November 21-27, 2013

1976

The first election of officers for the Tavern Guild of Chicago, a coalition of gay business owners, is held at 615 W. Wellington. Elected president is Gary Martin of Wise Fools Pub. Shirley Cox of the Butterfly is chosen 1st vice president with Bobbie Lee Smith of the Bistro 2nd vice-president. Tyrone Sinclair of Alfie's/Le Pub is the recording secretary and Rene Van Hulle of the Broadway Limited, the corresponding secretary. Benjamin Allen of Cheeks is selected to be one treasurer with Bruce Wertin of the 21 Club as the other.

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Image: Tired of the Same Old Disco – Gay Chicago August 16, 1979

An article in the November 12, 1976 Gay Life begins:

"The 66th Annual Convention of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) will be held in Chicago over Thanksgiving (November 25th through the 27th) and there will be a sizeable gay presence at the meeting.

"The Gay Caucus of the NCTE will meet on Friday evening, November 26th, from8 to 9 p.m. in the Palmer House. Co-conveners of the caucus are Prof. Julia Stanley (Department of English, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska) and Prof. Louie Crew (Department of English, Fort Valley, Georgia). The Gay Caucus is petitioning the organization to "urge the immediate end of all discrimination against lesbians and gay males." The full council is also asked to establish "an appropriate body charged with the investigation of the problems faced by gay colleagues and students."

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A profile of gay trio, Gotham, written by Roger Chaffin, appears in this week's Gay Life. It begins:

"Some say Gotham is a singing trio that can be the white male equivalent of the Pointer Sisters, some say the Andrews Sisters, some say the Supremes, and some say the Temptations, but one thing in common that they all say is that they have talent. And for sure Gotham brings to the stage talent, talent, and more talent. In their fancy tails, they are crooning smoothies harmonizing in fast, tricky rhythms. Even in a tongue-in-cheek Patti Page tribute in a harmonious version of 'Old Cape Cod' the boys show their talent in blending oldies but goodies with new material. Gotham is Gary Herb, Michael Pace, and David McDaniel. The best thing about the group is that they're all gay and proud of it."

1985

The board of directors for the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic officially responds to the recent departure of four of the board's twelve members. The four who resigned were Ed Starkeson, Robert Cohen, Fred Shick, and Roger Weiss. The four made it clear that their decision was not specifically because of the selection of John Weiss as the new executive director for HBMC, but cited differing long-term goals and internal battles. Steve Wakefield, president of the board, says he hopes the vacancies will be filled soon.

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Image: TJ's on Oak – Windy City Times June 30, 1988

A series of fundraisers for the newly forming Chicago House, including tag days at bars and on street corners, culminated in a big event at the Limelight club. A total of $75,000 was raised. A February 1986 opening of Chicago House is planned.

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Hunter's Video Playlist courtesy of Tom Parks: 1) "A Love Bizarre" – Sheila E. 2) "Freedom" – Wham; 3) "You Belong to the City" – Glen Frey; 4) "Party All the Time" – Eddie Murphy; 5) "Eaten Alive" – Diana Ross; 6) "One Life" – Laidback; 7) "Stir it Up" – Patti Labelle; 8) "Oh Sheila" – Ready for the World; 9) "Trapped" – Colonel Abrahams; 10) "One of the Living" – Tina Turner.

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Article by Jack Knoff on front page of Gay Life:

"Marvin Mitchelson, the well-known alimony, palimony, galimony lawyer, has taken on a new case that may set some important precedents. Mitchelson has been retained by Marc Christian to represent him in a suit against the estate of Rock Hudson, Christian's lover, two doctors, and two advisors.

"Christian is seeking $14 million in damages from the defendants on the grounds that Hudson knew of his diagnosis with AIDS while still involved with Christian. At issue is whether Hudson violated Christian's rights by failing to disclose his illness."

1992

In the bars and clubs this week, Fridays it's the sensational Sue Conway, Saturdays is Dream Girl, Laura Wells, and there's an open mic on Wednesdays at Bugle Boy, 3320 N. Halsted; Live entertainment is back at the Nutbush, corner of Harlem and Franklin in Oak Park, with Sally Richard; the "Best Amateur Male Strip" contest is at LA Connection, 3700 N. Halsted; it's the 9th anniversary party at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; "Love & Disco" party in memory of Don Ziebarth MC Aqua Neta, at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; "Flesh Carnal Party" at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted, with DJ Larry "The Doctor" Fox, hosted by David Wilshire; and Boot Black Harry hosts his 3rd annual Grease Pit Party at AA Meat Market, 2933 N. Lincoln.

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Image: Male Hide Leathers – Hotspots November 2000

Listed under "Contributors" in Gay Chicago this week are: Alan Amato; Jeff Black; Dr. David Coynik; John David; Sue Deaunym; Don Eric; Marc Foster; Jeff Gladd; Gale Harris; Danny Kopelson; Dr. Steve Lasik; Penny S. Lorio; Atty. Roger McCaffrey; David Murray; Michael Wm. Randolph; Jeff Rosen; Patrick Sinozich; James Stevens; Justin Sunward; Alyn Toler; Joseph Turek; Donnie Warner; Jack Williamson.

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In this week's Gay Chicago:

"At a press conference last month, Elton John announced that all the proceeds from his current single and video, "The Last Song" will be distributed among six prominent AIDS charities.

"John added that he will donate all of his artist's royalties from the sale of future singles released in the U.S. to American AIDS organizations."

Homework

What happened to David Wilshire?

Jack Knoff? Really ... who was he?

Who was Aqua Netta?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Sophie of the Inner Circle photographed by Jack Sitar in Gay Chicago November 12, 1987

Staff at Coconuts disco, photo by Dan DiLeo in Gay Chicago October 2, 1980

Frank at Male Image took these Big Chick guys for Gay Chicago October 6, 2006.

Tha gang at Bulldog Road photographed by Spike King for Gay Chicago 24 December 1987

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.