Aug. 29 - Sept. 4, 2013

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

1977

The Third International Convention of Dignity takes place in Chicago with principal speakers, Barbara Gittings and Gregory Baum. On September 4, the Chicago Tribune reports: "An altar built for a mass by Roman Catholic gays in the Bismarck Hotel is destroyed by an arsonist's fire. The hotel at 159 W. Randolph St. is the location for the Dignity International convention, to be attended by 700 members, including 122 priests."

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Article in Gay Chicago News reads: "ADULT BOOKSTORES SEEK INJUNCTION – A hearing in Federal Court before U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Decker was scheduled for August 29th by Judge Joel M. Flaum on a suit filed by the city's adult bookstore operators. Flaum, acting as an emergency judge, denied the request for a temporary injunction against the enactment of the new city zoning ordinance for X rated book and theater locations. A permanent injunction is being sought on the basis that the law passed July 7th is, in part aimed at 'intimidating, harassing, and punishing' the store owners and denying them their rights under the first Amendment."

Image: Tattoos at Cell Block – Gay Chicago March 2, 1996

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The Rogers Park Gay Center advertises a "Sporting Event" at Winnemac Stadium (Foster & Leavitt). Admission is $1.50 at the gate and the entry fee if $1. The event is canceled through lack of interest.

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Gay Chicago News reports: "The bludgeoned body of 51 year old Fred Brennan was discovered in his third floor apartment at 610 W. Surf Street when his roommate Fernando Gaytos returned home from his father's place on business early Saturday morning, September 3rd. Police reported that the back door of the apartment had apparently been broken into with splinters of wood on the floor. The victim, according to police reports, had suffered lacerations of the head with an unknown object, possibly a knife or other cutting instrument, and was discovered in a pool of blood in the bedroom. No suspect has yet been apprehended."

1983

From the makers of "Huge 1" and "Huge 11" comes the biggest and best of all ... "A Matter of Size: Huge 111," showing this week at Bijou Video, 1349 N. Wells.

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Image: Chicago Mining Co. – Gay Chicago August 2, 1990

Karlis Streips writes in Gay Life: "The last week has seen conflicting reports from various parts of the world about the possibilities of finding a cause and cure for AIDS. While some scientists are predicting a breakthrough in the disease soon, others say no imminent cure is in sight.

"In Chicago, Dr. Norbert Rapoza, who specializes in virology and immunology for the American Medical Association, told a press conference that studies done in France concerning retroviruses are 'a hopeful sign that they could some up with something this quickly.' Rapoza, however, also warned that the current rate of AIDS growth will continue for at least six months."

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Top 10 Gay Life Dance Hits courtesy of Mark Vallese of Broadway Ltd.: 1) "To Sir With Love" – Vicki Sue Robinson; 2) "Searchin'" – Hazel Dean; 3) "She Works Hard for the Money" – Donna Summer; 4) "Band of Gold" – Sylvester; 5) "Out in the Night" – Serge Ponsar; 6) "Jingo Breakdown" – Candido; 7) "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This" – Eurythmics; 8) "Diana" – Julius Brown; 9) "When Will I See You Again" – Magda Lena; 10) "So Many Men, So Little Time" – Miquel Brown.

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Sylvester celebrates his birthday at Paradise, the gay disco at 2848 N. Broadway.

1995

New York's long running comedy sensation and Chicago's 1990 Comedy hit is back! "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" starring Honey West is playing at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont.

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In the bars and clubs, Jimmy Somerville, formerly of Bronski Beat, sings his hits "Smalltown Boy," "Why" and "I Feel Love" at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; Sizzle with "Men of Nite Vision" at Legacy "21"; are you ready boots? START WALKING! ... Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, welcomes the Rodeo!; Laine Edwards performs at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; there's a TPA/HIV+ Disco Party with DJ Mark Kelly at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; "Twice as good as acid ... only half the calories." Silky Jumbo performs at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; "A Night of Whacks" is an all night Pit Party at Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St.; its "Black Hanky" night at Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted; and there's a Great Legs Contest at North End, 3733 N. Halsted

Image: Sin – Gay Chicago April 16, 1998

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Quotes in Outlines:

"I was playing a man who was in love with another person, and that I've done many times. This time, the love interest was just a little furrier than most" – "Jeffery" star Michael Weiss.

And:

"I don't hate homosexuals. I don't even know any homosexuals." – Sen. Jesse Helms on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

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"Sends the audience out on a cloud of euphoria. Good jokes, pretty songs, and a lovely star performance. Well on its way to becoming a solid Broadway hit" ... Julie Andrews stars in "Victor/Victoria" at the Shubert Theatre, 22 W. Montrose.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Sports in the park from Gay Chicago August 3, 1979. Photo No 1 ...WTF is she wearing?

Terry Gaskins took this in Buddies for Gay Chicago March 6, 1995

Gay Chicago March 6, 1995. Is that Norbert from Sidetrack?

This is a real slice of Chicago gay history, the installation of the fountain at Manhandler.

Homework

Remember the Hanky Code? Does anyone know what a Black Hanky means?

Where are you Silky Jumbo?

It's amazing that Rogers Park had a Gay Center back in 1977. Did anyone go there? ... just wondering what it was like.

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, 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.