September 12-18, 2013

GCR Update:

A couple of weeks back I published a photograph from Gay Life that was taken by Stephen Kulieke. I asked if he was still around. I received this email a few days later:

"Hey! It's Stephen Kulieke, the photographer of the 1978 Pride March picture you posted, which I took during my days as an editor/reporter at Chicago's GayLife newspaper. Thanks so much for posting it!

"I live in Sacramento, California with my partner and now husband, Jeff. We are proud to be part of the successful fight for marriage equality in California. And we were honored to be featured prominently in an article in last Saturday's 8/31/13 San Francisco Chronicle, "04 Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Saved for History."

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

1981

In the bars and clubs this week, on Friday and Saturday nights Bob Farthing is at the piano at Dandy's, 2632 N. Halsted; Studio, 3474 N. Clark St., is a new bar for women with "Baby Butch" Bobby; Ron Helizon writes in Gay Life's "Ron's Town" that "popular bartender Ikey, formerly of His 'n' Hers, is now serving your favorite pick-me-ups at the Annex 2, 430 N. Clark St."; partying well is the best revenge ... at Bushes, 3320 N. Halsted; starting September 14, the "Gong Show" with your hostess Two Ton Tessie. Get your talent ready at Broadway Limited, 3132 N. Broadway.

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The womyn-only Mountain Moving Coffeehouse presents "A Cavalcade of Stars,' featuring Ginni Clemens, Loro Noelle, Tricia Alexander, Paula Walowitz, and others, at undisclosed location.

Image: Man's Country – Gay Chicago August 3, 1979

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"Moonlight, the Music and You" is an informal recital evening with members of the Chicago Gay/Lesbian Community Band and friends at the Greenhouse on Buckingham and Halsted. Performance starts at 8.07 p.m. (doors open at 7.30 p.m.). A $6 donation. Wine and cheese served.

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Article on front page of Gay Life this week begins:

"Fires on June 1 and September 2 at the Ritz, a popular black gay male disco at 937 N. State St. were both the result of arson, according to police investigators.

"Detectives of the Chicago Police Department's Bomb and Arson Unit determined the origin of the September 2 fire by observing burn patterns in the dance floor area. When floorboards were pulled up, they said gasoline that had seeped through was discovered.

"Earlier lab reports had confirmed that the June 2 fire had been deliberately set, according to investigators."

1997

In the bars and clubs this week, Two-Steppin' Tuesdays every week at Hunters, 1932 E. Higgins, Elk Grove Village; there's a "Toga Party" with DJ Sam at Rainbow Room, 4530 N. Lincoln Ave.; "Royal Cockpit Party" with free cockrings for all at the Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St.; "Boxers and Boots Party" at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park.

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Smelts, the gay and lesbian swim club, offer beginner's lessons every Saturdayat Gill Park pool, 825 N. Sheridan.

Image: Rawhide – Gay Chicago July 30, 1990

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A Real Read and the Black Ensemble Theatre co-produce "A Real Read" for two performances at Black Ensemble, 4520 N. Beacon.

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Larry McKeon (34th-Chicago), in his reelection as state representative, kicks off his petition drive to get on the March 17 primary election ballot. More than 1,200 valid signatures of registered voters in the 34th District must be collected between Sept. 16and Nov. 31. Volunteers are needed who are registered voters and reside in the 34thDistrict.

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A chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is started in Waukegan by the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 320 Grand Ave. The PFLAG chapter aims to serve Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin residents. Meetings are held at the church starting Sept. 16.

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Front Page of this week's Outlines:

"A Kiss is Not Just a Kiss. Kevin Kline and Tom Selleck lock lips in 'In & Out.' Goes boldly where few mainstream films dare to go."

2008

In Windy City Times Quotelines:

"Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race and gender, and group against group, and straight against gay" – U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

"Some time ago I was walking down the street, and this fortune teller grabbed me and dragged me back to her shop, very panicked. She said 'I have to tell you something. Your vagina is haunted. You have to get rid of this demon, or you will never have a happy relationship; you will never have good sex; you will never be happy.' I was freaked out. She wanted me to give her all this money so she could do some spell on my vagina" – Margaret Cho.

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There's a reception for gay artist Bret Grafton at Energy Up Gallery, 1825 S. Halsted St.

Image: GRAB – Grab December 22, 2009

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Undergear and Instinct magazine search for the next hottest model. An open call event for the Model search competition is at Hydrate, 3458 N. Halsted.

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Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, continues its celebration and support of LGBT artists with an opening reception for "David Joseph: Doesn't Match the Couch."

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High Trek Adventure Scavenger Hunt to help fight AIDS/HIV. The adventure starts at Moonshine, 1824 W. Division St.

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Lambda Legal Lovely Ladies on the Lake hold their "One 'L' of a Party" on the Mystic Blue Cruise, boarding at Navy Pier. Admission is $50-$100.

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At its monthly Open Social at Ann Sather, 909 W. Belmont, Chicago Prime Timers gets an overview of the upcoming Lyric Opera season from Dr. Patrick Casali.

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Lucy and E. Nina Jay perform at Homolatte, Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan.

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The launch of Tracy Baim's book, "Out and Proud in Chicago" takes place at Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.

Gay Chicago Rewind

North End boys photographed by Terry Gaskins, in Gay Chicago March 6, 1995. Recognize anyone?

Here's a page of Jack Sitar photographs in Gay Chicago March 6, 1995

Here's the guy who inherited Kitty Sheon's from Kitty Sheon herself. Steve Picon picture in Gay Chicago August 25, 1983

A very young Rick Garcia in Windy City Times August 2, 1990. This is back when he was a virgin ...

Homework

So in 1981 Bucks was the location of a lesbian bar called Studio. Anyone go there?

Is the Smelts swimming club still going?

Do you think Margaret Cho's vagina is haunted?

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.