1975 CIRCLES THE RUSTY BELL 20 May 2005 Volume 2 Issue 12 Salt Lake Metro

CIRCLES

Life is full of circles if one knows where to look. On Sunday May 29, while the 30th Coronation of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire was about to commence at the Sheraton Hotel, I was attending a memorial service for Paul A. Douglas at the home of Richard Packer and Steve Merrill. Douglas died May 15, after a life time of community service.  While I personally did not know the man,  I knew of him, and felt the need to remember him by being present.

Paul Douglas with Eyes wide open

 In July 1975, 28 year old Paul A. Douglas, along with Mac Hunt, and Jim Beveridge, opened a Gay bar on the far west side of Salt Lake City called the Rusty Bell.  The bar was located at 996 South Redwood Road and later became the infamous Puss and Boots Lesbian bar. Now it is a dilapidated Mexican meat market. [Later was a music venue called the Outer Rim now closed 2013] 

Paul Douglas, according his partner of 35 years, poured his heart and soul in making a go of the bar, but after losing two homes, mortgaged to support the bar, the place closed in 1978. Inflation, like disco, killed many a Gay business in the late 1970’s.

Former Location of the Rusty Bell

The Rusty Bell, unlike some bars, was a community minded organization. I know some people get agitated when you mention Gay and bar in the same breath. But let me try to explain the significance of bars in the development of a Gay identity in the 1970’s.  Back then there were basically only two places for Gay men to meet, the parks and bars, but the difference is that at the bars people talked to each other.

The Rusty Bell, thanks in part to Paul Douglas’ community spirit, soon became a place of convergence for Gays and Lesbians. In October 1975, the Rusty Bell held a 1950’s Party to raise building funds for the Grace Christian Church. The following month two Lesbian activists, Shirley Price and Camille Tartagila were married in the bar.

In December 1975, the Western Rustlers, a Lesbian organization sponsored by the Rusty Bell, hosted a Sub for Santa. The Western Rustlers were the first known Gay organization in Utah to contribute to the Sub for Santa Charity. 

But now I come back full circle. As I had previously mentioned, the Royal Court was celebrating 30 years of fantabulous glitter, glamour, gossip and generosity  while I was attending Paul Douglas’ memorial service. Perhaps fifteen people were there to remember him, while 500 partied at the Sheraton. Few there I suspect,  knew that the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire held their first Coronation at the Rusty Bell in June 1976, when the court was originally called The Imperial Court of Utah.  I wonder if Douglas’ spirit was torn between being with his friends at his memorial service or whether he was at the Sheraton still supporting his community.  Paul may be gone now, but shall not forgotten in the history of Gay Utah.