History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin - Businesses - Bars and Clubs outside Milwaukee

 
Players
Location: 214 Main Street, La Crosse WI

Opened:
Closed:

 1989
2019
Clientele:

Men/ Women
Bar
 
     
 

The La Crosse bar 'Players' was popular in the area for some 20 years- but is relatively little known to people outside the La Crosse area in the state of Wisconsin. Players held many parties, drag and AIDS benefit shows, 'Mr/Miss Gay Mississippi Valley' pageants, and was active in 'Pride Along the Mississippi' celebrations, working cooperatively with other local bars at the time such as Rainbow's End and My Place.

They appear to have done most of their advertising in the short-lived 'G-Street magazine' (2001-2002). But because the bar doesn't seem to have advertised much (or at all) in state-wide LGBT periodicals such as 'Quest magazine', people outside the area were largely in the dark about its activities and reputation in the area.

Victor M. Marcias-Gonzalez, Professor of History at UW-La Crosse, reports the following locations and owners:

214 Main Street:

  • 1989 to 2000 -- Karl Nelson & friend
  • 2000 to ? -- Karl Nelson & Harold Geary
  • ? t0 2011 -- Harold Geary & Kevin Kellogg

300 4th Street South:

  • 2012 t0 2019 -- Kevin Kellogg

Any additional information is available from anyone willing to contribute it.
Article: 'Life's A Party' column
in December 2000
(G-Street vol 1 #07, January 2001)
 
Photos from a show
(G-Street vol 1 #07, January 2001)
 
Advertisement: Harold's Sunday Drink Specials
(G-Street vol 1 #07, January 2001)
 
Ad: Where the Parties Are for Pride/
'Pride Along the Mississippi
(with Rainbow's End and My Place bars)
(Quest vol 8 #07, June 2001)
 
Advertisement: Riverfest; & Congratulations J.R.,
Mr. Gay Mississippi Valley USA
(G-Street vol 1 #12, June 2001)
 
Misc. Photos
(G-Street vol 1 #12, June 2001)
 
Advertisement: AIDS Benefit Variety Show
(G-Street vol 2 #02, August 2001)
 
Photo: 'Let's Get Wild' dance party
(G-Street vol 2 #02, August 2001)
 
Photos: 'Born Gay' Birthday party at both
"Players" and "Rainbow's End"
(G-Street vol 2 #02, August 2001)
 
Photos: Holiday 2001 Celebration
(Quest vol 8 #17, January 2002)
 
 
 
Photos: Miss Mississippi Valley USofA Pageant
(Quest vol 13 #07, April 2006)
 
 
 


Advertisement: Riverfest; & Congratulations J.R.,
Mr. Gay Mississippi Valley USA
(G-Street vol 1 #12, June 2001)

Credits: web site concept, format and contents by Don Schwamb.
Owner-date-location timeline courtesy Victor M. Marcias-Gonzalez (Professor of History at UW-La Crosse).
Last updated: June-2022.

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