| Transcript |
September 3,1982 / Montrose voice 3
Fire Official
Says Gay Bar
Fire Was Arson
Arson has been blamed for the early morning fire last Friday, August 27, at the Hole
House, 109 Tuam. The contents and structure were determined to be a "total loss,"
according to a report from the Houston
Fire Department, but there were no
injuries.
Arson division spokesmen said that the
incident is "under investigation" and
robbery appears to be a motive.
The fire department received a call from
a citizen reporting the fire at 5:41 a.m. and
the fire was brought under control at 6:15,
the report added.
The club was owned by Joe Anthony,
who also owns Happy Trails, another gay
bar. Anthony said he thought he could
rebuild and be open in a,few months.
Many of Anthony's personal .belongings were stored in the building and were
lost.
Also destroyed was the organ used by
entertainer Keoki Kona, who played
nightly at the "Top ofthe Hole," the club's
upstairs entertainment bar.
Public Defender
Quits Over
Anti-Gay
Remarks
International Gay News Agency
An assistant public defender for Alameda
County, Calif, (encompassing Oakland
and San Jose), resigned August 18 after he
was sharply criticized for making derogatory remarks about San Francisco's gay
community.
George Benetatos, 37, was quoted in the
San Francisco Chronicle's Question Man
column about what he was "mad as hell
about." He replied: "The homosexual
problem distorts the character of the city.
Some are probably nice creative people,
but San Francisco is imbalanced. It's
changing from a family town to some-
Fire officials say argon was the cause of a blaze that destroyed last week the
Hole, a gay bar on Tuam
thing bizarre."
His statement infuriated many in the
gay community and also angered Public
Defender James R. Jenner and many staff
attorneys. It appeared that public
defender Benetatos might not defend any
gays who might come within his jurisdiction.
Smoking Linked
to Loss of
Hearing, Sexual
Drive
Pacific News Service
More bad news for smokers: A pair of new
studies have linked cigarettes to loss of
hearing and sexual drive.
In Egypt, cancer researchers say they
found some degree of hearing loss in 70 per
cent of the smokers they tested, compared
to just 17 per cent in non-smokers.
And while they're not sure why smoking
might affect hearing, the speculation is
that nicotine may reduce the blood supply
to the inner ear.
Meanwhile, a psychologist at Florida
State University says smoking may be
harmful to your sex life. Dr. Richard
Hagen says males who smoke high-
nicotine cigarettes show decreased sexual
response.
Treasure Hunt:
As Good as the
Real Thing
A millionaire Texas oilman who financed
an unsuccessful search for the Titanic last
year is building a solid gold replica of the
ill-fated ship for other treasure hunters to
track down, reports the Washington Post.
Jack Grimm says the $25,000 model will
be hidden next month somewhere in the
United States or Canada. Clues to the
"Titanic" treasure will have to be deciphered from a forthcoming book called
Beyond Reach: The Search for the Titanic.
0«iMW«-e^«*tdfe>
Montrose
Mouth
Fred Paez
Community Center
sign brightly
reflects—and attracts
The new sign outside the Fred Paez
Community Center, corner Taft and
Avondale, glitters boldly in the light—so
boldly, says George Barnhart, that within
an hour after it was up, dozens of police
cars started driving by and glaring.
By the next day, George estimated that
"every police car from every precinct
must have been by looking at this sign."
"Even the Park Police started coming
by," said George.
Why, you ask?
Well it was Fred Paez —gay
activist—who was killed from the gun of a
drinking off-duty Houston police officer
in 1980. Only witness: Another off-duty
drinking police officer.
Well, the sign—and the community
center—shows that we're proud of Fred
and will continue to remember him.
Says Ray Hill, "We appreciate the extra
police presence in the neighborhood.
There's a lot of 'queer bashers' out there
preying on gay men and lesbians."
—• —
The new general manager at Mary's is Bill
Pierceall, who's been a bartender there
for two years.
—•- "
Those inserts last week in the Voice for
the Advocate's sweepstakes were part of
a campaign where the national gay
magazine selected leading local gay
publications.
"This is surely the most ambitious
sweepstakes ever mounted in the gay
community," said the publication's
marketing director, John Knoebel.
If you missed your's, we've got the
forms here at the Voice's office.
—•—
The Fred Paez Community Service
Center could use a few items, if anyone
has them laying around: folding chairs,
tables, refrigerator, stove and white paint,
suitable for outside trim.
George Barnhart says call him or Ray
Hill at 523-6969 or 521-0196 to donate.
—• —
Some birthdays of famous and infamous
people this weekend and the following
week: Jesse James and Bob Newhart
Sunday; Grandmas Moses, Peter
Lawford and Buddy Hotly Tuesday;
Richard the Lionhearted, Sid Ceasar and
Peter Sellers Wednesday; and Colonel
Sanders and Leo Tolstoy next Thursday.
New advertising sales rep here at the
VOICE is Gene Nygaard.
—• —
First issue of Dallas Gay News comes out
next week—and that city is excited about
it.
So are we.
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