October 22-28, 2015

1979

Article in Gay Chicago reads:

"The Monday Show of Shows will be returning to Dugan's Bistrotheque this fall with the T.L. Noble Revue heading up the first night of zany entertainment on Oct. 22. ...This year's shows promises to be exciting with several new female impersonators from out of the state, a magician, puppeteer Steve Margrave (who has gained a reputation second only, perhaps, to Wayland Flowers), the special return of Alan Lozito, who drew capacity crowds when he was here last year, psychic Annie Rose, plus local Chicago personalities, which will include Chicago Molly, Bertha Butt, Chili Pepper, Rita, the Shopping Bag Lady. And, after two years of seclusion, Audrey Bryant, also will be joining the popular Monday night activities. With disco continuing its popularity, the next step is to bring in live recording artists, which owner Ed Dugan says is in the future plans of the Bistro."

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IMAGE: Gay and Lesbian T-Shirts – Gay Chicago News May 15, 1977

Article in Gay Life begins:

"The Chicago Gay and Lesbian History Project, now affiliated with the Gay Academic Union, Chicago Chapter, is being formed as a community-based research, archival and educational organization. The major goal of the history project will be to discover and document the history of lesbians and gay men in the Chicago area. ...If you are interested in uncovering your 'gay roots,' attend the meeting of the Chicago Gay and Lesbian History Project on Tuesday, October 23, 1979."

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Gay Horizons Legal Services Program sponsors "Legal Survival Workshops" for lesbians and gay men on Thursday nights at the Jane Addams Center, 3212 N. Broadway, Room 201 at 7:30 p.m. This week's topic is "What to do if you get arrested."

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IMAGE: Village People at Park West – Gay Life August 11, 1978

In Richard Cooke's Discovery column in Gay Chicago:

"Medusa Ann Wallflower also held her biggie at Dugan's Bistrotheque last Friday night. The party titled 'Medusa Pigs Out at the Bistro gave Chicago gays the chance to really sleaze it up. Some of the things that stuck out included over 1,000 White Castle Hamburgers that were royally passed out to guests on silver trays., and hundred sticks of incense that were lighted and handed out to the appreciating crowd. I recalled seeing a dead baby pig on a buffet table, an old soiled mattress in the middle of the dance floor, and an ironing board in Janet Johnson's lounge area!"

1987

In the bars and clubs, David Hamilton, Tony Sime and Jeffrey Roberts are among the entertainers at Dandy's, 2632 N. Halsted; Bartender Feathers is a powerhouse of morning madness at Bulldog Road, 2924 N. Broadway; Strike Against AIDS hold a raffle at T.J.s on Oak, 46 E. Oak St.; Mark, Marion and the staff invite you to the 5th anniversary party of Hunter's, 1932 E. Higgins Rd., Elk Grove, Ill.; and Jim Flint and the Baton Show Lounge present the 20th Annual "Costumes in Review" at the Marriott Hotel, 540 N. Michigan Ave.

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IMAGE: Wig Out – Gay Chicago August 5, 1993

An article in Windy City Times begins:

"If you own a copy of the October 1987 premiere issue of Chicago's Rage, hold onto it. It may be a collector's item.

"Rage, a glossy gay-oriented magazine that premiered last month, has ceased operation, the result of what was apparently a forced closure. In addition, Windy City Times has learned that three principals in the venture–editor/publisher Bill Brownell, operations manager Greg Houk, and fashion editor Marc O'Brien–left town without informing staffers and contributors at the magazine. Brownell, Houk and O'Brien are reportedly staying at an undisclosed location in West Hollywood, Calif., while numerous staff persons have been literally locked out of the north Clark Street highrise where the magazine had based its operations."

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Letter to the Editor in Windy City Times:

"Thank you for printing Bob Krause's letter about the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic [Windy City Times, Sept. 24]. As a PWARC, I was amazed and astounded that they even returned his calls. After eight unreturned telephone calls within a six-week period, I was impressed with his being able to get a response from HBMC at all! For too long HBMC has been a 'sacred cow' within our community; it is time that we realistically evaluate HBMC and its commitment and ability to deliver 'services' to the community

Name and address withheld by request."

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Tim Miller performs "Buddy Systems" at the Randolph Street Gallery, 756 N. Milwaukee.

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Congregation Or Chadash celebrate Simchat Torah as part of Shabbat services at the Second Unitarian Church, 656 W. Barry.

2008

Article by Amy Wooten on front page of Windy City Times begins:

"A coalition of national and local organizations gathered in downtown Chicago last week to denounce the Museum of Broadcast Communications' (MBC) plan to induct an anti-gay individual into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

"On Thursday, Oct. 16, members of the Dump Dobson Coalition, including individuals from Gay Liberation Network, Truth Wins Out and Equality Illinois, called for the Chicago-based MBC to stop its plans to induct Focus on the Family founder James Dobson into the National Radio Hall of Fame. They gathered outside of the Renaissance Chicago Hotel, where the MBC plans to honor Dobson and others during an upcoming awards dinner. Representatives of the coalition said that if the museum does not rescind the award, it will protest outside the venue Nov. 8, the date of the ceremony."

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IMAGE: Jeff Stryker Live on Stage – Windy City Times April 15, 2001

The Youth Pride Center marks five years serving LGBT youth of color with a five-year anniversary banquet Wed., Oct. 22, at the Marmon Grand, 2230 S. Michigan, at 7 p.m. Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson is the keynote speaker. This black-tie event is $25 in advance.

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Quotes on the Quotelines page in Windy City Times:

"There's a California proposition on the ballot that's a little confusing. It's Proposition 8. It's called, 'The California Marriage

Protection Act'—but don't let the name fool you. It's not protecting anyone's marriage. Not yours. Not mine. The wording of Prop

8 is tricky. It's like if someone asked you, 'You don't want dessert, right?' But you do want dessert so you say, 'Yes,' which really means you don't want dessert. And if you say, 'No,' which means you do want dessert—it sounds like you don't. Either way, you don't get what you want. See—confusing. Just like Prop. 8. So, in case I haven't made myself clear, I'm for gay marriage. And in order to protect that right—please vote no on Proposition 8. And now that you're informed, spread the word. I'm begging you. I can't return the wedding gifts—I love my new toaster." — Ellen DeGeneres

And:

"I don't really have an opinion on it (Gay Marriage), to tell you the truth. I think people have to do what they feel they have to do. Not being gay myself, I don't have the same frame of reference—do you know what I'm saying? I don't know what it is to feel like you can never be married or any of that, because I am married, I have kids and I have all those things. It's uncharted ground for me personally; I can't even make a comment on it." — Singer Donna Summer.

Homework

Who remembers Rage magazine?

Whatever happened to Bertha Butt?

What's Jeff Stryker up to these days?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Terry Gaskins photographs at RJ's and Buddies for Gay Chicago October 27, 1994

Portrait of Miranda Stevens-Miller for Windy City Times June 25 1998

Albert Wiliams at Howard Brown benefit for Windy City Times October 22 1987

Publishers of the One issue Rage magazine in Windy City Times October 22, 1987

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.