| Nite Beat |
| Location: |
196 S. 2nd Street (1964-68) 183 S. 2nd Street (1969-72) |
|
Opened: |
approx. 1964 June 1972 |
| Clientele: |
Female/ male |
|
|
|||||||||
|
Nite Beat women's bar: variously advertised as "Girl's Bar", and "Where Women Meet". The proprietors were indicated to be Carrie and Stan in advertising. The "Nite Beat" was originally located at 196 S. 2nd Street, and was listed as such in national gay travel guides from 1964 to 1968. Between then and 1971 it moved across the street to 183 S. 2nd Street, and was one of the early advertisers in the GPU News. The Nite Beat became the Riviera Show Lounge in June 1972. More information about this business is welcomed from anyone who can contribute it.
Recollections: The following are recollections of others who have been kind enough to submit their personal memories to the webmaster. You are welcome to do the same! The Nite Beat was a hard-core diesel bar. Butches were butches, femmes were femmes, and my generation of role-light young feminists was viewed with total suspicion. Although it was on street level, you felt as though you were walking into a basement. My first time there, I met Buffy Lee John, who made little circles in the palm of my hand with her middle finger and whispered, "You've had the rest, baby, now have the best!" Buffy was a skinny little bulldyke, cigarettes rolled into the sleeve of her black muscle shirt, tattoo of the famous femme Lana on her bicep. All the butches of the generation just before mine competed for Lana, especially Buffy Lee John and Spike the Dyke. Some really good stories that I'll save for later! Maryann G. |
|
Credits: contents, design and arrangement by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: January-2008.
