Omaha Exploration

Before opening The Max, partners Bruce Barnard and Don Moran launched the Hollywood Discotheque at 14th and Harney Streets. When it opened in 1978, it was not the first establishment in Omaha to cater to the gay community. Other venues included the Diamond Bar, Stage Door, Cave, and the Omaha Mining Company.

The building they chose for their dance club already had a long history, having previously housed the Silver Tap Club, Bicentennial Saloon, and Upstairs Downstairs Lounge, among others. The space featured 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. This included hiring the same company that designed the lighting for Saturday Night Fever.

The Hollywood Disco even had its own restaurant called Chaplin’s, 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. Staying true to its theme, the restaurant had a 1930s Art Deco vibe, displayed prints of the famous silent film actor, and played his movies on a continuous loop.

Once it was announced that the building and several others would be razed to make way for a parking garage, the owners began searching for a new location for their thriving dance club. They settled on a space at 14th and Jackson Streets, which had long been home to Andrew Murphy & Son. The business began as a blacksmith shop before becoming an auto repair and parts company. By the time Bruce and Don discovered the building, it was being used as a parking garage.

After an impressive renovation and considerable expense, The Max made its debut at 1417 Jackson Street in 1984. The interior likely resembled its predecessor, the Hollywood Discotheque. The massive space features two dance rooms, an elevated stage, multiple bars, and an upstairs lounge with glass windows that allow patrons to catch their breath, enjoy a drink, and watch the activity below. It also includes a garden patio area for cooling off.

Since opening, 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 staff dedicated to keeping it fresh and looking new. It is so well known that Lady Gaga performed there for free after her concert in 2011.

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

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