June 4-10, 2015

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

1984

In the bars and clubs, Gentry, 712 N. Rush St., has it all with entertainment by Joe Kregor; Walton St. Waterworks, 933 N. State St., has $1 Bloody Mary's at its Sunday buffet; B.J.'s, 3231 N. Clark St., celebrates its 4th year anniversary with a continental breakfast on the patio with Feathers; Tricia Alexander and Lori Noelle perform at Byfield's, 1301 N. State St.; Special Consensus perform at Opal Station, 6655 N. Clark St.; and it's the one year anniversary of J.J.'s at 6406 N. Clark St. and the Grand Opening of the patio.

+++

Article in Gay Life begins:

"Jack Delaney, former president of Dignity/Chicago has been elected director of the Dignity Midwest Region (Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska) by the delegates of the seven Dignity chapters in this region.

"Delaney's term runs from this June through May 1986. His duties include coordinating all Dignity chapters in the Midwest and serving on Dignity's executive board."

+++

IMAGE: Charles Pierce – Gay Life January 12, 1979

Dance Music Top 20 courtesy of DJ Frank Lipomi at Trianon: 1) "Color My Love" – Fun Fun; 2) "No More Words" – Berlin; 3) "Let's Hear It For the Boy" – Deniece Williams; 4) "Hypnotic Tango" – My Mine; 5) "It Should Have Been Me" – Jayne Edwards; 6) "One Night Only" – Scherrie Payne; 7) "Beeline" ­ Miquel Brown; 8) "Self Control" – Laura Branigan; 9) "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming" – Jermaine and Michael Jackson; 10) "They Only Come Out At Night" ­– Peter Brown; 11) "Dance Hall Days" – Wang Chung; 12) "Turn It Around" – Gino Soccio; 13) "Heartbreak (New York Mix)" – Psychedelic Furs; 14) "High Energy" – Evelyn Thomas; 15) "Boys Do Fall In Love" – Robin Gibb; 16) "Alive With Love" – Tina Fabrique; 17) "Countdown" – Kofie and the Lovetones; 18) "S.O.S" – Laura Pallas; 19) "When You Walk Into the Room" – Ramming Speed; 20) "Rhythm of the Street" – Patti Austin.

1991

In Rick Karlin's E.T.C. column in Gay Chicago:

"Speaking of bustin' out, if a few of Buddies' patrons seem a little stuffed, it may be the result of the totally rude 'Sausage Suck' held as part of the bar's annual Black Party theme."

+++

An article in Windy City Times begins:

"More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the 22nd annual Pride Parade and Rally June 30 in Chicago and organizers are busy preparing this year's celebration.

"'Together in Pride" is the international theme for Pride 1991. Chicago's celebration will be one of ten parades taking place around the United States and 45 around the world, including parades in London and Paris.

"Each year the Chicago parade keeps growing, said Richard Pfeiffer, parade and rally coordinator. Last year 186 entries were in the parade, including 45 politicians. So far this year, there are 90 entries registered; the number is ahead of entries this time last year. Usually half of the entries come in after June 1, Pfeiffer said."

+++

IMAGE: Dickies – Gay Chicago April 16, 1981

The Bailiwick Theatre's Pride Series presents Terrence McNally's "The Lisbon Traviata" at 3212 N. Broadway.

+++

" ...Like Walking Naked Through a Crowd," a discussion about being "out" to the world, takes place at the Kinheart Women's Center, 2214 Ridge in Evanston.

+++

Gays and Lesbians in Unity host a potluck dinner at Unity Church, 1925 W. Thome. Featured guest is comedian Debbie Daliege.

+++

Open Riders of Chicagoland, a gay motorcycle club, hosts an overnight ride to Turkey Run State Park, Annapolis, Indiana. Sets off from Male Hide Leathers, 2816 N. Lincoln.

+++

"A Song For Life," a benefit recital for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, stars baritone Thomas Sillitti and pianist William Browning. It takes place at Curtiss Hall-Fine Arts Bldg., 10th floor. 410 S. Michigan Ave.

+++

"Judy: Born in a Trunk–The Songs and Stories of a Legend" is at the Annoyance Theatre, 3153 N. Broadway.

2001

Preview party at Chicago's Yacht Club for the Annual Birdhouse Auction, showcasing one-of-a-kind birdhouses and bird-related art, with the proceeds benefitting Chicago House.

+++

Openly bisexual John Wesley Harding and his band, the Radical Gentlemen, perform two shows at Schuba's, 3159 N. Southport.

+++

The Berwyn United Neighborhood Gay and Lesbian Organization (BUNGALO) hold their monthly meeting at Berwyn Public Library, 2701 S. Harlem, Berwyn.

+++

IMAGE: Cocktail – Gay Chicago December 26, 1996

In Quotelines in Outlines:

"I've played happily married men and heterosexual rapists–I've played a whole range of characters. It seems to give a lie to the generally accepted notion that if you're gay, you won't be accepted in non-gay parts. I always thought that was nonsense, except in the case of Hollywood movie stars. I never had any ambition to be that. Few people are. Anyone with ambition to be a Hollywood movie star is bound to be disappointed." – Sir Ian McKellan

+++

"Gay/Lesbian-Image/Artist: The Homosexual in Visual Arts, from Antiquity to the 20th Century," a slideshow about homoerotic art through history by Marie Kuda, takes place at the High Risk Gallery, 1115 W. Belmont.

+++

It's Time, Illinois! hosts its 4th Celebration of Transgender Pride with dancing and entertainment from Valerie James, at Ann Sather's, 929 W. Belmont.

Homework

Does anyone remember Opal Station?

Anyone go to Buddies' "Sausage Suck."

Is BUNGALOW still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Mike Williams photographs a body-painting and birthday party at Dickie's bar for Gay Chicago April 30, 1981

Charles Hancock photographs a protest against Anita Bryant for Gay Life March 24, 1978

Pam Hagen photographs the clientele of the Virgo Out for Gay Life March 24, 1978

Linda Henderson and Spike King photograph events around town for Windy City Times May 4, 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.