n 1980 there were over two hundred lesbian bars in the United States. In 2023, only 25 remain. Summit Station (also known as Jack's), located at 2210 Summit Street in Columbus was Ohio’s longest running lesbian bar, serving as the soul of the lesbian community in Central Ohio and beyond from 1970-2008.Summit Station functioned as a home away from home for thousands of women over the years, serving as a space for first dates, fundraisers, drag king and dyke queen performances, musical and comedy events, dart and billiards leagues, softball and football teams and so much more. Many of the patrons who frequented the bar reside in Columbus and surrounding communities. The stories of their experiences at the bar run the gamut from inspiring, hilarious, historical and political to deeply personal.
After two years of working to capture the stories of over 50 former patrons of the bar for an upcoming documentary film, the team at Free Beer Tomorrow are excited to invite the community to gather at WOSU Public Media’s Ross Community Studio for a sneak peek of the film in process. On Wednesday, October 30th and in commemoration of LGBTQ+ History Month, FBT will screen clips of the film, followed by a conversation and Q &A with several patrons featured on screen. The event will also serve as a fundraiser to contribute to costs associated with professional editing, color correction and sound design. And, we are old school. Cash is KING, so help us avoid costly fees and pay by cash at the door. Credit card payments via Paypal are welcome too. Thank you!
The screening and conversation will be introduced and emceed by filmmakers, Julia M. Applegate and LuSter P. Singleton. An open Question & Answer session will follow the screening and dialogue.
This event is brought to you by Sturdy Girl/Fast Friday Productions and is hosted by WOSU Public Media.
