In recent years, queer bars have become a hot topic, especially when it comes to books.
Since 2022, several non-fiction titles, including “Moby Dyke” by Krista Burton, “Who Needs Gay Bars” by Greggor Mattson, “Getting In” by David Kennerley, “The Bars Are Ours” by Lucas Hildebrand, and “Last Call Chicago” by St Sukie de la Croix and Rick Karlin (full disclosure: Karlin is my husband, as well as the Arts & Culture editor at Out South Florida) have hit bookshelves. Now we have “Last Call South Florida” (Rattling Good Yarns Press, 2024) by Fred Fejes and Rick Karlin. The next chapter, if you will, in a series of books focusing on the history of LGBTQ bars in various regions, the rich and vibrant South Florida bar scene, even to this day, finally gets the attention that it deserves. Fejes and Karlin were kind enough to make time for an interview in advance of the book’s mid-October 2024 publication.
On Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.), Hunters Nightclub in Wilton Manors is hosting a book release party for “Last Call South Florida” featuring the authors, Rick Karlin and Fred Fejes.
We’re often told not to judge a book by its cover, but that’s where I’d like to begin. The cover for “Last Call South Florida” echoes the cover of Sukie De La Croix and Rick’s 2022 book “Last Call Chicago.”
Rick Karlin: We have very little to do with the cover design. It was done by our publisher Ian Henzel of Rattling Good Yarns Press. It is a collage of bar ads in a sepia tone. I had hoped for the South Florida edition that he might be able to bring in brighter colors. The sepia perfectly fit for Chicago, but South Florida seemed to call for aquas, pinks, and lots of tropical colors, but it was not cost-effective. In the end, he put a pink and aqua border around the book's title box.
Fred Fejes: We wanted to create a sense of continuity between the two books, and we felt that the mirror image of the bar would convey the idea of looking back at a bygone era.
As I mentioned, “Last Call Chicago” was published to much acclaim in 2022. Rick, how did you know that “Last Call South Florida” would be the next in the series?
RK: By the time “Last Call Chicago” was published I had already moved to Florida. I've now lived here for more than a decade. As I began to learn of the rich history of the LGBTQ community in South Florida and heard folks talk about the bars of the past with such affection, I just knew it had to be the next book I worked on. Writing “Last Call Chicago,” I discovered that I loved the process of researching and assembling the information. Building something that people can enjoy.
FF: It was a natural progression. Rick had already written about many of the iconic LGBTQ+ bars in Chicago, and we felt that it was time to turn our attention to South Florida.
How soon after “Last Call Chicago” was published did you both begin working on “Last Call South Florida?”
RK: It was about a year or so. I like to have a project. Even though I retired from my day job (teaching), I've always continued writing. I don't take well to being idle. One day I read in South Florida Gay News that Fred was giving a lecture on the history of South Florida's queer bars. I went to the lecture and asked him immediately after the lecture if he'd like to collaborate with me.
You are both Midwestern transplants to South Florida. What do you each think is the appeal of the region?
FF: We both moved to South Florida from the Midwest for different reasons. I came here for the weather and the nightlife, while Rick came for semi-retirement. We both love the diversity and inclusivity of the region, and we feel that it's a great place to live and work.
RK: The weather, despite the hurricanes. I also like the fact that there's respect for gay men "of a certain age." In Chicago, you go into most bars and if you're over 50, you're invisible. I'm happily married and not shopping around, but I still like to be seen. Also, there's a sense of history here. People remember the struggles for our rights, and they also remember the fun times we had.
Rick, what made Fred a good collaborator?
RK: His incredible knowledge of South Florida's LGBTQ history. He wrote the intro to each section. We've divided the book by counties, from Palm Beach to Monroe. I learned so much from working with him.
Fred, what made Rick a good collaborator?
FF: I found Rick to be a knowledgeable and passionate collaborator. He has a deep understanding of South Florida's LGBTQ+ history, and he was invaluable in helping to research and write the book. Also, Rick, having done the Chicago book already had a method and plan for researching the bars that made this book possible. If I were to sit down and write this book by myself, it would have taken me a lot longer.
