Moulin Rouge was another attempt to bring an LGBT restaurant into this space. But it was apparently extremely short-lived.

We have located mention of Moulin Rouge in only a single issue of the 'Milwaukee Calendar' bar rag, that for May 1979 (which, if sent to print late the previous month, had presumably already opened in April). We have not located any other advertisements or mentions of the business.

The Moulin Rouge was one of several restaurants/bars to operate in this same building in the 1970s to 1990s:

• Black Forest Inn (approx. 9 months, August 1976-May 1977)
• Rainbow Grille (approx. 16 months, Oct. 1977- Feb. 1979)
• Moulin Rouge restaurant (perhaps 2 months, April-May 1979)
• Shadows/ Diplomat Cocktails & Dining (Feb. 1980-Sept. 1984)
• Hot Legs Video Nite Club lesbian bar (Dec. 1984-Sept. 1987)
• Shadows II The Top Shelf bar (Dec. 1987-August 1989)
• Doubledays Restaurant (Nov. 1989-April 1990)
• Visions Video Night Club (Nov. 1991-Dec. 1991)

Read a summary of the history of these 8 businesses and their effect on Milwaukee LGBT nitelife written by Project Curator Michail Takach at the Black Forest Legacy page.