Gay bars in buffalo
Welcome to Gay Places with Dr. Jeffry Iovannone. This PBN blog series honors and explores the significant LGBTQ landmarks of Western New York. We feature Dr. Iovannone's work and contributions from other writers to shed light on the frequently overlooked LGBTQ history intertwined with our built environment—stories often forgotten, ignored, or deliberately omitted.
330 Franklin Street, Buffalo, New York
By Dr. Jeffry Iovannone
330 Franklin Street, formerly located at the juncture of Franklin and West Tupper Streets, sat within the historic Allentown neighborhood. This late Federal townhouse design, a Colonial architectural style, comprised a double house, encompassing both 330 and 332 Franklin. Constructed of brick, this Federal-style residence displayed a low-pitched hipped roof, elegantly sculpted cornices accentuated by decorative brackets, and precisely crafted stepped gable walls. Federal architecture is notably characterized by a symmetrical window arrangement, displaying uniformly spaced rows in both vertical and horizontal orientations. This particular building, similar to others in the Federal style, typically features five windows along the front facade.
The Federal style, dominant in the nascent United States from approximately 1780 to 1820, flourished as the Northeast population grew from three to ten million. Its peak popularity was witnessed in Eastern seaboard port cities such as Boston, Providence, Newark, and Philadelphia. Developed as a refined variant of the preceding Georgian style, Federal architecture was originally embraced by affluent New England merchants. These edifices, in contrast to the simpler, box-like Georgian structures, are typically adorned with intricate detailing, possessing a subtle grace and ornate embellishment lacking in their predecessors. Federal design was influenced by contemporary European architectural trends, notably the renowned Adams brothers, who held the largest architectural firm in Britain at the time. As Buffalo expanded during the tail end of Federal style's popularity, numerous downtown structures, like 330 Franklin, often displayed a more vernacular sensibility or were influenced by the burgeoning Greek Revival style.
Completed by 1854, 330 and 332 Franklin Street are recorded on the Quackenboss & Kennedy city map as a brick dwelling and retail space. Throughout its existence, the building served a diverse range of residents and enterprises, including the Boyle Brothers Plumbing Company and Tutton Battery Service in the 1920s, The Radio Doctor (a radio repair shop) in the mid-to-late 1940s, and O'Neill's Grill (operating from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s). The upper stories were primarily used as residential apartments.
In 1968, James F. Garrow launched the Tiki Restaurant at 330 Franklin. Originating from Tampa, Florida, Garrow and his establishment were instrumental in sparking the early gay and lesbian civil rights movement in Buffalo. The Tiki's emergence coincided with a period in Buffalo's history when gay bars were regularly targeted by the Buffalo Police Department's Bureau of Vice Enforcement (BVE), and such establishments were fleeting. The closure of such venues was accelerated under the leadership of Kenneth P. Kennedy, who became BVE captain in 1967. A devout Irish Catholic who viewed homosexuality as both criminal and morally repugnant, Kennedy used his position to suppress establishments associated with the gay community.
The Tiki, though not a bar, could not secure a liquor license owing to Garrow's past convictions, some tied to his homosexuality. Prior to the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, homosexuality was criminalized in many states and viewed as a sin and mental illness. Despite lacking alcohol service, the Tiki became a popular meeting place for gay Buffalo residents in the late 1960s. Publicly, Jim Garrow was in a relationship, yet was unequivocally queer. At this time in his late 40s, he was a sizable, affable man with an approachable demeanor, drawing numerous gay Buffalo residents to his business. Amongst these patrons were the newly out lesbian Mernie Kern and her partner Leslie Feinberg. They met at the home of a mutual friend on a Sunday afternoon during the summer of 1969. Kern vividly recalls the role of the Tiki in these community gatherings:
"We had a period where there were no bars, and the Tiki Club emerged. I remember hearing about it somehow. This venue, situated on Franklin and Tupper Streets, consisted of two rooms with tables. Jim, a proprietor and, remarkably, a daily turkey maker, started providing lunches for customers drawn to the establishment from downtown. He offered roasts with gravy or turkey sandwiches. There were countless evenings when I'd go for dinner around 5 or 6 PM, enjoying turkey dishes, or coffee, and occasionally, live folk music performances. This diverse customer base included straight patrons. There were often Friday and Saturday evenings featuring a jukebox, and dancing was common. I'm certain that the venue was open almost 24/7. I recall regularly consuming coffee at the establishment into the late hours and still going to work. I vividly remember telling my co-workers that I hadn't slept, as if abundant coffee could completely replace sleep. You could, however, risk developing a sleep-deprived work-related accident with this method."
Garrow cultivated close relationships with Kern and Feinberg. They frequently interacted, sharing stories and coffee. Leslie's sister, Linda, often accompanied them in the afternoons, and they would sometimes socialize with Bobby Uplinger and his partner. Garrow shared stories about the Jewel Box Revue from his Florida days.
