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

 
Manoeuvres
aka Mad Bar
aka Allegre
Location: 150 S. Blair St., Madison

Opened:
Closed:

January 1995
August 30, 1998
Clientele:

Male/ female
Bar/ social

 

 
       
 

This bar was first advertised as 'Allegre' for its Grand Opening Celebration late January 1995. While there was another Allegre advertisement in 'In Step' magazine as late as June 1995, in fact the bar had already changed names. In April 1996, the Nightlife column in Quest magazine (v3-15) listed the bar as 'Manoeuvres', saying "Completely remodeled, formerly Allegre. A hot new dance video bar with 7 monitors and a 10ft projection wall."

(Manoeuvres and the Mad Bar were apparently a joint business, opening together. In December 1997 they held their 3rd anniversary (ad in Quest 4-21 p9).)

In December 1997 the bar held their 3rd anniversary (a bit misleading as they had only been named 'Manoeuvres' for 2+ years) (ad in Quest v4-21, pg 9).

In 1998 rumors were that the owner wanted to relocate the bar to a larger and more gay-friendly site. After searching for locations and navigating through licensing hurtles, by mid-1998, the bar's owners moved ahead with big plans to close and reopen as a much expanded bar. One of the last advertisements appeared in 'Wisconsin Light' newwspaper (volume 11-issue 17, pg 12) saying "Manueuvres is still open", but also saying "coming" were Club 5, The Barracks, and other features at a new location soon.

The change was offical by August. An advertisement in IN Step newspaper (vol 15-17) headed "So long, goodbye..." advised of a Final Show on August 23, 1998, and a closing date of Sunday, August 30. But the ad continues: "Then the Fun Begins" with a complex holding the Club 5 Bar & Restaurant, The Bartracks men's bar, Planet Q Video Dance Bar, and Q Gift Shop all to open September 3, 1998.

Advertisements immediately after (such as one in Quest magazine, v5-16) touted the new bar "Club 5" and an attached leather bar 'The Barracks'; and at the bottom of the ad the words 'Formerly Manoeuvres'.

Advertisement, Grand Opening Celebration
(In Step vol 12 issue 1, January 1995)
 
Small Ad, June
(In Step vol 12 issue 11, June 1995)
 
Photos from Grand Opening of renamed 'Manoeuvres'
(Quest vol 2 issue 23, Dec 1995)
 
Ad, New Years Eve party
(Quest vol 2 issue 23, Dec 1995)
 
Ad: Weekly specials, Easter events
(In Step vol 13 issue 6, April 1996)
 
Ad: Weekly specials, Easter events
(Quest vol 3 issue 5, April 1996)
 
Ad, Manoeuvres and MAD Bar, '3rd Anniversary'
(Quest vol 4 issue 21, Nov-Dec 1997)
 
Ad: Miss Gay Madison preliminary
(Quest vol 5 issue 1, Feb 1998)
 
Ad: Club 5 Bar & Restaurant open
(Quest vol 5 issue 16, Sept 1998)
 
 


Advertisement, Grand Opening as Allegre
(In Step vol 12 issue 1, January 1995)
 


Ad, 3rd Anniversary celebration
(Quest vol 4 issue 21, Nov-Dec 1997)
 


The building as it exists in 2020
(from Google Earth Images, Jan 2021)
 

Credits: web site concept, contents, design and arrangement by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: May-2021.

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