October 9-15, 2014

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

1980

Jim Flint is elected president of Tavern Guild, replacing Michael "K" Kucharski, who did not seek reelection. Others elected include Chip Matthews, first vice president; Ted Hall, second vice president; Delilah Kenney, secretary; Chris Timmons, corresponding secretary; Albert J. Albert, treasurer; Tyrone Sinclair, entertainment (fundraising); Chuck Rodocker, representative to the Frank M. Rodde Fund; Bill Maggio, publicity, and Chuck Kaiser, board member at large.

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In the bars and clubs, Studio 69, 3474 N. Clark St. is "Comfortable, Cozy, and Cruisy" on a daily basis; there's a "Hot, Juicy and Sleazy" party at Touche, 2825 N. Lincoln; Eddie Dugan proudly presents Lady J, "A Drag Queen Trapped in a Woman" at Bistro, 420 N. Dearborn; Coconuts, 5320 N. Sheridan, celebrates Octoberfest 1980 with a bratwurst buffet, entertainment and beer and drink specials; and Maureen Brill is the performer at His 'n' Hers, 944 W. Addison.

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Stuart Wilbur Inc. an erotic art gallery at 2943 N. Halsted, shows "American Still Lives" by John Breitweiser.

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Good Shepherd Parish/MCC host four workshops in life/work planning called "A Question of Balance" at Wellington Avenue Church, 615 W. Wellington.

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On the front page of this week's Gay Life, Stephen Kulieke writes:

"Gay rights has been a factor in this 1980 presidential election year as never before. The Washington D.C.-based National Convention Project spearhead the drive to bring gay issues into the political limelight. A joint project of Gay Rights National Lobby and the National Gay Task Force NCP worked with state and local gay organizations across the country in the first nationwide gay election-year effort–'Gay Vote 1980.'

"From the earliest stages of the primary selection process–the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary–gay people were there: holding political forums; firing questions at campaign spokespersons; running and winning elections as delegates to the Democratic and Republican national conventions.



"As gay politics came out of the closet, so did candidate opinions on gay rights. In this issue of Gay Life, we have compiled the positions (and past records, if any) of the presidential candidates whose names will appear on theNovember 4 ballot."

1989

On the front page of Windy City Times, Cliff O'Neill writes "Full Quilt Shown for Last Time." Article begins:

"A photograph of a young man stares up from the ground. Around it are messages from friends and lovers, letters cut from a favorite shirt, pictures of pink flamingos and a drawerful of favorite buttons.

"For some, it is a tribute; for others, a message. For all, a better way of saying 'Goodbye.'

"And for three days, October 6-8, thousands shared the massive symbol of farewell at the Ellipse, the broad expanse of grass across the street from the White House, as the NAMES Project International AIDS Memorial Quilt was displayed in its entirety for the last time.

"Now composed of more than 10,900 quilt panels, the 13 ton memorial to the lives of those lost to AIDS has now grown to the point where there will no longer be anyplace large enough to display the Quilt in its entirety, according to Quilt officials."

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In this week's Gay Chicago:

"Two time Oscar winning actress and screen legend Bette Davis died in Paris last Friday. Miss Davis had been in failing health the past five years."

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The Pegasus Players perform Manuel Puig's "Kiss of the Spider Woman" at the Truman-O'Rourke Center, 1145 W. Wilson.

1999

Article in this week's Gay Chicago begins:

"The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has expanded its popular 1999-2000 City Stages theater series allowing subscribers to customize their own theater season by choosing a variety of plays from 12 of Chicago's most respected theater companies. Proceeds from subscriptions benefit AFC's grant-making program."

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"Dancer From the Dance," a new play by Eric Rosen, based on a novel by Andrew Holleran, opens in the Hottest Ticket in Chicago at About Face Theatre, 3212 N. Broadway.

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In Billy Master's gossipy Gotcha! in Gay Chicago:

"In another episode of "He said, She said" (or, in this case, "She Said, She said), we turn our attentions to Barbra Streisand and Bruce Vilanch. Brucie has been quoted as saying that Babs asked him to script some gags for her last tour but then balked at the price. (When she asked him how she could afford his fee, he quipped, 'Sell a lamp') However, Streisand's people say that Bruce was never asked to write for Babs and that money was never discussed. Bruce says that he spoke with Babs personally and, when she offered him a paltry sum, told her, 'I don't mean to insult you, Barbra, but Jim Bailey offered me more to do the drag version of this act.'"

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3 Girls 3 perform "In the Mood: Songs from the Fabulous 40s" in the cabaret room at Davenports, 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Homework

Who went to Coconuts?

Whatever happened to Maureen Brill? Where is she now?

Who was Lady J, "A Drag Queen Trapped in a Woman"?