Rick and Fred, please say a few words each about what you found most surprising while doing your research for “Last Call South Florida.”
FF: I found several surprising things while doing research for "Last Call South Florida." One was the prevalence of LGBTQ+ bars in Miami's Overtown neighborhood during the early 20th century. Another was the incredible diversity of the LGBTQ+ community in South Florida today. Also, the book brought back to me many of the bars I visited which I still wish were there, like the Warsaw Ballroom in Miami Beach, which was wild.
RK: I was surprised to find how open-minded many police officials were in the '30s and '40s. As with now, it was always one or two bigots who forced their opinions on everyone else. Most folks down here had a "live and let live attitude." I was also surprised to discover that the first Limelight was in Broward County. That nightclub became so synonymous with New York City nightlife and here it started in Hallandale!
Is there a bar that you wrote about that you’d never been to that you wished you could have visited?
FF: There were a few bars that we wrote about that I would have loved to visit. One was the Palace Lounge in Miami, which was a famous drag bar in the 1950s and 1960s. Another was the Flamingo Club in Fort Lauderdale, which was known for its incredible shows.
RK: Certainly, the Copa and Backstreet. I did come down to Fort Lauderdale in the '80s and stayed at The Marlin Beach near the end of its heyday and went to Cathode Ray, but somehow never got to those other bars. I also would have liked to have hung out with Jimmy Kirkwood at his short-lived piano bar in Key West.
Florida’s LGBTQ community continues to make the news, especially in the way that the conservative ruling party of the state continues to attack and attempts to erase it on an almost daily basis. Please say something about the importance of this book at this time in history.
FF: Florida's LGBTQ community is under attack by the state's conservative ruling party. "Last Call South Florida" is an important book at this time because it documents the history of LGBTQ+ life in the region. It provides a reminder of the struggles and triumphs that the community has faced, and it offers hope for the future.
RK: There’s a saying, “The farther north you go in Florida, the deeper south you are.” And that’s so true. It’s almost like two different states. We live in a blue bubble here in South Florida. Northern Florida is so red, and DeSantis is just pure evil.
Do you think you still would have written this book if things were different in Florida?
FF: We probably would have written this book even if things were different in Florida. We believe that it's an important story to tell, regardless of the current political climate.
RK: It’s always been my goal to inspire every community to write their own “Last Call” because so much of our history is in our bars. During the early days of the AIDS crisis, many community organizations started out as ideas jotted down on bar napkins.
What would it mean to each of you if “Last Call South Florida” was utilized as a textbook in queer studies programs?
FF: If "Last Call South Florida" were utilized as a textbook in queer studies programs, it would mean a lot. It would validate our work and help to ensure that the history of LGBTQ+ life in South Florida is preserved. Queer history, which I teach, tends to focus on people and events. The bars, by creating a queer space, were a very important part of LGBT history.
RK: I'd be over the moon, but I wrote it as a memory book for all the people who went to those bars. I view it as a combination encyclopedia and a coffee table book. That's why we've filled it with so many ads and pictures from the bars, it's meant to bring back those memories.
In what ways are you planning to promote the book, both individually and collectively?
RK: We're having a book release event at Hunters on October 15. We'll do a brief presentation, show some of the images in the book, and have copies of the book available for purchase. Fred and I are doing a Q&A and then we'll be available to sign copies of the book. When we did a similar event in Chicago, we sold out of books in 20 minutes.
FF: We are planning to promote the book through a variety of channels, both individually and collectively. We will be doing readings, interviews, and speaking engagements. We will also be using social media and other online platforms to reach readers.
Have you each started working on or thinking about your next book?
FF: I am working on a book about the LGBTQ+ community in South Florida.
RK: I'm tackling “Last Call Boston” next. This one is going to be a little bit harder because I've never lived there. But you, my husband, did, and we have a lot of friends who did or do still live in the area. I'm still searching for a local (Boston) historian, but I've started compiling my list of gay bars, thanks to the Stonewall Museum and Archives, they've got LGBTQ publications from all over the globe. I’m also working with poet Denise Duhamel on adapting her book of Barbie poems, “Kinky,” into a play.
