Omaha Exploration

Before opening The Max, its partners Bruce Barnard and Don Moran, started the Hollywood Discotheque at 14th and Harney Street. When it opened its doors in 1978, it wasn’t the first place in town to cater to the gay community in Omaha. Other establishments included The Diamond Bar, Stage Door, Cave and Omaha Mining Company.

The building they chose to open their dance club had a long history including being home to the Silver Tap Club, Bicentennial Saloon and Upstairs Downstairs Lounge among others. The space had two dance floors and was large enough to accommodate 1,000 people. Its owners went all out to make it the premier dance club in town. That including hiring the same company that did the lighting for Saturday Night Fever. 

The Hollywood Disco even had its own restaurant called Chaplin’s which was located in a smaller room within the club. Chaplin’s was separated from the dance floor by a glass wall that allowed diners to watch the party next door. Keeping with its theme, it had a 1930s Art Deco vibe, prints of the famous silent actor and even played his movies on a loop.

Once it was announced that the building and several others would be razed to make way for a parking garage, the owners found a new location for their thriving dance club. Located at 14th and Jackson Streets, the space was the longtime home to Andrew Murphy & Son which started as a blacksmith shop before becoming an auto repair and parts business. By the time Bruce and Don discovered the building, it was a parking garage. 

After an impressive renovation and significant cost, The Max made its debut in 1984. I imagine the inside looks similar to its predecessor, Hollywood Discotheque. The massive space has two rooms for dancing, an elevated stage, multiple bars and an upstairs lounge area with glass windows allowing you to catch your breath, enjoy a beverage and watch the party down below. It even features a garden patio space allowing you to cool off. 

Since it opened 40 years ago, The Max has been recognized as not only Omaha’s best dance club but also one of America’s Best Gay Nightclubs. The club employs a full crew whose job it is to keep it fresh and looking brand new. It is so well known that Lady Gaga performed at the club for free after her concert in 2011. 

The publication Mashed named it one of America’s Best LGBT+ Bars and Restaurants in 2023. According to Omaha Magazine, it is one of the finest LGBTQ+ bars in the country. The accolades don’t stop there as The Reader named it Best of the Big O in the dance clubs category.

I’d love to hear what you have to say so please feel free to comment. Until next time, keep exploring!

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