August 27-Sept 2, 2015)

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

1980

Article on front page of Gay Life begins:

"CHICAGO, IL–Carl Stohn, Jr., a veteran producer and director at the Drury Lane Theater and the Pheasant Run, Mill Run and McCormick Place playhouses, was killed August 21 on the Near North Side in what was believed to be a robbery. Stohn, who has worked in the theater for over 25 years, was shot to death in front of 950 N. LaSalle Street, across from the Henrotin Hospital."

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IMAGE: CK's Lounge – Gay Life August 11, 1979

Article on the front page of Gay Life begins:

"The Chicago Sun-Times ran an editorial on Monday, August 18 on the investigation taking place aboard the USS Norton Sound. The following is the text of that editorial:

"'It started in May with an investigation of 24 women sailors aboard the USS Norton Sound, a missile test ship at Long Beach, California, on charges that they are lesbian.

""It is ending, bit by bit, in discharge-board hearings into the women's sex lives that are a demeaning, intrusive and tawdry exercise in military 'justice.'

"Only six of the women still face dismissal hearings. Charges against five were dropped after initial screenings. Three more were 'exonerated' after more extensive psychological tests. Eight more were cleared after hospitalization for 'diagnosis.' And last week two were recommended for retention in the service after formal hearings."

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The Manhandler, 1948 N. Halsted, invites you to its Grand Opening over Labor Day Weekend.

1990

ACT UP/Chicago, joining a national movement, calls for a boycott of Miller Beer products, because of their contributions to the anti-gay, anti-AIDS education Sen. Jesse Helms.

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IMAGE: Old Town Books & Video – Gay Chicago July 12, 1984

Horizons Community Services sponsor a discussion on concerns expressed in lesbian relationships. Called "Lesbian Relationships: Styles and Issues," the discussion is led by Leslie Garner, Adult Health Educator at Horizons, and is free to Horizons members.

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The August meeting of Lesbian Chicago takes place at the Midwest Women's Center, 53 W. Jackson, Room 1018.

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Three new bars opening: It's the Grand Opening of Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; the Bank Lounge, 200 State St., Calumet City, has a Grand Opening with strippers Headliners from Texas; and it's also the Grand Opening of Phoenix, 2848 N. Broadway, an alternative music venue, with 25% of the net profit going to the fight against AIDS.

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IMAGE: The Baton – Gay Chicago July 12, 1984

Rick Karlin reviews Alexandra Billings at Cairo nightclub:

"Alexandra Billings has taken many an interesting turn in her career. It appears as if she has, at last, reached the venue that is the proper showcase for her talents. Alexandra Billings has teamed up with Jay Brownfield and produced a nightclub/cabaret act that is pure entertainment.

"Opening her show at Cairo with 'Music Is the Answer,' an original tune by her accompanist/arranger Jay Brownfield, Alex captivated the audience. Looking stunning in a skin-tight gown, she started the number with a tender tone and cranked up to a full decibel blast that rocked the crowd."

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The Holiday Inn City Centre, 300 E. Ohio, is the site of a national meeting of clubs for big men, their admirers and friends. The convention is under the auspices of Girth and Mirth (Chicago) Inc., and offers a series of social activities and program presentations. The convention theme is "The Gay 90s–Chicago Style."

2013

In the bars and clubs, every Friday it's the Shower Contest at Spin, Belmont and Halsted, with a Dance Party with DJ Chester; it's Comedy Thursday at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Win tickets to see Margaret Cho at the Chicago Theatre October 19; there's a Hot Jock Contest hosted by Sofia Saffire at Crew, 4804 N. Broadway; it's the Mr. Continental Pageant Final Night at the Baton, 436 N. Clark St.; "Blue Boy­–A Pop Art Party" with performance artist JoJo Baby is at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark St. hosts "Q&A Trivia with Kwizmaster, and Nightspots editor, Kirk Williamson.

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IMAGE: Chicago Eagle – Nightlines February 26, 1997

An article by Carrie Maxwell in Windy City Times begins:

"About 75 free-speech advocates gathered at 'The Bean' in Millennium Park to speak out on the sentencing of queer WikiLeaks whistleblower Pfc. Chelsea Manning (formerly known as Bradley Manning) Aug. 21.

"The rally was organized by Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network.

"Military Judge Col. Denise Lind convicted Manning last month on 20 charges including espionage and theft; on Aug. 21 she sentenced Manning to 35 years in a military prison. Manning will also be dishonorably discharged from the military, lose her pay, and have her rank reduced to private. Manning will be eligible for parole after serving at least eight years of her sentence. (Manning has started serving the sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kan.)"

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"Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry. Many acclaimed Chicago artists tell the story of an African-American family living in a crowded apartment on Chicago's South Side during the 1950s. Takes place at the TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave.

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GayCo Theater presents "God Hates Hashtags," directed by Andy Eninger, at Donny's Skybox, 4th Floor, Piper's Alley, 1608 N. Wells St.

Homework

Does anybody know anything about Phoenix, 2848 N. Broadway?



Anyone have info on the USS Norton Sound?



Is Girth and Mirth still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

In Gay Chicago July 18, 1991

Sherman Heinrich photographs Mr. Bubbles for Gay Chicago July 25, 1985

Genyphur Novak photographs for Windy City Times July 4, 1991

John Schmid and Joseph Willoughby obituaries in Windy City Times July 18, 1991

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.