Chronology of Guides to Wisconsin Gay Venues prior to local Periodicals-- History of Gay & Lesbian Life, Wisconsin

History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin
Media - Print Media; Newspapers, Magazines, BarRags, etc. -
Chronology of Guides to Wisconsin Gay Venues prior to local Periodicals

Visitors as well as "locals" often learn where to find like-minded people (whether at gay-friendly bars, restaurants, bath houses, or "AYOR" areas) via Gay Travel Guides. Best known of these are the Bob Damron and Spartacus Guides (widely distributed nationally and internationally), but there have been others as well. We present here a chronology of national as well as some early local Guides targeted to the (primarily) gay community, some prior to or supplementing publication of local LGBT Periodicals. (Additional and more recent Guides to gay businesses and organizations can be found in some of the various local publications above. Look especially at the Cover Galleries of In Step and Quest for links to these.)

Keep in mind that early "Gay Guides", first appearing in the mid 1960s, typically had listings covering the gamut of places to encounter other gay men. These ranged from restaurants and primarily "straight" bars that might have some clientele looking for other men to have sex with, to cruise locations (such as men's rest rooms, parks, or specific areas of certain hotels). Beginning in the late 1960s and after, primarily after Stonewall, listings more often included what were later considered true "gay bars", primarily catering to gay men and later to lesbian hangouts as well.

