Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1976, 1983 and 2001

(May 10-16, 2018)

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

1976

An article in Chicago Gay Life begins:

"Nancy Davis, a member of the Gay Rights Action Coalition, began a sit-in at the Cook County Marriage License Bureau Thursday, April 29^th, and was arrested that evening at 5:15 p.m. for criminal trespassing when she refused to leave the bureau's office. She refused to post bond and was taken to Cook County Jail.

"Davis had intended to remain at the Marriage License Bureau until she obtained an affidavit giving gays the right to marry legally. The bureau insisted it was following the law and could not allow same-sex marriages until the law is changed."

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IMAGE: Who's That Girl – Gay Chicago April 10, 2003

Roger Chaffin's 15–Disco–15 in Chicago Gay Life: 1) "That's Where the Happy People Go" – The Trammps; 2) "Touch and Go" – Ecstasy, Passion, and Pain; 3) "Love Hangover" – Diana Ross; 4) "Love Trilogy" – Donna Summers; 5) "Turn the Beat Around" – Vicky Sue Robinson; 6) "First Choice Theme" – The First Choice; 7) "Get Up and Boogie/No, No, Joe" – Silver Convention; 8) "This is It" – Melba Moore; 9) "I Love to Love" – Al Downing; 10) "Ma-Oh-Ah" – Tony Valor Sounds Orchestra; 11) "Moving Like a Superstar" – Jackie Robinson; 12) "Jet Setting" – Van McCoy; 13) "Get Off Your AHHH! and Dance" – Foxy; 14) "Front Row Romeo" – Strutt; 15) "Night and Day" – Monster Orchestra.

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IMAGE: Charlie's – Gay Chicago December 30 2004

In Round 'n' Round With Rhonda in Gay Life:

"Happy 2nd anniversary greetings to the Closet, Le Pub, and the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic. And particularly special congratulations to Wally, Jose, and the staff of the 21 Club, 3042 W. Irving Park who are celebrating their 14^th anniversary with a big party on June 5th."

1983

An article in Gay Life begins:

"A psychologist from Lincoln, Neb., who claims that homosexuals are 20 times more likely to commit mass murder than are heterosexuals was roundly criticized last week by many of his colleagues at the Midwestern Psychological Association convention in Chicago.

"Dr. Paul Cameron, who heads the Institute for the Scientific Investigation of Sexuality in Lincoln, presented a paper at the convention to bolster his claim. Earlier, he had sent copies of the paper to various news media in Chicago with a letter that read in part: 'Dear News Editor: Did you know that homosexuals have accounted for 20 times more mass murder than heterosexuals?'"

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Rainer Werner Fassbinder's film, "Querelle," starring Brad Davis, is showing at the Fine Arts, 418 S. Michigan Ave.

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IMAGE: Scalped at Cell Block – Gay Chicago April 10, 2003

In the bars and clubs, Barry Matters is the guest DJ at the Artful Dodger, 1516 N. Milwaukee: Wes Davis entertains at His 'n' Hers, 944 W. Addison; beer, wine and well drinks are 75c between 4-10 p.m. at the Mineshaft, 8437 Ogden Ave., Lyons, Ill.; it's "Clowns & Mimes Party Time" at the Annex 2, 430 N. Clark St. with DJ Joseph LoPresti; Beth Kaplan and Steve Hansen perform at Opal Station, 6655 N. Clark St.; the first Mr. Normandy Contest takes place at the Normandy, 3400 N. Cark St.; and Bruce Robins is in concert at Dandy's, 2632 N. Halsted.

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The Shepherd Players perform "From Here to Obscurity" at 615 W. Wellington.

2001

WEEK IN PREVIEW in Gay Chicago:

THURSDAY, MAY 10

Gay Chicago Magazine celebrates yet another 25th Silver party at Hunter's in Elk Grove, featuring raffles and prizes. Buddies' participates in "Dining Out for Life," a benefit for AIDSCare. The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club welcomes Marilyn Black. Temptations in Franklin Park goes retro with drink prices and music.

FRIDAY, MAY 11

Through May 24, the Music Box Theatre presents "Sound of Music" sing-along. Dolores Van Cartier is the featured entertainer at The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club. Berlin's "Generation Fetish," a celebration of new fetish photo hardcover by Lester Higgs, including a booksigning and multimedia erotica presentation, followed by Scarlet Life and fashion show by Geoffrey Mac and Vex.

SATURDAY, May 12

Pamela Fox is accompanied by Dan Stetzel as they take the stage at Gentry on Halsted, with Mark Ferris taking over at 10 p.m. Birthday girl Debbie Matt performs at Gentry on State, while celebrating her birthday. Singer/Songwriter Ellen Rosner performs at Berlin. You can catch Karen Mason for an 8 and 10:30 p.m. performance at Davenport's. The Edge in Blue Island will hold a Heartland AIDS Ride benefit with prizes, raffles and a Darling Diva Show."

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IMAGE: @mosphere – Gay Chicago April 3 2003

An article by Karen Hawkins in Windy City Times begins:

"Howard Brown Health Center ended a nine month leadership vacancy last week with the hire of a new executive director.

"Keith Waterbrook, most recently the director of health and mental health at Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, will replace Eileen Durkin, who left HBHC in October of last year."

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From Quotelines in Windy City Times:

"I think I've done my bit for heterosexuality. If other actresses can play lesbians, then so can I. Women are so much more considerate than men. They're a lot more sensual and better lovers than men." – Joan Collins.

And:

"I went and tried to have a trendy haircut and now I look like a lesbian on the female tennis circuit." – Hugh Grant.

Homework

Is Dan Stetzel still around?

Anyone ever go to the Artful Dodger?

Whatever happened to Dolores Van Cartier?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Mike Corona photographs at Touche for Chicago Free Press February 26, 2009

Frank Failing took these photographs Equality Illinois' "Justice For All" for Gay Chicago February 12, 2009

Frank Failing took these for Gay Chicago June 29, 2006

St. Sukie de la Croix takes these at Spin 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.