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

1977

Chicago's first gay radio program, "Midnight at Harlow's," hosted by Bob Sandman, is broadcast on station WVVX, 103.1 FM.

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The regular meeting of One of Chicago features Marge Summit, owner of His ‘n' Hers bar, giving a short talk on lesbian life in Chicago and how it relates to the male gay community.

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Pride, 2nd City, and the Chicago Knights hold a wild and wonderful skating party at the Axle Roller Rink, 9840 N. Milwaukee, in Des Plaines.

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The Rogers Park Gay Center holds its third annual dinner at Mondays Restaurant, 565 W. Diversey.

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The cover of lesbian paper Blazing Star announces the launch of the Chicago Women's Liberation Union Health Project. The project calls for a series of educational forums to be held in various Chicago communities.

(Image: Little Jim's – Gay Chicago June 23, 1983)

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The 1st parents rap session sponsored by the Fox Valley Gay Association takes place at an undisclosed location.

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On the cover of this week's Gay Life the headline reads: "Florida gay rights threatened."

The article begins: "At a March 1 meeting of the Dade County, Florida, Metro Commission petitions bearing a reported 60,000 signatures were presented to the Commission by Anita Bryant and the other officers of the Save Our Children (from homosexuality) organization, in an attempt to get a gay rights law repealed. The Commissioners now have to decide whether to vote to rescind the law or to present the issue to the voters in a special referendum."

1983

The cover of Gay Life reads: "1911-1983 Tennessee Williams."

"Williams was discovered dead on the morning of Friday, Feb. 25, in his room at New York's Hotel Elysee where he had kept an apartment for some years (and where Tallulah Bankhead had lived). His death, like much of his life, has already become the subject of controversy. Early reports suggested the death might have been alcohol and drug-related. (Williams' nearly fatal bout with these agents in the late 1960s was widely publicized). An autopsy performed last Saturday, however, revealed that Williams had choked to death on the plastic cap from a bottle of eyedrops or nasal spray."

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An item in this week's Street Talk column in Gay Life reads: "Hey, hey, Tricia Alexander and Lori Noelle fans: The daring duo is playing Chicago again after a month of on the road absence. They'll be at home-base His ‘n' Hers this weekend for three shows both Friday and Saturday night. In addition, Tricia will host open mic Sunday evening, and the pair will play Different Strokes sometime mid-March. Try and get Lori to do her magic trick. It's a good one."

1995

Political ads in Gay Chicago read: "Help us improve the 46th Ward with a vote for Bob Kuzas, endorsed by the 46th Ward Gay & Lesbian Caucus & the Chicago Sun-Times; the only candidate for city clerk we can trust. T. Ron Jasinski-Herbert, first to support Domestic Partnership Registry. Will fight discrimination based on sexual orientation. Democratic Primary PUNCH 36; Elect Walter Burnett, Jr., Alderman, 27th Ward. Endorsed by IMPACT; and remember to vote Bernie Hansen, Alderman and Committeeman 44th Ward.

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(Image: Nightspots Cover – Nightspots May 24, 2006)

In the bars and clubs this week there's a Mardi Gras Party at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted. "A little bit of New Orleans with Sophie, Jeff, Mark and Steve"; a Pucker Up contest, $100 first prize with DJ Jungle Jorge Suarez, Trade host Arie, and Mz Alanna, at Trade@Roscoe's, 3356 N. Halsted; it's a Grammy Awards Party at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; and Mr. Charlie's Man of the Month Contest is held at Charlie's, 3726 N. Broadway.

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Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) announce a new chapter forming in the Streamwood area in the Northwest suburbs. The first meeting is held at St. John Roman Catholic School, 513 Parkside Circle, Streamwood.

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(Image: Chicago Takes Off – Nightspots January 3, 2007)

April Outlines reports: "Al Wardell, 50, longtime Chicago gay activist, died March 1. Born in Gary, Ind., he earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Indiana University in 1967, and from 1969 through 1988 he was a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. Wardell made a concerted effort to work for only one organization, the Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force during most of his 1978-90 ‘career' as an activist. Additionally, he was executive director of the Frank Rodde Fund from August 1990-December 1991."

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Obituaries for these beautiful men appear in this week's Gay Chicago: Mark E. Szkudlarek, Mark "Wade" Weiss, Edward Krajewski, and Eric Hubert Speck.

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Top 10 Playlist courtesy of DJ Jorge Suarez at Roscoe's: 1) "Yesterday When I Was Mad" – Pet Shop Boys; 2) "Color of My Skin" – Swing 52; 3) "Watchagot" – Groove Collection; 4) "Voices" – Ministry of Sound; 5) "Your Loving Arms" – Billy Ray Martin; 6) "Promise Me Nothing" – Repercussion; 7) "Bottom Heavy" – Danny Tenaglia; 8) "Sight for Sore Eyes" – M People; 9) "Cassa De X" – Elastic Reality; 10) "Never Get Enough" – Waterlillies.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

This was published in either Nightlines or Windy City Times. Where, when, who? No idea.

Chicago Gay Men's Chorus in February 17, 1995 Gay Chicago. Can you name these Titi-poos?

I took this one at Berlin. Where else?

Queer Nation protesting homophobic Cracker Barrel in January 2, 1992 Windy City Times.

Homework

Who was Bob Sandman, the man who hosted the first gay radio program in Chicago?

Did anyone out there know Al Wardell? Just wondered what he was like ...

Tricia Alexander and Lori Noelle, still performing? Or not ...

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.