*Year*	*Publication* (link goes to indicated page of that publication)	*Cover Image* (link loads image shown)
1963	Lavender Baedeker Guide, Vol. 1 No. 1 (c1963) (Strait Publications) (actual size: 7" high x 5" wide) Page 1 (History of the Baedeker Guides) Page 2 (Index) Pages 22+23 (Wis. listings)
1964	Directory 43, Second Edition (Copyright 1964 Directory Services, Minneapolis) (actual size: 5" high x 3.5" wide) Title Page Introduction Pages 58-59 (Wis. listings)
1964	Guild Guide, 1964 (Copyright 1964 Guild Press Ltd.) (actual size: 7" high x 4.5" wide) Page 1 (title page) Pages 2+3 (editor's note) Page 4 (coding system) Page 85 (Fond du Lac-Green Bay) Pages 86-87 (Green Bay-Milw)
1964	Lavender Baedeker Guide, Vol. 1 No. 2 (c1964) (Strait Publications) (actual size: 7" high x 5" wide) Page 1 (history of Baedeker Guides) Wisconsin listings
1965	International Guild Guide, 1965 (Copyright 1965 Guild Press Ltd.) (actual size: 8.5" high x 5" wide) Page 1 (title page) Page 2 (editor's note) Page 3 (coding system) Page 100-101 (Fond du Lac-Madison) Page 102-103 (Madison-Milw) Back cover
1966	Bob Damron's 1966 Address Book Second Printing, November 1965; more than 750 places (Copyright 1965 by Bob Damron) See more information on the Damron Address Book Page 1 (title page) Page 45 (Green Bay, Madison,Milw) Page 46 (Milwaukee)
1966	International Guild Guide, 1966 (Copyright 1966 Guild Press Ltd.) (actual size: 8.5" high x 5" wide) Page 1 (title page) Pages 2-3 (editor's note) Page 133 (Fond du Lac-Green Bay) Pages 134-135 (Green Bay-Milwaukee) Pages 136-137 (Milw-Oshkosh)
1966	Lavender Baedeker Guide, 1966 (Strait Publications) (actual size: 9" high x 7.5" wide) Page 22 (listings) Back page
1966	Male World Guide, 1966 (Copyright 1966 ??) (actual size: 10" high x 8" wide) Page 77 (Wis. listings) Index, excerpt
1967	International Guild Guide, 1967 (Copyright 1966 Guild Press Ltd.) Page 1 (title page) Page 137 (Fond du Lac) Pages 138-139 (Green Bay-Milwaukee) Page 140 (Milw-Oshkosh)
1968	Bob Damron's 1968 Address Book (Copyright 1968 by Bob Damron) (actual size: 4" high x 2.75" wide) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Pages 80-81 (Green Bay) Pages 82-83 (Madison,Milw)
1969	International Guild Guide, 1969 (Copyright 1969 Guild Press Ltd.- published in January of each year) Cover Page 1 (title page) Pages 2+3 (editor's note) Page 4 (coding system) Page 81 (Wisconsin listings) Pages 82-83 (Wisconsin listings)
1970	Bob Damron's 1970 Address Book (Copyright 1970 by Bob Damron) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Pages 80+81 (Appleton-Shawano Lake)
1970	International Guild Guide, 1970 (Copyright 1970 Guild Press Ltd.- published in January of each year) Page 1 (title page) Page 2 (editor's note) Page 3 (coding system) Page 104-105 (Wisconsin listings) Back cover
1971	Bob Damron's 1971 Address Book "Seventh Edition, more than 1525 listings" (Copyright 1970 by Bob Damron) (actual size: 4" high x 2.625" wide- 128 pages, .375" thick) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Page 2+3 (title page) Page 4+5 (explanation of listings) Page 118+119 (Appleton-Milw) Page 120+121 (Milw-Superior)	(actual size: 2.75"w x 4"h)
1972	Bob Damron's 1972 Address Book (Copyright 1972 by Bob Damron) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Page 157 (Appleton-Kenosha) Pages 158+159 (Kenosha-Superior)
1973	Guild Guide, 1973 (Copyright 1973 Guild Press Ltd.) Page a (title page) Pages b+c (editor's note) Pages 0+1 (coding system) Pages 124-125 (Wisconsin listings, with someone's redactions)
1974	Bob Damron's 1974 Address Book (Copyright 1974 by Bob Damron) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Pages 122+123 (Appleton-Wausau)
1975	Bob Damron's 1975 Address Book "Eleventh Edition, approx. 3,000 listings" (Copyright 1974 by Bob Damron) (actual size: 6" high x 3" wide- 160 pages, .375" thick) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Pages 2+3 (title page, publisher's note) Pages 4+5 (explanation of listings) Pages 148+149 (Appleton-Kenosha) Pages 150+151 (Madison-Wausau)	(actual size: 3"w x 6"h)
1976	Bob Damron's 1976 Address Book "Twelfth Edition, approx. 3,275 listings" (Copyright 1975 by Bob Damron) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Publishers Note + Title Page Page 165 (Appleton-Milwaukee) Pages 166+167 (Milwaukee-Wausau)	(actual size: 3"w x 6"h)
