Time Line 1978
Books Published
- Sociological Perspectives on Sadomasochism by Thomas S. Weinberg is an article is based on the concept of "frames". [wd]
- SM Truckers by Clay Caldwell, one of the many gay male erotic publications of its time, but one worthy of special attention for its exploration of the variety of leather relationships. Six of these stories were reprinted in Drummer #138 and 142-146.
- 9 1/2 Weeks by Elizabeth McNeill. Published as fiction but based upon a real life encounter. The book is much more interesting that the later, considerably watered down, movie.
- Behavior Modification, The Art of Mind Murdering by Richard Camellion.
- The first issue of Bunkhouse, a magazine for the Western-Levi Scene. It lasts for seven issues through 1981.
- "Tough Shit" begins as a regular humor feature in Drummer #23, continuing publisher John Embry's commitment to exposing the humorous side of leather/SM.
Clubs and groups formed
- Formation of Avengers MC East, Summit, NJ; Centurions, Columbus; Destiny MC, Miami; Eagle MC, West Palm Beach; FFA Philadelphia; Four Star MSC Belgium; Nickel City MSC, Buffalo; Pegasus MC, Wichita; Pennsylvania Association of Clubs; Phoenix Levi\Leather Club; Pocono Warriors, PA; Reading Railmen, PA; Renaissance MC, Detroit; Rough Riders MC, San Antonio; Royal Eagle, Montreal; Samois, SF; San Francisco Wrestling Club; Scorpio Leather Club, Holyoke; South Florida Council of Clubs; Stud MC, New Haven; Swamp Fox MC, Columbia, SC;Toronto Motorcycle Riders; Trenton Bulls MC; Trojans MSC, Montreal and Youngstown Exiles, OH. Signs of Zodiac, Detroit, Disbands.
- 1978
Bar openings include The Arena, SF; Clementine's, St. Louis; Half-Breed, NYC; The New Leather Loft, NYC; The Outlaw, Detroit; Stall, Frankfurt Germany; Tiger's Paw, New Orleans; and The Watering Hole (formerly the Roundup) SF.
Nine Plus clubhouse destroyed by fire in NYC.
- 1978
The first article on "The Quarters" in San Francisco, appears in Drummer #24. This near mythical, though for a short time actual, training center and boarding facility for slaves, depicted a "Drummer" ideal.
- 1978
Drummer #24's cover photo is by Robert Mapplethorpe, who will later become a world recognized photographer noted for exploring SM images.
- 1978
Drummer announces a search for Mr. Drummer, the winner to be picked from photo submitted by those wishing to enter.
- 1978
Drawings by Cavelo are first featured in Drummer # 27.
- 1978
"Prison Punk" by Frank O'Rourke begins serialization in Drummer #27.
- 1978
Photos by Zeus studios are first published in Drummer #27.
- 1978
Publication of "Le Masochisme Au Cinema" by Jean Streff, in France
- 1978
Stompers, New York City's unique combination of boot store and leather art gallery, holds a joint exhibit of the work of Tom of Finland and Etienne. A later exhibit focuses on the erotic art of Domino and Stompers publishes a catalog of his work.
- 1978
Drawings by Domino are first published in Drummer #29.
- 1978
The photography of Robert Mapplethorpe gets its first solo show at Chrysler Museum.
- 1978
Gayle Rubin moves to San Francisco to begin studies of the gay Leatherman's culture.
- 1978
The RoB Gallery opens in Amsterdam.
- 1978
The Pocono Warriors are founded in eastern Pennsylvania as a combination of the older leather/levi/motor-cycle social club and the more current SM sex club.
- 1978
The Arena and the Black & Blue, two leatherish bars open in San Francisco. [R]
- 1978
The Folsom St. Baths opens in San Francisco and by 1979 was renamed the Sutro Baths, which is unique in having regularly scheduled women's nights and bisexual nights. [R]
- 1978
"Tough Customers" begins its long and popular run in Drummer #25.
- 1978, June
The Rainbow (Gay Pride) flag, designed by Gilbert Baker, is flown as a decorative element at the annual gay pride parade. It later achieved national prominence when a gay man in West Hollywood sued his landlords because they attempted to prohibit him from flying his flag from his balcony.
- 1978, June 13
Gayle Rubin, Pat Califia, and 16 other female sadomasochists found the women's SM group, Samois, in San Francisco. This is the first known women's SM group. [wd]
- 1978, June 14
The US Patent and Trademark Office refuses to register the magazine name Gaysweek, on the grounds that the name is immoral. [TOL]
- 1978, June
The Windy City Wrestling Club is reorganized with a national membership.
- 1978, July
MAFIA (Mid-America Fists In Action) founded. Holds first meeting at Inferno in September.
- 1978, Sept.15 - 17
Chicago Hellfire Club hosts Inferno 7.
- 1978, Oct.
The American Uniform Association holds its first annual AUA Review. [JWB]
- 1978, Nov 27
Harvey Milk, openly gay San Francisco Supervisor, assassinated, along with mayor George Moscone, by former Supervisor Dan White.
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