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

1979

In this week's Gay Chicago, in Ralph Paul's In & Out of Town column, he writes:

"Rumor has it that there will be a new disco for women on Broadway near Surf. No name has been selected yet (the new owner, when asked what the name of the place would be, replied ‘Who knows?' Now with Why not? a.k.a Pourquoi Pas? just down the street and ‘Who knows?' on Broadway and Diversey we could have the beginning of an Abbott and Costello routine). The new place is scheduled to open May 1st. On the topic of women's bars, the word is that the Lady Bug on Halsted Street is hot, while there is a for sale sign up at Augie"s further north. C.K.s is closed and word has it that the Lost and Found on Irving Park may move to a new location down the street."

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(Image: Gay Chicago Magazine cover October 7, 1982)

Gay Chicago "Personals" include:

White male, 35, interested in meeting same into nylon and satin and TV scene. Please, no fats. Not interested in hustlers or hookers. Please write ––––––

And:

White male, 138lbs, 5' 10", brown hair, hazel eyes, mustache, 8". I am Greek active and want to meet Greek passive under 35. No phone freaks. Call after 5 p.m.

And:

"Black male, 20, 5'9". 125lbs., would like to meet someone who is interested in a permanent relationship. You must be white, between 20 and 40, masculine and you MUST have a beard. All letters answered.

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Headline on front page of this week's Gay Life reads: "New 21-year drinking age met with mixed reactions."

"Reactions have been mixed around the Chicago gay community to the City Council's recent action to raise the drinking age in the city from 19 to 21.

"Previously 19 and 20-year-olds were allowed to drink wine and beer on bar premises, but were not allowed to purchase hard spirits. On March 21 the Council voted to exclude the under 20 crowd from all drinking in the bars. The only dissenting vote was cast by Ald. Dick Simpson of the 44th Ward."

1989

In this week's Windy City Times' Viewpoints, Ald. Helen Shiller writes an Op-Ed piece "Timothy Evans for Mayor," while Ald. Bernard Hansen writes "Richard Daley for Mayor."

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Books reviewed by Jim Coughenour in Windy City Times this week are "Obedience" by Joseph Hansen; "Double Daughter" by Vicki P. McConnell; "Murder in the Collective" by Barbra Wilson; and "A Simple Suburban Murder" by Mark Richard Zubro.

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The Chicago Area Republican Gays (CARGO) meet for cocktails and conversation downstairs at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.

(Image: Nightlines cover February 23, 1994)

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Lesbians and Gays for Alderman Timothy C. Evans for Mayor meet at the Evans campaign's North Side office, 5844 N. Broadway, to plan and discuss the crucial pre-election and election day effort in the gay and lesbian community. Campaign materials regarding lesbian and gay specific and general issues, posters, and buttons, are available for distribution.

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Stars of the Chicago theater scene perform again on behalf of persons with AIDS and AIDS-related complex when they appear at the third annual Cabaret Evening to benefit Chicago House at Second City, 1616 N. Wells. The evening begins with a wine and cheese reception. Tickets are $40. Among the performers donating their talents are Ross Lehmen, Peggy Roeder, Suzann Marsh, Laurel Cronin and Kerry Walker.

1993

In the bars and clubs this week DJ Mike Zuaz plays Deep House and Salsa at Hunger, 2251 N. Lincoln; Paula Sinclaire's "Circus of the Absurd" is at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, a variety show of bizarre acts on stage; the Lights Out Party at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted, starts at midnight; Country Cloggers Phoenix are at Charlie's, 405 W. Ontario; Ms. Gay Joliet Contest is at Maneuvers and Co., 118 E. Jefferson St., Joliet, Illinois. Special guests are Ms. Joliet 1992 Marissa Jacobs and Ms. Gay Midwest Latina Garrett; and comic Lois Bromfield is appearing at Manhole, 3458 N. Halsted.

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In Rick Karlin's Etc. column in Gay Chicago, he writes: "This Thursday, watch for Richard Daley and Jim Edgar to bury the hatchet. In fact, it will be revealed that not only are they getting along, they're getting married. The two lovebirds will have to pass legislation to allow same-sex marriages first, but that shouldn't be a problem if they work together. April Fool."

(Image: 3160 Presents – Nightspots March 8, 2006)

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The Lesbian and Gay Community Center of Chicago and a coalition of other community organizations lead the second annual Chicago Anti-Violence Candlelight March. The themes of the march are "Stop the Violence" and "End the Ban on Lesbians and Gays in the Military." The speaker is Ron Cayot.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Karaoke at Circuit

This was 2002 at Cocktail, probably published in Nightspots

One of the Boys of Berlin in 2002. Nightspots?

Oh Bucks ... .

Homework

Remember when Charlie's was on Ontario?

Is Mark Zubro still living in Chicago?

Paula Sinclaire and bizarre stage acts at Berlin? The mind boggles!!

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.