1976	Spartacus: The American Bicentennial Gay Guide 1976 "1st Edition, editor Dick Leitsh" (Copyright 1976 by Eros Publishing) Front & Back Cover Title Page Editor's Notes Editor's Notes, cont. Page 375 (Appleton-Kenosha) Pages 376+377 (Madison-Milwaukee) Page 378 (Milwaukee-Superior)	(actual size: 4"w x 7.75"h)
1976	Guide in GLIB, Issue 1, August 1976 (a local LGBT publication) Click Here to view more information about GLIB publication.
1977	Bob Damron's Address Book '77 "Thirteenth Edition, approx. 3,575 listings" (Copyright 1976 by Bob Damron) (actual size: 6" high x 3" wide- 233 pages, .4375" thick) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Pages 2+3 (title page, publisher's note) Pages 4+5 (explanation of listings) Pages 216+217 (Appleton-Milw) Pages 218+219 (Milw-Wausau)
1977	Milwaukee Gay Guide, 1977 (Copyright 1977 by Fantastic Voyages Inc.) The first issue of this locally/ Milwaukee-produced publication provides a rare glimpse of the city's gay life at that time: an accurate local listing of organizations and businesses, informational text about many of the bars, plus rare photos of the interiors of many bars. No second issue has ever been located. View full issue
1978	Bob Damron's Address Book '78 "Fourteenth Edition, approx. listings" (Copyright 1977 by Bob Damron) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Pages 2+3 (title page, publisher's note) Pages 4+5 (explanation of listings) Pages 262+263 (Appleton-Green Bay) Pages 264+265 (Janesville-Milwaukee) Pages 266+267 (Milwaukee-Shawano Lake) Pages 268+269 (Superior-Wausau)
1978	Falcon World Gay Guide 1978 Cover Page 3 (title page, publisher's note) Pages 4+5 (introduction) Pages 6+7 (code to listings) Page 79 (Appleton-Green Bay) Page 80 (Kenosha-Superior) Back cover
1980	Gayellow Pages 1980 Central United States & Canada Edition #1 (Copyright by Renaissance House) Page 1 (contents & key to symbols) Page 2 (other editions) Pages 60+61 (Appleton-Madison) Pages 62+63 (Madison-Wausau)
1980	Places of Interest - the map guide 1980 (Copyright by Ferrari Publications) Page 1 ("a guide that works") Page 2 (symbols) Page 124 (Appleton-Madison) Page 125 (Milwaukee-Racine/Kenosha)
1981	Bob Damron's Address Book '81 See more information on the Damron Address Book Pages 354+355 (Appleton-Green Bay) Pages 356+357 (Green Bay-Sheboygan) Page 358 (Racine-Wausau)
1981	GAIA's Guide - 1981 "Seventh Edition" Title page info pages (introduction) info pages (how to read- organizations) info pages (how to read- bars) Page 225 (Statewide publications + retreat) Page 226+227 (Appleton-Madison) Page 228+229 (Milwaukee-Racine)
1981	Gayellow Pages 1981 National Edition #11 (Copyright by Renaissance House) Page 1 (contents) Page 2 (key to symbols) Pages 285 (Appleton) Pages 286+287 (Green Bay-Milwaukee) Pages 288 (Milwaukee-Wausau)
1982	Bob Damron's Address Book '82 See more information on the Damron Address Book Page 359 (Appleton) Pages 360+361 (Beaver Dam-Milwaukee) Page 362 (Oshkosh-Wausau)
1982	GAIA's Guide - 1982 "Eighth Edition" Page 458+459 (Appleton-Madison) Page 460+461 (Madison-Milwaukee) Page 462+463 (Milwaukee) Page 464+465 (Milwaukee-Wausau)
1982	Gayellow Pages 1982 National Edition #12 (Copyright by Renaissance House) Pages 254+255 (Appleton-Milwaukee) Pages 256 (Milwaukee-Wausau)
1982	Places of Interest - the map guide 1982 (Copyright by Ferrari Publications) Page 1 ("the guide that works") Page 2 (credits) Page 3 (contents) Page 4 (abbreviations+categories) Page 5 ("how the book works") Page 6 (symbols) Page 171 (Appleton-Madison) Page 172 (Madison-Milwaukee) Page 173 (Milwaukee) Page 174 (Milwaukee-Racine/Kenosha)
1983	GAIA's Guide - Winter 1983 "Ninth Edition" Title page info pages (acknowledgements+contents) info pages (about+how to read- organizations) info pages (how to read- bars) Page 186+187 (Appleton-Milwaukee) Page 188 (Milwaukee-Wausau)
1983	Places of Interest 1983 MapGuide USA&Canada (Copyright by Ferrari Publications) Page 197 (Appleton-Green Bay) Page 198 (Green Bay-Madison) Page 199 (Madison-Milwaukee) Page 200 (Milwaukee-Racine) Page 201 (Stevens Point-Wausau)
1983	Places of Interest to Women 1983 USA&Canada (Copyright by Ferrari Publications) Page 1 (introduction+contents) Pages 10+11 (key to symbols) Page 143 (Appleton-Eau Claire) Pages 144+145 (Green Bay-Milwaukee) Page 146 (Milwaukee-Wausau)
