Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1978, 1999 and 2003

(March 14-20, 2019)

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

1978

A headline on the cover of Gay Life reads "Bill Kelley receives Hart Award."

"Mattachine Midwest held its annual banquet at the Courtyard Inn, 1531 N. Wells in Chicago on Sunday, March 12. Nearly 100 persons were there to hear Karen Burns entertain and to witness the presentation of the Pearl M. Hart Award to William B. Kelley for his outstanding service to the gay and lesbian community."

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IMAGE: Dugan's Bistro – Gay Chicago February 1, 1979

HiLites from this week's Gay Life:

"Sizwe Bansi is Dead." This award-winning Goodman Stage 2 production, with its original cast, Mesach Taylor and Lionel Smith, makes a return appearance at Mandel Hall, 57^th and University, March 14 through 19.

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Eleven photo-etchings by Chicagoan Keith Smith will be on display on the mezzanine level of the Columbia College Building, 600 S. Michigan, from March 10 through April 28. Smith is a graduate of the Art Institute and I.T.T. and is a former teacher at the Institute. This exhibit constitutes his first public and overt statement of his own homosexuality.

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Night Life: Celebrated Chicago singer Jo Mapes will appear at His 'n Hers Friday evening, March 17 at 10 p.m. One of the gay community's absolute favorites, Karen Mason, will begin a 4-week engagement at the Cabaret at Center Stage on Wednesday, March 15. A second music marathon at the Virgo Out on Sunday, March 19 will include a long list of performers, including Pudgy and Sam Hill, Tom Oman and Paula Karol and Cathy Ford. At the Music Box Carolyn Ford will be entertaining on March 17, 18, 24, and 25.

1999

"A Must See Tour De Force" – The Los Angeles Times. The Fabulous Lypsinka Show is at Park West, 322 W. Armitage.

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IMAGE: Roscoe's – Gay Chicago December 8, 1994

In the bars and clubs, DJs Michael Serrafini and Keith Ware are at Fusion, 3631 N. Halsted; Fridays it's the Shower Contest at Spin, Halsted and Belmont; it's Underwear Night at the Manhandler, 1948 N. Halsted; in a benefit for Windy City Softball & The 1999 Blowout Tournament, America's top female impersonators perform at the Baton, 436 N. Clark St.; it's cabaret night with Rudy de la Mor at Club 7301, 7301 W. Roosevelt, Forest Park; St. Patrick's Day is celebrated at Roscoe's, 3356 N. Halsted, with VJ Bobby Marley playing Irish Bands like U2 and the Corrs; this aint no disco. A cure for the common Halsted can be found at Leatherneck, 209 W. Lake.

An article in Outlines by P.J. Engelbrecht begins:

"Gay Alabamian Billy Jack Gaither was murdered near Sylacauga Feb. 19. Two local men confessed and were charged with the killing two and a half weeks later, and the news of yet another brutal anti-gay murder broke nationally in early March.

"Outraged, the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network and other metro LGBT community members responded with a rally and march against hate crimes Sunday evening, March 14.

"About 100 demonstrators gathered at the Boys Town corner of Halsted and Roscoe as night fell and temperatures dipped below freezing."

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IMAGE: Suzanne Westenhoefer – Outlines November 1994

In Quotelines in Outlines:

"My girlfriend bonds with all living things except people. We (the cocker spaniel and I) fight over my girlfriend's attention, and he wins. They're joined at the ankle." – Suzanne Westenhoefer

And:

"The map of the gay community is as balkanized as Eastern Europe." – Larry Kramer

2003

Restaurants advertising in Gay Chicago, include Marysol, 812-816 W. Randolph St., contemporary Cuban cuisine; Pie Hole Pizza, 737 W. Roscoe, "We're freshly baked and so's the pie"; and Dinotto, 215 W. North Ave., late night dining and cocktails.

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IMAGE: Gentry – Windy City Times February 16, 1989

An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"Test Positive Aware Network is now accepting registrations for the second annual Pride Ride, scheduled for Aug. 23-24. The two-day, 190-mile bicycle fundraising event will take riders from TPAN's north side office to Lake Geneva and back. Registration cost is $65, and participants are required to raise $1,000."

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Some of this week's happenings from Gay Chicago's Calendar of Events:

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

Colleen McHugh performs her 8 p.m. show at Davenport's and Foiled Again ensemble present their show at 10:30 p.m. Hot male dancers return to the Edge in Blue Island. Traci Ross headlines at the Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club. Members of the Great Lakes Bears gather at Buddies. Jeremy Rill will be accompanied by Ben Hartman at Gentry on Halsted, who will then be followed by Mark Farris.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

Celebrating the upcoming Irish holiday, Buddies offers "Green Weekend" specials. Manhandler Saloon holds its Pisces birthday party this afternoon. Hideaway celebrates St. Patrick's Day with karaoke and a traditional Irish stew buffet. Spin hosts "Envy," a show starring Xviara Snow, Monique Moyet, Madame X, Nikki Carmichael and other guests. An indoor beach benefit for Bailiwick Repertory, "Turn Up the Heat: Pig Out with Porn Stars," will be held at Circuit, from 4 to 9 p.m. "Survivor Drag 2" will be hosted by Sassy Trade at the Edge. At Gentry on Halsted, Tricia Grennan with Elizabeth Doyle perform, with Mark Farris taking over for the later show. For your viewing pleasure, Nutbush in Forest Park presents Teasers Dancers. The Office Nightclub in Rockford holds at 11 p.m. show with Sabrina Delite, Cece Martin and Tajma Hall, among others. KMC and Company is in the cabaret at Davenport's.

Homework

Is Madame X still around?

What was the Office like?

Mark Farris still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Spike King photographs around town in Gay Chicago February 9, 1989

Mark DeSanto took these photograph for Gay Chicago May 19, 1983

Mike Williams photographed the Mr. Carol's Contest for Gay Chicago May 26, 1983

The finalists of the Mr. Windy City Contest in Gay Chicago News July 1, 1977

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.