MinneCulture Podcast | Ep. 28: When the Gay 90’s Came Out

Orange graphic featuring nightclub entrances for Happy Hour and Gay 90s, from the 1970s

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This summer on the MinneCulture Podcast, it’s all about Minnesota History. As we kick-off Season 5 during Pride month, we celebrate one of the first well-known venues in the Twin Cities exuberantly claimed by gay men, a nightclub called The Gay 90s in downtown Minneapolis. Listen on Apply Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PodMN and more.

The Gay 90’s hasn’t always been gay. The bar began as a supper club for a straight crowd. It opened in the 1950s and the name was a reference to an earlier decade, the 1890s.

Then, in 1975, the vibe changed in a big way. The owners of the Gay 90s bought a disco ball, hired DJs, and turned the 90s into a club catering to gay men.

In this episode, we share an original KFAI documentary, “Fly Robin Fly: The Story of that Disco-Crazed Moment when the Gay 90s Came Out of the Closet and Embraced Its Name,” by KFAI’s Todd Melby. You’ll hear a history of the bar featuring some of the people who worked, danced and connected at the Gay 90s.

Theme music by Xavier Santiago. Other music by J. Melby. Even more music supplied by the Blue Dot Sessions on the Free Music Archive.

Thanks to the Tretter Collection at the University of Minnesota for photography and oral history audio.

Banner image courtesy of Hennepin History Museum. Support for the MinneCulture Podcast on KFAI comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultual Heritage Fund.

Clear Water Land & Legacy Amendment

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PUBLIC NOTICE – CONTENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE – JUNE 2021

The KFAI Content Advisory Committee meets monthly through Zoom. With rare exception, these meetings are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Meeting Agenda:

6:30pm – Call to Order/Attendance
6:32pm – Review/approve previous CAC minutes
6:35pm – Update on open timeslots
6:40pm – Review submitted abstracts
6:50pm – Upcoming broadcast events
6:55pm – Finalize review process / assign program reviews
7:20pm – Public comment until
7:30pm – Adjourn

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More blues gigs:       http://www.mnbs.org/gigs.html  

 

WEDS

House Party Presents—@ 331 Club 7-9 Followed by:
Pat Donohue and Friends @ Midway Saloon 6-8pm Gary Raynor and drummer Dave Schmalenberger
Myra & The Moonshiners 6:00-8:00@ Anoka Hardware Store – Anoka, MN
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Tommy Bentz Band@ Tally’s Dockside
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Thurs

Ben Cook-Feltz@331 Club 9:00
Mikkel & Friends 5-7pm @ Dubliner Mike Munson
Javier Trejo and friends @ Midway Saloon 8-11pm
Liquor Pigs @ Palmer’s 7-10
@ Volstead House Whiskey Bar and Speakeasy
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Irish Diplomacy @ Finnegan’s  6-8pm on patio
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Friday

Northwoods Blues Festival – Chippewa Falls, WI Northwoods Blues Festival Session:
3:30 pm – Howard Guitar Luedtke and Blue Max
5:30 pm – Ivy Ford
7:30 pm – Cash Box Kings
9:30 pm – Curtis Salgado
Inside Straight Blues Band 5:00/7:00/9:00pm on the Leinie’s Lodge Stage!
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Saturday

Northwoods Blues Festival – Chippewa Falls, WI Northwoods Blues Festival Session:
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Everette Smithson band@ Brookside
@ Dubliner 5-7pm
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The Corn Sweat@ Palmer’s 1-4pm Ticketed Event
Sunday Blues In The Park – St Paul, MN Scottie Miller Dual Citizen Brewery

Monday

Roe Family Singers @ 331 Club 8-10pm weekly
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Open Jam @ Bogarts with Tom Harkness

Tuesday

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Manitou Grill & Event Center – White Bear Lake, MN PK Mayo

 

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Graphic: MinneCulture Podcast, Season 5: Minnesota History

MinneCulture Podcast on KFAI

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Ep. 28: When the Gay 90’s Came Out

Season 5 is OUT! Listen at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, PodMN and at Soundcloud below:

This summer on the MinneCulture Podcast, it’s all about Minnesota History. As we kick-off Season 5 during Pride month, we celebrate one of the first well-known venues in the Twin Cities exuberantly claimed by gay men, a nightclub called The Gay 90’s in downtown Minneapolis

The Gay 90’s hasn’t always been gay. The bar began as a supper club for a straight crowd. It opened in the 1950s and the name was a reference to an earlier decade, the 1890s.

Then, in 1975, the vibe changed in a big way. The owners of the Gay 90s bought a disco ball, hired DJs, and turned the 90s into a club catering to gay men.

In this episode, we share an original KFAI documentary, “Fly Robin Fly: The Story of that Disco-Crazed Moment when the Gay 90s Came Out of the Closet and Embraced Its Name,” by KFAI’s Todd Melby. You’ll hear a history of the bar featuring some of the people who worked, danced and connected at the Gay 90s.

For the rest of Season 5, hear Minnesota history stories about gay bars, activism, Black architecture, polka, murder, cartoons, the BWCA and more.

Connect with KFAI’s MinneCulture editorial team at legacy[at]kfai.org. Arts press releases, underwriting opportunities and story ideas are always welcome.

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Clear Water Land & Legacy Amendment

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Wanna relive the 3rd Annual Metal Meltdown? Listen to the 24 hour archive here! And, check out the live performances of Begravement and RED\\SHIFT.

Thank you so much for tuning in, honoring Earl Root, requesting songs, and donating to KFAI!

 

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