This Month in the History of Gay and Lesbian life in Wisconsin--
Month by Month, Year by Year

This Month in Wisconsin LGBT History: January 2008
by Michail Takach and Don Schwamb

20 years ago-- 1988-- LaCage announced a new Sunday schedule at Dance Dance Dance, including a 4:30 P.M. tea dance, free buffet and weekly drag/variety revue featuring “Holly & Company.” Advertising read “We have the dance floor…but no tea! So we use champagne instead!”

On February 18, cult movie performer Divine was scheduled to perform at Club 219’s “seven year itch” party. Almost 200 tickets were sold, at $10 per head, for the legendary drag diva’s midnight show. Unfortunately, this would be the last visit to Milwaukee for the “filthiest person alive.” Divine – the star of countless B movies and the original HAIRSPRAY – died on March 7, 1988 while filming her network TV debut on MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.

Despite pressures from the public health community, Milwaukee’s only operating bathhouse, the lucrative Club Bath, was still going strong at 7th and Wisconsin. A six-month membership cost only $12.00.

15 years ago-- 1993-- “Outing” was a popular strategy to force political figures to take a stand on LGBT issues. Queer Nation attempted to out UW Chancellor Donna Shalala as a lesbian, but the unflappable chancellor denied the accusations and called the situation “ridiculous.”

Milwaukee hosted the Annual Gay & Lesbian Film & Video Festival from January 29 to February 5. In celebration of DADDY AND THE MUSCLE ACADEMY’s breakout success that year, the Wreck Room Saloon sponsored a post-festival Tom of Finland contest on Saturday, January 30.

The “Brand New Queer Program” debuted on public access cable, providing a new medium for the LGBT Milwaukee agenda. The one-hour call-in show covered everything from politics to the performing arts during its time on Channel 47.

NewBar, at Madison’s Hotel Washington entertainment complex, celebrated its ninth birthday with extensive remodeling and a new 7-day-per-week schedule. Although the 1993 renovation added 24 new rooms in a 3 story addition, the Hotel Washington would be destroyed by a catastrophic fire only three years later. LGBT Madison would never be quite the same.

See relevant articles related to the above, and do your own exploring, in issues of the following periodicals that appeared 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years ago:

Note: Keep in mind that relevant news may appear in issues previous to or after the month of interest: earlier issues may have advertisements or announcements of upcoming events, and later issues may carry actual photos or more extensive coverage of events that occurred after publication deadlines.

 

Credits: "This Month in History" concept by Kate Sherry of Q-Life, and Don Schwamb;
Page design and arrangement by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: July-2008.