History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin - Businesses - Bars and Clubs

 
Doris' Super Bar
Location: 343 W. Appleton Ave., Appleton WI

Opened:
Closed:

1974
mid-1977
Clientele:

Female/ Male
Bar/ social

 

 
       
 

Doris' Super Bar was founded as a "straight" bar, but was popular with gays and lesbians. At the time, there was no gay/ lesbian bar in the Fox Valley area.

In October of 1974, a group of members of the Fox Valley Gay Alliance (FVGA) walked into Doris’ Super Bar; they were looking for a gay-friendly bar that might consider "going gay". Following a few discussions with owner, Doris, she was willing to give it a try, and Doris’ became a very profitable gay/lesbian bar.

The bar was listed in the first/ August 7, 1976 issue of "GLIB Guide" as well as Bob Damron national guides for 1977 and 1978. The Spartacus American Bicentennial Gay Guide (1976) described it as "A mixed, gay and straight, collegiate hang-out. The gay clique is uncloseted and readily visible- and very friendly." Many FVGA meetings and parties were held at this establishment.

Sometime in early 1977, the bar was sold to a gay couple and renamed the Lambda Lounge. In the August 1977 issue of GPU News, an ad appeared for Lambda Lounge which reads "formerly Doris' Super Bar".

The history of LGBT bars in Northeastern Wisconsin was the subject of an excellent article in the Green Bay Press Gazette in 2020.

Listing in Spartacus
Bicentennial Gay Guide, 1976

(Eros Publishing c1976)
(View other national Gay Guides)
 

 

 
 


Advertisement, August 1977
GPU News, pg. 44, vol. 6 no. 11

Credits: Information of bar's origins by NE Wisconsin LGBT History Project,
Paul "Cricket" Jacob and Lloyd Schaefer;
Web site concept, design and layout by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: April-2024.

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