February 20 – February 26, 2014

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

1980

An article in this week's Gay Chicago reads:

"One of Robert Mapplethorpe's photos on exhibit at In a Plain Brown Wrapper is our cover subject this week. Mapplethorpe, whose work has been called violent, brutal, and sensitive was born Nov. 4, 1946 and received his education from 1963 to 1970 at the Pratt Institute.

"He has exhibited at several galleries in New York, San Francisco, Virginia, Paris, Amsterdam, Germany, Texas and Colorado.

"The gallery is located at 2943 N. Halsted."

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Image: Sharon Redd – Gay Chicago October 6, 1983

Some of the cryptic messages left on Gay Chicago's Bulletin Board:

"Dr. Duseldorf: What is your remedy for a particular waiter that consistently pushes 'fruit' for 'dessert?' – Funshine"

"Rabbi Michael: In my heart, in my stomach, and in my love, you will always be Rabbi Michael – Chairman Meow."

"Fred & Ethel: Why do I keep seeing sparks flying in the night when I look toward your apartment? I don't wanna be a scarlett, but I can't help myself – El Torro Negro."

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Headline on the cover of Gay Life this week: "'Cruising' heavily protested: marches to continue until movie 'leaves town.'"

"Gay rights activists marched on movie theaters across the country on February 15 protesting the release of director William Friedkin's highly controversial film 'Cruising.' 'Hey-hey! Ho-ho! The movie Cruising's got to go!' chanted fifty demonstrators in Chicago at the first of three weekend rallies. In San Francisco, a crowd of 250 braved inclement weather for a protest that remained peaceful, despite worries of violence. Eleven protestors were charged with disorderly conduct in Orange, Connecticut, when they defied a police order to stage their picket line at a parking lot entrance and marched on the theater. At New York City's National Theater in Times Square, 400 protestors leafleted, blew whistles and carried signs and banners in a manner reminiscent of the original protests during on-location shooting there last summer."

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Excerpts from "A Slice of History: The Near North" by R. J. Chaffin in Gay Life.

"The Near North has been a home to the gay community for several years. It began with two businesses - one of which was the Baton at 430 N. Clark St. (the space now occupied by Sunday's). Having just left Normandy, Jim Flint opened the doors of one of the most successful female impersonation clubs in the country. Jim was also the first person in Chicago to put boys on stage for dancing and stripping. Go-go boys were a big attraction at the old Baton for several months ...

"In 1962 the Gold Coast moved south on Clark to where the old Jamie's used to be (Jamie's has since moved up to Belmont replacing Elsewhere). The Gold Coast had a temporary residence on Lincoln before putting down roots at 501 N. Clark St.

"Chuck Renslow later opened the Big Basket at 436 N. Clark (now the Baton's location). The Basket was the forerunner of today's disco bars, and it featured live music entertainment. After two years, it closed briefly only to rise again as the Sugar Shack. The Shack was a non-alcoholic establishment and lasted only six months or so. Chuck later opened the Ramrod, another leather and Levi bar, which remained in operation just over half a year.

"Partly because of the Ramrod and the Gold Coast, the area became the adopted home of two of the largest motorcycle clubs in Chicago. Second City was the first group (1967). The Chicago Knights formed in 1971, and quickly began to show their public spirit by sponsoring Toys For Tots benefits each Christmastime.

"In 1972, gay folks received their first taste of live DJ Disco at PQ's on Clark (currently O'Bannion's). A year later, the then largest Disco in Chicago opened up and gave poor PQ's a run for its money. Soon PQ's became only a memory and the Bistro went on to become one of the most popular places in town.

"As the area established itself as a haven for gay nightspots, more bars opened their doors. Places like the New Flight, Sunday's Children, The Ranch, Z's, and My Brother's Place restaurant began operation, as well as Male Hide Leathers. And don't forget the short but colorful lives of Saturday's Girl, Stage 618, Stars, the Loft, Jocks and Marilyn."

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Gender Services, a rap group for the transvestite/trans-sexual community and interested persons meets at 1721 W. Barry St.

1997

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

"That reminds me of a story the late Maxine Andrews was fond of telling about John Travolta when he was a chorus boy in her Broadway show 'Over Here': 'I never expected him to hit it so big. I mean, he just seemed like a nice young man who was sleeping with all the other young men in the cast.' We miss you Maxine."

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Image: Tuesdays With a Twang! – Gay Chicago December 2, 1993

Article in Gay Chicago:

"A Romanian who was subject to persecution in his homeland of Romania because of his sexual orientation was granted political asylum by the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Chicago.

"Ovidiu Banu, 29, fled Romania in 1995 after being arrested and charged with violation of Article 200 in his hometown of Sibiu, Romania. Article 200 mandates prison terms of one to five years for consensual homosexual conduct between adults."

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In the bars and clubs this week, Wednesdays it's $1 drinks with hostess Daisy Mae and DJ Earl Pleasure, VJ Jim Belanger, at Spin, Belmont and Halsted; there's an "Underwear-Lights Out" party at Hideaway II, 7301 W. Roosevelt, Forest Park; "Full Moon Party and Mr. Union Suit 1997" takes place at Touche, 6412 N. Clark St.; North End's Sweethearts Return, Paula Sinclair and Vikki Spykke, at 3733 N. Halsted; a very special show on a special night, Scott Thompson of "Kids in the Hall," is appearing at Fusion, 3651 N. Halsted.

2002

In Quotelines in Windy City Times:

"I really think the gay community appreciates women. They treat women better than anyone I've ever met. They have respect for women, which to me is really wonderful." – Evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker Mesner.

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Image: The Weekend @ Hydrate - Gay Chicago October 12, 2006

The Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce 5th annual Chamber Honors Event, with awards presented to businesses and members who have made notable contributions to the community is at Hotel Allegro, 171 W. Randolph.

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Rufus Wainwright and Teddy Thompson perform at the Vic.

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Lucie Blue Tremblay and Vickie Shaw perform at a benefit for the National Women's Music Festival at Summerdale Church, 1700 W. Farragut.

Homework

Did anyone go to the Gold Coast?

Whatever happened to Ovidiu Banu?

Anyone go to Chuck Renslow's Big Basket?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Terry Gaskins photographs divas at the Nutbush in Forest Park for Gay Chicago December 7, 1995

Craig Gernhardt and Sherman Heinrich photograph the Loading Dock for Gay Chicago December 26, 1985

Terry Gaskins photographs Berlin and cell Block for Gay Chicago January 4, 1996

Sukie de la Croix and the cast of Anarchy Inc. in Nightlines December 3, 1997

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.