Understanding Amenity Features

It is notable that the Damron Company felt the need to specify not just the presence of a cover charge, but also to clarify the threshold price. Smaller cover charges demanded at the door likely did not concern readers, while a charge of $7 or more appears to have crossed a line that Damron believed patrons should know in advance, even in an era when cash payments were far more common.

Damron used a small black star next to listings to denote that a location was popular. You'll notice that in our data we've opted for an asterisk (*).

While the wording of this listing may initially appear exclusionary, it may instead have functioned to signal the inclusive nature of the nightlife space. Because most bars and nightclubs prohibited entry to anyone under the age of 21, highlighting an 18-and-over policy could indicate broader access, particularly for younger patrons navigating age-based restrictions.

This designation feels very much of the 1990s, reflecting the alternative music scene of the era. Its inclusion suggests how musical taste, style, fashion, and attitude helped define gay spaces in the late twentieth century. It may have functioned to mark venues as distinct from the mainstream dance or pop-oriented spaces popular with gay men.

Bars and clubs made up a large, if not majority, of many cities' listings in the guidebook. The nocturnal nature of the gay world meant gay men continued to look for places of enjoyment even after bar closing times. Establishment closing times differed greatly by city and state.

The AYOR designation was added in the 1977 Damron Address Book Noting dangerous locations, AYOR later included the "usually fuzz" description. "Fuzz" likely refers to the appearance of police or law enforcement.

This is a short-lived designation, though later editions of the Damron Guides typically noted bed-and-breakfast accommodations within the listing description rather than as a separate amenity category.

This designation was Damron's first amenity feature to explicitly mention race. The use of (B) first appeared in the 1970 guidebook. By the early 1990s, the Damron Company used the (B) designation more broadly to note venues with multiracial clientele, before breaking racial categories down further in the mid-1990s (see below).

This designation, used for only two years, denoted places that included a substantial number of non-white patrons. By 1994, the Damron Company had introduced more specific designations for venues patronized by Black, Latino, and Asian queer people, though the MRC label continued to be used when these distinctions were less clearly defined (see below).

This designation denoted venues associated with the gay bear subculture, generally characterized by an emphasis on body hair, larger or stockier builds, and a more overtly masculine aesthetic.

This designation identified sites where full nudity was permitted, most often outdoor spaces such as nude beaches, and frequently overlapping with cruisy areas.

This designation, sometimes listed simply as "beer and wine," marked spaces that did not sell distilled liquor. Full liquor licenses were (and remain) expensive and often capped in number across many municipalities in the United States. Additionally, beer and wine are generally easier to store and serve and do not require trained bartenders or complex bar setups. Later guides noted that bars coded BW didn't always sell both.

This activist and social group was founded in 1980 in San Francisco as a way to support gay men interested in forming interracial friendships and romantic relationships. It is not entirely clear why the Damron Company began listing the group as a separate letter designation in 1987, nor why it ended the practice before the 1990 printing. However, the use of the lettering system to list organizations precedent in the guides, most notably with listings for Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) congregations.

The complications with restaurants and bars securing liquor licenses meant that many locations allowed for outside alcohol to be brought into their premises.

This designation referred to venues associated with cowboy or western subcultures, often linked to country music, denim, boots, and rugged masculinity. It was likely identical to the (W) – Western or Cowboy Types category (see below). It remains unclear why, in some iterations of the guide (for example, the 1985 edition), both W and C&W were listed as separate amenities.

Early editions of the Damron guides listed "Coffee, sometimes food too, usually open late when bars are closed"

This designation indicated venues (usually bars or restaurants) that included cabaret-style entertainment, such as live performance, music, or revue.

While baths were listed in the Damron Guides from the first edition in 1965, this designation referred specifically to bathhouses operated by the Club Baths chain, which was founded in the 1960s and remained in operation through the 1990s. At its peak, more than forty Club Baths locations operated across North America. It is not entirely clear why the Damron Company included the CBC label (rather than relying on a general bathhouse designation) only in these late-1980s editions.

