July 25-July 31, 2013

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

1978

Article in Gay Life reads:

"There will be a benefit for singer Ginny Clemmens on Friday, July 18, at His 'n' Hers featuring popular entertainers from all over the city. Clemmens, who has participated in many fund-raisers for various gay community groups, is in the hospital with a heart condition. A donation of $3 will be requested at the door, all of which will go to her."

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Michelle Faithe is the singer performing "In the Cabaret" at Steamworks bathhouse, 3131 N. Lincoln, this week.

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In Richard Cooke's DISCOvery column in Gay Life, this week's Top Ten are: 1) "Hot Shot" – Karen Young; 2) "Miss You" – Rolling Stones; 3) "I Love America" – Patrick Jovet; 4) "You and I" – Rick James; 5) "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" – Sylvester; 6) "Only You" – Teddy Pendergrass; 7) "I Don't Know What I Do" – Sweet Cream; 8) "Beautiful Bend" – USA European Connection; 9) "You Got Me Running" – Lenny Williams; and 10) "Think It Over" – Sissy Houston.

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Image: Grab Magazine cover from July 20, 2010

A workshop for bar personnel designed to improve listening and referral skills is held at the Jane Addams Center, 3212 N. Broadway. The workshop is sponsored by John Power, representing Gay Horizons, and Tom Behrens, of the North Side Ecumenical Night Ministry and the Tavern Guild of Chicago.

Gay Life writes: "The idea of the workshop came about because the bars have for a long time been the social centers of the gay community. Because of this, bar personnel, more than any other group of people, have contact with many gay persons. The special role played by bar personnel includes psychologist, father or mother confessor, confidant, advisor, and friend. For this reason a workshop is being offered to all persons dealing with alcoholic beverages to explore ways to better assisting their patrons."

1982

Howard Brown Memorial Clinic is selected as the test site for a study to evaluate the usefulness and safety of human interferon in the treatment of recurrent genital herpes infection in males. Harley McMillan, executive director, tells Gay Chicago: "This is our first research project in herpes, and is an opportunity possibly to help more patients and contribute to the research in this area. The program is a major effort to reach out and help this growing part of the community."

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In the bars and clubs this week, the New Flight, 420 N. Clark St., hosts a gourmet buffet night with the film "Star Wars" to follow; Tony Zito entertains at the piano at Annex 2, 430 N. Clark St.; the Lady Bug, 3445 N. Halsted, hosts a $2 beer bust; Bob Berlien & White Women entertain at the Artful Dodger, 1516 N. Milwaukee; Beth Kaplan and Steve Hansen perform at His 'n' Hers, 944 W. Addison; and the Stockade presents The Rodeo Riders' Christmas in July party with Gags, Gifts, Santa and His Helper, at Redoubt, 65 W. Illinois St.

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Image: Christopher Street ad from Windy City Times - Aug. 8, 1986

On the cover of Gay Life: "Representatives of several government agencies, gay organizations, and hemophilia and blood donor groups, held a daylong conference in Washington D.C., to discuss a growing epidemic of a group of disorders striking the gay community, and now other populations as well. ... Originally, most reports of AIDS were confined to male homosexuals but more recently male and female heterosexual intravenous drug users, Haitian refugees, and now a small number of hemophiliacs have developed one or more of the diseases."

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An article in Gay Life begins: "Actor-playwright Harvey Fierstein, a 28 year-old star and author of "Torch Song Trilogy," which recently began a Broadway run after months as an Off-Broadway hit, says he is considering the play as a film and is working on a new project, "Spookhouse," that – unlike the earlier product does not have a gay theme."

1989

Obituaries in this week's Gay Chicago include Woney L. Fisher, who attended Wendell Phillips School on Chicago's South Side, and was a "fun-loving, outgoing person who was loved by all who knew him," and Robert B. Watson, a "dynamic and spirited man." Both these beautiful men succumbed to AIDS.

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Image: Bad Boys ad from June 18, 1987 - Gay Chicago

Please join us Thursday, July 27th for an evening of Beatles videos at Sidetrack. All proceeds to benefit Open Hand/Chicago.

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The AIDS Legal Council of Chicago is sponsoring a benefit performance of "Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune" at the Body Politic Theatre, 2261 N. Lincoln.

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Article in Gay Life reads: "On Sunday, July 30, Dignity/Chicago conducts a special blessing of couples during the 7 p.m. Mass at Second Unitarian Church, 656 W. Berry. These gay and lesbian Catholics and their friends are gathering to recognize and honor love commitments; they believe it is necessary to affirm them and their love, and that it is especially right to do so in the context of their prayer life."

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Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre presents a "Season of Concern" event featuring 70 musical theater performers, a 30-piece orchestra, and selections from 20 musical productions. The concert is held at the Cahn Auditorium on the campus of Northwestern University. The gathering of performers includes Liz Calloway, Mary Ernster, Felicia Caldwell Fields, Ross Lehman, Dale Morgan, Alene Robertson, Peggy Roeder, Paula Scrofano, David Studwell, Kathy Taylor, and Jill Walmsley. Songs are from hits like "A Chorus Line," "Evita," "Gypsy," "The King and I," "Kismet," "South Pacific," and "West Side Story."

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Gay Life June 30, 1978: Gay Pride Parade past the Gap

These are photos I took for Nightlines June 13, 2001

A great photo of Tommy Ross by Israel Wright in Nightlines September 15, 1999

Outlines October 1995, inductees into the Chicago Lesbian and Gay Hall of Fame

Homework

Whatever happened to Michelle Faith?

Did "Spookhouse" ever get finished?

What was the New Flight like?

Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph and Craig Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow forGay Life, Malone Sizelove for Babble/Gab, David Costanza and others for Chicago Free Press, Jeff McCourt for Windy City Times, Stacy Bridges and Mark Nagel for GRAB, 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 Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.