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 – Vector magazine does a profile piece on Reno in the March issue.

The Tavern Guild of San Francisco holds its Sept 15 meeting at Dave's V.I.P. 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 Ten99 – 1099 S. Virginia – opens, starts out mixed straight and gay dancing

Rainbow Room – 2081 E. 4th Street. Opens

1972 - January California Scene does a profile piece on Nevada.

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 the August/September issue.

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.“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.” ^[1]

1977 Calvi’s – 73 N. Sierra opens.

Paul’s Lounge – 132 West Street opens.

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!”

1978 Roughrider – 7350 W. 4th Street opens. Idlewild Park - becomes notorious for gay male cruising.

June 3 - Hello Hollywood Hello opens at the new MGM Grand Hotel many gay men and women move to Reno who are involved with putting on this massive show.

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 Touchmagazines.

1979 Forum Disco – B at Kietzke Lane in Sparks opens.

There is a fire at the 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 go to Barn dance. Biggest article so far and cover of January 1981 In Touch.

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 and interference from the Pro Family Christian Coalition. The Great American Yankee Freedom Band of Los Angeles opens the rodeo. “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.”[1]

1984 - “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.”[2]

1986 – According to the Bohemian Bugle gay life in Reno centers around:

Terry’s Sub Shop – 212 Commercial Roulette Motel – 352 E. Lake [Five Star Saloon] – 132 West Street Bar West – 210 Commercial Rumpus Room Bar (w/Mexican Restaurant) – 424 E. 4th Street Visions Bar – 3001 W. 4th Street – 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 June 20, First gay pride festival held in Rock Park, Sparks.

1988 "A contract with a private ranch sixty miles east of Reno was made void when the local homophobic District Attorney filed an injunction two days before the rodeo in order to stop the event. Two days in court as well as a trip to the Nevada Supreme Court failed to overturn the injunction. Many people canceled their trips when word got out about the possibility that the rodeo would not happen. More than 100 contestants and 600 spectators who did arrive found themselves only to attend the evening parties."[3]