The April 1973 issue of GPU News advertised the opening of the Back Door bar with an ad, "New to Madison! The Back Door", touting "3 levels of entertainment" and listing proprietors Rodney and Jack. According to a bio of Rodney Scheel years later, the bar went through "its share of experimental phases- bar, restaurant, piano bar, dance club, and home-away-from-home for many of the newly-liberated Gay men and Lesbians and their friends of that era".

The bar held an employee/customer appreciation party in 1973, which in 1977 became a city-wide fundraiser for Madison LGBT organizations known as the MAGIC Picnic. (MAGIC was an acronym for 'Madison Area Gay Interim Committee'.) The MAGIC picnic ran at least into the early 2000's.

After operating The Back Door for about 6 years, Rodney would close The Back Door and open Madison's legendary bar of the 1980's and 1990's: Rod's in the Hotel Washington, which was to become an LGBT landmark housing at three LGBT businesses: 2 bars and a cafe.

Twenty years later, the Back Door was still a fond memory for Rodney: in December 1992, the Hotel Washington held a grand re-opening, culminating in a "20th Back Door anniversary party" (see ad below).

More information about this business is welcomed from anyone who can contribute it.