Gay life in Chicago this week, back in...
1979
A letter to the editor of Gay Chicago from Disgruntled Spectator reads:
"What a fiasco the Mr. Loading Zone contest on May 31 turned out to be!
"As usual, it was started late–I assume to sell more drinks!
"When the contest finally began it was announced that the contest had been narrowed down to two contestants–what happened to the other three preliminary winners?
"The two contestants were introduced to the audience–one a short, milky-white man showing a rather adequate basket–his one good feature! Competing against him was a tall muscular tanned Adonis who set many a heart aflutter. There was really no comparison!
"It was then announced that they (the judges–whoever they were) would make their final decision.
"Much to the disgust of many of the bar patrons including myself, the short bar employee won!
"Could the reason have been that he was an employee of the bar or did he do something else to win the judges favor??
"If you had to be an employee of the bar to win, why didn't they announce that? Also, why did we not know who the judges were and see the actual judging and tallying of votes?
"I hope all contests are not run in this manner!
"If it was a foregone conclusion who the winner would be (as it obviously was), why go to the trouble of having a contest?"
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