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

1979

The Windy City Gay Chorus gives its first full-length performance in a concert at Stages, a gay club at 3730 N. Clark St. The affair is a joint concert with the Chicago Gay Pride Band. The Chorus, forty strong, had rehearsed for only six weeks. The concert is considered the first in the "Don We Now" Christmas concerts.

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"A new gallery of mature fantasies, an environment created for your pleasure." You can purchase leather goods, films, magazines, erotic art, rubber toys, and visit the movie arcade, at the Pit Stop, 1020 N. Clark St.

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(Image: The Machine Shop – Gay Life February 18, 1976)

Gay people at home are the subject for a new show opening at In A Plain Brown Wrapper, 2943 N. Halsted. The work of forty-five artists is featured in the exhibit, entitled "Domestic Scenes."

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Author Felice Picano signs his new book "The Lure" at Source Bookstore, 2943 N. Halsted.

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The Chicago Knights Gay Motorcycle Club presents their annual gala Toys For Tots show the Baton, 436 N. Clark St.

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Congregation Or Chadash holds its annual Chanukah Party at the 2nd Unitarian Church at 656 W. Barry St.

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The Lesbian Community Center, 3435 N. Sheffield, celebrates the 1st anniversary of being at this location with a potluck dinner.

1983

Street Life gossip in this week's Gay Life reads: "The North End's grand opening party Dec. 10 attracted a standing room only crowd. Owner Ken Eschenbach was busy behind the bar and fellow owners Jack Conti, Rudy Johnson, Bob Nicholson, Michael Pawlowski and Scott Tietje also came to mingle with the well-wishers."

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(Image: The Jeffrey Pub – Gay Life November 28, 1980)

Headline in this week's Gay Life reads: "5 Indicted for alleged gay bar shakedowns."

The article begins: " A federal grand jury indicted five alleged mobsters on charges of attempting to extort payoffs from operators of four predominantly gay bars on Chicago's Near North Side.

"Allegedly victimized by extortion attempts and threats of physical and economic harm during a 10-month period in 1978-79 were James Flint, owner of the Baton Show Lounge, 430 N. Clark St., and the Redoubt Lounge, then at 65 W. Illinois; Robert Hugel, former owner of the Glory Hole, 1343 N. Wells, and the late Richard Farnham, manager of Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells."

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Joe Orton's "What the Butler Saw," produced by Goblin Theater, is playing at the Theatre Shoppe, 2636 N. Lincoln. Lawrence Bommer writes in Gay Life: "Director Eric Forsberg builds the running jokes with melodramatic gusto and crazy choreography on his postage-stamp stage."

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Kwanza, Winter Solstice, Chanukah, and Christmas music is performed by the Artemis Singers in a holiday concert at the Unitarian Church, 656 W. Barry. The concert "A Celebration of Light" is followed by a reception. Admission is $3 at the door.

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In the bars and clubs this week, there's a Holiday Fashion Show presented by Torso at Christopher Street, 3454 N. Halsted; Mondays are "Man To Man" nights at Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St.; Live at Last! Bertha Butt performs one show only at Paradise Chicago, 2848 N. Broadway; the employees of the Annex 2, Baton and Redoubt present a benefit for AIDS Patients at the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark St.; the Stan Nevin Band performs at His ‘n' Hers, 944 W. Addison; and Band of Merry Men & D'Rose invite you to their Christmas Party at Big Red's, 3019 N. Clark St.

1988

Headline in this week's Windy City Times reads: "Coordinator Peggy Baker Resigns."

The article begins: "As criticisms of her job performance and of her commitment to the Sawyer administration were about to be become public, Peggy Baker, Chicago's first full-time, paid coordinator of gay and lesbian issues, resigned Wednesday, December 7. Baker, who denied that her decision to leave was motivated by pressure either from the administration or from the community, cited frustration in dealing with the City's response to AIDS as the reason for her departure."

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(Image: Who's That Girl? – Gay Chicago April 16, 1998)

Article in this week's Gay Chicago is headlined: "'The Wizard of AIDS' Educates As Well As Entertains."

It begins: "AIDS Educational Theatre (AET), a Chicago-based educational theatre company, is the first touring theatre company in the state of Illinois established to educational purposes dealing with AIDS awareness and substance abuse prevention.

"AET is currently performing its original musical play, ‘The Wizard of AIDS' throughout the Chicago area at schools, libraries, community centers, businesses, and theatres."

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The Chicago Chapter of the Names Project hold its monthly quilt workshop at the Wellington Ave. Church, 615 W. Wellington.

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Reconciling People: A Christian inclusive mission/service, with the reverends Timm Peterson and Ninure Saunders, is held at the Rodde Center, 3225 N. Sheffield.

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One night only "An Evening With Bruce Vilanch" is at George's, Kinzie and Franklin.

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 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 sang with the Chorus at Stages in 1979?

Does anyone know what happened to Dago Rose?

Who remembers the Pit Stop?