The nature of bars often overlapped with cruising and dancing occurring at most all of them. Most gay bars had some sort of dance floor, no matter how tiny and a stage for drag shows, no matter how small. Gay bars in Cleveland appealed to specific interests and ranged from discos to cruise bars, leather bars, piano bars, African-American bars and lesbian bars. With most being in the closet, local gay people frequented bars and discos to meet friends, make hook ups (consenting partners called “tricks”) and bask in an environment with others who were like them. Gay entertainment centers were critical to the social fabric of gay Clevelanders. This was a pre-AIDS time of glitter rock and disco, when people dressed up, danced their cares away and had sex when they could, usually without condoms. There were a multitude of bars, clubs, and bathhouses in Cleveland and its inner ring suburbs. NIGHTLIFE. The 1970s gay bar and entertainment scene is often referred to as the “golden era” in American gay history. Individual gays in these enclaves were often involved in their respective neighborhood associations and contributed mightily and aesthetically to neighborhood projects. While not exclusively gay, these neighborhoods had the highest concentration of gays at the time. These included SHAKER SQUARE, OHIO CITY, COVENTRY in CLEVELAND HEIGHTS and the Gold Coast in LAKEWOOD. In the 1970s, though, there were four gay enclaves in and around the city. NEIGHBORHOODS. Unlike the Castro District in San Francisco or Boystown in Chicago, Cleveland never had one highly concentrated gay neighborhood. This article provides details on various aspects of the community in the critical decade following Stonewall. The 1970s marked an important period in the history of the Gay Community of Cleveland. “I’ve been lucky enough to travel all around the world for my job, and whenever I get a chance to go back to Athens, I get goosebumps.GAY COMMUNITY IN THE 1970S. of working on the campaign with his alma mater included. “It was an amazing experience,” said Foth Jr. Edwards worked on the audio for the project. His son, Foth III, served as assistant producer and helped secure props, wardrobe, and assisted with scheduling. was director of the ad campaign, and part of the team that created the spot. Three alumni were part of the creative team, including Doug Edwards, BSC ’73, audio engineer Ron Foth Jr., BFA ’88, president and Ron Foth III, BSC ’21, content creator.įoth Jr. “At Ohio University we have always been proud to be of Ohio and for Ohio, so to be a part of a showcase of places, people and products that call Ohio home is an honor.”Ĭolumbus-based Ron Foth Advertising created, directed and produced the video.
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“Our state is full of amazing destinations and incredible talent,” Ohio University President Hugh Sherman said. With several campuses and centers located across the state, including Zanesville, Ohio University knows there are a lot of areas that make this state a great place to work, live and visit. The video follows them on a road trip, as they visit Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Kings Island in Mason, and Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl in Zanesville as well as other stops across Ohio.Ĭolumbus-based creative agency Ron Foth Advertising visited College Green to film part of the “Ohio. The City of Athens, Ohio’s best college town by Far & Wide, is featured twice in the new ad as a grandmother picks up and drops off her granddaughter on College Green. The new video spot begins at OHIO’s historic Athens Campus, which was founded in 1804 after the Ohio General Assembly passed an act establishing “The Ohio University,” just a year after the state was formed. Find It Here., to highlight some of the vibrant places across the state and help answer the question of what to do. “What do you want to do this weekend?” It is a question we often ask our loved ones as we try to plan out exciting activities, like taking a trip or attending an event.Ī new commercial, featuring Ohio University’s Athens Campus, was recently released through the state’s tourism brand, Ohio. Ohio University’s historic Athens Campus was one of several Ohio locations to be featured in the state tourism’s new campaign video, “Big Moments.” Photo credit: Eli Burris/Ohio University