Reno
LGBTQ Life in Reno, Nevada: 1969-2009
(c) Jeffery Auer, 2009
Timeline:
-June 28, 1969 - LGBTQ life in Reno centers around Dave's V.I.P. Bar at 3001 w. 4th Street, The Reno Bar at 424 E. 4th Street, the Sunnyside Bar at 8100 W. 4th Street, and the Club Baths at 1030 W. 2nd Street. Catering to the traveling community is the Westside Hotel which is in front of Dave's V.I.P.
1970 – Tavern Guild of San Francisco holds its Sept 15 meeting at [Dave’s VIP Club and the Westside Motel.
The Ladder moves its publication hq from San Francisco to Sparks
1971 – The Jade Room – 214 W. Commercial Row – (Owned by Jim Pitt) – currently Reno Mini Mart opens.
The Trapp – 5201 W. 4th Street – dancing, mixed (owned by Mike & Clay) opens. Club 99 – 1099 S. Virginia – mixed, ref as being new. Still there still same name opens. Rainbow Room – 2081 E. 4th Street. Opens[1]
1972 - Pacific Bar – 1278 S. Virginia St opens
June 7 – Several lesbians goto Sacramento MCC to inquire about wedding. Head back to Reno and start holding a “rap session” in Reno with several men. Covered in the Advocate.
The Ladder folds with last issue in Aug-Sept
January 1975 - Bill Harrah see’s Frisco Follies Drag Show in San Francisco and against the city council’s wishes brings the show to Harrah’s. . The show was started in 1965-66 in Philadelphia by Jamie James and moved to California. It starts out at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe and moves to Harrah's in Reno in the spring.
May-June 1975 - Reno is profiled in a piece by the gay travel magazine Ciao.
1975The "Imperial Court" system, which is active in many cities across America, asked their "Empress and Emperor" to raise money for charity. Emperor I of that year in Reno, Phil Ragsdale decided to make money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He came up with the idea for a gay rodeo for fundraising.
1976
First Reno Gay Rodeo. 125 people show up. BAR 7-19-84
“He did finally land the Washoe County Fairgrounds for October 2, 1976 and then could not get any local ranchers to allow gays the use of their animals. Finally, on October 1, 1976, he was able to locate five "wild" range cows, ten "wild" range calves, one pig, and a Shetland pony. Over 125 people took part in this "first" event and the winners were crowned; first, "King of the Cowboys," second, "Queen of the Cowgirls," and third, "Miss Dusty Spurs" (the drag queen). It was great fun and a minor success.” Ibid
1977 Calvi’s – 73 N. Sierra (didn’t last long) Paul’s Lounge – 132 West St.
Second Reno Gay Rodeo profiled in Alternate magazine Vol. 1 #1 November – references 1,000 attendees. BAR downsizes this to 400. “Ragsdale added several new twists to the 1977 version of this rodeo/fundraiser. He founded the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association and his rodeo project became the National Reno Gay Rodeo. Following the Imperial Court's lead, Ragsdale added the "Mr., Ms., and Miss National Reno Gay Rodeo" contest to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The 1977 rodeo, although still small, with its new twists donated $214.00 to MDA under the name of "Reno Gay Liberation." The National Reno Gay Rodeo became a total new outlet for the gay community and created a dual party, "emerging Gay Liberation mixed into a Country/Western party" and "24-hour casinos." Dance troupes from the gay community found an arena to show off their stuff. Square dancing, clogging, formation line dancing, and the rebirth of the two-step made the nights into fabulous parties!” IBID
1978 Roughrider – 7350 W. 4th St. Idlewild Park
3rd Annual Reno Gay Rodeo makes it into July 78 Vegas Gay Times, September 20 1978 The Advocate, November 1978 Alternate, November/December 1978 In Touch June 3 - Hello Hollywood Hello opens at the new MGM Grand many gay men and women move to Reno who are involved with putting on this massive show.
