Thu. August 30, 2012
By Sukie de la Croix
Gay life in Chicago this week, back in...
1984
Some of the DJ's working in Chicago's gay bars and clubs include Larry Brewer and Bill Albiez at B.J.'s, 3231 N. Clark St.; Dave Dus at the Mineshaft, 8437 Ogden, Lyons; Mark Vallese and Greg Pyne at Trianon, 3150 N. Halsted; DJ/VJ Tommy Daniells at Hunters, 1932 E. Higgins Rd., Elk Grove; and Dean Anderson and Debra Hurwich at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont.
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(Image: National March on Washington – Outlines August 6, 1978)
Two front page headlines in Gay Life this week are: "2-Year Trail of Sex Killings Leads to Murder of Uptown Teen: Body identified as Danny Bridges; Larry Eyler charged"; and "Truman Capote: The Chameleon Passes On."
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A classified ad in Gay Life reads: "LAKEVIEW STUDIO. Spacious, sunny city view with balcony. 450sq. ft. fully carpeted, individually controlled heat/ac $380 Mo. Security deposit. Call –––– "
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Events in the bars and clubs this week include a Rear of the Year best buns contest is at Paradise Chicago, 2848 N. Broadway; every Friday you can see Patty Kakes "Fabulous Fakes Revue at Final Approach, 1090 S. Milwaukee Rd., Wheeling. Stars include Ginger Grant, Diana McKay, Ginger Spice, Shante and emcee Monica Monet; you're invited to kick off the T-Dance season at the Redoubt, 440 N. Halsted; the Factory Pub, 1665 W. Fullerton, re-opens; celebrate the first anniversary of the Manhandler Saloon, 1948 N. Halsted; Alana Russel is performing at Opal Station, 6655 N. Clark St.; there's a Black and Gold Party at the Loading Dock, 3702 N. Halsted; the Normandy, 3500 N. Clark St., presents a party to welcome Ronnie "Wanda Sue" with a Champagne Buffet and male dancers; and opening September 4, 1984 are the Swing Sisters at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.
1998
Cucina Bella, 543 W. Diversey, welcomes Honey West at their Sunday brunches.
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The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association women's softball end-of-season party is at WhirleyBall, 1880 W. Fullerton.
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(Image: The Generator – Babble August 10, 1994)
It's the 25th Anniversary of Chuck Renslow's White Party and this one is at the House of Blues, with DJ's Ralphi Rosario, Mark (Turtle) Hultmark and DJ Hugo. Hosts are Mike Macharello, Byrd Bardot, Silky Jumbo, with Xavier Temple, Jazin, Daisy Mae, Joshua, Memory Lane, JoJo, Miss Ketty and her Revue, and Jackie.
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BUNGALO (Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay & Lesbian Organization) meets monthly at Berwyn Public Library, 2701 S. Harlem.
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Headline on the front page of the September 2, 1998 issue of Outlines reads: "Braun & Gays. Fighting the Right. Chicago-area lesbigays/trans raised $25,000 for [Carol Moseley] Braun's re-election bid, but she faces a rich, right-wing challenger." Another headline on the page reads: "Aluminum Group: Gay Brothers John and Frank Navin Making Waves."
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One item on the Quotelines page of Outlines reads:
"When you were gay and then you're not anymore, do you still like Broadway shows?" – Comedienne Rita Rudner
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In Outlines Sukie de la Croix interviews Don Creech, Betty Arnold and Mike Flynn from the Chi-Town Squares; Lorraine J. Affourtit reviews the books "Granite and Rainbow: The Hidden Life of Virginia Woolf" by Mitchell Leaska; "Subterranean Kerouac: The Hidden Life of Jack Kerouac," by Ellis Amburn, and "The Wilde Album" by Merlin Holland; and restaurant reviewer Rick Karlin writes about Crofton on Wells, 535 N. Wells.
2000
The Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce host a cruise on the Musette I, docked at Navy Pier. The press release reads: "The evening lake cruise promises to be a fun opportunity to meet new people and catch-up with old friends. The event features a premium open bar and food buffet, plus dancing to music by DJ Anthony Christian."
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Headlines on the front page of Outlines are: "Swinging Sisters, CMSA Softball Ends with Off the Line in 1st, The Nubians 2nd in Competitive Action"; "Square Dancers in Chicago; and Hall of Fame 2000, selections for the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
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(Image: Foozie – Nightspots March 20, 2002)
The Windy City Athletic Association offers free bowling and registration for fall league at Marigold, 828 W. Grace.
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Woodrow Bryant and Martin Andrews publish the first issue of Hotspots magazine, the "Bratty New Lil Bar Rag With An Attitude."
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Bar owner Adrene "Big Red" Perom dies. Over the years Big Red owned three gay bars in Chicago, located at 642 W. Diversey, 3019 N. Clark St. and 3729 N. Halsted. Big Red raised thousands of dollars for gay causes, starting in 1978 for the STOP BRIGGS campaign – the Briggs Initiative in California targeted gay teachers. She also raised money for the Rodde Center and for the fight against AIDS. In 1999 she was inducted as a "Friend of the Community" into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
Homework
What happened to DJ Mark Vallese?
Who remembers Big Red?
What happened to the Aluminum Group?
Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow for Gay Life and Tracy Baim for all the publications at the Windy City Media Group, which aided the above research. St. Sukie de la Croix is an internationally published reporter, playwright, photographer and historian. He is also the author of the book Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.
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