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

1987

(Image: Legends in Their Own Minds – Gay Chicago March 31, 1988)

Tee Off Against AIDS at Waveland Golf Course is a benefit for Chicago House, sponsored by the Metropolitan Sports Association.

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A headline on the front page of Windy City Times this week reads: "Reagan AIDS panel faces lawsuit, protestors." The article, written by Lou Chibbaro Jr, begins: "Representatives of the nation's AIDS service groups said they were skeptical, but still hopeful, that President Reagan's Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic will take at least some decisive steps to curtail the AIDS epidemic."

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Gay Bestsellers at Unabridged Bookstore, 3251 N. Broadway:

Fiction: 1) "Buddies" – Ethan Morden; 2) "Faggots" – Larry Kramer; 3) "The Love of a Master" – John Preston; 4) "Better Angel" – Richard Meeker; 5) "Body Blows" – Steven Simmons.

Non-Fiction: 1) "AIDS: A Self Care Manual" – Moffatt, M.A. et al AIDS Project of L.A.; 2) "Screaming Room" – Barbara Peabody; 3) "Living With AIDS" – Tom O'Connor; 4) "Gay Spirit" – Mark Thompson; 5) "Dear Genius" – Jack Dunphy.

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Paula Walowitz and Friends perform at the Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for Womyn and Children.

1999

In the bars and clubs this week Disco Bingo and Croak-ee with a drawing for a pair of Cher tickets at All State Arena on September 18 at Roscoe's, 3354-56 N. Halsted; there's a Stud Puppy Full Moon Contest at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park; direct from NYC and San Francisco, Pam Munter performs at Gentry, 440 N. State St.; Sean Reilly, Mr. Piston Leather '99, makes an appearance at the Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St.; and Michelle Malone is in concert at Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark St.

(Image: Oh Lord, Thank you for Nightspots – Nightspots November 27, 1998)

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A quote in Outlines this week: "All I have to say is that it takes a real man to fill my shoes." – Madonna, on the drag queens outfitted in styles she's worn through the years, on stage at last week's MTV Video Music Awards.

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"The Lesbian Connection: A Celebration of Women Loving Women" is a one-day workshop designed exclusively for lesbian couples, presented by Sylvia Nesbitt, Psy.D and Debra Darmata, M.S. at "a Chicago area location."

2000

The front page of this week's Outlines reads: "Outlines merges with Windy City Times. Lambda Publications, publishers of Outlines since 1987, has purchased Windy City Times. Starting next week, look for your favorite Outlines and WCT writers inside Windy City Times.

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Quoted on the Quotelines page in this week's Outlines: "Half my friends are gay. I have a problem with people who can't love, not with people who choose to love." – Victoria Principal in OUT magazine.

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"Party," a comedy by David Dillon, directed by Kevin P. Hill, has been extended until October 22 at the Bailiwick Repertory Theater, 1229 W. Belmont. It stars David Dillon, Jason Hagemann, Aaron D. Hanna, Dennis Murphy, Don Shell, Chad Wood, and Kevin Zalizniak.

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The Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association host a coffeehouse soiree at Buzz Café, 905 S. Lombard. Entertainment is provided by poet Joanna Anos and Harmony, a female singing group.

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More than 200 historians gather at the University of Chicago for the largest gay history conference ever held. "The Future of the Queer Past: A Transnational History Conference" is organized by the Lesbian and Gay Studies Project at the University of Chicago and the University's history department, with the assistance of an external advisory committee.

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(Image: Madrigals – Nightspots August 27, 2003)

In the bars and clubs auditions are held at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, for the 8th annual "Night of 100 Drag Queens"; there's a Full-Moon Party at Hunters, 1932 E. Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village; Jim Caruso with Billy Stritch on piano perform at Davenport's piano bar, 1383 N. Milwaukee; Matt Yee, Hawaii's most popular gay cabaret entertainer is at Gentry, 3320 N. Halsted.

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September 17 is the opening night for "Present Laughter," Noel Coward's comedy at the Bailiwick Repertory. Directed by James Pellon.

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Six hundred women and men sign up for the Lesbian Community Cancer Project's "Cruising 5 ... Because We Care" jazz brunch cruise aboard the Odyssey at Navy Pier. There's a champagne reception 10:00-11:00 a.m. with entertainment by Zrazy. At 11:15 am the ship boards and then sets sail at 11:45 a.m.

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 Matt Yee?

Does anyone have pictures of Gentry on Rush Street? Contact Sukie.

Who performed at the first Night of 100 Drag Queens?