{"product_id":"equus-philadelphia-gay-bar-and-cabaret-1977-1989","title":"Equus (Philadelphia Gay Bar and Cabaret\/1977-1989)","description":"\u003ch2 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEquus — Philadelphia Vintage 1977–1989 Gay Bar Tee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePhiladelphia'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 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEquus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocated at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e254 South 12th Street\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Equus opened in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAugust 1977\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e under owner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlan Kachin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, transforming a building with an already established gay history into one of Philadelphia's most celebrated nightlife destinations.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd Equus wasn't your average neighborhood gay bar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt was an elegant combination of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003erestaurant, cocktail lounge, piano bar, disco, and upstairs cabaret\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, offering the sort of sophisticated night out that could begin with dinner and end several hours later on the dance floor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe space featured sleek, Art Deco-inspired interiors, an upscale dining room, and a reputation that extended well beyond Philadelphia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut the real attraction was the entertainment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEquus became famous for its extraordinary cabaret performances, attracting an impressive roster of stars, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEartha Kitt, Julie London, Charles Pierce, Tammi Grimes, Estelle Parsons, and Christine Jorgensen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYes, Eartha Kitt. On South 12th Street.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImagine 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe club's piano bar also featured local talent, including Philadelphia singer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKaren Young\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose disco hit \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Hot Shot”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e became an international dance-floor favorite in 1978.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd speaking of dancing, Equus had that covered, too.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIts disco featured popular Philadelphia DJs, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMichael Cavallone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, helping connect the club to the city's flourishing late-1970s dance scene.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEquus 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe building itself had an extraordinary history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrior to Equus, the address had been home to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeoncavallo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a celebrated Italian restaurant, before becoming \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Midway\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one of Philadelphia's early gay gathering places, in the 1960s. It subsequently housed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Pepper Box\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and a short-lived private club during the 1970s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the time Equus arrived, South 12th Street was already becoming an important part of the neighborhood's emerging gay identity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKachin sold the business in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1983\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and Equus continued under owner \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMel Heifetz\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e until \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1989\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, when the space reopened as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHepburn's\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a lesbian bar.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLater incarnations included \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e12th Air Command, iCandy, and Tabu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, making 254 South 12th Street one of the most historically significant LGBTQ nightlife addresses in Philadelphia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut Equus occupies a particularly glamorous chapter in that history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Printify","offers":[{"title":"Aqua \/ S","offer_id":67867575615646,"sku":"11259455325417413292","price":29.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Berry \/ S","offer_id":67867575648414,"sku":"18701332489092205895","price":29.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Black \/ S","offer_id":67867575681182,"sku":"24011830592947845224","price":29.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Dark Grey \/ 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