PhillyBlog - Philadelphia - View Single Post

Cajunmoon · #25 (**permalink**) 09-24-2007, 07:45 PM

I’ve been away from the Philadelphia Gay Scene since I moved to South Florida in 1984 but I return to the city frequently and get out on occasion and must agree that the “gayborhood” is quite compartmentalized compared to what the Philadelphia Gay nightlife use to be in the 70s and 80s.

The gay scene was not always predominantly east of Broad Street, it stretched west and south and into South Jersey as well with many clubs and diversity.

I remember a lot of them:

Allegro was on Spruce Street between Broad and 15th on the south side. The Westbury use to be in the Westbury building on 15th street and was a very active place where such notables as Richard Deacon (Mel from Dick Van Dyke Show) would congregate. Then there was the Mystique which was a great bar that burned down. And who can forget the wonderful Steps, located on Delancey Place off 16th Street between Spruce and Pine. Further up on 17th Street just south of Locust on the East side of the street was the 247.
There was a gay club in South Philly I believe it was called the RAR which was a fun place to visit.

When you got east of Broad Street the nightlife continued with Equus (currently 12th Air Command) which in its day was the place to go and be seen. It is said that Karen Young kick started her career there with her hit single “Hot Shot.” I worked at Equus in those days when Karen use to play piano and sing during happy hour downstairs. The upstairs bar was always packed and their T-Dance was a huge success on Sundays. After Equus closed people would flock to the DCA (currently Pure and formerly 2-4 Club after DCA) and dance the night away. Another club on Walnut Street Rainbows was immensely popular in those days and also after hours like the DCA and The Catacombs below Second Story.

Not only has the internet but health concerns have also taken away a lot of the glitz of days gone by as well as the overall atmosphere of the world and the seemingly great numbers of bizarre and dangerous people walking the streets. Folks use to trick out and go home with total strangers more so than today.

Across the Ben Franklin Bridge was a small gay club called The Lamplighter which was located off the lobby of one of the high rise apartments that stands to the left of the toll both when you enter NJ which still stands today. It was at that bar that I met my lover in 1976 and I am happy to say that 31 years later we are still together.

Nothing is forever and the gay night life in South Florida, specifically Fort Lauderdale has also diminished. Clubs like The Copa, Marlin Beach, Backstreet, Lefty’s, 826, Tacky’s and The Colliseum are all a thing of the past.

Thanks for letting me share. I am sure I left out some clubs and if some of you out there from that era would share it would be a hoot to hear from you.