1979
Forum Disco – B at Kietzke Lane in Sparks
Fire at Club Baths
Police start crackdown on Idlewild Park according to Aug 79 Vegas Gay Times
Photo of Reno Gay Rodeo float in SF gay pride parade in Aug 79 Vegas Gay Times
4th Annual Reno - Gay Rodeo makes it into September 1979 Vegas Gay Times, Vol. 1 #2 Bunkhouse 1980 (reference 3,000-5,000 attendees)
1980 The fifth annual Reno Rodeo makes it into September 18 issue of The Advocate. 6,500 onlookers, 4,000 goto Barn dance. Biggest article so far and cover of January 1981 In Touch.
- 81 IT.jpg.
- 81 IT.jpg.
1981 County Commissioner Belie Williams protests the rodeo suggesting holding it on State grounds would be approval of gay lifestyles. Dist. Attorney’s office gives the go ahead. (Advocate August 6, 1981) New York Travel Company takes out ad for packages to the rodeo (Aug 6, 81 Advocate) The event breaks all records and 17,000 people show up. (9-17-81 Advocate)
1982 Joan Rivers is Grand Marshall of the Reno Rodeo – 22,000 people attend (9-16-82 Advocate). Photo essay of this event is captured for the February 1983 Numbers magazine.
“1982 was dominated by Colorado and brought another change to Ragsdale's rodeo: contestants who wanted standardized rodeo rules so they would feel that they were competing on an equal basis. Many contestants from the previous five years did not return for competition. The Mr., Ms., and Miss National Reno Gay Rodeo contestants were no longer comfortable raising large numbers of dollars just for MDA. Texas in particular was disappointed in this area and decided not to return in 1983.”
1983
Frisco Follies closes
Reference to Reno Rodeo attendance being down due to AIDS, interference from the Pro Family Christian Coalition. “So 1983's version of Mr., Ms., and Miss National Reno Gay Rodeo allowed contestants to designate 50% to MDA and 50% to a gay-related charity of their choice. Most chose the AIDS Foundation. 1983 also saw the largest number of dance groups ever assembled at a gay rodeo and the grandstands filled with over 12,000 people. The lack of consistent rules continued to create problems in the arena.”
1984 Gay Life by Lavendar Press begins publication
“By 1984, the ninth and final National Reno Gay Rodeo still brought over 10,000 people to the rodeo grounds and thousands more to Reno for the gambling and nighttime parties. The IRS credits the demise of this rodeo to a dispute with Washoe County Fairgrounds and the Sands Hotel along with the purported seizure of the rodeo books.”
1986 – October 1986 Bohemian Bugle
Terry’s Sub Shop – 212 Commercial
Roulette Motel – 352 E. Lake
Five Star Saloon – 132 West Street – Still going
Bar West – 210 Commercial
Rumpus Room Bar (w/Mexican Restaurant) – 424 E. 4th Street
Visions Bar – 3001 W. 4th Street – Still going. Used to be Dave’s VIP Club
Chute No. 1 (bar, laundry facilities) – 1278 S. Virginia
Saddle Room (downstairs bar) – 1278 S. Virginia
Chute Shop (leather, gift shop) – 1278 S. Virginia
Club Baths – 1030 W. 2nd Street – Becomes Jeff’s Gym by 1989 (In Touch)
The Outback (bar) - 7350 W. 4th Street – by 1989 become two places, The Barracks & Floyd’s (There were hotel rooms in addition to the bar)
The Ice House (disco, bar) – 310 Spokane
1987 First gay pride festival Rock Park in Sparks. Small but fun.
1989 April 18 – Hello Hollywood Hello closes In Touch magazine does a profile piece on Reno
1991 Gay night at the Zoo started
1993 October – Sierra Voice magazine started
Sodomy is decriminalized in the state of Nevada.
1997 First gay pride parade, down Virginia St. It was well accepted.
2001 - Reno Outlands magazine starts
2006 - Reno Outlands folds.
Reno Rodeo comes back for first and last time? It was small and not well attended. A couple hundred people at most.
2007 - Reno Out Magazine starts up.
January 2009 - Reno Out magazine folds.
February 2009 - Reflections at the site of the oldest gay bar in Reno closes.
- ↑ The Gay Insider USA