Founded in Miami in 1939 by Doc Brenner and Danny Brown, the Jewel Box Revue was a diverse variety show, echoing the Vaudeville style of entertainment. However, the show was characterized by a key distinction: the artistic expression of female impersonation performed primarily by queer men embodying a feminine presentation. The one exception was Stormie DeLarvarie, a prominent black lesbian drag performer. She later became recognized for challenging police during the Stonewall Uprising, inspiring a new generation of young, rebellious queer individuals to advocate for LGBTQ liberation.
From the 1940s onwards, the Jewel Box Revue toured the country successfully for more than three decades. The troupe embraced racial diversity, attracting audiences that reflected this mix. Cultural scholar Mara Dauphin posits that the Jewel Box Revue was pivotal in developing LGBTQ communities and creating a space within urban landscapes across postwar America, a precursor to the burgeoning sexual revolution.
Jim Garrow's reminiscences about the Jewel Box Revue underscored his commitment to fostering a comparable community spirit and queer niche within the Buffalo environment. Garrow often expressed longing for the perceived more open attitudes of Tampa during the 1940s and 1950s. Governor Rockefeller's campaign against vice in New York made it exceptionally difficult for Garrow to navigate the regulatory landscape.
In 1963, Governor Rockefeller initiated a Moreland Act commission to investigate the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. This investigation exposed widespread corruption within the state's alcohol distribution and sales sector. As a consequence, businesses associated with liquor sales, particularly bars, faced increased scrutiny from state and local law enforcement authorities. Gay and lesbian bars in Buffalo seemed to vanish as soon as they arose.
Prior to the Tiki, Feinberg and Kern frequented T&T Western Paradise at 1239 Niagara Street. Initially launched in the 1940s as a country-western bar, it became a gay-oriented establishment around the late 1960s. The bar proprietors, Tony and Tanya Puszka, looked to capitalize on the scarcity of social spaces catering to gay Buffalo residents. Increased scrutiny, combined with financial and marital challenges, however, led to the closure of T&T.
The dearth of social spaces within Buffalo prompted many gay residents to seek refuge in Niagara Falls, frequently visiting Ninfa's Restaurant at 324 Main Street. Owned by Mrs. Ninfa DiRocco, managed by Anthony J. Infantino, and situated in the city's vice district, Ninfa's attracted a predominantly gay clientele. The neighborhood where Ninfa's operated was known, humorously, as the "Tijuana of Canada." Gay patrons playfully referred to the establishment as "Nympha's." Ninfa's subsequently closed in 1971 due to the revocation of its liquor license for alleged narcotics-related violations. Feinberg later fictionalized T&T and Ninfa's in her memoir as "Abba's" and "Tifka's," respectively. The Tiki, in her narrative, becomes "The Malibu."
Despite the limited options for socializing and drinking, the gay community in Buffalo persevered. Mernie Kern describes their coping mechanism:
"We had a bar across the street from the Tiki, Benji's, which was a local dive. So we would go there to have a few drinks and then return to the Tiki to dance. It was almost like a two-bar system; a drink at the first location and then dance at the second."
Garrow, nevertheless, remained determined to obtain a liquor license for his establishment and create a social haven for gay people. In fall 1969, he shuttered the 330 Franklin establishment and rented a rundown three-story building at 70 Delaware Avenue. Previously known as The Avenue Grill, a straight restaurant and bar opened in 1938 by Leon Wyszatycki, it closed in 1963 due to violations of liquor regulations.
Garrow aimed not to replicate The Avenue Grill but to broaden the Tiki concept and circumvent the Bureau of Vice Enforcement. On December 10, 1969, he submitted an application for a restaurant license to the city under "The Tiki Room." Concurrently, he conceived a novel, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, initiative. Garrow, who owned 70 Delaware Avenue, planned to convert the ground floor into a private club for gay and lesbian patrons, potentially charging a fee for entry or drinks, as per Mernie Kern's recollection:
"[Jim] bought the Tiki downtown... and it was a great spot because you could create a lot of commotion. That was the thing about our Buffalo gay bars: if you made too much noise, the neighbors would complain, and then the police would have a hard time. T&T on Niagara was great because there were no houses around, so you didn't have neighbors. That was the appeal of the new Tiki or Tiki 2. However, the only other activity around was the Buffalo Athletic Club. [Jim] constantly spoke about the many closeted queens at the Buffalo Athletic Club who were resentful of not being able to join in our gatherings. Hence, they complained about the noise and encouraged the police to investigate the Tiki."
Whether an anonymous "queen" from the Buffalo Athletic Club lodged a complaint is uncertain, but someone did. The BVE placed 70 Delaware Avenue under surveillance. Acknowledging the escalation of the situation, Garrow enlisted the aid of renowned homophile activist Frank Kameny. Kameny, with a PhD in astronomy from Harvard, served in the federal government's Army Map Service before being dismissed in 1957 after his security clearance application revealed 'vagrancy and lewd and lascivious behavior' on a trip to San Francisco. His career trajectory was disrupted. Kameny subsequently dedicated himself to LGBTQ rights, cofounding the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C., in 1961. This organization, founded in 1950 in Los Angeles, emerged as an important gay rights advocacy group prior to the Stonewall uprising. Kameny utilized Mattachine as a platform for direct engagement with the federal government regarding LGBTQ rights, organizing protests, including a picket of the White House on April 17, 1965, and an annual picket at Philadelphia's Independence Hall. Kameny's tactical approach to LGBTQ rights advocacy differed from some contemporaries. Kameny advised the gathered group at 70 Delaware Avenue in a distinctive nasal tone:
"Come together, draft a constitution, store it away, and actively champion LGBTQ rights!" Kameny also provided insight regarding the Stonewall demonstrations.