While it might seem obvious that many bars and clubs offered dancing, not all gay bars had the space for a dance floor. At the time of Damron's first publication in the mid-1960s, same-sex dancing in public was widely considered taboo and, in many places (including New York City) was outright illegal. Some later editions included the phrase "DJ spinning" alongside the (D) amenity, including the 2004 issue, which further specified "Usually Fri–Sat."

While drag shows received their first standalone amenity designation in the early twenty-first century, their inclusion in the Damron Guides dates back to the early 1970s. As noted below, "drags" were at times (and perhaps controversially) folded into the RT label, yet Damron also regularly referenced drag shows within venue descriptions during this earlier period. In the 1984 edition, for example, Tucson's Club Europa was described as having "Drag S in rear." Notably, even when "drags" appeared under RT in the guides, Damron often used the term "drags" independently, without applying the RT designation, suggesting some ambivalence or inconsistency in how drag was categorized.

In its early years, Damron did not define "E" beyond the general category of entertainment. Beginning in the 1980s, however, later editions clarified the designation to mean live entertainment, including bands, comedy, spoken word, piano, and the like.

Originally listed as "fun and sex" when the designation first appeared in 1984, this label was likely used by Damron to denote establishments that condoned sexual activity within their premises. While explicitly cruisy locations were also identified in the Damron Guides, F&S appears to have been used more often for sites where sexual activity was present but secondary to the venue's primary function—such as cinemas, bars, or bookstores.

Slight variations from different years, but a nod to this designation meaning more than concession stand food or coffee.

This category is Damron's attempt at subtlety. FFA actually has another acronym (which a quick Google search can reveal). The designation is reserved for bars or clubs where patrons can partake in a certain sexual act.

Damron used the (G) designation to denote "girls" until 1980 when he dropped the (G) in favor of (L). While many of the listings with the (L) or (G) might have been popular with lesbians, Damron also used the designation to describe places frequented by gay men that women (lesbian or straight) would also feel comfortable. Therefore, not all places listed with designation should be understood as "lesbian spaces." Beginning in the 1984 guide, Damron began using (L) to specifically mark lesbian spaces, though again, not always exclusively lesbian establishments.

This designation was used by the mid-1990s to refer to places that were publicly or outwardly welcoming to lesbian and gay people but were not classified as queer venues. Damron previously used the M for Mixed designation and later used MX (see below).

Notably, it was not until the 2003 guide that Damron added the clarification "includes Lesbian owned," suggesting that earlier editions may have generated some confusion for readers. This confusion is understandable, as by this period Damron was publishing separate men's and women's guides, potentially complicating assumptions about what "gay owned" signified.

Interestingly, only the 1999 edition includes the clarifier "evenly mixed." This designation is reminiscent of the long-running M (Mixed) label used in earlier editions (see below), as well as GF and MX.

In some years, Damron treated bed and breakfasts as a separate amenity category. Beginning with the 1990 edition, however, Damron stopped marking listings with the "H" designation. This change reflected a broader reorganization of the guide, which from that point forward separated listings by venue type such as bars, accommodations, and information lines (making the H designation not necessary).

For six editions, Damron used this letter designation to denote sex workers. Interestingly, even in editions where the letter designation was utilized (such as 1991), Damron sometimes labeled venues descriptively with the full term "hustlers," particularly near popular cruising locations where gay sex workers were common. It's not clear why the Damron company sometimes wrote out the term instead of use the letter "H."

This designation likely refers to the popularity of marijuana at a certain establishment.

The Damron company used this designation to describe locations where police (fuzz) might be common. By 1977, it appeared with another danger-designation, AYOR, until HOT was dropped in favor of just AYOR in the 1980 edition. Conscious that readers might be confused with the HOT label, Damron noted in the 1975 edition that HOT did not mean popular and in style "as in the current vernacular."

Originally listed as "Independent Gay Health Club" in the 1986 guide, the IGHC aimed to begin a conversion of baths into health clubs beginning in the mid to late 1980s in response to a loss of business and state regulation against baths because of the worsening AIDS crisis.

