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

1985

Events in the bars and clubs this week include boogieing on the new dance floor at Christopher Street, 3458 N. Halsted; Susan March hosts an open mic in the piano lounge at Showcase One, 959 W. Belmont; come and play in the sand at Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells St., Beach Ball party with a tan-line contest at midnight. Attire: Swimwear. Door prizes: Beach Toys. DJ/VJ Mark Haultmark; Male Lip Synch Contest featuring Gary Glitter at Normandy, 3400 N. Clark St. $50 1st Prize; and a Mr. Cheeks contest takes place at Cheeks, 2730 N. Clark St.

(Image: Gay Chicago Cover – Gay Chicago July 26, 1984)

Video Playlist courtesy of Debra Hurwich at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont: 1) "Perfect Kiss" – New Order; 2) "Endicott" – Kid Creole and the Coconuts; 3) "Road To Nowhere" – Talking Heads; 4) "Life in One Day" – Howard Jones; 5) "Moments in Love" – Art of Noise; 6) "Nemesis" – Shriekback; 7) "Universal Radio" – Nana Hagen; 8) "Marlene On the Wall " – Suzanne Vega; 9) "Dance at the Feet of the Moon" – Parachute Club; 10) "Send Me An Angel" – Eurythmics.

1994

Carol Channing stars in "Hello Dolly" at the Shubert Theatre.

TNT Explosion, a new African-American lesbian social club, hosts Gils Night Out every Friday at the Ritz Manhattan, 910 W. Buena.

(Image: Chicago Gay Men's Chorus – Gay Chicago April 16, 1998)

Events in the bars and clubs this week include the Society of Leatherwomen United Towards Sadomasochism (SLUTS) meets every Thursday night at the Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark; Michael McAssey is appearing at Gentry of Chicago, 712 N. Rush St.; Bi/Gay Married Men's Support Group meets at Hideaway II, 7301 W. Roosevelt, Forest Park; check out the Thursday night dance party with DJ Dana Powell at Generator, 306 N. Halsted; a salute to Kansas Gay Rodeo, Wizard of Oz Return to Kansas Weekend at Charlie's, 3726 N. Broadway; Kevin Adair, variety performer, juggling, fire tricks, magic, is at North End, 3733 N. Halsted.

Queer Nation, a queer rights direct action group, meets every Monday night at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.

AXIOS!, the organization for bisexuals, gays and lesbians of Greek or Eastern Orthodox background, attend the special Paraclesis Service to the Holy Virgin Mary as part of the Kimissis (Dormition) observance at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1017 N. LaSalle.

Top Ten Music Playlist courtesy of DJ Eddy of the Vortex and Manhole: 1) "In the Dark We Live" – Aphrohead; 2) "Girls & Boys" – Hed Boys; 3) "Feel What You Want" – Kristine W; 4) "New York Express" – Hardhead; 5) "So Divine" – Miranda; 6) "Turn It Up" – DJ Dyke; 7) "What I Need" – Crystal Waters; 8) "Make My Love" – Shawn Christopher; 9) "Short Dick Man" – 20 Fingers; 10) "Another Night" – Real McCoy.

Derek Jarman's movies "Caravaggio" and "Edward II" are showing at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton.

XXX film star Ryan Idol strips down to nothing at Man's Country, 5015 N. Clark St.

A Dance For Life benefit is at Navy Pier. Dance companies include AM/FM, Gus Giordano, Jazz Dance, Hubbard Street, Joseph Holmes, River North, Muntu, and Shirley Mordine.

Marcia Wilkie performs at Bailiwick Theatre, 1225 W. Belmont.

1996

Mondo Edwards "I came, I saw, I had cocktails ... " written and performed by: Edward Thomas Herrera, directed by Tina Lilly, is at the Live Bait Theater, 3914 N. Clark St.

"Chicago Boyz", premiere of new coffee table book by Chicago photographer Ron Volanti, Jr. is held at Vortex, 3641 N. Halsted.

Donna Summer is at the Rosemont Theatre on August 9 and Star Plaza Theatre, Radisson Hotel, August 10, 1996.

The Chicago Smelts and Tri-Women of Chicago host the first annual Pride Triathlon Festival at the Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, Illinois.

The Midwest Men's Center holds a nude-swim party at Jane Addams Community Center, 3212 N. Broadway.

(Image: Sandra Bernhard – Gay Chicago July 27, 1997)

QUEERSTOCK. Lesbigay Radio presents lesbigay artists during Marketdays, on stage:

Saturday – 11:45 a.m. Stewed Tomatoes; 1:00 p.m. Boys Entrance; 2:40 p.m. Seraiah Carol; 4:00 p.m. Dorothy Scott; 5:40 p.m. Steven Kawolczk; 7:00 p.m. Jeff Krassner; 8:00 p.m. Jill (I Kiss a Girl) Soble.

Sunday – 11:45 a.m. Pulsations; 1:00 p.m. Pound; 2:40 p.m. One Mean Sun; 4:00 p.m. Lea Delaria; 5:00-9:00 p.m. dance party hosted by Lady Bunny.

Comedienne Lea Delaria performs at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park.

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 went nude swimming at the Jane Addams Center? I did

Who is/was Aphrohead?

Debra Hurwich?