On the early morning of June 28, 1969, gender nonconforming individuals of color, lesbians, and gay men confronted the New York Police Department following a raid at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. This act of defiance inflamed the burgeoning gay rights movement. Many gay Buffalo residents were aware of the Stonewall event, but their primary motivation for organization arose from the local issues of police harassment and bar closures. A local group emerged, with Garrow as its de facto leader. Fear lingered.
Situated near City Hall and the county jail, 70 Delaware Avenue was vulnerable to a BVE raid. On the early morning of January 4, 1970, under Captain Kennedy's command, a raid was carried out. Acting Detective Richard Segina, purchasing a drink, initiated the raid, after observing alleged liquor-carrying patrons. More than 100 individuals were present that night. The resulting arrests and accusations resonated widely.
Garrow, among others, was charged with operating a criminal nuisance and allowing alcohol consumption in an unlicensed establishment. Garrow communicated with The Advocate, a gay community newsletter, that Kennedy had visited the premises shortly after he took possession. Garrow described Kennedy as having communicated an intention to prevent him from obtaining any licenses. Following the raid, Kennedy issued a different statement to the local press, attempting to mitigate potential accusations of persecution: "We are not seeking to harass this group; the surveillance disclosed violations of the law." He further indicated that these violations would be addressed in any location where such violations were detected.
The second raid on 70 Delaware Avenue, occurring on April 4th, was especially forceful. Eleven individuals were arrested, and 94 others were evicted, with their names and addresses taken. Anita Cabrera and Patricia Nigro, two lesbians, were charged with harassment and resisting arrest after confronting the raiders. Shirley Thomas, who experienced a seizure after being physically restrained by BVE officers, was treated at Meyer Memorial Hospital. Absent during the raid, Garrow subsequently turned himself in and was charged with operating an unlicensed bottle club, public nuisance, and conspiracy.
On April 7, the Buffalo Courier-Express reported on a protest staged the prior day by six young men and one young woman (Mernie Kern) at City Hall. Bearing signs that read "Civil Rights For Homosexuals" and "End Police Harassment," this marked Buffalo's first public gay rights protest. Importantly, the Courier-Express incorrectly characterized the protesters as solely male.
'I felt compelled to act, angered by the police closing our establishments. Thus, I participated, alongside seven or eight men. I was the only woman, and I wasn't sure who the other individuals were. We anticipated police intervention. We hoped that news reporters would be present and capture our actions, potentially showcasing us on television. The concept of potentially appearing on TV caused concern about the potential reaction of my family and coworkers from my small town."
Due to escalating legal problems and growing suspicion that he was exploiting the nascent gay organization to obtain a liquor license, the community distanced themselves from Garrow. Meetings shifted to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo. In tribute to Frank Kameny, the community rebranded as the Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier (MSNF). MSNF formalized their operations with a constitution, bylaws, and incorporation as a not-for-profit corporation in New York State on June 9, 1970.
As MSNF gained momentum, Jim Garrow's personal circumstances deteriorated, and he left Buffalo. It was presumed that he sought to avoid further legal entanglement. He subsequently returned to his native Tampa, Florida, securing employment as a hospital orderly in the historic Ybor City neighborhood. This area housed Tampa's gay community, primarily concentrated along 7th Avenue. Garrow passed away on October 9, 1984, at age 63.
Garrow's influence and aspiration to forge a queer community in Buffalo, echoing the vibrant community of the Jewel Box Revue, persisted. Buffalo's gay and lesbian community, unified in their struggle for liberation, were increasingly cognizant of the obstacles they faced both nationally and locally. Their challenge was to forge a more auspicious future for gay individuals in a racially complex, industrial city situated at the edge of the Midwest.
The plant closures that plagued the Great Lakes region throughout the 1970s presented additional hurdles as MSNF strived to reshape the city amid economic and social transition. 330 Franklin Street was not exempt from these alterations, and by 1980, the building was demolished to make way for a parking lot. Jim Garrow's Tiki Restaurant survived for only two years, yet its legacy and its owner's vision endured.
Dr. Jeff Iovannone is an historian, writer, educator, and third-generation Buffalonian with a Ph.D. in American Studies specializing in gender and LGBTQ studies. He is currently working on a book about Buffalo's gay liberation movement from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and is a passionate collector of LGBTQ historical materials. He is the coordinator of the Women's and Gender Studies program at SUNY Fredonia and a board member of the Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project. Visit https://linktr.ee/drjeffgenderprof for additional writings.
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