Page 14

HIGH GEAR/SEPTEMBER 1978

DOING AMERICA

FIRE ISLAND

Fire Island, as many of you already know, is the wildest summer resort in the state of

New York. Located some 50

miles east of Manhattan, it is less than a mile wide, and separated from the southside of Long Island by about four miles

of water called the Great South Bay. Both Cherry Grove and The Pines are about 75% gay, and although only a mile apart, there is a world of difference.

No private motor vehicles are permitted on the island, but there are a number of ways to get there.

You can drive, take the New York to Sayville, then catch the first fairy you see.. I mean ferry... to either community. You can also go by excursion boat, or take Pelham Airways, which offers frequent daily service.

On a recent visit I went in real style, thanks to Bob and Bill, two great guys who own the very popular Club Baths at 24 First Avenue in N.Y.C. They arranged to have Harry Frank, who runs a private charter (Jersey City Seaplanes) pick me up at the end of the East 23rd Street Pier. From the co-pilot's seat, I was afforded a spectacular view of Manhattan's skyline, as we soared (just barely) over Queensborough Bridge, headed east past LaGuardia Airport, and landed 25 minutes later at The Pines.

With no landing dock, you must take your shoes off, roll up your pants and wade into shore. There was met by their houseboy, who escorted me over the 'roller coaster' boardwalk to their luxurious 2-story Long Island style 'cottage.' We spent a perfect day swimming in a heated pool, walking on the

NEL

beach and lunching on the terrace. Late in the afternoon, everyone heads down to the 'tea dance' disco at the Blue Whale, which lasts until 7:30, and is

jam-packed with some very hotlooking jocks. This is harborside at the Boatel Motel, probably the best place to stay on the island if you aren't visiting friends.

After a 'siesta' and dinner with

neighbors, we took one of the small speedboats which zoom back and forth between here and Cherry Grove. The Grove, which is older and more commercial, attracts many tourists, while the Pines prefers its unspoiled, but eroding tranquility. The Ice Palace is a large barnlike super disco overflowing with gay guys, lesbians and straights. A $5 cover is good for two drinks. The nearby Monster is smaller, but gets a more macho crowd, while The Island Queen attracts an older clientele. Modest accommodations are available at the Beach Hotel, Cherry Grove Inn and Sea Shack. Most serve meals, as does Anabelle's (formerly Tiger Lily's), but don't expect too much.

Back at The Pines, the Sand Piper gets a good late night crowd, with disco dancing and cruising. Next door is the Cultured Elephant, serving snacks and sandwiches. For horny young studs, the footpaths and bushes between Cherry Grove and The Pines is where it's at, especially if you are orally orientated, or don't mind a little sand in your lube. 'Meat-racks' at either community can also be very rewarding.

The lifestyle on Fire Island is extremely casual and very tolerant. The straight minority thinks nothing of seeing two lovers kissing or walking handin-hand. Most everyone smokes pot openly, or carries a drink with them. This is a great resort, equally with the young and adventurous or the rich and ready. Whoever wrote "Never the twain shall meet" had obviously not had the good fortune to visit New York's fun and sun island, where everyone is hot and someone's fire is always burning.

MILWAUKEE

I used to think Milwaukee was

for der Schlitz Miller's and Pabst too, for that matter-. Not long ago, it was a big city with a small town complex. But now most of that has changed, and whatever your scene, you should be able to find it in Milwaukee. I can easily skip it during the winter, but that holds true for much of the country as

HAIRCUTTING WAVING well. For the rest of the year it is

17124 Detroit

1846 Coventry

By Appointment

521-2611 371-1627

generally very pleasant.

Unfortunately, a very sad incident occurred here on May 6th, last, and people from Madison to Chicago are avoiding it. This is nonsense, but at any rate, here is what happened. At about 3:30 a.m., twelve officers (some un-

By BOB DAMRON

dercover with membership cards) raided the Broadway Health Club, a bath at 158 No. Broadway, strong-arming their way past the attendant, who later required seventeen stitches. Eighteen men were arrested and hauled off to jail in paddy wagons. All of this was accomplished in the best Nazi radition without a police warrant.

What will be the outcome of this travesty on justice? Both gay papers, the G.P.U. News and Milwaukee Calendar, as well as most of the bars, have rallied support. Benefits are being held to raise funds, and five defense attorneys have been retained. Other stories of police harassment, jailing, jay-walkers, etc., seem to be greatly exaggerated, although at least one of the bars had their liquor license checked during business hours. I was told that a newly appointed police captain may hold a vendetta against the Broadway's owner, but we must all be concerned that this sort of thing does not happen again in the future.

