Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1979, 1982 and 2006

(April 11-17, 2019)

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

1979

An article in Gay Life begins:

"An early morning fire destroyed Our Way disco, 706 State Line Rd., Calumet City, a week ago Thursday. A Calumet City Gay Life reader reported the blaze to Gay Life.

"Fire Chief Stanley Skiba told Gay Life the fire was apparently caused by a frayed extension cord in a storeroom that linked Our Way to a second tavern. Spreading from there, the fire reached into both taverns, virtually destroying them both."

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IMAGE: Darche's – Gay Life February 2, 1979

An article in Gay Life begins:

"The One of Chicago 15^th Annual Banquet is in for a real treat. Midge Constanza is already gathering her thoughts for her speech before the group's banquet to be held Saturday, May 19th in the Gold Room of the Pick-Congress Hotel."

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IMAGE: Loleatta Holloway – Gay Life February 2, 1979

Dignity/Chicago hold Easter Services on April 15 at 7:00 p.m. with a Roman Catholic Mass at 824 W. Wellington (corner of Halsted and Wellington). This Eucharistic celebration of Christ's Resurrection is followed by a coffee hour in the cafeteria.

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Mother Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells, hires a week-end security patrol outside its establishment to protect persons and property of its customers.

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An article in Gay Life begins:

"My favorite singing group continues to be the Village People. Not satisfied to rattle the cages of the top brass of the Young Men's Christian Association with their rendition of 'Y.M.C.A.,' they are now doing the same to a particular branch of the armed services with their popular recording, 'In the Navy.'"

1982

In the bars and clubs, Bloody Marys, Bloody Marias, Screwdrivers and Greyhounds are 50c on Sunday, April 11 at Baskets, 2917 N. Sheffield, a new men's bar; BJ's, 3231 N. Clark St., presents the Second Annual Baskets & Bonnets Contest; Bus Stop, 520 N. Clark, is a great place to get wrecked with Zibble, Wayne, and the rest of the staff; the Annex 2, 430 N. Clark, is happy to announce Ikey returns from her extended illness; there's an Easter Egg Hunt at Touché, 2825 N. Lincoln.

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IMAGE: Bedrock – Gay Chicago February 23, 1989

An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"We received some disturbing news shortly before press time – the American Nazi Party has scheduled a rally in the Free Speech area of Lincoln Park almost at the same time as this year's gay and lesbian pride parade will be concluding there for our traditional rally."

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In the Chicago Tribune, Jerry Falwell writes:

"It is a barometer of how far down we have slid as a nation that people today are denounced and reviled for speaking out in defense of unborn babies; for telling homosexuals they can live that way if they wish, but don't try to get government's approval; for tightening the noose around the filthy swine who sell drugs to children; and for attempting to control the level of mind pollution represented by the $4-billion-a-year pornography industry. Twenty-five ears ago, nearly everyone stood against these blights."

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DJ Mark Vallese picks the TOP 15 tracks he plays at Broadway Limited: 1) "Murphy's Law" – Cheri; 2) "I Specialize in Love" – Sharon Brown; 3) "The Visitors (Remix)" – Abba; 4) "Bostich" – Yello; 5) "Don't Come Crying to Me" – Linda Clifford; 6) "The Best Part of Breaking Up" – Ronnie Griffith; 7) "Native Love" – Divine; 8) "Don't You Want Me" – Human League; 9) "Stormy Weather" – Viola Wells; 10) "Forget Me Nots/Breakout" – Patrice Rushen; 11) "Circles" – Atlantic Star; 12) "Sure Shot (Instrumental)" – Tracey Weber; 13) "Jump Shout" – Lisa; 14) "Glad to Know You" – Chas Jankel; 15) "Tees Right/It's Right" – Michell Wallace.

2006

Chicago organizers of the 2006 Gay Games announce that the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan, will be the site of Gay Games VII Expo, July 14-17, which will open at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 14. More than 100 exhibitors are expected to participate.

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IMAGE: Ferron – Windy City Times February 16, 1989

Court TV's ongoing "ACLU Freedom Files" presents a thought-provoking look into the ugly eye of discrimination with its no-holds barred installment, "Gay and Lesbian Rights," premiering Saturday, April 15, at 12 p.m. This unflinching documentary provides a birds-eye view into the private lives of a group of same-sex couples and the legal obstacles they face every day because the law fails to recognize them as a legal pair.

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From Gay Chicago's Calendar of Events:

Wednesday, April 12

"Positive Social" night will be held at Cell Block. Kathryn Payne kicks off the entertainment at Gentry on State, followed by Brian Felder. Lucky Horseshoe Lounge holds its "Tighty Whities" night. A DVD release party for "Brokeback Mountain" will be held in Sidetrack. Paula Sinclaire performs at Gentry on Halsted, followed by Brian Felder, "Rising Star" semi-finals will be held at Roscoe's. The North End hosts karaoke with Melissa. Cabaret and comedy will be presented at @mosphere with Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen. Buddy Charles is the featured entertainer at Cornelia's. Hosted by SpankE, karaoke will be held at Nutbush in Forest Park. "Hy-Drag Revue" will be held at Hydrate.

Homework

Is Brian Felder still around?

Who remembers Bus Stop?

Who was SpankE?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Spike King photographs around town in Gay Chicago July 6 1989

Unknown pageant winner Gay Chicago May 5, 1983

ACT UP photographed by Bill Stamets for Windy City Times August 24, 1989

Gray Pride board members in Windy City Times July 6, 1989

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.