September 25-October 1, 2014

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

1979

Tom Myles in Gay Life writes:

"Chicago's Gay Pride Band, formed earlier this year, has become part of a new, not-for-profit corporation to be known as Windy City Cultural and Performing Arts. Inc. The new corporation will consist of two groups: the band and the chorus now being formed.

"In its short existence to date the band has been a big success. The band first performed at the Pride Parade in June, then at the White Party and, in the past week, in five benefit shows for the Frank M. Rodde III Memorial Building Fund."

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IMAGE: Mama Jan's – Gay Chicago News May 27, 1977

On Page 5 of this week's Gay Life:

"After three productive years in its current location, Gay Life newspaper and its parent company, YourStyle Publishers, have decided that it's time to move on ...Therefore we are proud to announce our new offices at 409 N. Franklin Street."

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Mary Lynn Morrison and Bill Muzzillo perform their farewell performance at the Virgo Out, a gay cabaret bar at 2546 N. Clark St.

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Metro Muscle Builders, a social/service club for men who work out, announce their premiere club night: Wet Dreams, a festival of physical culture. The event takes place at the Redoubt, 65 W. Illinois, and features a wet t-shirt contest, muscle movies, a "cop-a-feel" booth and much more.

1989

In the bars and clubs this week Charlene Unger is the chanteuse-comedienne at He'vin, 54 E. Walton; it's Egyptian Night at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted; First Chicagoland Appearance from Atlanta, Georgia, the Burkhart Boys at the Double RR Lounge, 200 State Street, Calumet City: Thursdays and Sundays are Texas 2-Steppin Nights at Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells St.; there's a "Now, Voyager" party at Christopher Street with a Bette Davis lookalike contest at midnight. $100.00 first prize. Entertainment by the Incredible Tiffany Ariagus! Former Miss Continental, former Miss Florida; welcome to Halsted's newest arrivals, the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge at 3169 N. Halsted; and it's the last Hurrah Party at Inner Circle, 2546 N. Clark St.



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IMAGE: Kitty Sheon's – Gay Chicago October 6, 1983

Lawrence Bommer writes in Windy City Times:

"It somehow fit: on September 17, the night after Miss America was anointed in Atlantic City, the Chicago gay community had its own beauty pageant at the Park West nightclub–with all the sultry, smarmy charm and light-hearted lechery these affairs invite.

"Held a month later and to a smaller crowd than usual, the 15th Annual Mr. Windy City Contest crowned beauty king Allen Naparella, Mr. Bulldog Road, a dancer, aerobics enthusiast and popular bar patron whose blend of innocence and rough trade proved a real come-on."

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An article written by Sarah Craig in this week's Windy City Times begins:

"The Nashville trial of the owner and two employees of Bijou Video Sales on charges of distributing obscene material through the mail has ended with a plea-bargained settlement. In return for pleading guilty plus ceasing sales to customers in certain states and withdrawing from distribution videotapes depicting sadomasochism and fisting, the three men received probation. In addition, the parent company of Bijou Video Sales was fined $300,000.

"'We're incredibly relieved,' said Randy Larsen, office manager of the firm. He and Sean O'Connor, marketing manager of Bijou Video Sales and Larsen's life-partner of 14 years, each faced possible prison terms of two years and fines of $250,000 for one count of conspiracy to distribute obscene matter. They both received three years probation. Bijou owner Steven Toushin, who faced up to 10 years and fines, received a five-year suspended sentence and five years probation."

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Article in Windy City Times :

"Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W. Wellington, is seeking volunteers to visit AIDS patients in their homes to help with practical care and long-term emotional support. Volunteers will join the Unit 371 In-Home Program, aimed at meeting the specific needs of persons with AIDS during the beginning, middle and final stages of the illness. Extensive training in crisis counseling, as well as techniques to assist in the physical and emotional challenges of the disease."

1995

In the bars and clubs, at the Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted, Silky Jumbo, Daisy Mae and Bijou Studios present "Daisy Land!" featuring Live: Adriano, star of the new Bijou release "Sunshine Superman"; every Sunday 8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. it's the Honey West Show at Madrigals, 5316 N. Clark St.; there's a Dog Tag Pit Party at the Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St.; Bend Over at Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted St., for whips and paddles Fetish Friday; celebration for Rhino records' new "Give Your Body Up: Club Classics & House Foundation. Vols. 1-3 Series" at Generator, 306 N. Halsted;

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"Heaven's A Drag," an exciting new British comedy about romance and cruising in the afterlife, is showing at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport.

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IMAGE: And then there's Bea – Gay Chicago May 17, 2001

IMAGE: North End – HotSpots May 2001

An article by David Olsen in Windy City Times begins:

"A man with a knife walked through Sidetrack bar on Halsted Street Friday night shouting, 'I'm going to kill all you faggots,' a managing partner of the bar said. No one was injured, and police later arrested the man, he said. ...A bar doorman was walking through the crowded bar at 11 p.m. Friday night when he brushed against a middle-aged man, said Chuck Hyde, managing partner of Sidetrack, 3351 N. Halsted St.

"The doorman said 'Excuse me, please.' And the guy said, 'Police, what do you mean police? Show me your badge,' and then he pulled out a knife and started saying something like, 'I'm going to kill all you faggots,' Hyde said.

"For the next five minutes or so, the man waved the knife around, and he carved 'Raven' on a wooden bench, Hyde said. He never made a serious attempt to stab anyone in particular, he said.

"Then suddenly 'he worked his way up to the front, keeping the knife out and waving it around, and he made his way out the front door,' Hyde said.

"Outside, the man dropped his knife on the sidewalk, and someone–apparently a passerby–kicked the knife away, he said. Three Sidetrack doormen then jumped on the man and held him for a short time until police–who were notified earlier by the bar–arrived, Hyde said."

Homework

Who remembers the Generator?

What happened to Sarah Craig?

What happened to Charlene Unger?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Terry Gaskins and Arch Boudros took these photographs of Gay Chicago magazine's 25th anniversary party for Gay Chicago May 17, 2001

Terry Gaskins photographs St. Patrick's Day parties and Porn search for Gay Chicago March 27, 2003

Spike King's page in Gay Chicago September 12, 1991

Sherman Heinrich's photographs of Ann Sather's in Gay Chicago September 13, 1984

Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph and Craig Gernhardt forGay 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.