December 25-31, 2014

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

1979

Article in Gay Life reads:

"A December 28, Chicago Police Department raid on the Rialto Tap, 14 W. Van Buren, resulted in the arrest of 100 men on various charges of prostitution. One customer was arrested when, according to police, he agreed to perform sexual acts for money with an undercover investigator. Subsequently, four bartenders were arrested for keeping a disorderly house and ninety-five other customers were charged with being inmates of a house of prostitution. Described in newspaper reports as a gay bar, the Rialto has a largely black clientele, many of whom are gay. A number of the better known community bars were raided on similar charges last spring, during a rash of such police action. In none of those incidents did police carry out the type of mass arrest that occurred recently at the Rialto. Police explained their actions by stating that other solicitations and sexual acts had been observed among bar patrons.

"Mayor Jane Byrne responded to the December 28 raid with strong words of criticism which received extensive coverage on local TV and radio and in the daily papers. Byrne indicated that police energies could be more wisely spent on 'true crime.' 'We've got greater issues in the City of Chicago right now that should be priority issues,' she said, citing recent problems of rape, arson and shootings as such issues.

"Contacted by GayLife, Captain John Cadogan, Administrative and Assistant to acting superintendent Joseph DiLeonardi, was asked whether Mayor Byrne had spoken to police department officials about the raid as she had pledged. Captain Cadogan indicated that he had seen a recent memo on the subject from the mayor's office but would not give specifics. Cadogan also spoke of a possible meeting forthcoming between police and gay community representatives as a result of the raid. Any further dialogue on the subject he advised, however, would go through First District Commander Frank J. Sautkus, who at press time was unavailable for comment.

"At this time it is not clear whether the raid was overseen by First District officers or Vice Unit Investigators. Statements attributed to a First District Tactical officer indicated that the raid was carried out because of complaints of strong-arm robberies and drug trafficking around the club. It also was reported that Vice Unit Investigator Anthony Lobue entered the bar posing as a homosexual, and was then approached by a customer in the incident that lead to the raid.

"Captain Cadogan was asked whether police are still in the practice of initiating the contact in a prostitution arrest - a tactic that was used at least once last spring in securing a 'disorderly house' charge against a north side gay bar. 'What you're talking about is entrapment,' Cadogan replied, 'And that is not Chicago Police Department policy.'"

1990

In the bars and clubs, Memory Lane's Christmas Special (she's taping it for the troops) at Bistro Too, 5015 N. Clark St. features Shelly DeWinter, T.L. Noble, Chicago Meatpackers and Santa Claus; the AA Meat Market Butcher Bar, 2933 N. Lincoln, celebrates its first anniversary with a buffet and champagne; Becky Menzie hosts a weekly open mic at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; No Zone, 4740 N. River Road in Schiller Park hosts an "Oldies T-Dance" every Sunday.

Image: Celebrity Club – Gay Chicago October 6, 1983

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Jennifer Juarez Robles is named managing editor of Windy City Times.

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The obituaries in this week's Windy City Times include: Robert Scott, who died from AIDS complications.

"Bob was best known for his love of life, art collection, zoology interests, travel and poetry. He volunteered numerous hours at the Lincoln Park Zoo and will be missed. Bob had an insatiable appetite for the creature comforts in life. He could be counted on for Sunday brunch which included his favorites, cinnamon French toast and spiced cocoa. He frequently entertained friends and co-workers with his Whitney Houston collection."

1998

A safe-sex discussion group meets at Café Noir, 1718 E. 75th St.

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The Carpenters are on the cover of Gab magazine.

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Image: Pudgy in Paradise – Gay Chicago October 11, 1984

Silky Jumbo and Jojo are the hosts every Monday at the Boom Boom Room, Red Dog, 1958 W. North Ave., enter in rear.

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Dance music reviewed in Gab this week includes the "Come to Daddy" EP – Aphex Twins; "Smack My Bitch Up" – Prodigy; "Ajare" – Way Out West; "Digital" – Goldie feat. KRS One; "Chinese Burn" – Curve; and "La La La" – Tranquility Bass.

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The Skinny in Gab reads: "Why does everyone want to sue us this week? ...The miffed queen who somehow had her pale and hirsute shirtlessness published in one of our award-winning photo collages. She's all mad cuz what we did was 'illegal' and 'wrong' and she's 'going to look into' suing us or something. ...Good luck in litigation, see ya in front of Judge Judy."

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Image: The Jingle Bell Ball – Gay Chicago December 10, 1992

An ad in Gay Chicago reads: "Your new gym is coming soon to Andersonville. Wild Kingdom Fitness Enterprises, Inc. brings you ...Cheetah Gym, 5248 N. Clark St. Opening officially March 1st, 1999.

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Better Existence with HIV is offering an afternoon yoga class in Evanston on Wednesdays, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Yoga instructor, Ann Duncan-Yonan, offers an introduction to yogic postures, meditation and relaxation techniques. The class is offered to people living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers.

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Image: Nymphomania at Sidetrack – October 2, 2005

Chandelle interviewed by St. Sukie de la Croix in his Chicago Whispers column in Outlines:

"Another place I don't think anyone has mentioned in your column is La Mere Vipere ...it was gay owned, a very mixed crowd and it was the first punk bar. It burned down, which some people say was deliberate. I remember going to see Patti Smith a couple of days after that and people were yelling at her, 'They burned down La Mere, they burned down La Mere.' And she said, 'So go fucking build another one!'"

Homework

What's Silky Jumbo up to these days?

Jennifer Juarez Robles, where is she now?

Is Becky Menzie still singing?

Jack Sitar's Speak Out column from Gay Chicago October 16, 1986

David Rosenberg photographs the Mr. Hotlanta Contest at Sidetrack for Nightlines July 3, 1993

From Nightlines April 16, 1998

Kirk Williamson and Mel take nightlife shots for Nightspots July 12, 2006

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.