Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1986, 1994 and 2000

(January 25-31, 2018)

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

1986

Obituaries in Gay Life:

"Timothy (Timmy) Lee

"Services were held last Monday in Crystal Falls, Mich., for Timothy (Timmy) Lee, a longtime popular bartender in the Chicago area, who died Jan. 17 following a heart attack."

"Mr. Lee, 40, was a native of Milwaukee where he attended schools. He moved to Chicago and worked at several bars including the Ritz, King's Ransom, the Haig, Loading zone and most recently at the New Flight.

"He moved to Crystal Falls last May and was employed as a bartender there.

"He is survived by his parents, two brothers and two nieces."

And:

"Brian Long

"Services were held in Westwood, Calif., last week for Brian Long, 26, a former Chicagoan, who died Wednesday, Jan. 22, as a result of injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

"Mr. Long was a native of Chicago and attended schools here. He moved to Beverley Hills, Calif., about three months ago. While here he operated the White Glove Cleaning Co.

"Survivors include his parents, Kenneth and Irene Long; Six sisters and two brothers."

And:

"Dennis Johnson

"Former Chicagoan Dennis Johnson, 36, died Sunday, Jan 19, of complications due to AIDS.

"According to friends whom he visited, Mr. Johnson said he discovered he had AIDS last fall. He died of Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia.

"Mr. Johnson had lived in Chicago since his discharge from the U.S. Navy. He had been employed as a bartender at the old Greenleaf bar.

"He moved to his native Denver about three years ago where he worked for the U.S. Mint."

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In Gay Life, a Letter to the Editor from Don Bagger reads:

"It has started again, the rash of thefts within the gay community from would be tricks and one night stands. I am such a victim.

"A few weeks ago my roommate/lover had a friend of his, who he met at a bar, stay the night. I remember the next morning of being in a rush and not taking care to look over the house before I left for work. However, the friend from the night before sure had. I am now missing the following items: 1 ZENITH STEREO VCR serial #4102749; 1 ZENITH STEREO ADAPTOR serial #7147488; 1 NEC VCR serial #C5601071; 1 JVC AUDIO EQUALIZER serial #16912002; 1 NIKON CAMERA serial # unknown; and 4 VIVITAR LENSES FOR ABOVE serial # unknown.

"Please tell your readers to be careful with whom they take home, not only for health reasons, but for the above reasons as well."

1994

An ad in Gay Chicago reads:

"In the desert of the heart, Let the healing fountain start. – W.H. Auden

"Gay Men's Group Now forming.

"For work on

"Personal Growth, Sexuality, Self-acceptance, Depression, Guilt/Anxiety, Attractiveness Issues, Relationships."

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IMAGE: Man's Country – Gay Life November 10, 1978

Top Ten Music Playlist courtesy of DJ Tom E, at Clubhouse, CroBar, Ka–Boom, Roscoe's, Shelter: 1) "The Dance" – Subliminal Cuts; 2) "Play With the Voice" – JT Vannelli featuring Csilla; 3) "Big Time Sensuality" – Bjork; 4) "Pride (A Deeper Love)" – Aretha Franklin; 5) "I'll Be Good to You" – Julie Brannen; 6) "You Got Me Going Around" – Aaron Smith; 7) "Droop" – Sidney Berlin Ragtime Band; 8) "Dream Drums" – Jr. Vasquez; 9) "Who Dares to Believe in Me" – The Believers; 10) "All Because of Me" – Georgie Porgie.

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IMAGE: Carol's Speakeasy – Gay Chicago November 10, 1978

In the bars and clubs, you can see dancers 10 times a week at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted; every Sunday at Gentry of Chicago, 712 N. Rush St. you can play Dick O'Day's Big Lovely Bingo; "La Tour Munro," the 1st stop of the tour show of Miss Continental Monica Munro featuring the talents of Rod Parris and Troy Cosinto, is at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; and Chicago Area Gay Men's Enrichment Organization (C.A.M.E.O.) host a Superbowl Party at Hideaway II, 7301 W. Roosevelt Rd., Forest Park.

2000

Patricia Lynn Reilly is at Women and Children First to read from her book "Imagine a Woman in Love With Herself."

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IMAGE: Piggen's Pub – Gay Chicago May 20, 1982

Quotelines in Outlines:

"When I was growing up in Utah, my perception of gay life was that gay men were promiscuous, anti-family and that it was all about gay bars and cruising. When I finally 'came out' to myself, I realized there was a whole lot more to being gay than the stereotypes. I realized I didn't have to change any of my values or beliefs that I held about families, relationships and commitments just because I was gay." – Sam Francis

And:

"[The Weekly} Trannyshack [night at the Stud] might be the last stand of San Francisco's gay bohemia, decimated by a yuppie invasion, ever-rising rents and Banana Republic conformity." – San Francisco Examiner columnist David Bonetti.

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IMAGE: Gentry – Gay Chicago September 16, 1993

An introduction to yoga and meditation is taught at Kindred Hearts Women's Center, 2214 Ridge, Evanston.

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Twilight Tales reading series presents Rick Reed's "Face Without a Heart," a modern day "Picture of Dorian Gray, at the Red Lion Pub, 2446 N. Lincoln.

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Be roused, be riled, be warmed, beguiled, bedazzled, and bemused by three of Chicago's poetic provocateurs, C.C. Carter, Donna Rose, and RoiAnn Phillips, at the Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, 1650 W. Foster Ave.

Homework

Who remembers Tom E at CroBar?

Is the Kindred Hearts Women's Center still there?

Who remembers Twilight Tales at the Red Lion Pub?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Bob Bearden and Dan Di Leo photograph the Mr. Take One winners for Gay Chicago August 1, 1985

Craig Gernhardt and Mike Williams take picture at the Paradise and Redoubt for Gay Chicago August 8, 1985

The Pink Angels photographed by Bill Skau in Gay Chicago January 16, 1992

Tracy Baim and Bob Bearden take pictures around town for Windy City Times January 23, 1986

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.