Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1981, 1989 and 1998

(April 12-18, 2018)

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

1981

In the bars and clubs, Danniel, Rico, Scotty, Ginger and Kay invite you to the Frog Pond, 2917 N. Sheffield, every Wednesday for a free BBQ; every Saturday at midnight, Columns, 1347 S. Michigan Ave., (a private membership club) has music by Kenny Newbert; an evening with Cesar, almost live, takes place at Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells St.; every Monday to Friday there's a 5-8 p.m. cocktail hour at lesbian bar Minkees, 3019 N. Clark St.; there's a pizza party with Michael K every Saturday at BJ's, 3231 N. Clark St.; it's the Third Annual Bicycle Raffle at the Bushes, 3320 N. Halsted; the Sam Gleck Players perform at His 'n' Hers, 944 W. Addison; Tiny Tim sings "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" at Dugan's Bistro, 420 N. Dearborn; it's the Grand Opening of Ozone, 112 W. Hubbard.

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IMAGE: Jinx Titanic at Jackhammer – Cruisin' 2004 #12

An article in Gay Chicago reads:

"Ed Barnett has been elected president of Mattachine Midwest. Other officers elected were Barry Frauman, vice president; Chuck Phillips, treasurer; Tony Joseph, secretary; and Bob Parker, Ira Jones, Keith Truitt and Ken Turley, directors.

"The first action of the new board was to allocate funds to sponsor a bus for the April 21^st trip to Springfield for the state bill project hearings of the Illinois Gay Rights Task Force."

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Lesbian ad in Gay Life:

"Gay black female, 21 yrs, 5'6", 130lbs, versatile, independent and reliable seeks women who have similar interests as mine. I'm into music, sports, reading and writing. I like to dance, attend seminars, get high, travel and make love to beautiful women. Sincerity is the key to my heart."

1989

An article by R.M. Kim in Windy City Times begins:

"In direct response to questionnaire suggestions from last year's participants and critical self-evaluation by organizer's that Horizons' first annual conference was dominated by the concerns of white middle-class, North Side lesbians, this year's conference will attempt to broaden the scope of issues to be explored. Reflective of this effort to embrace more members of Chicago's diverse lesbian community, the upcoming conference is entitled 'Patchwork: Sharing Our Stories,' and has been advertised with bi-lingual advertising."

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Obituary in Windy City Times begins:

"A memorial service for John Michael Patrick Cummings will be held Wednesday, April 19, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Parish, 615 W. Wellington. Cummings passed away April 3 in his home; he succumbed to complications due to AIDS. He was 43.

"Born in Milwaukee, he attended Mother of Good Counsel grade school and was graduated from Messmer High School. While in high school he appeared in several school plays.

"Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam for 18 months. He was a priest in the Old Roman Catholic Church for a number of years.

"Cummings moved to Chicago in the early 1970s. He worked as a chef at several restaurants, including Dingbats, the Hide Out, Mable Murphy's, Two Doors South, and most recently at Genessee Depot."

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The Northwestern Medical Program for Performing Artists and the Goodman Theatre sponsor a series of panel discussions on "Critical Health Issues Facing Arts Managers." The first session deals with 'Confronting AIDS and Other Catastrophic Illnesses,' at Victory Gardens/Body Politic Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln. Admission is free but space limited.

1998

The Horizons Youth drop-in center is open at 961 W. Montana.

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The Howard Brown Health Center Bereavement Support Group meets at 4025 N. Sheridan.

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IMAGE: Carol's Speakeasy – Gay Chicago March 15, 1979

Throughout April, Taste of Heaven bakery, 1701 W. Foster, displays local lesbian photographer Adrien Pikovsky's exhibit, "One Brief Moment in Time,"

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Extracts from Gay Chicago's The Week in Review:

Wednesday, April 15

"The Newlywed Game" is the game show tonight at Roscoe's. "No Hair Club" night at the Cell Block offers free buzzcuts. Jared Michael performs at Gentry on Halsted, followed by Beckie Menzie. At Gentry on State, Freddy Allen kicks off the entertainment with Khris Francis taking over at 9:30 p.m. Stop by Buddies' for its "Tax Relief" festivities.

Thursday, April 16

The AIDS Living Remembrance Project's Premier Benefit Celebration dinner and silent auction will be held this evening at Toulouse on the Park, featuring a performance by extraordinary vocalist Charles Cermele. Ultimate Oz in Forest Partk is host to a bevy of hot male dancers tonight.

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IMAGE: Blacklines cover – Blacklines March 1999

The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus present their 1998 spring concert, "Forbidden Halsted St." at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport.

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IMAGE: His 'n' Hers – Gay Life March 9, 1979

Judy Garland's "other daughter" Lorna Luft, signs copies of her book "Me and My Shadow" at Borders, 2817 N. Clark St.

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The Hispanic AIDS Coalition and Project VIDA host Unidad 98, an AIDS benefit night, April 17, Tropicana De Cache, 2140 N. Milwaukee.

Homework

Is Barry Frauman still around?

Anyone go to the Ozone on Hubbard?

Anyone see Tiny Tim at the Bistro?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Israel Wright photographs of the Vix, the Rails, and Cell Block for Blacklines, March 1999

Dave Ouano photographs Mardi Gras at Mary's Attic for Chicago Free Press, March 5, 2009

St Sukie de la Croix photographs the Barony USO Show at the Annex for Nightspots

More St Sukie de la Croix photographs the Barony USO Show at the Annex for Nightspots, March 5, 2003

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.