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

 
Music Box
Location: 617 N. 27th Street, Milwaukee WI

Opened:
Closed:

October 1984
February 1985
Clientele:

Female/ male
Bar/ social

 

 
       
 

Music Box opened in October 1984 in the site of the old Lost & Found bar. The first known ad (from In Step magazine vol. 1-12, Sept. 1984) reads "Lost & Found... found a new name... Under new mgmt.". The bar's listing in the Guide included the codes "WM, D" (1/2 each women/men, dancing) and then "WM, DJ, V" (women/men, disc jockey/dancing, video).

The bar's few listings in 'In Step' magazines' Events Calendar column give us some glimpses into the business. The Nov. 14 listing read "Check out their new video system!". And the listing for New Years Eve/ Dec. 31, 1984 read "Video, D.J., hats/horns; $2 for cardholders" although we have no other information about its 'cardholder' practice.

The bar's last listing was in the February, 1985 issue of In Step magazine.

Slightly more successful, but still fleeting, was the location's third LGBTQ bar in a row. The 27th Street Danceteria opened first in March 1985 as an under-age 'juice' bar open until dawn, but to allow dancing needed a liquor license- but still only stayed open until June 1987.


Photos: Christmas Show Dec. 1984 with
Miss M, Lauri & The Boy, Candi Stratton, Kelly, Meinda, Tiki, Mandy & Derek
(InStep vol 2-01, Jan. 1985)
 

 


Steppin' Out column: Under new management
(InStep vol 1-12, Sept. 1984)
 


Only known advertisement
(InStep vol 1-12, Sept. 1984)
 

Credits: web site concept, contents, design and arrangement by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: August-2023.

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