Category: Places
Dates: 1980s-1990s
Address: 167 1/2 8th Avenue North, Nashville, TN
The Gas Lite Lounge, also seen listed as The Gaslight, was part of one Nashville’s most historic properties. Built in the 1840s, the building is the only original grand townhouse remaining in the city and it is registered as a national historic site.
In 1980, John W. Hunt and David Nelson bought the property and opened three businesses: the Savage House Bed & Breakfast upstairs, the Towne House Tea Room on the main floor, and the Gas Lite Lounge in the ballroom. The Gas Lite was a popular meeting place for gay organizations, including the committee that planned Nashville’s first Pride parade in 1988.
Hunt and Nelson operated these gay-friendly establishments for about 20 years before the Smith family purchased it to run The Standard, its current operation.
Sources: “History,” The Standard.
The Gaslight was in operation throughout 02, closing sometime in early 2003. In the late 90s it became a refuge for many gay artists, Jaz Dorsey, playwright/Director often assembled stage productions there. Tony Dominico, actor/comedian/ performance artist also created and performed political satire of the age. Transplants from NYC (Raeanne Rubenstein and Franee Lee among others) would bring visiting friends to this hideaway bar to acquaint them with Nashville’s underground art scene. Visual artists in film, photography and painting were also present. More church musicians from almost every religion had a seat at the bar. This was also a bar where many closeted people would land due to its hidden nature, politicians, news reporters, military and clergy were clientele on almost any given night. Too small to be moulin Rouge, but with all the good energy that makes Nashville, Nashville. It was one of my favorite watering holes in all of America.