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Rainbow City: Mapping Queer Newark
Item 11 of 12
This is a contributing entry for Rainbow City: Mapping Queer Newark and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.

Doll House

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The Doll House was a very underground gay club. “I would say it was exclusively gay, but if you brought somebody straight, long as they knew to respect everybody in there, there was no problem.” (Aaron Frazier 17 Interview 2) It has a sparkling reputation as the owners were loved. While in business, the club changed locations at least three times.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

“Opened by Bobby White, "one of the top female impersonators" in Newark area. He's deceased. Ace Mungin (b. 1956) starts working for White as a DJ. White's partner was Dorian Paris. White and Paris would "rent out a big hall and have these big outlandish balls. They'd rent out the Mason's Hall on Bergen Street or Tyrees (the Irvington Manor), or the Coronet, and they would pack 'em in." White wore amazing costumes – "like a star has just walked through the room. Lavish gowns with sequins." *Queer Newark Website)

Ace Mungin worked under Bobby White, remembering how packed the club would be. Aaron Frazier on the otherhand, attended as a guest and talked about what the club looked like on the inside.“It's very, very underground. But you went up the stairs. You paid your little $5.00. You go in. They gave you a ticket or whatever, and then you went through what looked like, say, almost like a place where they could do performance. Then, they had another space where it's just like a lounge area. You could sit there. You could conversate with whomever. Then, you had the dance floor, which was really nice.” (Aaron Frazier 11-12).

Significance: Alike Halsey Street, this location did not have a lot of information about it online. Many gay clubs find themsleves opening, closing and re-opening in the same area, generally due to keep it’s elusive appearance as well as ensuring the safety of their guests. Aaron Frazier talks about the changing of locations. “Because the Doll House moved I want to say three times because it was there for a moment, but then, I think the city really didn't want to see us carrying on on William Street and that close to City Hall. Then, all of a sudden, moved from William Street to Elizabeth Avenue over top of the Holme’s Liquor. It was over top of there on Elizabeth Avenue.” (Aaron Frazier 1)

Sources

History of Queer Club Spaces in Newark, Queer Newark Oral History Project. Accessed May 12th 2021. https://queer.newark.rutgers.edu/resources/history-queer-club-spaces-newark.

Aaron Frazier, Queer Newark Oral History Project. Accessed May 12th 2021. https://queer.newark.rutgers.edu/interviews/aaron-frazier.

Additional Information