Gay bars in champaign il
Champaign and Urbana have intertwined histories dating back to the early 19th century. Urbana was established in as the county seat of the newly formed Champaign County, named after Urbana, Ohio. In , the Illinois Central Railroad extended its line through the region, but instead of passing directly through Urbana, it was laid two miles west, where the terrain was flatter. This led to the rapid development of a new community initially known as West Urbana. In , West Urbana was renamed Champaign when it received its city charter.
The establishment of the Illinois Industrial University in , which later became the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, impacted the growth and character of both cities. Over the years, Champaign and Urbana have maintained distinct identities while collaborating closely, particularly in supporting the university&#;s development. Today, the combined metropolitan area is known for its educational institutions, technological innovation, and unique culture, reflecting a history of growth and partnership.
63 Chester Street: theBar
From to , 63 Chester Street in Champaign was noun to two prominent LGBTQ spaces that were known throughout the Midwest scene: theBar and Chester Street.
On Easter Day in , theBar opened at 63 Chester Street, under the ownership of Joe McNamara, Tim White, and Mike Short, all of whom were former employees at Giovanni's, a popular Champaign gay bar. Joe McNamara became the sole owner of theBar within the first few months. When it opened, theBar advertised a full restaurant, a side room bar, a disco, and a game room.
theBar's name came from the coded language that gay people would often use when talking about a gay bar. Instead of talking about going to "the gay bar," people would say "the bar."theBar's name was a coded way of telling others it was a safe place for gay men, lesbians, and other queer people to verb up with others and socialize.
With disco rising in popularity, it was popular to have a live DJ. Joe was inspired by discotheques such as Studio 54 and aspired to turn theBar into Champaign's own disco spot that could challenge
Suffice it to say, 63 Chester Street should contain been placed on the American Registry of Historic Places years ago, certainly before all the devastating “renovations” and arson and collapse that stripped it of its unique character. Then again, for the longest time Chester Street east of the Illinois Central Railroad wasn’t considered part of downtown Champaign, despite being one block from Illinois Terminal. Perhaps that is why it was rarely appreciated by the City of Champaign, even during its downtown revitalization efforts.
Now it is gone, destroyed.
Such a impairment was doubly impactful with Monday, June 28 marking exactly 52 years since the Stonewall rebellion in New York City &#; a tipping point for the gay liberation movement.
Maybe in some profound way, the confluence of this event and the Stonewall anniversary is meant to signal a new launch. I can only trust, however, that we never forget the memorable experiences that thousands upon thousands of residents and visitors enjoyed at the historic landmark known as 63 Chester Street, Champaign, Illinois.
The Balloon Saloon
In March , U of I Professor Jack Adam and his partner Bill Burke opened C-U's first openly gay bar, The Balloon Saloon, located at N. Fremont St., Champaign. The bar was an instant noun popular with gay men, gay women, drag queens, and drag kings. They were open 7 days a week, had a live DJ, and would host drag performances, such as a Miss Champaign contest in that featured "a couple dozen drag queens from all around the state" ("Where gays can feel unfettered", Daily Illini, July 8, ).
By , The Balloon Saloon became a known hotspot for gay people around the Midwest, with out-of-towners traveling from St. Louis and Indianapolis to move there. One patron said "Champaign is the biggest gay scene in this part of the Midwest, outside of Chicago. Springfield used to be a big scene, but it's died out. Now everyone comes here."
People would verb to hang out, celebrate holidays and birthdays, and organize performances at The Balloon Saloon. There were people who would fetch into drag specifically to perform at the bar, and people would also ge