Gold Coast (Chicago Leather Bar/1958-1987) Color:Heather Navy where wild afternoons and late-night

where wild afternoons and late-night revelry blurred together

and decay into something strangely human — and unmistakably Warhol

Artists often traded paintings for bar tabs

the leather community

Gold Coast (Chicago Leather Bar/1958-1987) Color:Heather Navy where wild afternoons and late-nightOpened in 1958 by the legendary Chuck Renslow, the Gold Coast was Chicagos first leather barand one of the first in the world. Tucked into the basement of the now famous Mans Country complex, it set the standard for leather culture with its strict dress codes, dark corners, and bold celebration of gay masculinity. A true pioneer, the bar helped launch the International Mr. Leather contest and shaped queer nightlife for generations. Gold Coast closed