October 13-19, 2016

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

1975

An article in Chicago Gay Life reads:

"Max Zeehandelaar, South Bend distributor for Chicago Gay Life and secretary of the Michigan MCC in South Bend, and Frederick H. Schragg, were principals in a Blessed Union on Sunday, October 5, at Good Shepherd Parish/MCC. The Reverend Kenneth Martin, pastor of Good Shepherd, officiated at the ceremony which took place after the regular Sunday evening service. A reception followed the ceremony.

"Zeehandelaar and Schragg are the first couple to receive this rite of the MCC from the South Bend area.

"Since joining the staff of Chicago Gay Life, Zeehandelaar has been effective in gaining distribution of this paper not only in South Bend, but in Saugatuck, Michigan as well. His plans to expand the outreach of this paper have taken him to Fort Wayne, Ind. and Grand Rapids, Mich., as well."

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IMAGE: Nightlines – July 22, 1992

Jim Bradford writes in Chicago Gay Life:

"The 75 people who attended the Mattachine Midwest benefit performance of 'Norman, Is That You?' at the Drama Shelter on Halsted got a real treat. The theater is small, with the capacity for around 100. The show and the actors were great, and the refreshments and opportunity to meet the cast afterwards was delightful. If my information is correct, the establishment is gay owned. They hope to mix in plays with a gay theme alongside old standbys. 'Norman' is hilarious, with some tense moments. My memorable quote from it is Norman's lover's quip, when Norman's visiting father complains that the lover is leaving with Norman's 'girlfriend's' dress: 'I am she,' he retorts."

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An article in Chicago Gay Life reads:

"A new group for those who are gay and Jewish is being formed in the Chicago area.

"Tsvi Goodman, spokesperson for the organizing efforts, stated, 'For many centuries Jewish gays have been denied any role in the larger Jewish community. The community has taken the attitude that if you're gay, we don't want to know about it. The Jewish world has chosen to deal with its gay members by denying their existence: those who come out in a conspicuous way may be treated as pariah.'

"However, within the last few years, gay Jews in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Britain, and Israel have banded together to form supportive groups in which they can explore with others of similar background what it means to be gay and Jewish.

"Goodman explained: 'The Chicago group will go wherever the interest of its membership takes it.'"

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IMAGE: Lavender Elephants – Gay Life August 1, 1975

A new gay club called Watergate opens at LaSalle and Van Buren. They have disco dancing, live bands and steak sandwiches and omelets at midnight.

1984

The masthead in this week's Gay Chicago reads: PUBLISHERS Ralph Paul Gernhardt & Dan Di Leo; SALES Sherman Heinrich; TYPESETTING Karen Triner; PRODUCTION Mark De Santo – Mike Williams; ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Rick Karlin; COLUMNISTS Tom Parks – Don Eric – David J. Coynik, M.D. TECHNICAL ADVISOR Mike Bell; CONTRIBUTORS Tycho; COMPUTER CONSULTANT S.L. Rosenberg; ACCOUNTANT Joseph A. Turek, CPA; COUNSEL Reid S. Neuman; MAGAZINE PRINTING: Newsweb Corp.; CUSTOM PRINTING Sir Speedy; DISTRIBUTION Evergreen Cartage – Aaron Rule.

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IMAGE: Chicago Eagle – Gay Chicago July 1, 1993

Top 15 Videos courtesy of VJ Jim Bryder of Take One, 2570 N. Clark: 1) "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" – Wham; 2) "Better Be Good To Me" – Tina Turner; 3) "Vanity" – Pretty Mess; 4) "War Song" – Culture Club; 5) "Caribbean Queen" – Billy Ocean; 6) "The Lucky One" – Laura Branigan; 7) "Strut" – Sheena Easton; 8) "Medicine Song" – Stephanie Mills; 9) "Out of Touch" – Hall & Oates; 10) "The Day Before You Came" – Blancmange; 11) "Dr. Beat" – Miami Sound Machine; 12) "Torture" – The Jacksons; 13) "Blue Jean" – David Bowie; 14) "Right By Your Side" – Eurythmics; 15) "Under the Gun" – Face To Face.

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Some of the VJ's/DJ's working in Chicago's gay clubs includes Bud Sweet at Medusa's, 3257 N. Sheffield; Larry Brewer at BJ's, 3231 N. Clark; Craig Pyne and Mark Vallese at Trianon, 3150 N. Halstead; Donna at Chicago Cabaret, 4726 N. Western; Mark Hultmark at Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells; Tom Parks at Hunter's, 1932 Higgins Rd., Elk Grove; Roger Wolf at Maneuvers, 118 E. Jefferson, Joliet; and Dave Dus at Mineshaft, 8437 Ogden, Lyons.

1994

In the bars and clubs, Kingdom Fridays at Shelter, 564 W. Fulton, presents "La Cage Aux Folles," a special tribute to the glorious world of feathers and foo-foo with Vikki Spyyke and her FiFi Girls; Charlie's, 3726 N. Broadway hosts the Battle of the DJ's Finalist Competition; Miss Continental 1994/95 Cezanne performs at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted.

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An obituary in Gay Chicago begins:

"Robert T. Ford, 32, died peacefully at home on Sunday, October 2, of complications from AIDS. He was surrounded by his loving parents, Frank R., Jr. and La Verne Ford; sister, Linda Ford; cousin, LaFrieda Lusk; life companion, Michael Thompson; and dear friends, Trent Adkins, Wendy Quinn, and Terry Martin.

"Mr. Ford was born on November 17, 1961.

"He received his Bachelor of Arts from Chicago's Columbia College. His freelance writings have appeared in The Advocate, Crossfade, Jam Sessions, Chicago Music Magazine, Jazzgram, and Planet Roc.

"He was a writer, publisher, and graphic artist. He was founding publisher of Thing Magazine, a black and gay arts and entertainment magazine that was seminal in the phenomenon of self-published magazines or 'zines' during the late '80s and into the '90s."

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The Metropolitan Community Church, 615 W. Wellington, celebrates its 24^th anniversary at regular worship services on Sunday October 16. Rev. Wayne T. Bradley preaches. Good Shepherd Parish MCC is the oldest operating LGBT organization in the Midwest.

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Tony Kushner signs copies of his plays, "Angels in America" parts one and two and "A Bright Room Called Day" at People Like Us Books, 3321 N. Clark.

Homework

Who remembers Robert Ford?

Anybody ever go to the Mineshaft?

What ever happened to Max Zeehandelaar and Frederick H. Schragg?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Bob Fagenholz, Gabor, Peg Grey, and Dave Irvin photographed by Tracy Baim for Outlines February 1989

Ald. Anna Langford and Teri Duffy photographed by Tracy Baim for Windy City Times July 31, 1986

Berlin bartenders Carol and Debra in Windy City Times October 10, 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.