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

1979

A private party for gay women and men takes place at Old Chicago amusement park in Bollingbrook. For the $5 admission there's disco dancing and unlimited use of rides and attractions.

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Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells, features Dracula night in cooperation with the Plitts Theaters and American International Films, the studio who produced the current film "Love At First Bite," with George Hamilton. The festivities begin with the full moon and, at midnight, Mother Dracula appears to bring in Friday 13th.

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(Image: The Virgo Out – Gay Life March 31, 1978)

An article in Ralph Gernhardt's In & Out of Town column in Gay Chicago reads:

"Our first year of publishing Gay Chicago in our present format almost passed unnoticed this past weekend. It's been quite a year with many ups and downs for the three of us (Dan DiLeo, Mike and myself) to meet a deadline every week, but we've had lots of help and positive support from our contributors. To all of them, we have a special note of thanks, but equally important is a big thank you to everyone who picks up and reads this magazine. Your support and enthusiasm keeps us going on to continue to make Gay Chicago the fastest growing complete entertainment guide in the nation."

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The New Alexandria Lesbian Library presents singer/songwriter Alix Dobkin in concert at Parish of the Holy Covenant, 925 W. Diversey.

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Northwestern University Gay and Lesbian Alliance presents "Trashy But Chic," at the Greenleaf, 1770 N. Greenleaf, the friendliest gay bar in Chicago.

1987

Showing at the Bijou, 1349 N. Wells St., is director Steve Scott's "A Few Good Men," with Lee Ryder, Michael Christopher, Lee Stern and many others.

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Gloria Swanson in "Sadie Thompson," restored with material from Ms. Swanson's personal archives, is showing at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport.

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(Image: En La Vida ­– En La Vida January 1998)

The Lesbian and Gay Alliance of Northwestern University School of Law host a speech by Paula Ettelbrick, Staff Attorney at the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, at the law school's Chicago campus. Ettelbrick's speech entitled "Lesbian and Gay Rights Litigation in a Repressive Era," focuses on the politics and mechanics of using the courts to fight for gay and lesbian rights.

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On the cover of this week's Gay Chicago: "In Memory of Edward L. Davison (Eddie Dugan) August 20, 1946–April 10, 1987."

"Eddie Dugan, Bistro & Paradise owner, dies age 40 after a brief illness.

"Edward L. Davison, more popularly known as Eddie Dugan, told close friends nearly 20 years ago he wanted to open a disco nightclub in Chicago

"In August 1973, Dugan's Bistro became a reality. No one at that time could have predicted that the Bistro, Chicago's first New York-style discotheque, would become the leading nightspot in Chicago for ten years, attracting sometimes as many as 2,000 persons in an evening.

"Mr. Davison, 40, died Friday in Illinois Masonic Hospital after a brief illness. Death was caused by complications due to AIDS."

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(Image: Miss Saigon – Gay Chicago June 15, 2000)

Buckles Up Productions/Back Door Promotions Present: "Hard Hat: A Construction Party" at 945 George Street. Proceeds benefit the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic Development Program.

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Headline on the cover of this week's Windy City Times reads: "Britt Loses House Race."

"San Francisco's gay supervisor, Harry Britt, came within 3,900 votes of being elected this city's first gay Congressman April 7. The Democratic ‘establishment' candidate, Nancy Pelosi, squeaked to victory with 36 percent of the votes to Britt's 32 percent, despite predictions that Pelosi was leading Britt two-to-one. Pelosi, because she did not garner more than 50 percent of the vote, will face the best finishing Republican candidate in another election."

2000

Listen! Featuring Honey West and Alexandra Billings is on Lesbigay radio AM 1240. AM 1470.

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In his Gay Chicago review of "Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland," Michael Hemmes writes:

"And Vincent Minnelli, a former window dresser for Marshall Field's and Judy's second husband, paraded around pre-World War II Hollywood in drag and outrageous make-up. Just a couple of years after their marriage, Judy returned home early from the studio and found Minnelli in bed with another man. The shock sent her running into the bathroom, where she cut her wrists in her first (of many) suicide attempts."

(Image: Human First Gala – Windy City Times April 18, 2012)

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In the bars and clubs this week, Regina Upright, Angelique Monroe, Sassy Trade, and Tina Stefano, all perform at the Mashed Potato Club, 316 W. Erie; Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted, presents Noche de Salsa Wednesdays featuring host Lisa LaBoriqua of Latin Street Dancing; play the Matching Game Show at Roscoe's, 3356 N. Halsted; it's Salsa Night at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., featuring Salsa, Merengue & Dance Music with DJ Nebo; and there's a Tax Relief Party at Buddies, 3301 N. Clark St. with $1 off all green martinis, long islands and shots.

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Tracy Chapman is in concert at the Chicago Theatre.

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Quote in Outlines: "People are terrified about the sexual aspect of homosexuality. People are not bothered by drag queens or gay celebrities or things that are camp and inoffensive–what they're really bothered by is buggery. They're bothered by cock up arses–excuse me for being crude" – Boy George.

And:

"There's a part of me that really dreads assimilation. ... I'm all for equality, but the idea of being assimilated to the point of losing my identity is just plain revolting to me" – Boy George

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In his Chicago Whispers column, Sukie de la Croix interviews Jack David about Up North, 6244 N. Western, a gay bar and restaurant he owned back in the early 1970s.

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The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus presents Gilbert & Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore" at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport.

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Ute Lemper sings at the Chicago Theatre. Gregg Shapiro interviews her in this week's Outlines.

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Chicago activists in conjunction with StopDrLaura.com website form the Stop Dr. Laura Coalition and protest WBBM-Chicago airing the homophobe's show. Picket is outside the station at 633 N. McClurg Court.

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Scott Free does an acoustic set with Don Gibson at Burkhart Underground, 2845 N. Halsted.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Joan Jett Blakk, Corey Black and Creagh at Bobby Loves. This was most likely published in Windy City Times.

Halloween 1995 in Gay Chicago. I recognize the manager and a bartender at Buddies ...

Lady Chanelle Exotique and the Fabulous Fausto at Jackhammer

GAYLIFE APRIL 7 1978 ... Art Johnston directed a play ...

Homework

Does anyone remember the Old Chicago amusement park in Bollingbrook?

Buddies was a fun bar that came to a sad end. Didn't the staff turn up to find the doors locked?

Where is Sassy Trade these days?

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.