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

1979

Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Salo (120 Days of Sodom)" is showing at the 3 Penny, 2424 N. Lincoln.

Congregation Or Chadash presents "The Tall Blond Man With One Black Shoe" at the First Unitarian Church, 656 W. Barry. Admission is $2.50 for members, $3.00 for others.

Songstress Faith Pillow is Hot Kitsch at Kitsch, 1007 W. Webster.

(Image: Village People Cartoon – Gay Life June 15, 1979)

Gay Horizons, a not-for-profit social services umbrella organization geared to the lesbian and gay community, officially kicks off its free legal services program at an open house at 3225 N. Sheffield.

Camp singing trio Gotham are at the St. Nicholas Theater, 2851 N. Halsted.

1999

Events in the bars and clubs this week include LIVE showtunes in the piano bar from New York's Monster Vernon Larson at Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave.; party all week until 4 a.m. at Leatherneck, 209 W. Lake St. "a kick-ass fag bar downtown"; there's a Red, White and Bud Party at Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted; "Windy City Classic" softballers host an all-you-can-eat chicken fry at Buddies, 3301 N. Clark St.; country dancing exhibition, lessons, and competition, with a chance to win Cher tickets, is at Spin, Halsted and Belmont; and Gentry, 440 N. State St., welcomes Rudy De La Mor for a special summertime engagement thru July 31.

(Image: Women Obsession – Nightlines January 6, 1999)

Sundance Channel presents "Basquiat." Discovered while a graffiti artist in NY's East Village, Basquiat skyrockets across the ‘80s art scene getting caught up in the temptation of celebrity, falling prey to bad love and bad drugs.

Gay Horizons youth drop-in center for ages 14-23 is open at 961 W. Montana.

"Colorphobia; A Perspective on Racial Issues in the LesBiGay Community" is performed by Real Read at Bailiwick Arts Center.

The West Suburban Gay Association Dinner Night is at Walter Payton's Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora.

All Jokes Aside Gay Pride Reunion at Ivanhoe Theatre, 750 W. Wellington, featuring Tony Sculfield, Tornado, Marlene Moore and special guest Coco.

The Boulevard Café presents the Patty Elvis Band, 3137 W. Logan Blvd.

The Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for Womyn and Children at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster, presents Alix Dobkin. In 1973 Alix Dobkin produced "Lavender Jane Loves Women," the first music album for and by lesbians.

2001

Theatrical Productions of gay interest include "Faggot Bunny Daddy" by Allen Conkle with the Nomenil Theatre Co. at the Performance Loft, 656 W. Barry; Nick Garrison in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" at the Broadway Theatre, 3175 N. Broadway; "Passing Ceremonies" at the Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont; and "In Real Life" developed by the About Face Youth Theatre Ensemble is at About Face Theatre, 3212 N. Broadway.

Three young men are arrested for an attack on a gay man in the West Side Humboldt Park neighborhood. The three, two aged 13, one 14 are charged with attempted armed robbery and a hate crime.

Bi/Gay married men's support group meets at Gale House, 124 N. Kenilworth.

Skate Gay Night hosted by Sarabia and his strippers takes place at Rainbo Rink, 4836 N. Clark St.

On the cover of the July 11, 2001 issue of Windy City Times is a photograph of Chicago's Heart's Party weekend in February by Israel Wright, and the headline "Safety First U.S. Gov't Studies Circuit Parties."

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

Who remembers the Hearts Parties?

Is Patty Elvis still around?

Who was Faith Pillow?