October 3-9, 2013

1979

In this week's Gay Chicago:

"Richard Carroll Farnham, popularly and affectionately known as Mother Carol, died about9.30 p.m. Sunday night in Edgewater Hospital after a brief illness. Within an hour of his death as word quickly spread throughout the gay community, the partying spirit which he so typified, was dampened and many persons reflected on how they as individuals had been touched by the warmth and love of Mother Carol.

"Richard Farnham was a native of Aurora. He is survived by his mother, Lillian Windisch and his stepfather, William H. Windisch; a sister, Patricia (Mrs. Leonard Barkes); a stepsister. Carol (Mrs. Jack) Rosenstile; a stepbrother, William E. Windisch, two nieces and three nephews.

"A wake service was held at the Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 1035 N. Dearborn St., which drew an over-capacity crowd."

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IMAGE: Male Hide – Gay Life July 28, 1978

"Liza in Concert" for five performances only at the Arie Crown Theatre.

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In this week's Gaylife, Ron Helizon, the Polish Princess, writes in his gossip column:

"Who'll ever forget Ma Carol in outrageous hats tossing napkins off the bar, or the Sundaybuffets, Tuesday 50c nights, and Polish hops? Chicago's love affair with Mother Carol began there on Halsted Street, and he went on to steal the show wherever he went. By no means was he perfect–none of us are. Carol knew how to take it and how to dish it out. But wherever he appeared crowds were sure to follow. Mother Carol touched us in ways we won't soon forget. The thought of a Chicago without Richard Carroll Farnham brings tears to my eye."

1990

Black and White Men Together show and discuss Marlon Riggs' video about Black gay male identity, "Tongues Untied" at the Rodde Center, 4753 N. Broadway.

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IMAGE: Little Jims – Gay Chicago March 6, 1980

About 35 members of ACT UP protested the U.S. Senate Subcommittee's failure to appropriate the $875 million that Congress recently authorized for AIDS-related services. This was a part of a nationwide protest. In Chicago they laid gravestones at the Tribune Building and held a die-in at Water Tower Place.

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Zebra Crossing Theatre perform Claudia Allen's "Movie Queen" at the Edgewater Theater Center, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr.

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Artist Karen Finley, one of four artists who were recently denied funding by the National Endowment for the Arts due to the "controversial" nature of their work, presents her one-woman performance, "We Keep Our Victims Ready," at the Beacon Street Gallery, 4520 N. Beacon. In a series of vignettes, Finley voices the pain of society's victims–victims of sexism, racism, homophobia, AIDS, incest, alcoholism and censorship.

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The AIDS Pastoral Care Network of DuPage hosts a weekly gathering of its Grief Support Group at Edwards Hospital, 801 S. Washington, in the first floor Quiet Room.

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In the bars and clubs, it's Rudy de la Mor's "Pajama Party" at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; come celebrate the Grand Opening of the Clubhouse, 440 N. Halsted; Roscoe's and Nightlines present "The Newlywed Game" on Mondays at Roscoe's, 3354-56 N. Halsted; and cover boy, David Burrill, appears at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted. Burrill has been on the cover of Advocate Men, Jock, Torso, Edge, and numerous other magazines. Tonight he sings songs from his upcoming album, "Do It With Me."

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This week's Gay Chicago obituaries are David J, Perkins, stage director and co-artistic director of Blind Parrot Productions, and Peter Thompson, founder of the United Republicans for Equality and Privacy. Both these beautiful men succumbed to AIDS.

1994

In the October issue of Outlines, Quotelines includes:

"I don't like the terms gay, bi or straight–I don't consider myself any of these. I've always had a weird sexuality–I like things that deviate from the norm." – Margaret Cho.

And:

"CBS really wants me on TV. That's their aim. My aim is to have an all-gay sitcom someday, with heterosexuals as token guest stars. Let them be the next-door neighbors for a change." – Harvey Fierstein.

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IMAGE: Gay Chicago Cover – Gay Chicago March 10, 1994

The Gay Comedy Jam "Freedom Tour" stand-up comics (and lovers) Scott Kennedy and Kevin Maye, is at Zanies, Vernon Hills.

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Christ the Redeemer MCC presents "The Bible and Homosexuality," a seminar series on Biblical passages referring to homosexuality. Led by Rev. Wayne Bradley at 615 W. Wellington.

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"Chicago Gay and Lesbian History" presentation by lesbian historian Marie Kuda takes place at 644 W. Belmont, with historian George Chauncey.

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The 5th Stop the Violence March sponsored by Queer Nation with speakers Lisa Pickens, Dawn Moon, Jen Allen, Andrew Sanders, Horizons Anti-Violence Project starts at 644 W. Belmont (Library), ends at 850 W. Addison.

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Article in Gay Chicago reads:

"More than 100 NAMES Quilt panels will be on display on Saturday, Oct. 8, noon-4pm in Mills Park, 217 S. Home, Oak Park. The display, sponsored by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt–Illinois Chapter, is in response to interest and requests from the Oak Park community. As part of the display in the park, a signature quilt will be available for signing, in commemoration of a loved one who has died in this pandemic. Various books, videos, and merchandise have also been requested for this display and will be available for purchase."

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Michelle Shocked performs at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 220 S. Michigan Ave.

Homework

Any memories of Mother Carol?

Any memories of Queer Nation?

Are Black and White Men Together still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

I have no idea what's going on here, but it looks like fun. Gay Chicago News August 26, 1977

Photographs from Grab magazine December 26, 1977

Photographs by Mookie for Nightlines September 3, 1997

Very nice photograph of the late Jeff McCourt in Windy City Times, October 4, 1990

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.