November 14-20, 2013

1984

A special committee released a report detailing, without naming names, the internal problems of the Howard Brown Clinic. Problems were cited related to unprecedented growth, communication problems between staff and board, and personality differences.

+++

Image: Gay Life – Gay Life July 25, 1980

In the clubs and bars this week, Andrea & Co present Every Thursday Lip Synch Contest with a $50 Prize at Normandy, 3400 N. Clark St.; it's the 2nd anniversary of Christopher Street, 3458 N. Halsted; the Last Beach Party, in the funniest, sexiest, most original beach attire, at Dan's on Clark, 6341 N. Clark St.; it's the 2nd anniversary of the Loading Dock, 3702 N. Halsted, with parking across the street; Glamorama presents "Leather & Lace," a benefit for Andrea Nicole & James "Scarlet" Russell, featuring Felicia & the Baton cast, at the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark St.

+++

Top 15 Dance Hits courtesy Roger Wolff, DJ at Man's Country Music Hall: 1) "If It's Love" – Jackson Moore; 2) "Back in My Arms" – Hazell Dean; 3) "Thief of Hearts" – Melissa Manchester; 4) "Touch" – Secession; 5) "I Need You Tonight" – Peter Wolf; 6) "Black Leather" – Miquel Brown; 7) "Funk Sumatra" – Marsico; 8) "I Don't Want to Lose You (Remix)" – Lime; 9) "When the Rain Begins to Fall" – Jermaine Jackson and Pia Zadora; 10) "Second Best" – Evelyn Thomas; 11) "Can the Rhythm" – Girl Talk; 12) "Don't Give Your Love (So Easily)" – Kimyla; 13) "Last Call" – Jo Lo; 14) "The Game of Chance" – The Twins; 15) "Hands Off" – Laura Pallas.

1998

C-MAGYC (Chi Metro Area Youth Coalition) hosts "Velvet Gala" featuring Chi's hottest young artistes, gay and straight allies, in the Blue Velvet art show, Red Velvet fashion show and Black Velvet Dance Party. 1st major fundraiser's theme "Inside Everyone is a Star," with visual and performance art and special guests GayCo Prods of the 2nd City, DJLEGO and Team DJs Queer Beat Science! Takes place at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Hermann Union Building, 3241 S. Federal.

Image: Victims of Desire" – Gay Chicago November 19, 1987

+++

Chanteuse Lucie Blue Tremblay performs at the womyn-only Mountain Moving Coffeehouse at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster.

+++

Windy City Gay Naturists play Nude Volleyball at the Jane Addams Center, 3212 N. Broadway.

+++

Image: Gay Chicago cover – Gay Chicago November 5, 1987

Theatre Q presents the staged reading premier of John Pappas Koulias' "Pieces: A Conversation in Parts," adapted from "Life Change" by Teresa, at the Gerber/Hart library's new home at 1127 W. Granville.

+++

Horizon's Autumn Art Auction is in the Red Lacquer Room at the Palmer House Hilton. Viewing 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. $25 on the door. Cash Bar.

+++

TransGenesis collaborates with Reeling '98 Gay Film Festival on two benefit screenings, "Sando to Samantha" and, "AKA the Art of Dikvel," on a South African drag queen in the army, at the Village Theater, 1548 N. Clark St.

+++

Article in Outlines by P.J. Engelbrecht is headlined "Controversial Streetscape; Project was 'more than concrete,' said Mayor Daley."

"The ceremonial dais at the corner of Halsted and Roscoe, in the heart of Boys Town, as dozens of dignitaries and more than 200 onlookers assembled Nov. 14, to celebrate the Northalsted Streetscape renovation project's completion.

"'This has been a labor of love,' said Mayor Richard M. Daley, who initiated the project with a proposal to area business leaders in late spring 1997. Daley thanked the community for cooperating in a finished project that is 'more than the concrete.'"

+++

Poet, singer, Patti Smith, reads from her newly collected lyrics, "Patti Smith Complete," at the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street.

2002

Benefiting Open Hand Chicago, the Event Network hosts an evening of art and jazz music at Nine, 440 W. Randolph. Cost is $40 in advance and $35 at the door.

+++

Image: Pantheon of Leather – Gay Chicago January 12, 1995

Alexandra Billings is interviewed by Mark Nagel in this week's Gay Chicago, and one of the Q&A's is:

"Mark: Alex, you seem to run into people wherever you go. Do you have any good dirt from Hollywood?

Alex: All I will say, I worked with Paula Abdul, and if asked, I would never do that again!"

+++

In Billy Masters "Filth" column in Gay Chicago, he writes:

"By now, everyone knows that Rosie O'Donnell will produce the Boy George musical, "Taboo," on Broadway. Here's a little tidbit that you may not know–Billy's bon ami the ultra-talented Charles Busch is punching up the book to make it more emotionally compelling and accessible for American audiences. Boy George, Rosie O'Donnell and Charles Busch. How can it miss?"

+++

"Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" starring Honey West, directed by Alexandra Billings, written by Charles Busch, is at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont.

+++

The Windy City Gay Naturists host a trip to Milwaukee over the weekend of Nov. 16. In addition to dinner at the M&M Club, attendees visit local bars and other entertainment sites. Some of the members attend the Florentine Opera of Milwaukee matinee of "Carmen." [Presumably, they kept their clothes on for that]

Homework

Did anyone ever go to Dan's on Clark, 6341 N. Clark St. I was just wondering what it was like.

What happened to Windy City Gay Naturists?

What happened to P.J. Engelbrecht?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

The Cin City Cycle Club photographed by Mark DeSanto for Gay Chicago September 23, 1982

Dragocious in Gay Chicago September 27, 1979

A Texas-style BBQ at the Manhandler, photographed by Ralph Paul for Gay Chicago September 23, 1982.

Drag show at the Pour House, photographed by Sukie de la Croix for Nightspots October 18, 2000

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.