March 5-March 11, 2015

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

1984

Ad in Gay Chicago reads:

"Here's your chance to PUNCH Sarah Craig! Why? She's running as a delegate in the March 20th primary election. As an outspoken activist in the gay/lesbian community since 1976, Sarah Craig has been on the leading edge of the movement to promote lesbian visibility and gay pride for eight years. Now you have a chance to contribute to the cause – VOTE Tuesday March 20 – and come to a fundraising party at Opal Station, Saturday, March 17th from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 6655 N. Clark St. Start your St. Patrick's Day Celebration by enjoying some political blarney and a generally good time with Sarah Craig and friends. DROP BY AND SAY HI!"

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IMAGE: Ute Lemper – Windy City Times November 16, 1989

The Windy City Wrestling Club meets every Saturday at 615 W. Wellington, top floor gym.

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In his Pot Pourri column in Gay Chicago, Rick Karlin writes:

"TOO TACKY FOR WORDS Robert Murphy, the popular morning DJ on WKQX radio is getting a bit offensive with his 'gay' jokes on the air. We can all laugh at ourselves once in a while. Mr. Murphy's jokes have ceased to be funny, they are now offensive. He was once listed in this column under 'What's Hot/What's Not' section under 'What's Hot.' I've got news for him, now he's not!"

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Top 20 Dance Music Hits in Gay Life: 1) "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" – Cyndi Lauper; 2) "You're Lookin' Hot Tonight" – Barry Manilow; 3) "Let's Stay Together" – Tina Turner; 4) "Relax" – Frankie Goes to Hollywood; 5) "Everlasting Love" – Vicki Sue Robinson; 6) "Somebody's Watching Me" – Rockwell; 7) "Make It On My Own" – Free Enterprise; 8) "I Want a New Drug" – Huey Lewis; 9) "Coming Out of Hiding" – Pamela Stanley; 10) "Beeline/He's a Saint, He's a Sinner" – Miquel Brown; 11) "Countdown" – Kofie and the Lovetones; 12) "Here Comes the Rain Again" – Eurythmics; 13) "Automatic/Jump" – Pointer Sisters; 14) "Dancing in the Sheets" – Shalamer; 15) "Jump" – Van Halen; 16) "Too Late (Remix)" – Sylvester; 17) "I'm Living My Own Life" – Earlene Bentley; 18) "Without Your Love (Remix)" – Nina Schiller; 19) "Tell Me" – Loose Joints; 20) "It's My Life" – Talk Talk.

1991

The Shoestring Theatre Co. presents William Hoffman's play "As Is" following Sabbath Services at Congregation Or Chadash. Admission is free but donations for AIDS support are welcome.

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IMAGE: Berlin – Gay Chicago September 12, 1991

Grace Jones is Live at the Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield.

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In the clubs and bars, the Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force host a South of the Border Night at Paris Dance, 1122 W. Montrose. The event features the Chi-Town Squares and gay and lesbian "Jeopardy" with Rick Karlin. Admission is $20; Milly's Orchid show with Brigid Brophy is at Susie B's, 1829 W. Montrose; calling all Leather Women! Join Ms. North Halsted Leather, Kay Hallenger, for a send off party at Manhole, 3458 N. Halsted. Good luck at International Ms. Leather in San Francisco; there's a Sweat Pants Contest at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; DJ Teri Bristol spins at Cairo, 720 N. Wells St.; the Golden Girl Pageant 1991 is at the Baton, 436 N. Clark St.

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John Driggs and Stephen Finn, authors of "Intimacy Between Men: How to Find and Keep Gay Love Relationships" sign copies of their book at People Like Us Bookstore, 3321 N. Clark St.

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Hapi Phace, the hilarious East Village (New York) drag queen, performs at the Lower Links, 954 W. Newport.

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IMAGE: Male Hide Leathers – Gay Chicago December 10, 1992

In Mother Superior's Off the Cuffs:

"EASY WINS: Mayor Richard Daley and Daley-supporters mostly won easily in the Feb. 26 Chicago primary. Gay candidate Ron Sable lost by a wide margin to Bernie Hansen in the 44th, while openly gay Vince Samar in the 46th only managed a few hundred votes (but it was enough to force incumbent Helen Schiller and challenger Mike Quigley to a run off)."

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Esther Thomas reads, "To All the Girls I've Ever Loved," three monologues, at the women-only Mountain Moving Coffee House, 1545 W. Morse.

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Toddlin' Town Twirlers hold a St. Patrick's Day Dance for Women at Ann Sather's, 929 W. Belmont.

1998

Obituary in Gay Chicago reads:

"Benedict J. Michalowski, 37, died peacefully February 10, 1998.

"Mr. Michalowski grew up in Berwyn, Illinois, and moved to Wicker Park/Bucktown 20 years ago. He was from the old school. When not cruising Humboldt Park or Arie Crown, he could be found tending/managing such bars as Christopher Street, Manhole and the Vortex.

"In recent years, his creative and entrepreneurial spirit focused on his art of hand-dyed fabrics and his company Tye-Dye Nation, not to mention raising his two beautiful lesbian daughters, Gurl and Suede."

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IMAGE: Closet – Nightlines October 18. 2000

Vote YES Oak Park sponsor "One Community, One Heart," an interfaith service and candlelight vigil with speakers, readings and songs gathered together in an effort to promote a "yes" vote on the Registry Referendum at the First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake St. Entertainment is provided by Kenned and Carl.

Homework

What happened to Hapi Phace?

Is there still a gay wrestling group?

What/who were the Toddlin' Town Twirlers?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Terry Gaskins photographs cowboys and cowgals for Gay Chicago May 16, 1996

When the Cycle Sluts came to Chicago in Gay Life January 21, 1976

Bob Bearden photographed the board of directors of the Northalsted Street Merchants Association in Gay Life August 9, 1984

Kirk Williamson photographs at Crew and the 3160 Club for Nightspots July 12, 1995

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.