Equus (Philadelphia Gay Bar and Cabaret/1977-1989)

Equus — Philadelphia Vintage 1977–1989 Gay Bar Tee

Philadelphia's Gayborhood has a long and wonderfully colorful nightlife history, and few establishments captured the sophistication and excitement of its early gay scene quite like Equus.

Located at 254 South 12th Street, Equus opened in August 1977 under owner Alan Kachin, transforming a building with an already established gay history into one of Philadelphia's most celebrated nightlife destinations.

And Equus wasn't your average neighborhood gay bar.

It was an elegant combination of restaurant, cocktail lounge, piano bar, disco, and upstairs cabaret, offering the sort of sophisticated night out that could begin with dinner and end several hours later on the dance floor.

The space featured sleek, Art Deco-inspired interiors, an upscale dining room, and a reputation that extended well beyond Philadelphia.

But the real attraction was the entertainment.

Equus became famous for its extraordinary cabaret performances, attracting an impressive roster of stars, including Eartha Kitt, Julie London, Charles Pierce, Tammi Grimes, Estelle Parsons, and Christine Jorgensen.

Yes, Eartha Kitt. On South 12th Street.

Imagine having dinner, ordering another cocktail, and watching one of the most fabulous entertainers in the world perform just a few feet away. Not exactly your typical Tuesday night in Philadelphia.

The club's piano bar also featured local talent, including Philadelphia singer Karen Young, whose disco hit “Hot Shot” became an international dance-floor favorite in 1978.

And speaking of dancing, Equus had that covered, too.

Its disco featured popular Philadelphia DJs, including Michael Cavallone, helping connect the club to the city's flourishing late-1970s dance scene.

This was an era when disco and gay liberation were deeply intertwined, and Philadelphia was developing its own vibrant nightlife culture alongside cities like New York and San Francisco.

Equus offered something particularly special: a place where gay men could enjoy an elegant evening out without sacrificing the excitement, humor, and freedom of queer nightlife.

The building itself had an extraordinary history.

Prior to Equus, the address had been home to Leoncavallo, a celebrated Italian restaurant, before becoming The Midway, one of Philadelphia's early gay gathering places, in the 1960s. It subsequently housed The Pepper Box and a short-lived private club during the 1970s.

By the time Equus arrived, South 12th Street was already becoming an important part of the neighborhood's emerging gay identity.

Kachin sold the business in 1983, and Equus continued under owner Mel Heifetz until 1989, when the space reopened as Hepburn's, a lesbian bar.

Later incarnations included 12th Air Command, iCandy, and Tabu, making 254 South 12th Street one of the most historically significant LGBTQ nightlife addresses in Philadelphia.

But Equus occupies a particularly glamorous chapter in that history.