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

1978

In the bars and clubs this week, "A Touch of Leather" is a Disco Dance Contest at Center Stage 3730 N. Clark St.; noted Chicago singer Jo Mapes makes a concert appearance at His ‘n' Hers, 944 W. Addison; Kelly's Follies presents "A Rainbow of Stars" at Our Way, 706 Stateline Ave., Calumet City; and "Boys in the Band" is shown at the Glory Hole, 1343 N. Wells St.

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The monthly meeting of Maturity, the group for the over 40s, takes place at the Germania club. The program is about German wines and is put on by Pieroth Bros. of River Grove, Ill. There is also entertainment by pianist James Foy, hors d'oeuvres from People's Choice restaurant, and pictures of the last gay pride parade, courtesy of the Nostalgia Shop.

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The Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, 1655 W. School St., hosts a benefit for Women in Crisis Can Act featuring classical musicians Judy Handler and Kathleen Thompson.

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On the cover of this week's Gay Life: "Bill Kelley receives Hart Award."

"Mattachine Midwest held its annual banquet at the Courtyard Inn, 1531 N. Wells, in Chicago on Sunday, March 12. Nearly 100 persons were there to hear Karen Burns entertain and to witness the presentation of the Pearl M. Hart Award to William B. Kelley for his outstanding service to the gay and lesbian community."

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A Libertarians for Gay Rights rap session is held at 736 W. Briar.

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The monthly meeting of Affirmation/Chicago, the gay Methodist group, takes place at 561 Stratford #2F.

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Some seventy-five men and women turned up at Douglas MacArthur High School in Decatur, IL, to demonstrate for gay rights and against the appearance there of anti-gay crusader Anita Bryant. She was at a revival meeting held in the school gymnasium and organized by the Revival Fires Ministry of Joplin, MO., and attended by 3,500 persons.

1987

"Another Love Story (Otra Historia de Amor)" is showing at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport. Benjamin Dreyer at Windy City Times writes: "A depiction of gay eroticism and romantic content that is virtually unheard of in the history of cinema."

(Image: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber – Windy City Times October 19, 1989)


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Budweiser presents Chris Williamson with Tret Fure and Lucie Blue Tremblay at Park West.

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The Psychotronic Film Society meets at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, to show the drive-in classic "Switchblade Sisters," Kenneth Anger's "Scorpio Rising," "Kustom Kar Kommandos" and "Puce Moment."

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The Windy City Gay Chorus, directed by Richard Garrin, presents "Music for the Stage: Great Choruses from Opera and Musical Comedy," at the People's Church, 941 W. Lawrence.

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Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays host a discussion on "Legal Rights of Gays and Lesbians," at 615 W. Wellington.

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"Raincheck," a staged reading of this lesbian play by Chicago playwright Claudia Allen is at Victory Gardens Theatre.

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Next Theater Co. present "Normal Heart," Larry Kramer's play about AIDS, at 927 Noyes, Evanston.

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On the front page of Windy City Times this week: "Attacks escalate on Hyde Park gays."

"Letters revealing the sexual orientation of more than a dozen gays and lesbians were sent to their parents, employers, and neighbors recently, in what is viewed as an escalation of anti-gay harassment in Hyde Park. In addition, while anti-gay activity has been occurring for several years at the University of Chicago, the most recent attacks have reached outside this South Side community.

"In the latest incident, students and others are being targeted through a bogus gay personals ad in the Reader newspaper. Other gays and lesbians who signed an anti-harassment petition published in the Feb. 20 Maroon, the University of Chicago student newspaper, are also being singled out by the letter writers, who call themselves "The Great White Brotherhood of the Iron Fist."

2001

The Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association hold a coffeehouse soiree with a raffle at the Buzz Café.

(Image: The Jungle of Love – Gay Chicago January 30, 1992)

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Scott Free's Grinder, queer words and music, is held at the Willow Café, 1100 W. Thorndale. Tonights entertainment includes words by Ari Banias, and music by Fausto Fernos and Taylor E. Ross.

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Windy City Black LGBT Pride board meeting takes place at the Minority Outreach Intervention Project, 1346 S. Michigan.

(Image: Valley of the Kings – Nightspots September 12, 2007)

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Quotelines in Windy City Times this week include:

"I was very impressed by Eminem's poise accepting that [Best Rap Album] award. I really think that this experience is going to help him grow as a person. As a matter of fact, after doing the duet with Elton John, I've heard that he's agreed to go to the bathroom with George Michael as well." – Grammy's Award host Jon Stewart

And:

"I want to thank everybody who could look past the controversy or whatever and see the album for what it was and also for what it isn't." ­ Eminem accepting his Best Rap Album Grammy award.

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In this week's Windy City Times Sukie de la Croix writes about Sidetrack in his Street Walkin' column:

"Art, Pepe and Chuck over at Sidetrack certainly know how to put on a show. The Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras party was an extravaganza. All the fun of the circus with drummers, a fire-eater on stilts and ... I was holding my breath ... trapeze artists in the garden bar."

Photo Rewind

In the summer of 2002 I found this adorable couple in Circuit. Published in Nightspots.

Kelly (Right) with a friend at Inn Exile. Lovely man, lovely bar. Most likely this was published in Windy City Times or Nighspots.

You need to guess who this is at Jackhammer in 2010. Published either in Chicago Free Press or Gay Chicago.

OK these are some of the Gay Press, members of all the papers. I don't know who took this photograph, or whether or not it was published anywhere. First thought: A lot of white people running the papers back then.

Homework

Did anyone go to "A Touch of Leather," a Disco Dance Contest at Center Stage 3730 N. Clark St.?

Taylor E. Ross, where are you?

Is the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association still around?

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.