April 23-29, 2015

1979

Dr. James Steakley of the University of Wisconsin speaks at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) on "Homosexual Emancipation and Gay Rights: The Middle Ages to the Present." Steakley has previously delivered this lecture/slide presentation to the GAU, the Canadian Gay Rights Association, and the Conference on the History of Sexuality and Power.

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IMAGE: K's on Klark – Gay Chicago April 10, 1980

"Watching Hangers and Other Closet Pastimes" a play by Michael B of the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Illini, is performed in Room 509-510 of Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted.

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Ever wanted to try drag but been too shy? Come to a supportive drag partySaturday April 28 at the Rogers Park/Edgewater Gay Alliance, 5823 N. Ridge.

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A program of film comedy shorts in shown at the Gold Coast, 501 N. Clark St., featuring a Mickey Mouse retrospective, the Marx Brothers, and W.C. Fields.

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Gay Horizons/Northwestern University Gay and Lesbian Alliance sponsor "Developing a Positive Gay Identity," a series of workshops for gay men and women. Held at the NU campus.

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IMAGE: The Powder Room – Nightlines March 18, 1998

Article in Gay Chicago reads:

"I wonder whether the manager of the Golden Nugget (Belmont and Clark) realizes who most of his customers are. His apparent anti-gay attitude towards customers has already driven a number of them away and his most recent action of ousting two waitresses, Debbie McKinney and Sue (both well-liked in the gay community) makes me wonder whether or not he wants our business. The owners, Joe and Howard, are letting Mike the manager, run the show, but maybe they should take a personal interest."

1986

Back by popular demand at the Bijou adult movie theatre, 1349 N. Wells, is "Two Handfuls" starring Brian Maxon, Michael Gere, Michael Henson, and a host of others.

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IMAGE: Normandy – Gay Chicago February 7, 1985

The Artemis Singers and folk singer Ginni Clemens are in concert together at Gavin Hall of Mundelein College, 6339 N. Sheridan Rd. Tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door and the profits go to Sarah's Circle, a drop-in center in Uptown for homeless women.

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Moving Molehill Productions present a sneak preview and backers' audition of Tom Wilson Weinberg's "Ten Percent Review" at the Limelight, 632 N. Dearborn

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In the bars and clubs, Maneuvers, 118 E. Jefferson, Joliet, holds a benefit for the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic starring Odessa Brown with Grace LeRay and Brian Winston (from Club Victoria); Debbie Fier hosts a Strike Against AIDS raffle at Opal Station, 6655 N. Clark St.; "Boylesque Review" featuring local talent and special Isreal Ramone is at Showcase One, 959 W. Belmont; La Faye Elliot plays the piano at Zo-Ran, 3474 N. Clark St.; Come join Dennis for Happy Hours at the Windy City Bar and Grille; it's Tattoo Night at the Gold Coast, 5025 N. Clark St.; it's the Mr. Hunter's Contest at Hunters, 1932 Higgins Road, Elk Grove.

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Rita Mae Brown autographs her new book "High Hearts" at Unabridged Bookstore, 3251 N. Broadway.

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Music Playlist courtesy of Otis Clay of Cheeks: 1) "Chain Reaction" – Diana Ross; 2) "Kiss" – Prince; 3) "I Like You" – Phyllis Nelson; 4) "West End Girls" – Pet Shop Boys; 5) "What Have You Done For Me Lately" – O'Chi Brown.

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Article in Gay Chicago begins:

"Fifty-two celebrity bowlers and sponsors are already signed up for this year's 'Strike Against AIDS' Celebrity Bowl at Marigold Arcade May 7 at 2 p.m. In addition, many out-of-state bowlers are expected to participate, according to Richard Uyvari, chair of the celebrity bowl planning committee."

1998

Chicago Gay Men's Chorus present their 1998 Spring Concert, "Forbidden Halsted St." at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport. The ad reads:

"In the tradition of 'Sidetrack: The Musical' CGMC now takes on the whole strip! Boystown's abuzz as our characters travel from the North End to the south end of world famous Halsted Street, encountering nightlife, fun and adventure (and a few scary moments!) Join us as we toast the bars, the bookstores and the boys of Forbidden Halsted!"

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IMAGE: North End – Gay Chicago December 14, 1995

The Metropolitan Community Church of the Incarnation sponsors a workshop on spiritual direction presented by Rev. Dr. Robert Goss at 460 Lake Street, Oak Park. Goss, a former Jesuit priest, teaches comparative religion at Webster University in St. Louis, and is MCC clergy on the staff at MCC/Greater St. Louis, is co-editor of "Our Families, Our Values: Snapshots of Queer Kinship."

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"Cats" is at the Shubert Theatre.

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The artist formerly known as Prince performs at the Aragon Ballroom.

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The Living circle lesbigaytrans interfaith spiritual group holds times of reflection at 2913 Commonwealth, Room 512.

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It's Funny Chix Night Sundays at Café Ashe, 5419 N. Clark St., featuring rad-feminist lesbian Jessica Halem and white girl rapper Tracey Rose.

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Logan Square Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Neighbors host its first spaghetti dinner/social at Grace United Methodist Church of Logan Square, 3325 W. Wrightwood.

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Horizons Community Services fun new series of workshops includes Lambda's Gregg Shapiro leading a six-week "Gay Poets Society" workshop.

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The Log Cabin Republicans' Gay Crossfire series discusses affirmative action at Merlo Library, 644 W. Belmont.

Homework

Is DJ Otis Clay still around?

Who saw Mickey Mouse at the Gold Coast?

Who remembers the Golden Nugget?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Mike Williams photographs Marge Summitt and some of the performers at His n' Hers bar for Gay Chicago March 31, 1983

Marty photographs Jackhammer's Cher Party for Nightspots April 3, 2002

Sukie de la Croix photographs Foozie and Friends at Berlin for Nightspots April 24 2002

A Direct Aid Fundraiser at the AA Meat Market in Windy City Times May 21, 1992

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.