Among those who frequented the Mineshaft were Jack Fritscher, Fritscher's lover Robert Mapplethorpe, gay erotic artist Rex, and Annie Sprinkle, who said she was one of three women ever allowed in. One of the other women was Camille O'Grady. Manager Wally Wallace said that he turned away Mick Jagger, and a bouncer turned away Rudolf Nureyev. Vincente Minnelli, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Rock Hudson, and Michel Foucault got in. There was no sign on the entrance; the exterior has been described as "grimy". The location had previously been used by a gay bar, Zodiac. The entrance to the club was up a flight of stairs, on the second floor. The door was manned by someone who rejected anyone wearing preppie clothes or cologne, and this was a widely known part of what made the bar influential. Originally the Mineshaft was on that one floor. It soon expanded to the first floor beneath, using back stairs to access a recreation of a jail cell, the back of a truck, dungeons, and a room containing spotlighted bathtubs in which men could let other men urinate on them. The upper floor or bar had a roof deck, dungeons, slings, and cans of Crisco, at the time popular among gay men as a sexual lubricant preceding modern personal lubricant. Nudity or minimal clothing was encouraged, and a clothes check was provided. Recreational drug use was common inside the club. According to the Mineshaft Newsletter, Fist Fuckers of America held meetings there. There was a wall of glory holes. Promiscuity was celebrated. The images and posters for the club were created by the gay erotic artist Rex. The existence of the Mineshaft was widely known among gays who never visited; it has been called a "mythic...space". 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. After it closed, six men, associated with both the Mineshaft and an affiliated heterosexual club, the Hellfire, were charged with a variety of crimes. Four pleaded guilty, former New York City police officer Richard Bell was convicted, and the sixth fled the country to escape prosecution. The Leather Archives and Museum holds the records of the Mineshaft.
Dress code
A sign said the following:
The Mine Shaft dress code as adopted by the club on October 1, 1976 is to be followed during the year 1978. Approved dress includes the following: Cycle leather & Western gear, levis Jocks, action ready wear, uniforms, T shirts, plaid shirts, just plain shirts, Club overlays, patches, & sweat. NO COLOGNES or PERFUMES NO SUITS, TIES, DRESS PANTS NO RUGBY SHIRTS, DESIGNER SWEATERS, or TUXEDOS NO DISCO DRAG or DRESSES NO HEAVY OUTTER WEAR IS TO BE WORN IN PLAYGROUND NOTE: The code was designed for particular men who compose the basic core of our club
According to Jack Fritscher, Jacques Morali drew his inspiration for the four characters of the group Village People from the Mineshaft's dress code. Glenn Hughes, the original leather biker of the group, frequently attended the Mineshaft.
Popular culture
The Al Pacino movie Cruising was intended to depict gay cruising as it existed at the Mineshaft, though the bar is not named in the movie. Since the Mineshaft would not allow filming, scenes from the movie were filmed at the Hellfire Club, which was decorated to resemble the Mineshaft. Regulars from the Mineshaft appeared as extras. Scenes were shot in streets and other locations near the Mineshaft. Pacino attended as part of researching his role. According to Jack Fritscher, Jacques Morali drew his inspiration for the four archetypes of the Village People from the Mineshaft's dress code. Glenn Hughes, the original leather biker of the Village People, frequently attended. Freddie Mercury wears a Mineshaft T-shirt in the official video for the Queen song “Don't Stop Me Now“.
