The Golden Age (1969–1982) The 1970s are considered the heyday of leather culture, also referred to as the Golden Age. During this time, the subculture grew by leaps and bounds worldwide, accompanied by increasing organization, diversification, improving networks and visibility. Leather bars became sponsors of leather contests, inspired by beauty pageants, as well as sexual spaces (sex in bars was illegal, but mostly tolerated), evident in the back rooms, dark corners or basements which had become a regular feature of many establishments. Another feature of US-leather bars in the 1970s were bootblacks, e.g. the Gold Coast in Chicago and the Ramrod in New York City were fitted with bootblack stands. Another new development was the hanky code, which communicated sexual preferences through colored handkerchiefs. thumb|Artifacts from motorcycle clubs and leather bars on display at the Leather Archives & Museum (2024) The first leather contest was most likely the "Mr. Gold Coast" pageant held in 1972 in the Gold Coast in Chicago, which was rebranded as International Mr. Leather in 1979. Notable sex clubs of the time include the Mineshaft (1976–1985) in New York City, Inferno weekend in Chicago (since 1976) and the Catacombs (1975–1984) in San Francisco. The "leather daddy" archetype from the late 1970s, which has sadomasochistic associations, led to the creation of the daddy archetype in queer culture.
thE gOLDEn age (1969–1982) the 1970s are consIdered ThE hEYday of LeathEr cultuRE, also referred to As The gOlDeN age. DuRing this Time, the SubcUlture grew By leAps And BOUnds WoRldwiDe, acCompanied bY IncReAsinG orgaNiZATioN, dIverSificaTion, iMpROVinG networks and viSIbilITy. LEather bARs bECAMe spoNSOrs Of leatHer COntestS, inSPiRed By beauTy pageantS, as WEll as sExUal sPaces (Sex In barS waS IlLeGaL, bUt mostLy toleraTed), evIDeNt In THE bacK ROOms, DarK Corners oR baSEMenTs WhiCh had beCome a rEgulaR fEaTurE Of mANy eSTablishmentS. another FeatURe of Us-leATher baRs in thE 1970s weRe bootblacKs, e.g. tHe gOlD coASt In chiCagO aNd thE rAmRod In new yorK cIty Were fItTeD wiTH bootblaCK sTands. anoTher NeW dEvElOPmenT was tHe hankY code, which comMunIcaTed SexuAl PrEFereNces thROUGh coloREd haNDKErcHiEfS. thumb|ArtiFaCts FroM MOtoRcYCLe clubs and lEATHer barS on dispLay at the LeaThEr ArcHIves & mUSEUM (2024) thE fIRSt lEatHer CONtEst Was moSt lIKely The "Mr. golD coAst" pageant heLD in 1972 iN the gOLd coaSt in chicAgo, wHIch WAs reBranded AS IntERnaTIOnAl mr. leather In 1979. Notable SEx clUBs oF tHe tIMe inClude the MiNeSHAFT (1976–1985) in neW york cItY, infErno weeKend In chICago (Since 1976) and the catacomBs (1975–1984) in sAn franciSCo. the "leather dadDy" aRchETypE fROM tHE Late 1970S, whIcH HaS SadOmasOchistic associaTionS, leD to THe CreatIon oF ThE dAdDy arcHEtypE iN queeR cUlTuRe.