Committed to "the welfare of gay and lesbian travels and to shrinking the gay globe," members of the IGTA included tour operators, hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, travel agents, transportation agencies, entertainment groups and others. The Damron company appears to have a relationship with the IGTA, listing groups affiliated with the organization beginning in the 1988 guide. The organization was likely based in Denver, CO. Later editions used the designation "TA" (see below).

Damron used the (G) designation to denote "girls" until 1980 when he dropped the (G) in favor of (L). While many of the listings with the (L) or (G) might have been popular with lesbians, Damron also used the designation to describe places frequented by gay men that women (lesbian or straight) would also feel comfortable. Therefore, not all places listed with designation should be understood as "lesbian spaces." Beginning in the 1984 guide, Damron began using (L) to specifically mark lesbian spaces, though again, not always exclusively lesbian establishments (noting in the description "but not exclusively unless otherwise noted").

A successor to the SM designation of "some motorcycle and leather" (see below), this category identified venues catering to leather, fetish, and uniformed subcultures, communities organized around the erotic practices, dress, and social codes. This might include leather attire and roleplay.

The designation is used to identify venues associated with "clone" style, with a more masculine dress code such as Levi's jeans, boots, flannel, and sometimes shorter hair. The clone look emerged in the 1970s as a rejection of both stereotypes of gay men as effeminate and earlier homophile respectability politics. What's interesting is why the designation did not appear until the early 1990s.

This designation largely marked establishments that had a significant, if not a majority number of straight identified patrons, or persons who did not identify as gay. Damron likely used this designation to mark sites where gays and lesbians faced less hostility than at otherwise straight venues. The MX label (see below) filled in for this designation in later years followed by the GF label ("gay friendly" see above).

Many, if not most, entries with this designation tend to be hotels, resorts, and baths catered specifically to gay men. This entry differs slightly from the "MO" designation below, as this entry doesn't seem to be outward exclusionary (i.e. non-gay men were allowed in spades marked "M" in these years)

The first Metropolitan Community Church was founded in 1968 and gained prominence by explicitly ministering to gay and lesbian communities. At a time when most mainstream Christian denominations condemned homosexuality as sinful, the MCC offered gay and lesbian Christians an affirming space for worship and fellowship. Although Damron removed MCC as a distinct letter category in the 1990 edition, it continued to list Metropolitan Community Churches thereafter, just no longer as a separate amenity classification.

Contrasted with (M-1996-2005), spaces with MO explicitly barred non men from these establishments (usually baths or gay male hotels).

Also listed as MRC-A in some editions, this designation was the first to explicitly note venues frequented by Asian-American queer people. In the 1994 edition, Damron differentiated three racial categories for the first time (Black, Asian, and Latino).

In some ways an extension of previous spaces "B" for "Blacks frequent" beginning in the 1970s, this designation began with two other racial designations beginning in 1994 (Latino and Asian).

Though Damron began labeling places frequented by Latinos in venue descriptions as early as 1973 (see our vignette about this), 1994 was the first year the Damron company used a letter designation for Latino sites.

Damron used "B" for multiracial clientele in the 1992 and 1993 editions before switching to MRC or MR, noting places that included a substantial number of non-white patrons. By 1994, the Damron Company had introduced more specific designations for venues patronized by Black, Latino, and Asian queer people, though the MRC label continued to be used when these distinctions were less clearly defined.

Damron's guides were largely oriented toward gay men (a fact the publisher openly acknowledged) but this designation pointed to spaces where gay men and lesbians shared social space: venues that were not exclusively gay male nor specifically oriented toward lesbian women.

Like M (Mixed), GF (Gay Friendly), and GS (Gay and Straight), this designation was used in their guides to mark spaces with an even if not majority straight clientele.

This designation likely identified bars more catered to a local scene, perhaps a more casual, friendly, and cozy environment, a "Cheers" if you will (although that's probably too dated of a reference for our younger users). Damron would change this designation to "NH" in later editions (see below).