1984	GAIA's Guide - Winter 1984 "Tenth Edition" Page 273 (Appleton-Madison) Page 274+275 (Madison-Norwalk) Page 276 (Racine-Wausau)
1984	Places of Interest 1984 Gay Guide With Maps, USA&Canada (Copyright by Ferrari Publications) Page 221 (Appleton-Fond du Lac) Page 222 (Madison-Milwaukee) Page 223 (Milwaukee) Page 224 (Milwaukee-Racine/Kenosha)
1984	Places of Interest to Women 1984 USA&Canada (Copyright by Ferrari Publications) Page 1 (introduction+contents) Pages 12+13 (key to symbols) Page 176 (Appleton) Page 177 (Fond du Lac-Madison) Page 178 (Milwaukee-Racine/Kenosha) Page 179 (Racine/Kenosha-Wausau)
1985	Bob Damron's Address Book '85 (Copyright 1984 Damron Co. Inc.) (Images of this issue courtesy Rick Chris) See more information on the Damron Address Book Page 425 (Appleton-Beaver Dam) Pages 426-427 (Blue Mounds-Milwaukee) Pages 428-429 (Milw-Superior+Ad, Lambda House, Pence)
1987	Bob Damron's Address Book '87 (Copyright 1986 Damron Co. Inc.) (actual size: 6" high x 3" wide: 413 pages, .875" thick) See more information on the Damron Address Book Edge+Back (cover missing) Pages 8+9 (explanation of listings) Pages 10+11 (Hanky color codes) Page 371 (Appleton-Kenosha) Pages 372-373 (La Crosse-Oshkosh) Page 374 (Pence-Winter)	(actual size: 3"w x 6"h)
1988	Bob Damron's Address Book '88 (Copyright 1987 Damron Co. Inc.) (Images of this issue courtesy Rick Chris) See more information on the Damron Address Book Page 383 (Appleton) Pages 384-385 (Eau Claire-Milwaukee) Page 386 (Milwaukee-Racine) Page 387 (Sheboygan-Winter)
1989	Places for Men 1989 (actual size: 6" high x 3" wide: 528 pages, 1.125" thick) Pages 2+3 (Title Page, Contents) Pages 4+5 (Key to Symbols) Pages 6+7 (How to use the Guide) Pages 8+9 (How to, cont.) Pages 512-513 (Appleton-Madison) Pages 514-515 (Madison-Milwaukee) Pages 516-517 (Milwaukee-Oshkosh) Pages 518-519 (Racine/Kenosha-Wausau)
1990	Bob Damron's Address Book '90 (Copyright 1989 Damron Co. Inc.) (Images of this issue courtesy Rick Chris) See more information on the Damron Address Book Page 498 (Appleton-Eau Claire) Page 499 (Green Bay-La Farge) Pages 500-501 (Lake Geneva-Milwaukee) Pages 502-503 (Milwaukee-Superior) Page 504 (Superior-Winter)
1990	The Damron Road Atlas '90 (Copyright 1989 Damron Co. Inc.) (First edition of a Gay travel atlas featuring maps and guides to major cities in the US and Canada) See more information on the Damron Address Book Pages 4-5 (Order Form) Pages 6-7 (Masthead) Pages 8-9 (Key) Pages 12-13 (Table of Contents) Pages 166-167 (Milwaukee Info & Bars) Pages 168-169 (Milwaukee Bars,Cafes,Gyms, Womens,Religious,Publications)
1991	Bob Damron's Address Book '91 "Twentyseventh Edition, approx. 6,000 listings" (Copyright 1991 Damron Co. Inc.) (actual size: 6" high x 3" wide: 601 pages, 1.125" thick) See more information on the Damron Address Book Cover Pages 2+3 (title page, credits) Pages 4+5 (editor's note, and key to listing codes) Page 540 (Appleton-Eau Claire) Page 542 (Green Bay-Madison) Page 544 (Madison-Milwaukee) Page 546 (Mineral Point-Wausau)	(actual size: 3"w x 6"h)

Starting in the early 1980's there were more and more local gay and lesbian publications, most of them publishing guides regularly, typically toward the back of each issue or every other issue. Examples of these can be found on those various publications' pages on this web site.

Disclaimer-- Some of the publications reproduced here are made available without release because we have been unable to locate the copyright holders, if any. Their reproduction is intended to document and honor those who made such early contributions to the community and with full desire to include proper credit, if known. We will remove any reproduction immediately upon notification of or from its valid copyright holder.

Credits: Special thanks to the following for making possible the compilation of this chronology of national guides covering Wisconsin LGBT bars and businesses:
Gerber-Hart Library in Chicago and Regenstein Library at Univ. of Illinois-Chicago for the use of their collections of old gay bar guides,
Damron Inc., San Francisco for access to their archives of old Damron Address Books,
and Rick Chris for scans of additional Damron guides.
Web site concept and format by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: December-2025.

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