The Leaded Shade II was the new name of what had previously been called "The Alternative". The Alternative had apparently been owned by Beverly, whose first LGBT bar was "Leaded Shade" of 12 years previously, about 6 blocks farther north on S. First Street. She was apparently trying to recall those previous days or its customer base.

Still, the "Look Who's Back!" advertisement challenged many readers' memories: how many would immediately recognize the bar and its manager! (Who was "Paul?") The original "Leaded Shade" had closed over a decade earlier. Was there really enough nostalgia remaining for the "Leaded Shade" name -- to draw a crowd to a new location that looked and felt nothing like the original?

Apparently not. The Leaded Shade II only lasted about nine months. By September 1991, The Leaded Shade II would become "Rainbow Revue" (1991-1992), and eventually the longer lasting "1100 Club" (1994-2003).

Michail Takach wrote up a comprehensive history of The Leaded Shsade and Leaded Shade II for the Facebook group in September 2022:

September 1976: the Leaded Shade (157 S. 1st St.) announces a change in ownership, with new "host" Larry Weber taking over. GLIB's second (and final) issue remarks, "The owners of the LEADED SHADE called us up and reminded us that they have completely remodeled their establishment, and they have told us it is now predominately a boy's bar."

But was it really?

This was a mighty big change -- considering the Leaded Shade opened as a women's bar sometime in February 1974.

157 S. 1st St. was a historic family meat market -- go figure -- that was converted into the long-running Erie House tavern in 1909. The upper floors contained a 30-room boarding house where many, many transient men met their untimely ends. Jimmy Nohelty bought the 50-year family business in 1959 but went bankrupt in 1967 -- to the tune of $100,000 -- and the bar was closed for several years.

Then it was the pirate-themed Long John Silver, where unescorted single ladies drank for free. (Amazing the bar didn't last long?) After going gay and relaunching as The Cove, The Backroom and Micky's Cove between 1972-1974, the bar found some success as the Leaded Shade.

This was a new type of women's bar, opening just as the ashes of the old Nite Beat were being cleared a block away. The old strict rules of butch and femme were no longer enforced, and a new school of younger, feminist-minded women were seeking modern spaces for themselves. Sharon Dixon managed the Leaded Shade during this era, when the bar was owned and operated by Pete and Bev Nilsson.

So it seems Leaded Shade closed for awhile, before remodeling and reopening in summer 1976 as a "boy's bar." But it was still heavily mixed, as the 1977 Gay Business Guide mentions its popularity with both women and men. Leaded Shade must have closed later that year. It doesn't appear anywhere in the Milwaukee Calendar (launched January 1978) or any other publication after 1977.

By summer 1978, the property was 1st Street Wharf, "Milwaukee's only authentic New Orleans themed restaurant." Milwaukee Journal restaurant critic James Auer said in 1979, "The Leaded Shade purveyed just about the best hamburgers in town -- to a highly specialized clientele."

What killed the Leaded Shade? The bar likely faced heavy competition from new women's bar Sugar Shack and about a dozen new men's bars (including M&M Club and Circus.) The timing makes sense as the Nilssons moved to 27th & Michigan where they operated Lost & Found from 1978 to 1984.

Weirdly, the Leaded Shade name was resurrected in December 1990 at 1st and Washington. Advertisements said "Look Who's Back!" as if readers would immediately recognize the bar and its manager. (Who was "Paul?") But Leaded Shade had closed over a decade earlier. Was there really enough nostalgia remaining for the "Leaded Shade" name -- to draw a crowd to a new location that looked and felt nothing like the original?

Seems like the answer was no. The Leaded Shade II only lasted about nine months. By September 1991, it was replaced by another short-lived bar, Rainbow Revue, and the Leaded Shade name was forever retired.

157 S. 1st Street has been known by many, many, many names since its days as the Leaded Shade. The building was dramatically restored in the past few years, but the interior has no resemblance to its days as a gay hotspot. But if those walls could talk....

More information about this business is welcomed from anyone who can contribute it.