December 26, 2013-January 1, 2014

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

1977/1978

The Music Box, a woman's bar, 3735 N. Southport, opens.

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Article in Gay Chicago News reads:

"An Illinois man, who confessed to slaying Frank A. Zedar, 23, in Tucson, Arizona in 1974, because Zedar reportedly made homosexual advances toward him, has been sentenced to from 5 to 10 years in prison. Robert E. Simpson, 27, who had been living in Rockford, Illinois, since the murder, confessed to the slaying after he was arrested on a traffic charge in Champaign, Illinois. Simpson told police his conscience was bothering him and Superior Court Judge William E. Druke said he gave Simpson a relatively light sentence because the victim reportedly was the aggressor and Simpson 'obviously had gone through a private torment for years'"

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Image: Cover – Gay Life October 31, 1980

In Gay Chicago News this week:

"The New Alexandria Library for Lesbians is housed at the back of the Chicago Lesbian Feminist Center, 707 W. Wrightwood. This is the only library of its kind anywhere and it is seeking new members. Persons desiring to join can purchase a card for $5 or bartering for the card can be done by bringing in a book by or about lesbians."

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Les Trotter, the first openly-gay candidate to seek a seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, failed in his drive to secure enough signatures. Trotter lacked 339 of the 4,500 signatures required to file his petition. Trotter, 29, former editor of Gay Life, had sought one of 10 at-large seats on the county board.

1985/1986

In his review in Gay Life, Aeric Lockerbie describes the set of "Cats" at the Shubert Theatre, 22 W. Monroe:

"As you enter the Shubert Theatre, the set which cascades off the stage and wraps around half the main floor, is the cleverest, hugest, messiest, and most incredibly imaginative facsimile of a junk yard (cat's eye view) that you'll ever witness. Get there early and explore the rubbish–my favorites were the six-foot garter belt, enormous egg shells, cereal box 'steps' to the stage, a mournful fish head, assorted Nine-Lives cans (but, of course) and the paste tiara–check out the discarded vanity license plate too!"

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Image: The Stockade – Gay Chicago March 13, 1980

Music Playlist courtesy of Roger Wolf at Club Normandy: 1) "No Frills Love" –­ Jennifer Holiday; 2) "High Above the Clouds" – Narada Michael Walden; 3) "Who's Zoomin' Who" – Aretha Franklin; 4) "Baby Talk" – Alisha; 5) "Danceappella" – Grant; 6) "Dance Crazy" ­­­– Chi-Am; 7) "Eaten Alive" – Diana Ross; 8) "Let Me Be the One" – Five Star; 9) "Feel the Spin" – Debbie Harry; 10) "The Truth" ­– T.M.F.

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In the bars and clubs this week, Lynn Roeder, Tommy Oman, Denise Tomasello, are all appearing at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; Ginni Clemens performs at Opal Station, 6655 N. Clark St.; Come blow your horn at the Manhandler, 1948 N. Halsted; it's Viva Las Vegas at Showcase One, 959 W. Belmont; O'Dessa Brown, the world's largest female impersonator, is at Club Normandy, 3400 N. Clark St.; there's a complimentary buffet at New Year's Eve party at Bushes, 3320 N. Halsted; after New Year's there's a Hangover Party at BJ's, 3231 N. Clark St; and "Dynasty!" Break out your gowns, jewels and furs and join us every Wednesday for the hottest show around, at Take One, 2579 N. Clark St.

2008/2009

Article in this week's Windy City Times:

"Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund Executive Director Chuck Wolfe has criticized President-elect Barack Obama for not naming an openly gay member to his Cabinet, the Washington Blade reported. Gay rights activists have pushed for Obama to select lesbian Mary Beth Maxwell to become the next Secretary of Labor, the last open Cabinet position. However, NBC News reported that Obama had picked Rep. Hilda Solis for the position. Wolfe called Obama's choice 'disappointing.'"

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Image: Partying Well – Gay Chicago September 10, 1981

Also in Windy City Times:

"The Center on Halsted has announced that community leader Danny Kopelson has joined its team as director of communications and public affairs.

"Kopelson was inducted in the 2000 City of Chicago's LGBT Hall of Fame and has been honored and recognized as a co-founder of the Dance for Life benefit, now in its 18th year, and as a founding member of the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, now in its 26th year."

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Quotelines in Windy City Times, compiled by Rex Wockner:

"This (Obama's election) is American History being made. This is much bigger than Bill Clinton's win. Clinton kind of ran promising to be a better conservative than conservatives. This is big. This is the country telling Republicans, "You know what? You guys are full of shit." – Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

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In the Chicago Free Press:

"After 25 years of business, Chicago's first gay video store, RJ's Video, is closed.

"The store, which carried both gay and mainstream videos, first opened its doors on the 400 block of North Clark Street in 1983. For a while there two locations–one in the River North area and one in Andersonville, but owner "R.J." Chaffin later consolidated the stores and moved his business to Boystown. R.J. Video's final home was at 3452 N. Halsted St."

Homework

It seems unlikely, but is O'Dessa Brown, the world's largest female impersonator, still around?

Is Ginni Clemens still performing?

What happened to the books at the New Alexandria Library for Lesbians?

Gay Chicago Rewind

Bottom Center is Medusa, photographed by Jack Sitar in Gay Chicago November 12, 1987

Russell Alan Rowe with Bowie-Flash photographed by Ralph Paul in Dandy's for Gay Chicago October 29, 1984

Toots Lorraine and the Polish Princess in Gay Chicago October 30, 1986

In Gay Chicago November 7, 1985

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.