Red Barn Bar and Nightclub, Las Vegas, Ladies Cotton Tee

Description

Located at 1317 Bond Road, near Tropicana Avenue and Maryland Parkway, The Red Barn began its life in 1958 as an antique store, offering unique vintage wares to passersby travelers along a lesser-trafficked stretch of Las Vegas. In the early 1960s, it underwent a dramatic transformation under new ownership, evolving into a cocktail lounge and bar. What began as a general entertainment spot soon developed a notable identity, recognized today as one of the earliest openly gay bars in Las Vegas. Under the stewardship of Albert “Bert” Hood, beginning approximately in 1972, The Red Barn fully embraced its role within the LGBTQ+ community. Hood introduced the legendary “RB Follies” drag show, which became enormously popular, boasting 17,781 performances—an astounding run that left an enduring cultural footprint. The venue also distributed the RB Bag, one of the earliest-known LGBTQ+ newsletters in Southern Nevada. Despite its trailblazing status and popularity, the bar’s atmosphere became increasingly tense in the 1980s amid rising social challenges. Bert Hood endured a violent assault that resulted in the loss of hearing in one ear. Financial and societal pressures ultimately culminated in the club’s closure in March 1988. Tragically, the abandoned building burned down later that same year. Yet, its legacy was preserved in a symbolic way—the venue’s iconic red neon sign featuring a giant martini glass was saved and incorporated into the Neon Museum’s collection as part of the Allied Arts Council’s first signage rescue efforts.