Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1985, 1993 and 2012

(October 10 - October 24, 2019)

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

1985

In the bars and clubs, Marc Wade, Chicago's Most Versatile Piano Bar Entertainer is performing at Gentry of Chicago, 712 N. Rush St.; watch "Dynasty" at Christopher Street, 3458 N. Halsted; "Night with the Stars" is at Showcase One, 959 W. Belmont and features Patti Kakes, Shante, Ginger Grant, and Candi Stratton; Take One, 2570 N. Clark, hosts a benefit for Jane Byrne; you can see male dancers every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Inner Circle, 2546 N. Clark St.; male dancers, a DJ, adult films and an open patio at JJ's, 6403 N. Clark St.; Mark Vallese is the DJ every Friday at Trianon, 3150 N. Halsted; Al Segre and pianist Harry Campagna perform at Windy City Bar & Grille, 3127 N. Clark St.; the South Side's newest bar is the 131 Club, 13126 S. Western, Blue Island; 14th Annual Miss Gay America pageant 1985-1986, presented by Norma Kristie & the 21 Club, 3042 Irving Park Rd.; the Normandy, 3400 N. Clark St. presents Diana Hutton and a Male Strip Contest.

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IMAGE: The Body Shop – Gay Chicago August 13, 1987

E.T.C. column by Rick Karlin in Gay Chicago begins:

"Well! The big talk around town these days is the shake-up at GayLife. Many of the staff members walked out and are starting a new publication called Windy City Times. It's such big news that it made both the 'Inc' column in the Trib and 'Page 10' in the Sun-Times. Rumors are flying rampant, so we suggest that before believing any of them you check with the proper sources."

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An article in Windy City Times reads:

"A trial date of Nov. 18 was set last week for Larry Eyler, 31.

"Eyler, suspected of killing several young men and boys over a two year period, is charged in the murder of uptown teenager Danny Bridges, 16. Bridges' body was found Aug. 21, 1984, in eight pieces in garbage bags in a dumpster located behind a building next door to where Eyler lived, at 1628 W. Sherwin.

"Bridges, like many of the other 24 victims linked to Eyler by police, was a prostitute. Officers said he had been tied up, sexually assaulted, and stabbed repeatedly."

1993

An article in Gay Chicago reads:

"Horizons has announced its new support group for gay and bisexual Latino men. The group, open to gay and bisexual Latinos, ages 18 and up, will run for 10 weeks, beginning in October, and will be led by experienced group facilitators. For more information call ______ and ask for Emi Johnson."

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Obituary from Gay Chicago begins:

"Faron Evans, 35, died on Thursday, September 23, at St. Joseph's Hospital, of complications due to AIDS.

"Born an Air Force brat, Mr. Evans was raised mainly in Central, Illinois, although his childhood took him from coast to coast.

"His first stop in his musical career was Madison, Wisconsin, where he performed for 10 years at local clubs and hotels. In the early '80s, he traveled to New York City and performed at the Duplex, various spots on Fire Island, Rounds and the Inner Circle.

Mr. Evans arrived at Gentry in November 1987, and instantly made his home in Chicago, building a loyal following of singers, aficionados of show tunes, and folks out for a night of silliness and laughter. In between stints at Gentry, he traveled to Southern California to perform at No 1 Fifth Avenue and the Little Shrimp.

"His nightly antics, anecdotes, and assorted nonsense, not to mention his vast repertoire of always the latest show tunes, will be missed by all."

2012

An article in Windy City Times by Carrie Maxwell begins:

"The rainbow pylons along Halsted Street will soon feature plaques commemorating notable LGBT people from around the world and throughout history. The Legacy Walk plaques will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony on Oct. 11 – the 25th anniversary commemoration of National Coming Out Day.

"According to the organization's website, the mission of the Legacy Project (the non-profit corporation overseeing the creation of the Legacy Walk) is "to inform, inspire, enlighten, and foster an appreciation for the crucial role LGBT people have played in the advancement of world history and culture."

IMAGE: Mephisto – Nightspots May 26, 2004?

"The Legacy Project designed the bronze plaques in cooperation with the Northalsted Business Alliance, and Impact Architectural Signs is producing them. They will be cast from solid bronze with a laser-etched photo relief and hand-applied painted background for texture and finish. Each will be sealed in a durable acrylic polymer clear coat for lasting protection outdoors and resistance to routine vandalism such as stickers and tagging. All plaques will include a portrait and brief biography of each inductee. A separate engraved solid bronze dedication plaque mounted below each plaque will identify the donor(s) who sponsored each inductee." The rainbow pylons along Halsted Street will soon feature plaques commemorating notable LGBT people from around the world and throughout history. The Legacy Walk plaques will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony on Oct. 11—the 25th anniversary commemoration of National Coming Out Day.

IMAGE: Thoroughly Modern Millie – Windy City Times January 28, 2004

"According to the organization's website, the mission of the Legacy Project (the non-profit corporation over-seeing the creation of the Legacy Walk) is "to inform, inspire, enlighten, and foster an appreciation for the crucial role LGBT people have played in the advancement of world history and culture."

"The Legacy Project designed the bronze plaques in cooperation with the Northalsted Business Alliance, and Impact Architectural Signs is producing them. They will be cast from solid bronze with a laser-etched photo relief and hand-applied painted background for texture and finish. Each will be sealed in a durable acrylic polymer clear coat for lasting protection outdoors and resistance to routine vandalism such as stickers and tagging. All plaques will include a portrait and brief biography of each inductee. A separate engraved solid bronze dedication plaque mounted below each plaque will identify the donor(s) who sponsored each inductee."

Homework

Is Diana Hutton still around?

Who remembers Faron Evans?

Who was Patti Kakes?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Ed Lund takes this photo of Normandy patrons for Gay Chicago Sept 26, 1985

Jack Sitar photographs guys at Hunters for Gay Chicago August 13, 1987

The guys at Chicago House in Outlines August 6, 1987

Rex Wockner photographs Art Johnston for Outlines January 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.