In 1947 Florida Shut Down Popular Drag Club Now Governor DeSantis Is Trying To Do It Again
- Al Ferguson
- September 2, 2022
Flip It 〡and〡 Follow Us
In 1933, Charles "Babe" Baker opened The Ha Ha Club in New York City. Later that year, he opened a second location in Hallandale. On February 2nd, 1947, Baker tried to stop a fight between two patrons at the club and called the police. Baker and both patrons were arrested. Frank Tuppen, a juvenile probation officer who was running for Broward County Sheriff, filed a complaint against the club just 3 days later. He claimed multiple men he had arrested for having same-sex sexual relations said they frequented the Ha Ha Club. Baker fought the complaint, but the Broward County Circuit Court ultimately declared the Ha Ha Club a public nuisance and ordered it to close in the spring of 1947. Last month, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation alleged in its complaint against R House, just 13 miles from the original Ha Ha Club, that a “nearly nude dancer was filmed parading a young girl through the audience” on or about July 3 and that the video ignited public outrage.
- Tags: Ron Desantis
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