HIGH GEAR

July, 1975

An Interview With Cleveland's Bar Managers

The bars are the center of gay social life in Cleveland. Their openings, closings, offerings of entertainment, contests, or other special events directly affect all of the city's gay population. As part of High Gear's continuing efforts to increase communication within the gay community, we held an interview with four of Cleveland's bar managers to guage their views on the current bar and social scene. We wish again to thank the owners for their co-operation and to encourage such exchanges on similair subjects in the future.

JSN: AS AN INVESTOR IN A BUSINESS LIKE THE GAY BAR, DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE TAKING A CHANCE OF EVENTUALLY GOING OU OF BUSINESS BECAUSE OF "HE TRANSITORY POLARITY OF MAJOR BARS? BAR 1: As far as Cleveland goes, a bar can last as long as ten years or more. There doesn't appear to be that much of a changeover here because of the generally conservative climate. I think gays as most people prefer familair surroundings. Actually, we welcome competition because each bar in itself is a distinct personality.

BAR 2: Yes, there is some risk involved in running a gay bar. The length of the existence of a bar denends on the type of bar you have. Generally, I would estimate a bar's life span at about five years. Some owners may buy another bar or change the kind of establishment they have to insure success. BAR 3: The popularity of gay bars goes up and down. The gay crowd is not a loyal crowd to any one bar. They go where the action is and that is usually the latest thing.

BAR 4 I would estimate the life span of a gay bar to be about three years. As an investment, it is somewhat of a risk. I feel also that as more bars come into the Cleveland area, every bar's life span will decrease.

JSN: HAVE YOU EVER HAD "O DEAL WITH POLICE HARASSMENT OF YOUR CLIENTELE?

BAR 1: Not at all. The only place the police ever get tough is at the parks or the mall, and this is not so much to harass gays as to prevent muggings or other crime.

BAR 2: No problems with the police.

BAR 3: We've never had any problems.

BAR 4: No conflicts. For the most part, gays mind their own business. I think the police realize there are more important things to do with their time.

JSN: HAVE YOU EVER HAD STRAIGHT PEOPLE COME IN AND HARASS YOUR CLIENTELE?

BAR 1: Because of our location, we are not really accesible to straight people. A bar on a major thoroughfare or one surrounded by commercial establishments might be more sesceptible to such a problem.

BAR 2: Sometimes, we have to deal with harassment, but lately because gays are banding together more, straights are harassed right back.

BAR 3: Straight people generally don't walk in off the street. They know where they're going.

BAR 4: We don't allow any type of straight-to-gay harassment here. Straights who don't bother gays are welcome, though .not encouraged.

JSN: IT IS SOMETIMES SAID THAT TO ADMIT WOMEN TO A GAY BAR IS THE KISS OF DEATH FOR THE FUTURE OF THAT BAR. DO YOU FEEL THIS IS TRUE?

BAR 1: We try to cater to the customers and give them what they want. Well mannered and dressed women don't cause trouble. The formula that works, however, is the successful one.

BAR 2: My personal opinion which may not be representative of the owner's is that if you allow straight women in, then straight men will surely follow. And that is when the trouble starts, because a straight man who is looking for a woman and is approached by a gay man will possibly resist hostily and a fight may result.

BAR 3: Yes, I think admitting women is a problem. "hey tend to divide the gay crowd. In addition, the men don't relax as well with women there. They might feel they have to watch their language and can't act as freely.

It totally

BAR 4: No way is permitting women in a problem. depends on the women coming. We have one straight woman who is a regular here, and she's probably the most popular person at the bar.

JSN: HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF ADDING ENTER'AINMENT TO YOUR BARS, IE., GO-GO BOYS, CONCERTS, ETC?

BAR 1: Usually, drag shows are the only thing we do, and it's because the customers want it. We don't make a profit from them. So far as go-go boys are concerned, we don't feel our operational environment is conducive to that. It probably would not go over.

BAR 2: No. A band often brings in straights and is difficult to dance to. If you see go-go boys once, you don't want to see them again.

AR 3 I don't think entertainment is necessary at a bar. eople come in here to get to know one another, not to see a how.

AR 4: As a matter of fact, yes. We are giving more thought o general entertainment. We have go-go boys now and are lanning other events for the future

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John Nos

JSN: ALCOHOLISM IS A SOCIAL DISEASE "HA" SEEMS TO PERVADE EVERY LIFE STYLE IN AMERICA. DO YOU FEEL THAT ALL BARSWHETHER STRAIGHT OR GAY CONTRIBUTE TO HIS PROBLEM BY CHARGING HIGH PRICES FOR SOFT DRINKS AND NOT OFFERING OTHER NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES SUCH AS COFFEE?

BAR 1 Alcoholism can't be blamed on the hars. Advertising. personal problems, etc. have more to do with the illness. Frankly, we charge high prices for cokes because we are here to make money. If we charged a quarter for a coke, that is all people would buy. When someone is drunk and needs coffe it is available, but we don't make a general practice of distribution.

BAR 21 We have coffee and give it out free. Sometimes we refuse drinks and offer coffee to those who need it. The bars don't contribute to alcoholism. An alcoholic will drink anywhere.

BAR 3 I don't think bars promote alcoholism. It is not something that comes solely from drinking. We have soft drinks available. If someone wants that alternative, it's here.

BAR 4 We charge 304 for a soft drink and 754 for a mixed drink, thus giving people fair options. No bar contributes to alcoholism. Alcohol can be purchased anywhere at price far less than in a bar. JSN: DO YOU SEE ANY ROLE FOR THE BARS IN THE GAY COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF BEING NIGHT SPOTS FOR SOCIAL CONTACTS?

BAR 1: We do personal things for people in trouble: provide bail for those jailed for drunk driving. loaning people emer gency funds, etc. We also hope we help in communication by distributing High Gear. Most of our work, however, is done on an individual basis.

BAR 21 We provide other social outlets. We have a baseball team and a future bowling team. We also distribute the newspaper.

BAR 3 What other functions should we have? I don't really know if there are any other functions.

BAR 4: I'd like to see bar owners get together and do picnic or a concert. We make plenty of money off the people. Let's return some of it to the community. Maybe we could even charge admission and put it in a kitty for future use by gays for emergencys. However all the bars would need to co-operate in such a venture. No one bar can raise enough money to support everyone.

JSN WHAT ARE YOUR GENERAL IMPRESSIONS OF THE CLEVELAND GAY SCENE?

BAR 1: So far as individual life styles are concerned, the gay scene here is conservative. We never have violence or destruction of property and this is a positive reflection or the community as a whole.

BAR 2: The gay scene here is getting better all the time, although the bars should so-operate more with each other. Younger gays who are just coming out are changing the past conservative gay life styles and in the long run, this will benefit the greater gay community.

BAR 3 Cleveland is not a lively town, straight or gay. I' a family town, good for business. Overall, everything is conservative. The gay life is no exception.

BAR 4 High Gear is a very positive and needed addition to the gay community. The gays here also seem to be getting more together and making it easier for newcomers to feel comfortable. I think the Cleveland gay scene has a bright future.

Fellowship Metropolitan

Community Church

Study roup

Meeting at 2600 Church St.

Sunday Worship 8 P.M.

Call 631:5330