The Garden and Gun Club was a private membership club and disco located in Charleston, South Carolina, that catered to a primarily gay clientele.[1]

Photo of a party at the Garden & Gun Club

History

Richard Robison started a bar for the Spoleto Festival in 1977 in a former J. C. Penney store at 240-242 King Street as a private club. More than 700 people paid $5 for memberships, and Robinson expressed interest in keeping the spot open beyond the Spoleto Festival.[2] The bar, originally known as Spoleto Bar, was renamed the King Street Garden and Gun Club in 1978. After the success of the Spoleto Bar, the newly christened King Street Garden and Gun Club remained open year-round. In 1982, the club moved from King Street to 14 Hayne Street, before closing in 1985.[1][3] The Garden and Gun club was well known in the city for its openness, breaking down barriers and allowing people of different classes and identities to mingle.[4] All members were required to agree to membership rules which began "This is a mixed club".[5]

Southern lifestyle magazine Garden & Gun was named in reference to the club.[6] The group also operates a Garden & Gun Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Unlike its namesake, it is not a disco or gay club.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Hogan, Maura (2 April 2018). "How the Garden and Gun Club upended Charleston's starched social order in just a few short years". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  2. ↑ Doubrava, Dave (June 4, 1978). "Spoleto After Dark . . ". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. p. E1.
  3. ↑ Staff (2011-05-25). "Rising stars, some hits and disappointments". The Post and Courier. p. 11. ISSN 0896-1999.
  4. ↑ Greene, Harlan (2015). "Roots: Opening the Archive". Beau magazine. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  5. ↑ Greene, Harlan. "History of the Garden & Gun club". College of Charleston Special Collections. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  6. ↑ Miller, Lia (2007-04-30). "Garden & Gun Magazine Has an Awkward Debut". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  7. ↑ "Garden & Gun Club – Garden & Gun Club". gardenandgunclub.com. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
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