Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1978/1979, 1993/1994 and 2004/2005

(December 28, 2017–January 3, 2018)

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

1978/1979

Cook County Sheriff's police find bodies of young men buried under the crawl space of the home of John Wayne Gacy at 8213 W. Summerdale in unincorporated Norridge. Eventually 33 bodies are discovered.

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IMAGE: Little Jim's – Gay Life October 29, 1975

An article in Gay Life begins:

"Increased police surveillance of known gathering places in the Rogers Park/Edgewater area will be one of the items asked for when a delegation of gay people from the area meets with Commander John Stibich of the 20th Police District. The police department will be asked to patrol periodically the streets in front of the three gay bars in the area, as well as in front of the Rogers Park/Edgewater Gay Alliance Center. The meeting between police and the gay community will be scheduled for early January at the Center."

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Here are some gay gathering places that are sadly missed: Broadway Kunfusion, 3510 N. Broadway (Bar); Club Baths Chicago, 609 N. LaSalle (Bathhouse); the Bushes, 3320 N. Halsted (Bar); Alfie's, 900 N. Rush St. (Bar); Dugan's Bistro, 420 N. Dearborn (Disco); Bi-Way Bookstore, 1020 N. Clark St. (Adult Bookstore); Abbott Hotel, 721 W. Belmont (Gay hotel); Lost and Found, 2959 W. Irving Park (Lesbian bar); Jeffrey's Pub, and 7041 S. Jeffrey (Disco).

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Terrence McNally's play, "The Ritz" is performed at the Jane Addams Theater, 3212 N. Broadway.

1993/1994

In the bars and clubs, SLUTS (Society of Leatherwomen United Towards Sadomasochism) meets at the Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St., every Thursday; "Rococo A Go-Go, a Glut of Glitz & Glamour," is at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted. Musical Eruption is Max Rodriguez of Club USA, NYC and Mark Hulmark; there's a Happy New Year's Party at Inn Exile, 5758 W. 65th St.; there's a party and show at Dandy's, 3729 N. Halsted featuring David Hamilton, Paula Sinclaire and Dane Chase as "Dolly"; Khris Francis performs at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; begin '94 in the dark at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted.

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IMAGE: Male Hide Leathers – Gay Life October 29, 1975

You can see "Party" written by David Dillon at the Theatre Building 1225 W. Belmont.

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An article in Windy City Times begins:

"Horizons Community Services, 961 W. Montana, will offer a 15-week bereavement support group, 'Surviving Partners' for gay men and lesbians starting in January. The group will address the particular issues of the gay or lesbian surviving partner and their relationship with the deceased. Helping men and women through different states of the grieving process is a major focus of the program, according to a press release."

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IMAGE: The Trip – Gay Life October 29, 1975

There's a benefit for the Illinois Federation for Human Rights-to pass a gay and lesbian rights bill in Illinois, at the Shampoo Factory, 1450 N. Dayton.

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An article in Windy City Times reads:

"The Healing Circle, a new spiritual awareness group formed for the gay and lesbian community, beginning in December will meet every Wednesday, 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Grant Hospital, Webster and Lincoln. Focus is on self-healing and awareness, based on one's own religious background. A variety of guest speakers will explain and demonstrate many types of alternative healing modalities, such as Reiki, massage, acupressure and rebirthing."

2004/2005

Dana Caprina interviews Angelique Monroe in Gay Chicago:

How did 'Angelique Munro' first come about?

"Nine years ago was the first time I dressed up as a woman with my best friend Patrick and my boyfriend at the time. We all went out in drag to the bars for Halloween. While out barhopping, I ran into a bartender from the Baton Show Lounge. He said I should talk to Ginger Grant, who books the special guests on Sundays for the Baton. So the following Saturday, I did so, and the next day, Sunday, I had my first guest spot. I did guest spots on Sunday like once or twice a month for about two years, then branched out to other bars, etc."

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IMAGE: Irene's Diamonds – Gay Life October 25, 1984

Mark-Christopher's 2004 in Review: The Year in Music.

POP MUSIC TOPS: "Comfort Woman" – Meshell Ndegeocello; "On the Shore" – Charlotte Martin; "That's Life" – Julia Fordham; "Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach" – Ronald Isley and Burt Bacharach; "Birthmark" – Aerin Tedesco; "Medulla" – Bjork; "Scissor Sisters" – Scissor Sisters; "The Dana Owens Album" – Queen Latifah; "Twentysomething" – Jamie Callum.

POP MUSIC BOTTOMS: "Two" – The Calling; "Classikhan" – Chaka Khan with the London Symphony Orchestra; "I Pray" – Amanda Perez; "Wings to Walk This Road" – John Stoddart; "In the Zone" – Britney Spears.

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An article in Gay Chicago reads:

"Chicago organizers of the Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival are reminding worldwide LGBT athletes and artists that early registration for the 2006 quadrennial sports and culture event closes on Friday, Dec. 31. On Jan. 1 2005, the base registration fee for Gay Games VII increases from $125 to $175. The additional sports and cultural event fees remain the same, ranging from $35 to $124. In November, Chicago organizers announced that a weekly transit pass would be included for free as part of the registration fee. Gay Games VII will take place July 15-22, 2006 in Chicago."

Homework

Is SLUTS still around?

Who went to Irene's Diamonds?

Whatever happened to David Hamilton?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Frank Failing at Male Image took these bar shots from Spin for Gay Chicago December 30, 2004

Mike Williams photographs these guys at the Annex 2 contest for Gay Chicago May 6, 1982

Dan Di Leo photographs Mr. Big Red's for Gay Chicago May 27, 1982

Sherman Heinrich photographs at North End for Gay Chicago December 5, 1985

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.