The Thompson's Arms
Advert, 1983
Advert for The Thompson's Arms, 1983, the Mancunian Gay magazine.

Very interesting piece on anti-LGBT journalism in The Sun.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this The Mancunian Gay magazine collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
Blues
Advert, 1983
Advert for Blues, 1983 - The Mancunian Gay Party Night.

Also, there is a mention for SNAX the new café at Manchester's gay centre.

You can see one of the earliest adverts for Affleck's Palace to the left. Below is an ad for a High Society party night held at The Gay Centre.

Taken from The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
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Spin Inn
Advert, 1983
Advert for Spin Inn, 1983, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Spin Inn was a key influence on the music played in Manchester's gay clubs at this point. As import specialists they were able to access the US disco and hi-NRG 12" records that the gay crowds craved.

This is how stock buyers in record shops helped to shape the sound of Manchester's underground scenes.

Note the article above which details Radio 1's discussion on attitudes towards gay people.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
Les Cokell
Napoleons
Press, 1983
'Nightlife' press article, 1983, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Reviews for Napoleons, High Society, Hero's, Blues, Stuffed Olives, Rembrandt, Star and Garter.

The ever-busy Mr Cokell was charged with providing DJ sets to match the new Naps refurb.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
Les Cokell
Napoleons
Press, 1983
Article, Napoleons, 1983, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

'Is Nothing Sacred?' Press article on the refurbishment of Napoleons into Naps 1983. Featuring review of the first night with Les Cokell DJing.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
2
Legend
Press, 1984
A mock gay-bashing letter published in City Life magazine from 1984. Edna Welthorpe was the Joe Orton-inspired pen name of a mysterious gay reader who would pop up from time to time to poke fun and keep everyone amused.
The Smiths
Poster, 1984
Promo poster for The Smiths' self-titled debut album.

Cover star: Joe Dallesandro in Andy Warhol's 'Flesh' (1968).

Flesh stars Joe Dallesandro as a hustler working on the streets of New York City. The movie highlights various Warhol superstars, in addition to being the film debuts of both Jackie Curtis and Candy Darling. Also appearing are Geraldine Smith as Joe's wife and Patti D'Arbanville as her lover.

Taken from the beautiful Smiths artwork archive VulgarPicture.com.
Les Cokell
Hero's
Press, 1984
From City Life 11: May 1984

Influential gay Northern Soul DJ and pioneer of the Hi-NRG sound in Manchester's gay clubs, Les Cokell (I am told this is the correct spelling of his name) reviews two compilations.
The Hacienda
Advert, 1984
Design © Glenn Routledge

Black and white advert for launch of Gay Mondays at the Hacienda. Classic bit of design by Glenn. Gay Mondays was way ahead of its time, although according to reviews in City Life, it was tricky to fill the Haç at this point.
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Les Cokell
Hero's
Press, 1984
Music chart, 1984, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

This is a Les Cokell and Ian Wilmott chart from 1984. It was published in the Mancunian Gay - a gay man's magazine edited and published independently in Manchester.

Les Cokell was a hero of the hi-NRG scene, and a leading light at Hero's off John Dalton Street. Prior to this era he was a celebrated Northern Soul DJ.

As well as these regular charts for Mancunian Gay, I believe Les also wrote a column called Castro Connection for Disco Mix Mag, an earlier name for Mixmag. Would like to track these down!

Archives+ in Central Library, Manchester hold many copies of the Mancunian Gay, which is where I found this.

If you would like to use the collections please search the detailed catalogue at gmlives.org.uk and make an appointment to view material at:

www.manchester.gov.uk/the....

If you cannot find what you are looking for please email: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

They are very friendly!
1
Archway
Other, 1984
Archway HI-NRG Top 30, 1984
Hero's
Advert, 1984
Advert for Hero's, 1984, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
Studs, The Church
Press, 1984
'Clubbing' Press Article, 1984, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Lovely picture of some Punters at Studs in Bolton.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
Napoleons
Press, 1984
Article, The Mancunian Gay magazine, 1984.

Text below is an excerpt from Manchester Pride forthcoming OUT! digital heritage platform, researched by Beth Ashton, Abigail Ward and Paul Wheatley:

On March 23 police officers entered Napoleon’s club - now dubbed the oldest gay club in Manchester - warning the manager that he was ‘permitting licentious dancing’. The local bylaw that is alleged to have been breached is one that dated back to 1882, which prohibited dancing deemed “licentious, indecent, profane, improper or suggestive and which is likely to cause a breach of the peace.”

In response, The Gay Activists Alliance called an emergency meeting and agreed to monitor police activity in clubs used by members, seeking advice about the definition of “licentious”.

