February 19-February 25, 2015

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

1986

The Top 5 Video Playlist of DJ/VJ Jerry Novak at Nutbush City Limits: 1) "Baby Talk" – Alisha; 2) "You and Me" – The Flirts; 3) "Your Personal Touch" – Evelyn King; 4) "Slave to the Rhythm" – Grace Jones; 5) "The Sun Always Shines on TV" – A-Ha.

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Ginni Clemens sings at the Mountain Moving Coffee House, 1655 W. School.

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IMAGE: The Music Box lesbian bar – Gay Life December 30, 1977

Rick Karlin, in his E.T.C. column in Gay Chicago, writes:

"Congrats to the guys in the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus on their triumphant performance in Fort Lauderdale. The group received four standing ovasions, and prompted organizers in Florida to form their own chorus. At an organizational meeting following our chorus' performance, 75 people signed up for the Florida group, which Chicagoan Jim (Little Jim) Gates may sponsor.'

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On the front page of Windy City Times, an article begins:

"The Chicago Area AIDS Task Force Feb. 11 met for the last time in space provided by the Chicago Department of Health as it continued to define its new role and work out its autonomy.

Figures released at the meeting show 15 new cases of AIDS diagnosed in Chicago during the month ending Feb. 3. One of the new cases is female, and one is an intravenous drug user. Ten are homosexual men and three are bisexuals. The total number of AIDS cases in the city since 1980 is now 306."

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Outrageous! Wayland Flowers and Madame appear at the Vic, Sheffield and Belmont.

1996

4th Wall Productions presents Tennessee Williams' "Vieux Carre" at Wright College North, 4300 N. Narragansett.

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IMAGE: Cover – Gay Chicago May 24, 1979

In the clubs and bars, it's Martini Tuesdays at Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted; opening at Gentry, 3320 N. Halsted, is Laine Edwards, "a powerful voice, with an effortless style, creating spine-tingling results; celebrate Mardi Gras at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted; Charlie's, 3726 N. Broadway, hosts a video release party for "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar"; and Bobby Marley spins wacky film clips mixed with your favorite music videos at North End, 3733 N. Halsted.

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Letter to the editor of Gay Chicago from Alan Amberg:

"I just returned from vacation to catch the second installation of Trish Koch's new Sunday radio show and wanted to publicly extend my congratulations. At Lesbigay Radio, we've received many calls and letters from people who are delighted that we're on in the morning rush hour, but deeply miss the Sunday format as well.

"Trish's work on Lesbigay Radio was a critical part of our move from weekly to daily. I know she'll continue to expand the airwaves for our community in the most positive direction.

"Just two years ago we had nothing on the airwaves. Look, Ma, Chicago now has what no other city in North America has–six mornings a week!"

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IMAGE: Carol Moseley Braun – Outlines November 1992

"Vinnie's Candlelight Bowl" is a benefit for the AIDS Ministry of Illinois at Evergreen Towers Bowling Lanes, 2535 W. 95th Street, Evergreen Park.

2003

Queerzone hosts a discussion on Polyamory and confronting heterosexism, transphobia, sexism, ageism, classism, etc. leftover from the sexual revolution, at the Autonomous Zone, 2129 N. Milwaukee.

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Grinder, Queer Words and Music features Richard Richards and Ellen Keyt at the No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood.

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Billy Masters in his Filth column in Gay Chicago writes:

"Could it be that Ryan Seacrest's campaign to be seen as an all-American heterosexual male is having the opposite effect? Judge for yourself–he recently told reporters, 'I started to get my eyebrows waxed to please the women in my life. Then I got my eyelashes tinted. Don't they just pop? Then the manicure and the pedicure.' First off, it sounds like HE is the woman in his life. And let's not even talk about his sun-damaged skin–he's starting to look like an old bleached-blond saddlebra!"

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IMAGE: Berlin – Babble August 10, 1994

Equality Illinois Employee Diversity Education Council and the Chicago Professional Networking Association hold a networking event with hors d'oeuvres and a caricaturist at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted.

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Chix Mix's Black Bra Party, 3 with DJ Laura B and Jen Porter performing, takes place at Circuit, 3641 N. Hasted.

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Congregation Or Chadash hold their 27th anniversary Shabbat service at 656 W. Barry.

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Chicago-based performers Jim Bennett and Celeste Pechous host the Human Rights Campaign's "Laughing Out Loud 3: A Night of Gay Comedy" at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Dubbed the Lucy and Ethel of gay sketch comedy, they perform original material at the event. Recently Bennett and Pechous were seen in "Pushed," a hit comedy on procrastination and terrorism, which sold out during its run in Chicago.

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About Face Theatre Allies Council presents "Youth Speak Out: Safe Schools," a call to action at Thousand Waves, 1212 W. Belmont.

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"Naked Boys Singing" is at the Bailiwick Theatre, 1229 W. Belmont. The Chicago Tribune writes: "The eight naked boys are out, proud, funny and loud."

Homework

Who saw Naked Boys Singing?

What happened to Jim Bennett and Celeste Pechous?

Ellen Keyt. Where is she now?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Brian McGee takes photos at the Brian Davis Foundation Benefit for Blacklines March 1999

Spike King photographs Armistead Maupin at Unabridged Books for Gay Chicago November 2, 1989

Israel Wright photographs the Illinois Gay Rodeo Association for Nightlines September 9, 1998

This is from Windy City Times October 19, 1989

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.