Overview

Last Call South Florida sweeps aside the glitter and glamour of the Sunshine State's LGBTQ nightlife scene to reveal the vibrant tapestry of real people who thrived on both sides of the bar. From the harrowing days of bar raids and police arrests to the triumphs of hard-won rights, this book dives deep into the lives of those who made history. Meet the investors and entrepreneurs who built the foundation, the entertainers, bartenders, go-go boys, drag performers, and ""bar celebrities"" who brought life to the stage, and the customers who found solace and community in these havens. This isn't just a nightlife chronicle; it's a celebration of a resilient community that emerged stronger from every challenge. What makes South Florida's LGBTQ bar scene unique is its dazzling blend of glamour, diversity, and unyielding spirit. Historians Fred Fejes and Rick Karlin have meticulously researched this distinctive community, covering an era from Prohibition to the present day. Focusing from Palm Beach to Broward, and Miami-Dade to Key West, they capture the essence of a community that has withstood the test of time and adversity. Fejes and Karlin's journey unearthed countless personal stories and experiences, bringing the history of South Florida's LGBTQ bar community to life. Their extensive archival research and interviews have culminated in a captivating book that informs and entertains. Last Call South Florida presents a rich tapestry of recollections, memories, histories, and artifacts. It's not just a book; it's a vital contribution to LGBTQ history, preserving the legacy of a community that shaped the cultural landscape of South Florida. Dive into this fascinating chronicle and celebrate the vibrant, resilient spirit of South Florida's LGBTQ bar community.

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9781955826686

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Fred Fejes moved to South Florida in 1986 from the Midwest, where he received his PhD in Communication Studies from the Institute of Communication Research at the University of Illinois. He is an LGBT community activist and professor emeritus in the School of Communication and Media Studies at Florida Atlantic University, where from 1986- 2016, he taught courses on LGBT Studies. He is known for his work on sexuality, media, and the history of the LGBTQ movement in America. From 2018 to 2019, he was a Fulbright-Palacky Distinguished Chair at Palacky University (Czech Republic). Fejes is the author of ""Gay Rights and Moral Panic: The Origins of America's Debate on Homosexuality,"" an account of the 1977 Anita Bryant campaign against gay rights in Dade County, Florida, and ""Imperialism, Media and the Good Neighbor: New Deal Foreign Policy and United States Shortwave Broadcasting to Latin America."" In 2013, he received the Roy F. Aarons Award for ""contributions to education and research on issues affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities."" He is a Research Scholar at the Stonewall Library and lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Rick Karlin has been a freelance journalist and editor for over 40 years. He is currently the Arts & Culture editor for Out South Florida and a contributing writer for ""The Bay Area Reporter"" and ""Grab Magazine Chicago.""His last book, ""Last Call Chicago: 1001 LGBT-Friendly Taverns, Hangouts, and Haunts,"" co-written with Sukie de la Croix, was published in 2022 and ranked number one in Amazon's LGBT Studies category. His memoir ""Paper Cuts: My Life in Chicago's Volatile LGBT Press,"" published in 2019, was about his life over several decades working in the Chicago LGBTQ press.He has also written three novels: ""Show Biz Kids,"" ""Tales of the Second City,"" and ""Death on the Rocks."" His musicals ""Witches Among Us,"" ""Scrapbook, Ladies at Large,"" ""Musical,"" ""and Spin Cycle"" have been produced in Chicago. His plays ""Turning Tables,"" ""Gregg Shapiro '77,"" and ""Patient B: A Case Study,"" based on the poetry of Denise Duhamel, have all had staged readings in Fort Lauderdale. He has also written numerous children's musicals.Recognizing his years as an LGBT community activist and writer, he was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 1997. He wrote for nearly every LGBT publication in Chicago, starting with ""GayLife"" in the 1970s, followed by ""Gay Chicago Magazine"" (entertainment editor), ""Outlines""/""Nightlines"" (now ""Windy City Times""), ""Chicago Free Press,"" ChicagoPride.com, and ""Boi Magazine."" He was also an on-air personality for ""LesBiGay Radio.""His son Adam is a Cook County sheriff. After too many Chicago winters, he retired to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he lives with his husband, poet and journalist Gregg Shapiro, and their fur baby, Miss Coco.

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