In recent years, queer bars have become a hot topic, especially when it comes to books.
Now we have “Last Call South Florida” (Rattling Good Yarns Press, 2024) by Fred Fejes and Rick Karlin (full disclosure: my husband). 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.
We’ll be focusing on FAU professor emeritus Fred Fejes' responses in this article, but you can view the full story, featuring interviews with both Fejes and Karlin, here.
You can buy the book on Amazon or find it in stores.
You are both Midwestern transplants to South Florida. What do you think is the appeal of the region?
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.
Please say a few words each about what you found most surprising while doing your research for “Last Call South Florida.”
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.
Is there a bar that you wrote about that you’d never been to that you wished you could have visited?
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.
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.
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.
Do you think you still would have written this book if things were different in Florida?
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.
What would it mean to you if “Last Call South Florida” was utilized as a textbook in queer studies programs?
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.
Have you each started working on or thinking about your next book?
I am working on a book about the LGBTQ+ community in South Florida.
LGBTQ bars in Boca Raton Through the years
Aqua Lounge
2000-2003
Thursday’s “malebox” party was gay night at this mostly straight club
Blondie’s
1989-1992
Poll tournament were popular at this neighborhood joint
Choices
1990-1998
Neighborhood spot with a small dance floor, cabaret, and karaoke
Fantasies
1986-1989
Disco mixed men/women. It was a popular bar with FAU faculty and staff, particularly on Tuesday nights.
Joe and Craig’s Place
2007-2010
A men’s bar with country dancing
New York Comedy Club
2008-2012
Paradise Club
1993-1996
In early 1994, four members of the Boca Raton Rugby Club, including an assistant state’s attorney, dressed in women’s clothing and drunk, marched into the bar and began tearing it apart and throwing stuff at its patrons while screaming vulgar terms. They were arrested and it was the first time a crime against the LGBTQ community in Palm Beach County was recognized as a hate crime in court.
Platforms
2010-2020
Mostly straight, but LGBTQ-friendly, it featured music of the ‘70s-’90s.
Pub
2008
Mostly men, a dance bar
This information was compiled from “Last Call South Florida: A History of 1001 LGBTQ-Friendly Taverns, Haunts & Hangouts.”
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