Chief Constable James Anderton denied a ‘drive against gays’ after the CHE accused him of closing in on the gay scene ‘in pursuit of his crusade for moral purity’. In June, the Manchester Evening News reported that ‘shrieking homosexuals disrupted a massive Christian rally in Manchester to heckle Chief Constable Anderton’ at the Free Trade Hall.

Manchester Gay Information centre also received a £6,200 grant in this year after it was approved by Manchester City Council.

In response, Tory councillor Joyce Hill said she believed the money should go to something more worthwhile, adding: “This city is becoming a Sodom and Gomorrah. Cinema clubs show obscene films as early as 10:30 in the morning and dirty books can be easily obtained. Where will it all end?”

Coun Sally Shaw also responds and says an interviewing panel had been satisfied that the Gay Information Centre was run by sensible people who were not there to draw others ‘into their way of life’. The letters page of the Manchester Evening News publishes a response from a reader entitled, “Gays should find their own cash.”

Archives+ in Central Library, Manchester hold many copies of the Mancunian Gay, which is where I found this.

If you would like to use the collections please search the detailed catalogue at gmlives.org.uk and make an appointment to view material at:

www.manchester.gov.uk/the....

If you cannot find what you are looking for please email: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk
1
Pete Shelley
The Hacienda
Photograph, 1985
HelgaNog writes:

I have no idea how we got backstage at The Hacienda. I have a feeling it was to do with Mike (1st left) who was Cath's brother (2nd left).

Looks like we caught Pete mid sellotaping. Very Rock'n'Roll.

No idea who that is 4th left but that's me (Kate) on the right, cheekily laying hands on!

Most memorable other live band I saw there was The Cramps but no pictures I'm afraid.
Manchester Gay Centre, 61a Bloom Street
Press, 1985
(Image source: BBC People's History of Pop.)

Paul South, a former member of the largely forgotten but pioneering out gay rock band, Handbag form London, plays a gig at Manchester's Gay Centre, which at this point was on Bloom Street.

Songwriter & broadcaster Tom Robinson said of Handbag in 1977:

'What makes me mad is that music papers are always reviewing relatively obscure bands from America like Television or the Tubes, but they ignore bands in England like Handbag - who make the Tubes look like Andy Pandy. They've been banned everywhere they've been on. People can't see them.'

Emily Crompton - an expert on the inspiring history of the Gay Centre (now known as the LGBT Centre) in Manchester writes:

"Manchester's Gay Centre was housed in 61A Bloom Street from 1981 – 1988 and it accommodated a huge host of services including several phone lines including Lesbian Link, Manchester Gay Switchboard, and Friend as well as having meeting rooms. It
ran a youth club and launched a light night café called SNAX to bring in much needed revenue. Mancunian Gay, a magazine, (later Gay Life) was also launched in this basement, as was Lesbian Express (but that only lasted for 3 issues!)."

Eventually, in 1988, funds were raised for a purpose-built LGBT Centre in Manchester on Sidney Street (the first of its kind in Europe) and it remains there to this day.
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The New Hero's
Advert, 1985
An appearance from Carol Jiani at the New Hero's, 1985. www.youtube.com/watch?v=8...
2
The New Hero's
Advert, 1985
Sinitta gets on all fours for the 5th anniversary of the New Hero's!
Pete Shelley, Paul Cons, Tony Wilson
Video, 1985
VHS doc on Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners benefit at the Hacienda in March 1985. Interviews with Paul Cons (later o Flesh at the Haçienda), Tony Wilson (Factory), Debbie Withall, Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks), The RedSkins. Uploaded to YouTube by Fac51vault.
High Society (club)
Advert, 1985
High Society advert, 1985, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Cabaret Every Thursday.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
The Hacienda
Advert, 1985
Advert for Gay Mondays at The Hacienda, 1985.

Note upcoming performances from Gina X and Divine.

Taken from The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
High Society (club)
Advert, 1985
Advert for High Society, 1985, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
Number 1 Club
Advert, 1985
Advert for the Number 1 Club, 1985, The Mancunian Gay magazine.

This was from the club's 'carpet and chrome' era, prior to its rebirth as a sweaty, joyous rave cave led by DJ Tim Lennox. We can assume that the Pride reference relates to a London or general North West Pride event as opposed to Manchester Pride as we know it today.

Courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information & Archives. You can make an appointment to see this The Mancunian Gay magazine collection by emailing: archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk

Uploaded as part of Manchester Pride’s OUT! heritage project.
Pete Shelley
Press, 1985
A review for Pete Shelley's 'Never Again' from NME, 19/1/85. Photo: Bleddyn Butcher.