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{{Short description|Former sex and BDSM club in New York City}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Mineshaft
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}}
The '''Mineshaft''' was a members-only [[BDSM]]
==
The Mineshaft attracted a wide range of patrons, some famous. Among those who frequented the
There was no sign on the entrance; the exterior has been described as "grimy".<ref>Patrick Moore, ''Beyond Shame. Reclaiming the Abandoned History of Radical Gay Sexuality'', Boston, Beacon Press, 2004, {{ISBN|0807079561}}, p. 178.</ref> The location had previously been used by a [[gay bar]], Zodiac.<ref>Paul L. Montgomery, "[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0DE3DE1E3FE63ABC4152DFB166838A669EDE Raids Close 9 After-Hours Bars Linked to Mafia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508212516/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C0DE3DE1E3FE63ABC4152DFB166838A669EDE |date=2016-05-08 }}", ''New York Times'', July 19, 1971, p. 1.</ref> The entrance to the club was up a flight of stairs, on the second floor. The door was
The images and posters for the club were created by the gay erotic artist [[Rex (artist)|Rex]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mineshaft – NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project |url=https://www.nyclgbtsites.org/site/mineshaft/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=www.nyclgbtsites.org}}</ref>
The existence of the Mineshaft was widely known among gays who never visited; it has been called a "mythic[al]...space".<ref>Moore, p. 20.</ref>
The Mineshaft operated from October 8, 1976, until it was closed by the [[New York City Department of Health]] on November 7, 1985, although tax problems played a significant role in its closing.<ref>Jay Bletcher, "Sex Club Owners: The <s>Fuck</s> <s>Suck</s> Buck Stops Here", in ''Policing Public Sex. Queer Politics and the Future of AIDS Activism'', Boston, South End Press, 1996, {{ISBN|0896085503}}, pp. 25-44, at p. 33.</ref> After it closed, six men, associated with both the Mineshaft and an affiliated heterosexual club, the [[Hellfire (club)|Hellfire]], were charged with a variety of crimes.<ref>Kirk Johnson, "[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/01/nyregion/6-tied-to-late-night-clubs-indicted-in-conspiracy-case.html 6 Tied to Late-Night Clubs Indicted in Conspiracy Case] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503151206/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/01/nyregion/6-tied-to-late-night-clubs-indicted-in-conspiracy-case.html |date=2017-05-03 }}", ''New York Times'', March 1, 1986.</ref> Four pleaded guilty, former New York City police officer Richard Bell was convicted, and the sixth fled the country to escape prosecution.<ref>Associated Press, "[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/18/nyregion/ex-officer-is-convicted-in-sex-club-operation.html Ex-Officer Is Convicted In Sex-Club Operation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503151226/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/11/18/nyregion/ex-officer-is-convicted-in-sex-club-operation.html |date=2017-05-03 }}", ''New York Times'', November 18, 1986.</ref>
Wally Wallace donated the entirety of the Mineshaft's records, including artwork by Rex<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mine Shaft NY pick poster (2002091001) |url=https://leatherarchives.org/ca/index.php/Detail/objects/23724 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=leatherarchives.org |series=Wally Wallace Collection}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mine Shaft NY lift poster (2) (2002103201) |url=https://leatherarchives.org/ca/index.php/Detail/objects/23723 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=leatherarchives.org |series=Wally Wallace Collection}}</ref> and [[Al Shapiro]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wet Wed flyer (3000102445) |url=https://leatherarchives.org/ca/index.php/Detail/objects/101331 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=leatherarchives.org |series=Wally Wallace Collection, Mineshaft Posters and Flyers}}</ref> to the [[Leather Archives and Museum]] in Chicago.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Hew |date=2022-01-24 |title=A Dominating Narrative: The Mineshaft and BDSM Culture in the Meatpacking District - Village Preservation |url=https://www.villagepreservation.org/2022/01/24/the-mineshaft/,%20https://www.villagepreservation.org/2022/01/24/the-mineshaft/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=[[Village Preservation]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="sfldg1">{{cite web |url=https://www.sfldg.org/all-programs/2014/10/22/on-the-road-with-the-leather-archives-museum-rick-storer |title=KANE, "DRUMMER," AND DEBLASE — Rick Storer, Leather Archives & Museum — San Francisco Leathermen's Discussion Group |publisher=Sfldg.org |date=2014-10-22 |access-date=2020-04-24 |archive-date=2020-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626200043/https://www.sfldg.org/all-programs/2014/10/22/on-the-road-with-the-leather-archives-museum-rick-storer |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Dress code==
[[File:Mineshaft Dress Code.jpg|thumb|Mineshaft Dress Code on display at [[Leather Archives & Museum]]]]
A sign said the following:
<blockquote>The Mine Shaft dress code<br>
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::::::also
NO HEAVY OUTTER [sic] WEAR IS TO BE WORN IN PLAYGROUND<br>
NOTE: The code was designed for particular men who compose the basic core of our club<ref>Posted on maleholeformale9.tumblr.com, https://36.media.tumblr.com/86db660b472aa578684e8abe8ef7c217/tumblr_nrke38O8L51tzk694o4_r1_1280.jpg {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024204703/http://36.media.tumblr.com/86db660b472aa578684e8abe8ef7c217/tumblr_nrke38O8L51tzk694o4_r1_1280.jpg |date=2015-10-24 }}, retrieved 7/25/2015. Typographically edited</ref></blockquote>
==Popular culture==
The
According to Jack Fritscher, [[Jacques Morali]] drew his inspiration for the four archetypes of the [[Village People]] from the Mineshaft's dress code.<ref
[[Freddie Mercury]] wears a Mineshaft T-shirt in the official video for the [[Queen (band)|Queen]] song “[[Don't Stop Me Now]]“, as does [[Brooks Ashmanskas]]' character Stanley in Episode 5 of the [[Netflix]] series ''[[Uncoupled]]''.
==References==
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==Further reading==
* {{Cite journal|first=Ira|last=Tattelman|title=Staging Sex and Masculinity at the Mineshaft|
* [https://www.nyclgbtsites.org/site/mineshaft/ Mineshaft], ''NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project.''
{{Greenwich Village}}
{{Portal bar|
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[[Category:1976 establishments in New York
[[Category:1985 disestablishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Defunct LGBTQ drinking establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:BDSM]]▼
[[Category:Defunct LGBTQ nightclubs in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Gay male BDSM]]
▲[[Category:LGBT history in New York City]]
[[Category:West Village]]▼
[[Category:Leather bars and clubs]]
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