Fri. October 12, 2012
By Sukie de la Croix
Gay life in Chicago this week, back in...
1979
Brian Tinkham, International Mr. Blueboy 1979, appears on the cover of Gay Chicago.
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Ad in this week's Gay Chicago Personals reads: "White male, 23, 5' 10 1/2", blond hair, student. Am looking for glory holes on any campus or other place for good action. Send location, floor and even best time for action. Send to ––––– "
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"Boynapped," starring Casablanca recording star Dennis Parker, Duane Carter and James Rugman, is playing at the Bijou Adult Movie Theater, 1349 N. Wells.
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Congregation Or Chadash hold Shabbat service followed by Oneg at 2nd Unitarian Church, 656 W. Barry, free parking in the Dominick's lot until 11 p.m.
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(Image: Zebulon Books – Windy City Times June 23, 1988)
"Nighthawks," a perceptive portrayal of the gay scene in London, is showing at the Three Penny Cinema on Lincoln near Fullerton.
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Prominent national gay leaders, including Rev. Troy Perry, arrive in Chicago on the Freedom Train on their way to the first Gay March on Washington. They are greeted at a rally in Daley Plaza.
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Ron Helizon writes about the 21 Club (Legacy), 3042 W. Irving Park in his gossip column in Gay Life: "There was a packed house at the 21 Club Friday night when all of Woody's customers attended his birthday party. Entertainment was provided by the tawdry Miss Lena and a bevy of beauties. Edie Gourmet was there too."
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A large contingent of Chicago lesbians and gays attend the 1st March on Washington.
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The Gay Athletic Association Bowling League meets at the Marigold Arcade, 828 W. Grace.
1986
Gay bars that are sadly missed include Fire Island, 1177 N. Elston; the Blue Pub, 3059 W. Irving Park; Irene's Diamonds, 3169 N. Halsted; Piggen's Pub, 674 W. Diversey; T.J.'s, 46 E. Oak St.; Stop 65, 65 E. Illinois; Nutbush City Limits, 301 N. Harlem, Forest Park; and Company, 2683 N. Halsted.
(Image: Gay Chicago Cover – Gay Chicago March 31, 1988)
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A series of films by Rosa von Praunheim is shown at the Film Institute, Columbus Drive at Jackson Boulevard. This week audiences see "Army of Lovers," "Horror Vacui" and "City of Lost Souls."
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A hayride for single lesbians in Morton Grove leaves from Kinheart, 2214 Ridge, Evanston.
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The Brethren/Mennonite Council for Gay Concerns 10th anniversary convention is held in Chicago (location unknown). Among those attending are Jonathan Miller, Art Engler, and Christine Yoder from Washington DC, Kristen Peachey of Chicago, and Jim Vaughn of Arlington, Virginia.
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"A Faith of One's Own: Exploration by Catholic Lesbians," is a discussion led by Altagracia Perez Maceira at Women and Children First, 1967 N. Halsted.
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Dionne Warwick and out-gay singer Johnny Mathis team for a concert series at the newly renovated Chicago Theater.
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Headline in this week's Windy City Times reads: "20 Chicago AIDS cases, 19 gay/bisexual; 12 black or Hispanic."
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Lawrence Bommer reviews Rudy de la Mor's at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.: "Jimmy Durante gave him his stage name. Michael Kearns of L.A.'s "Drama-Logue" calls him ‘a cross between Phyllis Diller and Barry Manilow.' This year Palm Springs declared him ‘Best Entertainer of the Year.' Fresh and sassy from gigs in Disneyland, Las Vegas, Paris, Anchorage, and Honolulu, Rudy de la Mor. The ‘male Pudgy of the West Coast,' is now playing fast and furious at Gentry, home of this merry serenader's Chicago debut."
(Image: Hair – Windy City Times October 27, 1988)
1992
In the bars and clubs this week, meet Bob and Rod Jackson/Paris and dance your asses off at a special Sunday Quench at Shelter, 564 W. Fulton. Host is Michael Mangiaforte, Byrd Bardot guards the door, Ralphi Rosario is the Quench DJ. Proceeds to benefit Stop AIDS Chicago; there's a Full Moon Jock Strap Contest at AA Meat Market, 2933 N. Lincoln; Nan Mason sings live at Cairo, 720 N. Wells St.; it's "Rock Night" when the Gay Metal Society takes over Temptations, 10235 West Grand Avenue, Franklin Park; Joan Jett Blakk, political candidate, bodybuilder, and drag actress (currently in Womandingo) is the subject of "Obsession" at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; Khris Francis dishes the dirt at Gentry of Chicago, 712 N. Rush St.: and Hunter and the Headliners strip down to the legal minimum at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted.
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(Image: LA Connection Goes Back to Hollywood – Windy City Times October 27, 1988)
The Board of Directors of Howard Brown Memorial Clinic announces the appointment of Eileen Durkin as the clinic's new executive director. She starts October 14, 1992.
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Columbia Artists Festivals Presents Carol Channing and Rita Moreno "Two Ladies of Broadway," with the Rita Moreno dancers and the Festival Concert Orchestra, at Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet.
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Gay Chicago Top Ten Playlist courtesy of DJ Mark Hultmark at Vortex: 1) "Somba" – House of Gypsies; 2) "Bitch" – Principle Theory; 3) "Bitch Aint Got No Home" – C+C Factory; 4) "Erotica" – Madonna; 5) "Sesame's Treet" – Smart E's; 6) "Carry On" – Martha Wash; 7) "Stinkin' Thinkin'" – Happy Mondays; 8) "A Basement, a Red Light & a Feeling" Various; 9) "Dueling Techno" – Pood, Bhud ‘n' Pflug; 10) "Cher Chez La Femme" – Teri Land.
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.
Homework:
What happened to Joan Jett Blakk?
Does anyone remember Irene's Diamonds, where the Lucky Horseshoe is now?
What's Khris Francis up to now that Gentry has closed?
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