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

1980

An article in this week's Gay Chicago reads: "One of Robert Mapplethorpe's photos on exhibit at In a Plain Brown Wrapper is our cover subject this week. Mapplethorpe, whose work has been called violent, brutal, and sensitive, was born Nov. 4, 1976 and received his education from 1963 to 1970 at the Pratt Institute.

"He has exhibited at several galleries in New York, San Francisco, Virginia, Paris, Amsterdam, Germany, Texas and Colorado

"The gallery is located at 2943 N. Halsted."

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Some of the cryptic messages left on Gay Chicago's Bulletin Board:

"Dr. Duseldorf: What is your remedy for a particular waiter that consistently pushes ‘fruit' for ‘dessert?' – Funshine"

"Rabbi Michael: In my heart, in my stomach, and in my love, you will always be Rabbi Michael – Chairman Meow."

"Fred & Ethel: Why do I keep seeing sparks flying in the night when I look toward your apartment? I don't wanna be a scarlett, but I can't help myself – El Torro Negro."

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Headline on the cover of Gay Life this week: "'Cruising' heavily protested: marches to continue until movie ‘leaves town.'"

"Gay rights activists marched on movie theaters across the country on February 15 protesting the release of director William Friedkin's highly controversial film ‘Cruising.' ‘Hey-hey! Ho-ho! The movie Cruising's got to go!' chanted fifty demonstrators in Chicago at the first of three weekend rallies. In San Francisco, a crowd of 250 braved inclement weather for a protest that remained peaceful, despite worries of violence. Eleven protestors were charged with disorderly conduct in Orange, Connecticut when they defied a police order to stage their picket line at a parking lot entrance and marched on the theater. At New York City's National Theater in Times Square, 400 protestors leafleted, blew whistles and carried signs and banners in a manner reminiscent of the original protests during on-location shooting there last summer."

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(Take One – Gay Chicago January 31, 1985)

Gender Services, a rap group for the transvestite/trans-sexual community and interested persons, meets at 1721 W. Barry St.

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It's the Grand Opening of new gay bar Checkmate II at 2546 N. Clark St.

1994

In the bars and clubs this week WANTED: Dudes in Denim for dance lessons with Tracy of Chicago Studio for Dance and Musical Theatre every Two-Steppin' Tuesday at Numbers, 6406 N. Clark St.;
Carrs Halsted Street Cabaret, 3320 N. Halsted, has an open mic with Dan Stetzel; there's a full moon contest at Roscoe's, 3354-56 N. Halsted, with Aqua-Neta as MC, plus Post Office with David and DJ Jungle Jorge Suarez; celebrate the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at a President's Day Party at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted St.; there's a Disco Wednesday Party at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, with a Dreamy Disco performance by Vikki Spykke.

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(HotWire – HotWire January 1992)

Bradley A. Ginn speaks on "Meditation: Healing Process for Separation Between Gay and Lesbian Partners" to the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association at 21 S. Plymouth Court.

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Katie Brown, managing editor of Deneuve discusses the magazine's mission at Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.

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Toddlin' Town Performing Arts presents the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Mikado" aka "The Town Titipu," at the Athenaeum Theatre, Southport and Lincoln.

2000

Of interest to lesbians this week is the "If These Walls Could Talk 2" pre-release party at Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark St.; "Xena Live! Episode 1: Double Your Pleasure" written by Claudia Allen at About Face Theatre, 3212 N. Broadway; Kathleen Thompson and Hilary Mac Austen Present "The Face of Our Past: Images of Black Women from Colonial America to the Present," a slide show and talk at Women and Children First.

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(Black Bra Party – Nightspots January 31, 2007)

In Outlines' Quotelines column:

"An openly known homosexual is somebody who probably wouldn't share my philosophy." – Republican George W. Bush, asked if he would appoint someone who is openly gay to his administration, according to the New York Post.

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The Association of Latin Men in Action host a workshop called "Sex, Love, Intimacy" for Latino gay, bi and questioning men, an eight week program at Horizons, 961 W. Montana.

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The Human Rights Campaign hold "Below-Zero Beach Bash: A Winter Melt Down" from 9 p.m. to midnight at North Street Beach Chicago, 1551 N. Sheffield. The event is co-sponsored by Spin and Coupon Direct/Print It! Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the door, which includes free bowling, miniature golf, a beach volleyball tournament, picnic food and unlimited pop, beer and wine.

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Members of the Lakeside Pride Freedom Band perform works by MacDowell, Pezel, and Busch, at Edison Park Methodist Church, 6740 N. Oliphant.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Name this bartender at Different Strokes. Year? Who knows ... I don't.

Sassy Trade, I believe. This was most likely published in Nightspots.

Someone must know who this is?

This was taken in 2002 at the Edge. But who are they?

Homework

What did you think of the movie "Cruising?"

What was North Street Beach Chicago?

Who was Xena in "Xena Live!?"

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.