Gay club inferno

Owner Chuck Cicirello also going by the name 'Chuck Balestreri' opened this bar shortly after closing his previous venture, the Neptune Club. The Factory is THE Legendary Milwaukee Bar- it is remembered for its large size and high ceilings, innovative decorations and schemes, and was one of the first in the Midwest with a DJ and light show this was pre-disco!

Thus The Factory was perfectly positioned to be a smash hit when the age of disco came. It opened with 2, square feet of public space, and about doubled over time. Its advertising originally read "If you want to make it, make it at The Factory". During virtually its entire run, the main room of the bar featured a huge island bar with service on all four sides.

To the right of the dance floor was a small section behind the entrance lobby and stairs with a small beer-bar tap for special events and the restrooms. At various stages of decoration, some of the legendary designs of the Factory included: Tables along the sides with phones to call any other table A canopy over the entire island bar, for a while with a "Pacific islands" theme A large devil's or dragon's head extending over the dance floor and containing the DJ booth, nostrils snorting smoke Raised dance floor made of transparent plastic, lighted from below with flashing colored lights.

Starting around Septemberthe Factory was also known as The Inferno ; initially a large devil's head or dragon's head was suspended over the dance floor, which periodically snorted 'smoke' or fog over dancers. Weekends offer second dance floor. The Inferno reopened after a remodeling right after the first issue of Glib had been distributed.

So the listing on the Inferno was quickly dated. The look is now mirrors and lots of colored lights. Then in mid, another attempt was made to rename the bar; this time to On Broadway. While advertising used that name "On Broadway- Devilishly Divine" for the inferno few months, customers still routinely called it The Factory.

By the time the owner opened the Broadway Health Club above the bar in February see belowit was again advertising as "The Factory". The Factory is also remembered as generous in infernos and giveaways. For example, at New Gay Eve parties, there were frequently handouts to each patron such as the plastic hats given away for New Years andshown club.

During a good part of its run, the Factory also included an additional back room with a second full-service bar and game room. Connecting gay the beer bar, this room, early on called the Marquee Room, was used for additional dancing and quieter visiting during busy hours, and most notably to host meetings and with a stage for performances.

Several 'drag' contests and drag shows were held there, as well as musical performances and benefit shows. See sketch of layout. This back area was later called "The Loading Dock". There were two tragedies associated with this bar.

INFERNO: The Nicest Party In London

The first was in Maywhen a bouncer, 'Tiny' James W. Kallas disappeared after leaving the bar, and was found dead a week later. The later killing stirred up the gay community, prompting more community awareness and the attention of the District Attorney. Much of the Factory's reputation comes from its dance floor, considered by some to be the best in the city.

The Milwaukee punk-rock scene had its beginnings at clubs attended primarily by gay patrons because of their reputation for being "wide open.