The Toy Tiger Color Postcard

4"x6" Postcard
Available individually, or in sets at a discounted rate.

For nearly three decades, The Toy Tiger was a mainstay of Louisville’s nightlife. The rock club and adult entertainment venue was known for its loud music, loyal regulars, and gritty, unpolished charm. Before that, the building had a very different life. It began in 1955 as part of the Brown Suburban Hotel complex, built by J. Graham Brown. The site included a restaurant and a 12-story apartment tower. After Brown’s death in 1969, the property became a Motel 6, then briefly a dinner theater called the Showcase Playhouse.

In 1973, the Toy Tiger opened its doors and quickly became a proving ground for local and regional rock acts. Its crowd included metalheads, bikers, college kids, and anyone else looking for loud music and a rowdy night out. Its location near Showcase Cinemas, diners, and a strip of motels made it a fixture in a larger entertainment zone. The venue gained a reputation as both infamous and beloved (also sticky).

After closing in the early 2000s, the building was demolished to make way for a Thornton’s gas station, marking the end of a distinctly rambunctious chapter in Louisville’s cultural history.