Needless to say, this has hurt the club and adjoining disco, On Broadway (formerly the Factory). Most of the boogie bunch are

now fluctuating between Kisses, 132 E. Juneau, Baron at 625 E. St. Paul or Your Place, 813 So. Water Street. The latter known as the 'Y.P.' has only a small dance floor, but both front and back rooms are quite cruisy. Other fun bars with dancing are the Ball Game, 196 So. 2nd St., C'Est La Vie, 231 So. 2nd. St., Finale, Ten Hundred East and Oregon House.

The Wreck Room, 266 E. Erie at Menomonee, is Milwaukee's first levi, leather and western bar. It is a hot place, frequented by some humpy looking uninhibited jocks. Just around the corner at Erie and Water, is the M & M Club, vastly improved since my last visit. Last but not least of the men's cruise bars is This Is It, and very available. The Circus is no longer gay, and you can forget the Mint. For Ms. Milwaukee, the Sugar Shack at 135 E. National is currently tops, while the friendly Beer Garden, 3743 W. Vliet, serves snacks and Sunday brunch. Three new, but as yet untried, restaurants are Mr. Ric's, Rainbow Grille and The Sideboard at the M & M Some John Ernst (all German), Fox & Hound's, Le Bistro, Nantucket Shores, Boder's on the River, English Room at the Hotel

Pfister, and Old Town, serving gourmet Serbian food that will tempt even the tiredest of taste buds. Alas, the great Frenchie's is no longer.

The most popular baths (especially now) are C.B.C.'S Club Milwaukee, 704-A West Wisconsin (enter thru rear parking lot) or the old Club Finlandia. For books, try Beck's at 753 No. Plankinton or Paradise at 225 No. Water St. There are no gay hotels, and Antler's which was notorious back in the early sixties, is best forgotten. I find the Downtowner or Ramada Inn comfortable and convenient.

First time visitors may want to see the Milwaukee Art Center Zoo, Marquette University, Warnimont Park, Cudahy 'B.A.' Beach or tour one of the breweries. A good time to visit is during 'Summerfest,' which takes place for ten days in July. So, don't let the "Great Milwaukee Bust" dissuade you from visiting here, and if you want, as I have done, send a contribution to Gay Peoples Union, Farwell Center, 1568 N. Farwell, Milwaukee, Wisc., 53202. As one bar owner aptly put it "Hold on friends, better days are ahead."

"OUTRAGEOUS" ISN'T REALLY

by ANTHONY SCAFARO

"Outrageous" is a movie that tries to show that it is all right to be crazy, gay, a drag queen or anything you bloody well please. The problem is that by lumping all of these things together the movie misses its own point.

Yes, we can agree, that welladjusted gay people and transvestites don't do anyone any harm, but it is difficult to concede that crazy people don't need help.

The story is about Robin (Craig Russel), a gay hair. dresser, who secretly yearns to be a female impersonator. Into his life and apartment settles Lisa, a very straight and very screwed up person, who has just been released from or escaped from Morningside Mental Hospital.

It is at this point that writer/director Richard Benner attempts to show how Robin

supports the schizophrenic Lisa and helps her to become a functioning human being. Meanwhile, Lisa is aiding Robin to discover his real nature as a important message here is that female impersonator. Another love transcends sexuality.

Well, the plot continues, and Robin moves from Toronto to New York and is on his way to behind and gets pregnant (not becoming successful. Lisa stays from Robin) and remains mentally unstable.

They finally get back together in New York. Lisa supposedly fits in there because, of course, everyone is crazy in New York

City. Robin is doing fine because he's finally being true to himself.

The point is supposed to be that they both have "a healthy case of craziness." However, Robin's craziness is shown to be a unique talent; Lisa's on the other hand, is plain and simple madness.

We are supposed to believe that each one has helped the other to realize their own individuality, even though Robin seems to have thrived in spite of Lisa. At the end of the movie,

Lisa is still very much a child. It is important to note that, while "Outrageous!" does not work very well as a film, Craig Russel works very well as a female impersonator.

Female inpersonation is an art, and when Russel is playing Mae West, Barbra Streisand or Bette Davis, his is enthralling. During his club act, Craig Russel is versatile and entertaining and is the only reason to see this film.

Craig Russel, star of Outrageous! now showing at the Cedar-Lee Theatre, Cleveland