A phenomenal dance club, with a 4 am closing time, it was a gay entertainment Mecca on the weekends, whether it was hosting a ‘wet jockey short contest’ or an AIDS fundraiser. In 1991, however, the most popular bar in town had become the Copa, on Miami Road in Dania Beach, elegantly operated by lovers John Castelli and Bill Bastiansen. Then, it was known for its underground swimming pool and lavish restaurant. Today, it’s the beach place, and you can say even now on a Sunday afternoon, it’s still where the boys are. Still, the mother of all gay bars, was on A1A at 17 South Atlantic Boulevard, the Marlin Beach Resort and Hotel, featuring “Mother” at its Sunday Brunch Buffett. His work was promoted by Brad Casey, writing for a small gay magazine called, “A Friendly Voice.” Meanwhile, a new bar named Saturn was just opening, featuring promotions by a Brad Buchman, a local HIV activist. He would eventually go on to operate some place in Wilton Manors we now call the Alibi. On the same street, in what is now Slammer’s 321, a young entrepreneur named George Kessinger ran a popular bar named Georgie’s.
On Sunrise Boulevard, in what is now Mona’s, a more subdued establishment named the Phoenix would serve the gay community. It was just down the block from the long-running gay strip club, Stanley’s, featuring “hot and young dancers,” hosting that month the 7th annual Dixie Awards, a charity event run to honor popular local entertainers. At the time, I was a minority partner in the bar.
Beasley” that they would be featuring a “Dog Day Thanksgiving,” a free Turkey Day buffet for gay men and their pets. Not far away, just under the tunnel at US 1, Jungle Bar owners Zack Enterline and Steve Whitney announced in Hotspots! Magazine to columnist “Mrs. From WSVN’s news anchor, Craig Stevens, to WFTL’s afternoon talk show host, Al Rantel, well known names and hot numbers would crowd the narrow establishment. The Cathode had already become the most premiere bar in the gay neighborhood of Victoria Park in Fort Lauderdale, especially on Sunday nights when the community’s movers and shakers would line the outdoor waterside patio. On East Las Olas Boulevard, Wayne Gibson announced he was going to be selling the high end Cathode Ray Bar to John Manzi. It was October of 1991, and gay life was at once emerging and thriving in Fort Lauderdale.