December 1-7, 2016

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

1985

In the bars and clubs "Putting on the Stars," lip synching with Rose every Monday at Bubbles Bistro, 9046 W. Golf Road, Niles; Big Red's, 3729 N. Halsted, presents the annual celebrity Pie Toss, emceed by Chicago Molly to benefit the Frank M. Rodde Fund and Chicago House; come to the AIDS Assistance Association Slave Auction at Gold Coast, 5025 N. Clark St.

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IMAGE: Temptations – Gay Chicago December 16, 1993

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

"Baton and Redoubt owner Jim Flint announced he is entering the race for the Cook County Board. He made the announcement at last Sunday's fundraiser for Chicago House at Limelight. He originally had considered running for the Chicago City Council, but now feels he has a better chance of getting elected. He said that he's going to persuade six other gay persons to run for office. Jim says he'll have nominating petitions out later this week."

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IMAGE: Ultra '80s at Sidetrack – Gay Chicago December 19, 1996

An article in Gay Life by Jo. A. Moore begins:

"Actress Helen Hayes, stage and screen veteran for the past four decades, was on hand this weekend to help break ground and help in the dedication of the proposed Chicago Theatre Center to be built in the 2600 block of North Halsted. The planned 500-seat 'transfer' house, which is slated to host off-Broadway works, will be named the MacArthur Theatre after Hayes' husband, Chicago newspaperman and playwright Charles MacArthur, who died in 1956."

1992

Quotelines in Outlines:

"I am ashamed of our government's cowardly and puritanical approach to AIDS education ...It is outrageous that it took a Hollywood star and a private foundation to do what the government was unable or unwilling to do." – Elizabeth Taylor.

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IMAGE: Suzanne Westenhoefer – Outlines October 1995

From Gay Chicago's The Week in Review:

Wednesday, December 2

Roscoe's kicks off a three night holiday party featuring "Paul Lynde's Super Sassy Christmas Special" from the same folks who brought you "The Boys in the Bathroom." The event will run Wednesday through Friday for the next three weeks. If that's a little too vibrant for you for your tastes, the Lawrence Welk Christmas Show comes to the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet. Vortex hosts a "Jump for AIDS" Velcro wall jumping contest to benefit a variety of AIDS service and education programs. Destination '93, the gay travel festival continues at Ann Sather on Belmont. Berlin hosts "Women Obsession" and its Beckie Menzie and Cissy Connor at Gentry.

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"Gilligan's Island, the Musical" is Live-On-Stage at the Organic Theater, 3319 N. Clark.

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This season's best selling calendars according to People Like Us Books, 3321 N. Clark:

TOP FIVE WOMEN'S 1993 CALENDARS: 1) "Dykes to Watch Out For 1993" – Alison Bechdel; 2) "Return of the Goddess 1993"; 3) "Women of Intrigue 1993"; 4) "1993 Wise Woman's Wheel of the Year"; 5) "Women's Glib 1993 Engagement Calendar" – Roz Warren.

TOP FIVE MEN'S 1993 CALENDARS: 1) "1993 Colt Calendar; 2) "Out of the Studio Calendar" – Tom Bianchi; 3) "Keith Haring 1993 Engagement Calendar; 4) "Leather! 1993 Colt Calendar"; 5) "Robert Maplethorpe 1993 Calendar" – Robert Maplethorpe.

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IMAGE: Toys for Tots – Gay Chicago December 23 1982

10^th Anniversary Season of "gonna find out who's naughty and nice" with the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus is at Lane Tech High School Auditorium at Addison and Western.

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New Ownership, Grand Opening of Mr. B's Club, 606 Stateline, Calumet City.

2002

Calendar of Events from Gay Chicago:

"Sunday December 1

"Good Shepherd Parish is offering two services for World AIDS Day at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Colleen McHugh and Miriam Plotkin bring their show, "There's Noel in Chanukah,' to Davenports in the cabaret. Buddies' screens the Bears game and hosts karaoke tonight.

"Monday, December 2

"Jackhammer's 'Retro Therapy' night features male dancers and DJ Eric. The lineup at Gentry on State is Kathryn Payne followed by Robert Whorton with Beckie Menzie. At Gentry on Halsted, Jeff Roscoe takes the stage and will be followed by Nan Mason with Bill Underwood. Mark Fernandez performs at Davenport's. Karaoke will be held at Hunter's with Honey West and Larz.

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It's the final two weeks of "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont. It stars Honey West and is directed by Alexandra Billings.

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Article in Gay Chicago reads:

"Windy City Performing Arts will present its 24^th annual "Don We Now' holiday concert, 'Not Another Fruitcake!' Featuring the Windy City Gay Chorus and Unison: Windy City Lesbian and Gay Singers, with the Windy City Slickers and guests the Lakeside Pride Brass, performances will be held on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, at 3 p.m., at the Harold Washington Library Center Auditorium, 400 S. State St. (Plymouth Court entrance) Tickets are $15, $19 and $24. All performances are interpreted for the deaf."

Homework

Did anyone see "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom?"

Does anyone know when Mr. B's club first opened?

Anyone know Chicago Molly's real name?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Rick Karlin and Ed Lund photograph Linda Leslie at the Closet and Dago Rose at Big Red's for Gay Chicago December 12, 1985

Allan of Hammond photographs Ernie Taliani, owner of the Pour House, for Gay Chicago November 12, 1981

Photographs from the American Brotherhood Leather Man, Woman and Boy contest in Nightlines May 30, 2001

Mel Ferrand and Kat Fitzgerald photograph Gender Fusions and Dick Durbin for Windy City Times April 30, 2008

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.