Contributed to backinthegays is this original L.U.R.E. nYc business card from the opening back in 1994 by Victor. Thank you We are in process of recording and documenting Victor’s story growing up gay in nYc, going to the MineShaft, The Eagle‘s Nest, The Spike, his experience going to mortuary school and his influence with his art-work. Victor will also be launching his own website sometime in the summer called embalmingvic666.com a morbid lowbrow fun take on things through the eyes of Victor Holness. So stay tuned. ...
Levi Leather Bar 1994 Open for Previews
Contributed to back in the gays is an invite from the opening night of The L.U.R.E. Saturday January Twenty Ninth, 1994 9:00pm – 4:00am. This was one of the best leather bars in New york City at the time and we sure do miss it. Tons of good memories and parties were held at the L.U.R.E. . Also remember being turned away on numerous occassions for hiking boots, while watching the guys in leather walk right in with their full drag. AwW the memories… Alot of the times we would have a better time outside than inside or maybe it [...]
The Spike Bar New York City Matchbook
... Spike leather bar New York City located at 120 West eleventh avenue on twentieth street opened their doors in 1972 and below is a late 1980′s original matchbook from this leather gem contributed to backinthegays.com by our extended family Chris Riley from Body Ornament. Thank ...
The Keller Hotel 1898 & Keller’s Bar 1956
... name Keller Abington Hotel). By 1939 it became Renee Tavern which housed mostly transient sailors of all nationalities till 1949. In 1950 the space became Charles Bar & Grill and stay open till 1955. The mid 1950′s to early 1960′s saw the decline of the maritime industry on the Hudson River and moved to Brooklyn & New Jersey where there was more space. During this time Keller’s Bar opened in 1956 and catered to an all male leather biker clientele and was the first gay leather bar in New York City pre Stonewall and gay liberation. Keller’s was also [...]
The Spike New York City, Leather, Western, Uniforms
... Railroad Spike , Inc. (Formerly The Stockade) leather bar New York City located at 120 West eleventh avenue on twentieth street opened in 1972 and was originally owned by Lenny. By the late 1970′s or was it 1980? Lenny sold off the Spike to Charles Thompson (CT), Ed Clifton (Charles Thompson’s – CT’s Lover), Ken Kyser, and Al Cataldo. The Spike New York’s friendly Leather bar offered a great large open area with a nice airy atmosphere. The Spike NYC was not a club, but a place where clubs (The Mattachine Society was one of them) could house their meetings and [...]
L.U.R.E NYC = Leather, Uniform, Rubber, Etc. 1994 – 2003
... The L.U.R.E. (LURE) was a leather, levi and fetish bar that operated in New York City, NY from 1994 until April 2003, L.U.R.E. stood for Leather, Uniform, Rubber, Etc.. Wally Wallace, who owned The Mineshaft, the Attic and other clubs in New York opened The LURE in 1994. Alistair Leigh, Inc. was the owner of the bar from at least 1999 until the bar closed. The LURE was located at 409 W. 13th street. The bar was often recognized as the premier leather bar in New York City and enforced a strict dress code for admittance. For many [...]