Hard Act — Mobile, Alabama 1980s Gay Bar 

Located at 5558 Old Shell Road, Hard Act was part of Mobile's surprisingly lively gay nightlife scene during the early 1980s, when being openly homosexual in Alabama wasn't exactly encouraged by the local establishment.

But that certainly didn't stop anyone from having a good time.

By August 1982, Hard Act was appearing in Cruise Weekly, a gay entertainment publication that listed bars and clubs throughout the South. The Mobile listings included establishments like The Corral, Crew's Pub, David's, the French Quarter, and the Society Lounge.

Mobile had developed a thriving underground gay community during the 1970s, with several downtown bars clustered in an area affectionately known as the Fruit Loop.

While many of the city's early gay establishments were concentrated downtown, Hard Act operated farther west along Old Shell Road, offering another destination for local gentlemen looking for a little companionship.

During this era, gay bars were especially important gathering places. Alabama's discriminatory laws, widespread social prejudice, and the very real threat of being outed meant that many gay men and lesbians had few places where they could comfortably be themselves.