A simple re-designation of the neighborhood designation (see "N" above).

Modern American society largely prizes youth, and this includes/d gay male culture. Damron's (OC) classification likely aided older men looking for spaces where they could find acceptance despite a culture of youth fetishization.

Many establishments often used the "private" designation to get around the possibility of police raids. Police raids against gay bars were common in the 1960s through 1980. It was harder to raid "private" clubs, however. In 1990, Damron switched the designation to PC for "Private Club."

It's possible that before this designation, Damron used "PE" for "Pretty Elegant" for similar meaning.

Many establishments often used the "private" designation to get around the possibility of police raids. Police raids against gay bars were common in the 1960s through 1980. It was harder to raid "private" clubs, however. Before 1990, Damron used "P" to denote this designation (see above).

It's possible that Damron used this designation as a precursor to the P for "Professional Crowd" designation beginning in the 1990 guide.

For more information on Damron's inclusion of pool tables in the guides, check out our vignette on the topic.

By 1990, the Damron Company reformatted how they listed venues, with types of establishments (bars, restaurants, info lines etc.) separated. This is why the R for Restaurant designation disappears as an amenity category in the 1990 edition.

The use of RT was Damron's early attempt to highlight establishments that the guides deemed as less than reputable. The Damron guides link sex workers (hustlers) and "downtown types" (likely people who lived in the inner city) to places of vice, crime, and deviancy. In an early edition in the 1960s, Damron clarified that many RT locations were "often commercial." It might be a contrast to "PE" for "pretty elegant" or professional venues.

This longtime designation was used for "shows" but different clarifications were added in the explanation of listings, including "impersonators or pantomime acts," "drag, strip, cabaret," "strippers" "record pantomime acts," "dancers," and "often touristy." In the 2003 edition, the "S" designated specifically "strippers" and/or "go-go dancers."

American motorcycle culture began in the 1940s and 1950s, and gay motorcycle clubs gained in popularity around the same time. Some participants in the culture found refuge in these roaming motorcycle communities as replacement meeting spots for the bars (which could be unsafe, especially with constant police raids). Gay leather culture also allowed some gay men to embrace a masculine gay identity, one in opposition to the stereotyped femininity of "fairy" gay men.

Committed to "the welfare of gay and lesbian travels and to shrinking the gay globe," members of the IGTA included tour operators, hotels, bed and breakfasts, resorts, travel agents, transportation agencies, entertainment groups and others. The Damron company appears to have a relationship with the IGTA, listing groups affiliated with the organization beginning in the 1988 guide. The organization was likely based in Denver, CO. Earlier editions used the designation "IGTA" (see above).

TG was likely the first explicit letter designation related to trans people in the guides.

Though televisions became widespread in American homes beginning in 1950s, it was not until the later twentieth century when they became staples at bars (including gay nightlife).

Somewhat like the (SM) classification above, Damron used the (W) designation to identify places with rodeo and/or western vibes. These establishments were particularly popular in the American West and South and projected a more masculine image of gay life.

Like earlier "G" for Girls and "L" for Ladies or Lesbians in earlier editions, the designation more clearly marked spaces where lesbians were in the majority. It should be noted, however, that by the early 1990s, the Damron Company produced a separate "women's guide" aimed at a lesbian readership.

Damron used (WE) to note places open on the weekends. This label was sometimes joined with the star symbol (or asterisk in our data), suggesting an establishment was popular on the weekends.

In opposition to the (OC) label, Damron utilized (YC) to note places popular with a younger in age crowd.

Beginning with the 1972 edition, Damron listed cruising areas (informal sites for sexual or social encounters such as parks, beaches, highways, rest stops, university campuses, and other public facilities). These locations were typically placed at the bottom of a city's regular listings. Activity at cruising sites often varied by season, weather, and time of day, and Damron regularly cautioned that some locations could be dangerous (AYOR), emphasizing that they were visited at one's own risk.