Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1966, 1985 and 1992

(July 18-24, 2019)

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

1966

In the July 1966 issue of Mattachine Midwest Newsletter, an article reads:

"We of MATTACHINE MIDWEST, Inc. are very proud to announce that we are celebrating our first anniversary.

"MATTACHINE MIDWEST begins its anniversary weekend with a Dinner-Concert on July 22 at 6:00 p.m. Following this will be a Champagne Gala on July 23 at 8:00 P.m. Both of these events are open to members and guests only. However, on Sunday July 24 at 1:30 p.m., we are having our annual MATTACHINE Sylvan Bacchanal at the Forest Preserves. This event will be open to the public –– at no charge. As the program for the Bacchanal progresses, it promises to be a swinging ball for everyone there."

1985

In the bars and clubs, celebrate Tropical Wednesdays at Christopher Street, 3458 N. Halsted; Chicago Cabaret, 4726 N. Western, is where the girls are every Friday and Saturday; they're showing "Brothers" every Friday at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; come tan your hide and sip cool tropical cocktails every Friday afternoon in Berlin's tropical bier garten, at 954 W. Belmont; the Manhandler, 1948 N. Halsted serves a Texas Style BBQ every Sunday; the Loading Zone, 46 E. Oak St., is now featuring VHS Hi Fi Sights and Sounds; the Mr. Trianon contest takes place at Trianon, 3150 Halsted; "Silence is Golden," free wine/well/beer for hearing impaired with ID. Staff will use fluent sign language, at Showcase One, 959 W. Belmont; at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, "All My Children" shown 5:30-9:00 p.m. followed by progressive music with VJ Glen Russell; DJ Bill Albiez is at BJ's, 3231 N. Clark St.; Karen March plays the piano at Dandy's, 2632 N. Halsted; Street Fair and Multi-Media Art Exhibit is at Teddies, 3160 N. Clark St; the Glory Hole, 1343 N. Wells, hosts a DADDIES and DADDY'S BOYS CONTEST.

+++

IMAGE: Cover – Babble June 14, 1995

MUSIC PLAYLIST courtesy of Frank Lipomi and Michael Broyan of Loading Dock: 1) "Freeway of Love" – Aretha Franklin; 2) "Unexpected Lover" – Lime; 3) "Dangerous" – Natalie Cole; 4) "Would I Lie to You?" – Eurythmics; 5) "You Spin Me Round" – Dead or Alive; 6) "Problems D'Amour (Rx)" – Alexander Robotnik; 7) "Party Boy" – Sean Heydon; 8) "If Looks Could Kill" – Pamela Stanley; 9) "Modern Rocketry" – LP; 10) "Glow" – Rick James; 11) "Into the Groove" – Madonna; 12) "Dancin' in the Key of Life" – Steve Arrington.

+++

IMAGE: Gold Coast – Gay Chicago News June 15, 1977

In Gay Chicago ' s Says You ... (Quote Page):

"Tricks like to lie in bed, also in restaurants." – Fran Lebowitz

"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing." – Thomas Jefferson

"Remember, there's no such thing as a homosexual disease. When heterosexuals start having sex again, they'll get it." – Harvey Fierstein

"They're so goddamned fascist at the doors to gay dancehalls." – Joan Baez

"There's just two things I can't understand, that's mannish actin' woman, and skippin', twistin', woman actin' men. – Bessie Smith

1992

Queer Nation meets weekly at Ann Sather restaurant, 929 W. Belmont.

+++

IMAGE: Rick's Retreat – Gay Chicago June 18, 1992 1987

An article by Cliff O'Neill in Windy City Times begins:

"With the surprise departure of undeclared independent candidate Ross Perot from the presidential campaign, gay and lesbian voters are now expected to cement their votes behind the candidacy of Democratic nominee Gov. Bill Clinton.

"Perot's stunning announcement not to run for president came July 16 and sent shock waves through the political community which had been expecting a three-way race in the fall elections."

+++

An obituary in Windy City Times reads:

"Greg W. Graupman was strangled to death on July 4 at his home in Chicago. The Chicago Police arrested Marty Ellis and charged him with murder.

"Greg was born on January 5, 1962 in Appleton, Wisconsin, and grew up in Green Bay. In 1988, he lived in Milwaukee and was a popular bartender at C'est la Vie.

"In 1989, Greg became a resident of Chicago and worked at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge. He was instrumental in organizing and introducing a new dance troupe, 'Trouble, the Boys Next Door,' who frequently appeared at Clarks on Clark.

"Retiring from dancing in 1992, he worked with R.C. Smith & Associates before joining the staff of Gentry of Chicago.

"Mr. Graupman is survived by his chosen parents Joseph and Anne Delwiche, their dog Iris, companion Dave Edwards, many friends and loved ones, three sisters and adoptive parents William and Nancy Graupman.

"Contributions may be made in his name to Open Hand."

+++

IMAGE: Spin – Babble June 14, 1995

The Lesbian Community Cancer Project hires Mary McCaulley II as the project coordinator. Best known for her Mother Superior persona, McCaulley has been active in the lesbian, feminist and gay activist community since the mid-seventies.

+++

The Human Rights Campaign Fund, the largest national gay and lesbian and AIDS political organization, holds their annual Chicago dinner on July 18 at the new Chicago Sheraton Hotel at 301 E. N. Wacker Drive.

+++

The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago presents a program on "Buying and Selling Real Estate at 7 p.m. on July 21 at the Belmont Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 644 W. Belmont Ave.

Homework

What happened to Mary McCaulley?

Who remembers DJ Bill Albiez?

Chicago Cabaret, Mafia bar?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Babble collage for June 21, 1995

Ralph Paul and Dan Di Leo photograph in Douglas Dunes and at His n Hers in Gay Chicago June 11, 1987

Male Image photography at Hydrate for Gay Chicago May 20, 2004

Albert Williamson photographs at Club Victoria for Gay Life February 7 1985

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.