Riviera Show Lounge

Cabaret

183 S 2nd St
Milwaukee, WI 53204

State Region

Southeast WI

Neighborhood

Walkers Point

Year Opened: 1972
Year Closed: 1974

Exact Date Opened: Unknown
Exact Date Closed: Unknown

Clientele Primarily Identified As

Gay

Logo:

The Riviera Show Lounge, which opened June 30 1972, was a Milwaukee nightclub known for extravagant drag dinner theater. Produced by the AGC (All Girl Cast,) the Riviera featured local drag superstars Winnie Storm, Mel Powers, Jerry Powell, Andretta, Mother Kris, Miss Donnie, Tiger Rose, Riki Vegas, and DiDi Darnell. Riviera's showtimes were advertised in local media and attracted crossover crowds. Just two years later, the Riviera (and most of the block) was destroyed by the Easter Sunday Inferno of April 22, 1974. The blaze was allegedly started by a queen fired from the Easter show.