Gay life in Chicago this week, back in...

1980

Australian Patrick Brookes is named Mr. International Leather at the Radisson Hotel. On his visit to Chicago, Brookes is accompanied by fellow Australians Michael Glynn, publisher of the ten-month old Sydney Star newspaper, and David Beschi of the Link leather store.

(Image: Mr. Leather Contest – Gay Life May 2, 1980)

Some cryptic items on the "Messages" page of Gay Chicago:

Major Libra: Aren't you a little young to be trolloping through bars as you do? Za‘rala'

Lance of the Abbott: Want a repeat of Monday night?? Call me anytime. Oh Really. P.S. "At least I could say … "

Hell of Wheels (or is that Helen): When are you going to stop playing with Vodka long enough to put your skates on, so I can jam your toe-stops to the wall? Hard on Wheels.

Dr. J.A.N.: I still know you live, at least I hope so. Who ever heard of checking tonsils with your tongue? Give me an oral protein injection anytime. Gay Bob.

(Image: Amanda Winters – Gay Chicago May 15, 1980)

Holy Covenant MCC, at Maple and Washington in Hinsdale, hold a special program featuring two mothers from Friends and Parents of Gays.

Speak Its Name, a new lesbian/gay theater group, holds auditions for Lanford Wilson's "The Madness of Lady Bright," Robert Patrick's "Fred & Harold" and John Bowen's farce "Trevor" at the Baton, 436 N. Clark St.

1990

An ad in Nightlines reads: The Zoo … an electric safari. Chicago's PREMIERE Computer Bulletin Board is alive and on-line at: 312. 907.1831-39

(Image: Quilt – Windy City Times September 5, 1996)

The special events scheduled for the Art Against AIDS benefit include: May 10, the Center Theater presents a benefit performance of "Lysistrata" 2411 at 1346 W. Devon; on May 11, the Commons Theater stage a benefit performance of "Jacques and His Master" at 1225 W. Belmont; also on May 11, it's "An Evening of Blues with Lefty Dizz" at Buddy Guy's Legends, 754 S. Wabash; May 13 there's a special "Tribute to Keith Haring" at the Shelter Club, 564 W. Fulton with deejay Frankie Knuckles and comedian Karen Reno, and an exhibition of the late artist's work; May 14 there's an evening of improv at Second City with guest stars Bonnie Hunt (of the sitcom "Grand" and Isabella Hoffman (of "Dear John") beginning with a reception at 1616 N. Wells; May 15, a benefit performance of Athol Fugard's "Hello and Goodbye" is at the Body Politic Theater, 2261 N. Lincoln; and on May 15 at the Chicago International Art Exposition at Navy Pier, nearly 200 art dealers from across the United States, Europe and Japan donate a percentage of their sales.

Video/Music Playlist of David Hubbell, Program Director of Berlin, 954 W. Belmont: 1) "Dance Computer One" – Unity; 2) "Total Accent" – Lips Kiss; 3) "Comprehension" – The B Sides; 4) "Come Into My House (Video)" – Queen Latifah; 5) "Pump That Body" – Mr. Lee; 6) "Unity (Video)" – On Top; 7) "Hey D.J." – The Beatmasters/Betty Boo; 8) "F.X." – A Guy Called Gerald; 9) "Pump Pump It Up" – Hypnotech; 10) "Imagination (Video)" – Xymox.

Terri Jewell, a "Black dyke poet and writer," who has appeared in more than 300 publications worldwide, performs her work at Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, at their new address, 1545 W. Morse.

Lesbian photographer JEB (Joan E. Biren) is at Northwestern University as part of Lesbian and Gay Consciousness Month. "A Lesbian Alternative to MTV," is a show combing the music of women with narration, her-storical images, and more than 200 of JEB's own photographs.

2001

Events in the clubs and bars this week include: Karen Mason sings at Davenports, 1383 N. Milwaukee, in a two week run; at Roscoe's, 3354-56 N. Halsted, VJ Russell is in the front bar and DJ Jungle Jorge with lights by Box Boy Rich is on the dance floor; "Generation Fetish" features a book signing and multi media erotica presentation by Chicago photographer Lee Higgs, with live band Scarlet Life, at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; Legacy 21, 3042 W. Irving Park, celebrates its 40th anniversary; it's Boot Fetish Night with MaleHide.com at Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St; Ellen Rosner and Ripley Caine play Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park; and there's A Taste for Every Palette cocktail party at Girlbar, 2625 N. Halsted.

(Image: The Bowling Ball – Nightlines May 13, 1998)

Porn star Jeff Stryker is appearing in Jeff Stryker Does Hard Time at the Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont.

"Pink Champagne: Poetry Done Queerly," a night of queer poetry and more, is hosted by Thunder Ed and features Sukie de la Croix, Yvonne Zipter, and Kate Sloane Fiffer, plus an open mic, at High Risk Gallery, 1115 W. Belmont.

Rufus Wainwright and Tegan and Sarah perform at Martyrs, 3855 N. Lincoln.

"A Taste For Every Palate," a food and wine tasting gala to benefit the Women's Program at Howard Brown, is hosted by Mildred's Circle at Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie.

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 upcoming book Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.

Homework

Who remembers the Zoo bulletin board?

What happened to Scarlet Life?

Is it true that Thunder Ed has the biggest $*&$% in town? Oh never mind.