The Grapevine (New York City Gay Bar and Drag Club/70's and 80's)

The Grapevine — New York City Vintage Gay Bar Tee

Located in the heart of Manhattan's Theater District, The Grapevine was a gay bar and drag venue from an era when Times Square was considerably seedier, more colorful, and a lot less interested in being family-friendly.

And what a neighborhood for a drag bar. Just steps from Broadway's theaters, chorus lines, dressing rooms, and stage doors, The Grapevine belonged to a world where show business and gay nightlife were practically next-door neighbors.

New York's midtown gay bars had their own distinct personality. While Greenwich Village was famous for its leather bars and waterfront cruising, the Theater District attracted performers, theater workers, drag entertainers, tourists, and assorted night owls who appreciated a little glamour with their drinks.

Drag entertainment was an especially important part of that culture. Long before drag queens became television celebrities and household names, performers worked the stages and back rooms of gay bars, delivering lip-syncs, comedy, impersonations, and enough attitude to fill an entire Broadway theater.

And these weren't always glamorous establishments. Old Times Square was a wonderfully chaotic mixture of legitimate theaters, adult cinemas, dive bars, cheap hotels, and nightlife that operated well outside respectable Manhattan society. The contrast between Broadway sophistication and downtown-style misbehavior was part of the appeal.

Places like The Grapevine provided stages for queer performers and gathering spaces for audiences who understood that some of the best entertainment in New York wasn't necessarily happening under a Broadway marquee.