Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1978, 1998 and 2004

(September 13-19, 2018)

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

1978

An article in Gay Life begins:

"Dignity/Chicago plans to feed the entire gay community breakfast after the bars close on Sunday morning, September 17.

"Billed as 'Breakfast With Dignity,' the proceeds will go for many worthwhile Dignity projects this fall.

"The breakfast menu includes eggs, pancakes, sausage, melons, juice and coffee for only $3.50 (advance tickets) or $4.00 at the door."

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IMAGE: Eagle – Windy City Times February 14, 2001

A meeting of the Lesbian Community Center takes place at Gay Horizons, 920 B. W. Oakdale. Among the items discussed are sharing space, future fund-raising benefits, social functions and initiation of programs. A social hour is held after the meeting.

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IMAGE: The Gold Coast – Gay Life February 21, 1985

Maturity's monthly meeting is at 7:30 pm at the Germania Club and features Rev. Jay Deacon, the new pastor at Good Shepherd Parish, MCC as the speaker.

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An article in Gay Life reads:

"Cary Wallach, one of the owners of Broadway Limited, is recuperating in St. Joseph's Hospital from stab wounds inflicted in the early morning hours of Friday, September 8 by a patron refused admission because of drunkenness and lack of identification. The assailant was held by the Broadway Limited staff until police could come and make an arrest; the initial court date has been set for Tuesday, September 19. Wallach, who suffered a punctured lung and was for a time in intensive care, is now doing well."

1998

In the bars and clubs, Fridays are Disco Nights at Girlbar, 2625 N. Halsted St.; the Euchre Club meets at Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan; Wednesdays are Lesbian Night at Michelle's Sports Bar, 7225 W. Grand Avenue; Wednesdays are Boy Bar Days with DJ Tim Cleary at Girlbar, 2625 N. Halsted; the Wild Hare, 738 N. Clark St., is downtown Chicago's newest club with DJ Jim Lewis; Headliners of Texas, three male dancers, appear at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park.

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IMAGE: Cover – Nightspots May 21, 2003

An article in Nightspots reads:

"The Cook County Commission on Human Rights last week upheld a proposed decision that Red Lobster violated the county's civil rights laws when it fired a gay associated manager, David Hall, at its Lincolnwood restaurant. The Commission told Red Lobster to conduct diversity training at its six Cook County restaurants, and awarded Hall $50,000 ($40,000 more than had been recommended, plus $45,000 in back pay, interest and lost value of benefits."

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IMAGE: Old Town Books and Video – Gay Chicago January 10, 1985

An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"The Radical Faeries of the Chicago Faerie Circle presented checks totaling $300 to two local, queer, youth-based charities.

"The donations were proceeds from the group's first annual weeklong Faerie Frolic Arts Festival, held around the Spring Equinox.

"The six-day celebration and urban gathering included performance art, faerie theater, art installations and 'A Day of Beauty and Ritual' at the alternative arts gallery space formerly known as the Randolph Street Gallery."

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Chi-Town Squares, Chicago's only Gay & Lesbian Square Dancing Club, invites new members to come to one of its two open beginner's classes.

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An article in Outlines begins:

"A Chicago-area lesbian electrician killed on the job two years ago is one of 65 tradespeople honored by a new mural at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Offices, 600 W. Washington, the CHICAGO TRIBUNE reported after Labor Day. Andrea Hall, 33, 'was killed when a floor collapsed on top of her as she installed computer equipment."

2004

Here are some of the items listed in this week's Gay Chicago Calendar of Events:

"Wednesday, September 15: Through Saturday, Rudy de la Mor performs at Gentry on State. At Gentry on Halsted, it's Kathryn Payne. @mosphere reopens tonight with entertainment by Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen. Two-steppin' and line-dancing will be held at Charlie's, followed by dance music at midnight. Birdcage will be shown at Roscoe's, featuring the club's burger and fries dinner special. Through Sunday, Madrigal's featured dancers are John, Jeremy, Kevin, Mike and Jason. Karaoke will be held at North End with Mistress Melissa. Hydrate's 'Hy-Drag Revue' will be held with Tajma Hall. Members of Windy City Gay Naturists host their birthday club night at Touche. Hunter's in Elk Grove holds it weekly 'Whirl' night."

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Lambda Legal organizes a fundraising event to celebrate victory in the case of Lydia Ramos, who has struggled to regain custody of her partner's biological daughter after a tragic death. 7:00 pm cocktails and drinks, 8 p.m. brief presentation, suggested donation $25, in Lawrence/Broadway area RSVP to Carlos ______

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Chix Mix Productions presents the Dance Party 4 Women. Party like a rock star, with DJ Dragonfire and sexy superstar dancers, tattoo and piercing booth, bartenders, Jen and Lisa. Rock attire encouraged. Takes place at Logan square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie.

Homework

Is Hunter's still in Elk Grove?

Anyone know how the Lydia Ramos case ended?

Is Cary Wallach still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Jack Sitar photographs new members of the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic board of directors for Gay Life February 21, 1985

Israel Wright photographs the Mid-Atlantic Leather contest in Washington DC for Nightlines, February 7, 2001

Kirk Williamson photographs at Cocktail, Nightspots May 14, 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.