Thu. August 2, 2018
By Sukie de la Croix
(August 2-8, 2018)
Gay life in Chicago this week, back in...
1985
In the bars and clubs, Mikey is the new manager at Bulldog Road, 2914 N. Broadway; it's $1 Mondays Beer or Well at 2nd Story Bar, 157 E. Ohio; Sophie is working Saturday and Sunday at Inner Circle, 2546 N. Clark; Todd has returned to the Glory Hole, 1343 N. Wells; it's here! The contest you've been waiting for ...Paradise Chicago proudly presents Mr. Paradise 1985. MC is Chicago Molly; it's the Midsummer's New Year's Eve Party at Trianon, 3150 N. Halsted; Back To Her Roots, Roberta Rubinson and her magic accordion perform at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; Happy Birthday to Lena, with Fun–Favors and a Buffet at 21 Club, 3042 W. Irving Park; Male Lip Synch Contest takes place at Normandy, 3400 N. Clark St.; the Miss Gay Chicago Pageant 1985 takes place at the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark St. Prizes are $300, $200, and $100; and there's a Mr. Teddies contest at Teddies, 3160 N. Clark St.
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IMAGE: Virgo Out – Gay Life January 21, 1977
Quotes from Gay Chicago:
"As long as you're a faggot, you might as well be a famous faggot." – Armistead Maupin's father.
And:
"There are very few men who will admit that they went to sleep with a man dressed as a nun." – The Butch Manual.
And:
"I'm more man than you'll ever be and more woman than you'll ever get." – Antonio Sargas in "Car Wash."
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IMAGE: Cabaret – Outlines June 2, 1993
Video Playlist courtesy of Tom Parks and Roy Coffey at Hunter's: 1) "Freeway of Love" – Aretha Franklin; 2) "Dangerous" – Natalie Cole; 3) "We Don't Need Another Hero" – Tina Turner; 4) "Come On (Shout)" – Alex Brown; 5) "Raspberry Beret" – Prince; 6) "Bit By Bit" – Stephanie Mills; 7) "Take On Me" – A-Ha; 8) "Everytime You Go Away" – Paul Young; 9) "Homosexuality" – Modern Rocketry; 10) "Would I Lie to You" – Eurythmics.
1992
A Letter to the Editor of Windy City Times from Steve Lafreniere reads:
"Scott Mandel closes his tirade against Joan Jett Blakk (Windy City Times, 'Letters,' July 16) by referring to himself as queer. Laugh, laugh. Hey, Scott, queers don't really give a shit what straights think, especially that late chatter about drag queens giving us all a 'bad name.' That guys like you are still losing sleep fretting about such nonsense would be merely pathetic if it weren't so dangerous.
"Also, I've know Joan for four years and can safely vouch that, contrary to your assertion, she has one of the least 'confused sexual identities' of anyone I've ever known. Voracious, maybe ...
"You're not queer, Scott, you're just plain old gay."
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An article in Gay Chicago begins:
"The pounding rhythms and powerful movements of African influenced dancers will join the delicate melodies and graceful ballet moves and the dynamic sounds and dance steps of modern jazz performers when eight of Chicago's top dance companies perform together for the first tie on a single stage.
"'Dance For Life' is a one-of-a-kind performance to be held on Saturday, August 8th, 8 p.m., at the Organic Theatre, 3319 N. Clark St.
"Organized by the all-volunteer group, Chicago Dancers United, the program is a benefit for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC). This event will be hosted by WLS-TV's Janet Davies and WNUA Radio's Dean Richards, and will feature a guest appearance by the musical group, Encore."
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IMAGE: OPALGA – Outlines June 2, 1999
Another article in Gay Chicago begins:
"'Keep It Up!" a workshop originally developed at Gay Men's Crisis (GMHC) in New York, is being offered for gay and bisexual men who know about safer sex, but may not always be practicing it.
"The workshop will take place on Saturday, August 8th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the offices of Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN), 1317 W. Belmont. It is a free event, but advanced registration is required."
2003
American Veteran's for Equal Rights hold it's monthly meeting at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.
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IMAGE: Zrazy at High Risk Gallery – Outlines August 29, 2001
Homolatte: Queer Words and Music is hosted by Scott Free, and this week features Yvonne Zipter and Minna Bromberg. Takes place at the No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood.
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In Gay Chicago, Jeff Rossen's review of "Mama Mia!" at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St. begins:
"Could it be any hokier? Any more crassly commercial? Any less interesting? A musical built around the songs of '70s hitmakers ABBA. Geeze. What's next? A ballet set to Billy Joel tunes? Ah, yes ...Well, while the Piano Man's melodies are drawing crowds on Broadway, that musical that ABBA built is on its national tour following its smash opening on Broadway and is now making its second appearance in our town. And while this writer freely admits that he openly scoffed at the whole idea of 'Mama Mia!" he's now officially in the ranks of the converted. Wow, is he converted."
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Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, celebrates the release of Evil Beaver's new CD, "Pleased to Eat You," and wish them well on the German tour.
Homework
Are Evil Beaver still around?
Who was, or is, Roberta Rubinson?
What was Teddies like?
Gay Chicago Photo Rewind
St Sukie de la Croix takes pictures at Market Days for Nightlines August 15, 2001
St Sukie de la Croix takes pictures at Different Strokes and Circuit for Nightlines
August 29, 2001
More photos from Different Strokes
Israel Wright photographs at the Fall benefit for the Joel Hall Dancers in Outlines
August 29, 2001
Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph and Craig Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow for Gay Life, Malone Sizelove for Babble/Gab, David Costanza and others for Chicago Free Press, Jeff McCourt for Windy City Times, Stacy Bridges and Mark Nagel for GRAB, 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 Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.
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