Shelly's Leg (Exterior Sign/Seattle LGBTQ Disco/1973-1977/Gay Disco/Ga

Shelly’s Leg wasn’t just a disco — it was a revolution on the dance floor.

When it opened in 1973, it made history as Seattle’s first openly gay nightclub, blazing a glitter-strewn trail through the city’s nightlife. The club got its unforgettable name from an unforgettable woman: Shelly Bauman, who lost her leg in a freak cannon accident during a Bastille Day celebration in 1970. Rather than retreat, Shelly used her legal settlement to light up the night — quite literally — funding a space where queer joy could take center stage.

Decked out with mirrored walls and pulsating lights, Shelly’s Leg became a sanctuary of sequins and self-expression, spinning disco long before it was mainstream. But the party didn’t last forever. In 1975, fate struck again when a fuel truck crashed on the viaduct above the club, sending flames and chaos raining down and flooding the venue. Though it limped along for a while, Shelly’s Leg closed for good by 1977, leaving behind a legacy as bold and defiant as the woman who named it.

I use Bella + Canvas 3001 Unisex tees for all of my designs. They are a soft and light cotton. If you love another brand, please let me know and I can see if I can source it. I can also do my designs on tanks, long sleeve tees, sweatshirts, hoodies and posters. Just reach out with any custom requests and I'll gladly help you out. I do like large prints, but if you want the design scaled down, please contact me before placing an order and I can send you some mock ups.

Bella + Canvas 3001 UNISEX JERSEY SHORT SLEEVE TEE

Sizes:

Small: 18" chest/28" body length

Medium: 20" chest/29" body length

Large: 22" chest/30" body length

XL: 24" chest/31" body length

2XL: 26" chest/32" body length

3XL: 28" chest/33" body length.

Standard colors: 100% Airlume combed and ringspun cotton Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism colors - 99% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester;

Heather colors - 52% cotton, 48% polyester;