January 29-February 4, 2015

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

1977

Article in Gay Life begins:

"Mattachine Midwest, one of Chicago's oldest gay service organizations, opens its new office, Room 210, 100 E. Ohio, on January 27, according to President Guy Warner.

"In the beginning, Warner said, office hours will be limited to early evening hours, 6 P.M. to 10P.M. Mondays through Fridays, and afternoon hours on week-ends, 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. Saturdays and Sundays."

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IMAGE: TJ's on Oak – Gay Chicago November 24, 1988

In Roger Chaffin's Sound Effects column in Gay Life:

TOP SINGLES: 1) "I Wish" – Stevie Wonder; 2) "Car Wash" ­– Rose Royce; 3) "Blinded By The Light" – Manfred Mann; 4) "Dazz" – Brick; 5) "Torn Between Two Lovers" – Mary McGregor.

TOP SOUL: 1) "I Wish" – Stevie Wonder; 2) "Free" – Deniece Williams; 3) "Darlin' Darlin' Baby" – O'Jays; 4) "Dazz" – Brick; 5) "I Like To Do It" – K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

TOP COUNTRY: 1) "Let My Love Be Your Pillow" – Ronnie Milsap; 2) "You Never Miss a Good Thing" – Crystal Gayle; 3) "I Can't Believe She Gives It All To Me" – Conway Twitty; 4) "Two Dollars In The Jukebox" – Eddie Rabbitt; 5) "Don't Be Angry" – Donna Fargo.

TOP DISCO: 1) "Disco Inferno/Starvin'/Body/Body Contact Contract" – The Trampps; 2) "Don't Leave Me This Way" – Thelma Houston; 3) "Overture/Don't Keep It In The Shadows/Indiscreet" – D.C. LaRue; 4) "Spring Rain" – Silvetti; 5) "Love in Motion/Cut the Rug/Givin' Back The Feeling" – George McRae.

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Jonathan Katz, author of "Gay American History,' speaks at the Owen Coon Forum, Leverone Hall, 2001 N. Sheridan, Northwestern University, Evanston. His appearance is sponsored by the Northwestern Gay Union.

1982

The Howard Brown Memorial Clinic sponsors an open community forum on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) at St. Joseph Auditorium, 2900 N. Lake Shore Drive.

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IMAGE: Meet Anne Rice – Windy City Times November 1, 1990

In the bars and clubs there's live jazz every Friday and Saturday at BBJ's, 751 N. Clark St.; It's the 2nd Annual Leather Weekend at Annex 2, 430 N. Clark St.; Surrender Dorothy, the lesbian rock band, perform at Opal Station, 6655 N. Clark St.; it's "The Return of the Reggae Thang" with DJ Bill Finley at the Artful Dodger, 1516. N. Milwaukee; the Last Tourists entertain at His 'n' Hers, 944 W. Addison; "The Spice Tree Revue," starring Patricia de Roma, Tata, Peaches, Lady B, Steve Miller and surprise guests, is at Spice Tree, 2811 N. Central.

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Ad in Gay Chicago reads:

"A new club is being formed for persons interested in fish (both fresh water and marine). It will be a loosely formed organization with minimum dues (to cover postage for meeting announcements) and a very informal structure. Purpose will be to share knowledge and possibly get joint purchasing discounts."

1999

The Independent Film Channel presents the world TV premier of "In Bad Taste: the John Waters Story," followed by cult classic "Polyester."

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IMAGE: "Phantom of the Opera" – Gay Chicago January 23, 1992

The 8th annual Lesbian Community Project Coming Out Against Cancer Gala takes place at South Shore Cultural Center with entertainment from Jennifer Trowbridge and Ellen Rosner. Lost & Found's Ava Allen is honored, as is Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

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The Illinois Federation for Human Rights holds its annual dinner gala at the Hotel Inter-Continental.

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BAGLE (Bankers Association of Gay & Lesbian Equality) hosts Post Holiday Bash@Buddies, 3301 N. Clark St. with fun, financial world networking, door prizes, music, videos, darts, pool and fun.

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The 1999 edition of the "Chicago Area HIV Services Directory" is available. The bilingual resource is divided into two parts: 1) a listing of HIV/AIDS service agencies by category, ranging from alternative health to case management to volunteer services; 2) a phonebook-like alphabetical listing by agency name.

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IMAGE: Cover – Nightspots July 12, 1995

In Quotelines in Outlines:

"It can be pretty sexy when women come onto me. I mean, c'mon-everyone is sort of bisexual. It's not a big deal. I've thought about it, when relationships don't work out with guys and you think, 'God, this woman friend is so wonderful. It would be so much easier.' But really, it's going to be the same damn problems." ­ Lucy Lui.

And:

"I think everybody is bisexual. ...When no girls are around, my [male] best friend in high school and I would make out with each other as a last resort. ...My last foray [into homosexuality] was when one of my friends came to Italy. I wanted to get [cocaine], and so we headed to a gay bar to look for some, and I kissed him out on the street. I was drunk, and it just felt right." – Robert Downey Jr.

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Northwestern University trans activist/author Leslie Feinberg speaks at the NU Bisexual, Gay & Lesbian Alliance, at Fisk Hall Rm. 217, 1845 Sheridan Rd., Evanston.

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The Radical Faeries of Chicago presents a Feast of Fools Cabaret, featuring Jennifer Trowbridge, Robbie Cook, Noam Paco Gaster, Victoria Lamar, John Kloss, Joseph Ravens & Marianna Buchwald, with fire-eating drag hostess Faustina, at Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan.

Homework

Who remembers a bar called the Spice Tree?

Are the Radical Fairies still around in Chicago?

What's Joseph Ravens up to these days?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Spike King's "King's Korner" in Gay Chicago November 24, 1988. I wonder what happened to these guys and gals?

Anti-gay graffiti at the Belmont Rocks in Gay Life August 11, 1978

William Burks photographs Ald. Kathy Osterman and Ald. Bernie Hansen for Outlines October 1988

Tracy Baim photographs Horizons board members for Windy City Times March 12, 1987

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