section downstairs and two bars upstairs.

A bulletin board downstairs shows

el

The

Gay

Scene

鐵質

TRAXX

TRAXX

The Plain Dealer/Mitchoel J. Zarembo

Traxx, a recently remodeled bar at 1812 Payne Ave., draws the biggest gay business in the downtown area. At left, Sam, the manager.

that Tuesday is a wine and cheesetasting night.

In the back booth a young blond man who could have passed for Farrah Fawcett-Majors' brother was telling a department store displayman his problems.

"My mom is real cool. She knows about me, but I'll have to keep things quiet if I want to get into medical school. I had a couple of people try to blackmail me last year, and I really went through hell. But I feel good now," he said.

"Did you see the bumper sticker, 'Squeeze a fruit for Anita'? Maybe she'll help us organize enough and be the best man on our team," said his companion.

Traxx has a softball team. It played a lesbian bar group and lost.. But, commercially it's a real winner.

Each gay bar has its own atmosphere, drawing different types of people for different reasons.

The Shaker House in the former Caminati restaurant at Shaker Square appeals to a slightly older crowd.

Wright, a neat, lanky youth in tennis shoes, sat by the side door, screening people coming in.

"We don't like straights to come in and gawk,” he explained.

Upstairs is a comfortable lounge with sofas and chairs and a short, curved bar. It's early, only about 11. p.m., and the crowd hasn't started to gather yet.

Downstairs is the disco area. A large oval bar dominates the room, with the dancing area to the side. Eric, a good-looking man in his 20s,

Continued on Page 20

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