RAGG magazine was one of several "bar rag" format news-magazines issued during the late 1970's and early 1980's; the group included Milwaukee Calendar and Gay Milwaukee (1978-1981), Escape (1982-1983), RAGG (1983), and In Step Magazine (1984+). All of these format magazines were typically black & white newsprint quality publications. They usually included a calendar of events and bar specials; a listings of bars and organizations; coverage and a few photos of special shows or sporting events; and might include some brief news articles or original stories. Distributed free (mostly picked up by patrons of bars and other LGBT businesses- thus the generic term "bar rags"), they were paid for by advertising (mostly from bars and LGBT supporting businesses).

Very little is known about many of these publications (with the exception of In Step, which managed to exist for almost 20 years), and all are extremely rare- no known libraries have copies, and single issues surface rarely in individual collections. Anyone who has any issue of any of these publications is encouraged to please contact the Webmaster so we can scan and return it to you.

Disclaimer-- Any publications reproduced here are shown without release because we have been unable to locate the copyright holder, 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 any valid copyright holder.

Advertising page rate flyer, early 1983