Melva Earhart (October 19, 1913 – January 16, 1985) operated the State Bar in Flint from 1948 until her death at age 71 in 1985.
The State Bar was the longest established gay lounge in Michigan.
Queer Places:
State Bar, 712 W Kearsley St, Flint, MI 48503
State Bar, 2512 S Dort Hwy, Flint, MI 48507
Melva Earhart (October 19, 1913 – January 16, 1985) operated the State Bar in Flint from 1948 until her death at age 71 in 1985.
The State Bar was the longest established gay lounge in Michigan.
Melva Earhart, born October 19, 1913, and a lifelong resident of Flint, operated a tailor shop situated behind the original State Bar prior to becoming its owner in 1948. In 1962 she relocated several blocks uptown and dubbed the place the "Poodle Lounge" which was frequented by a mixed gay and straight clientele and become the first in Flint to allow men to publically dance together. She was bold enough to try other things in spite of dire warnings that her practices would lead to the bar's demise.
She moved the State again to 2512 S. Dort Highway in 1968. A video made in 2017 showed the abandoned State with most of the stuff left behind.
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