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

1976

In Chicago Gay Life, the Round ‘n' Round with Rhonda column recommends: "Well worth the trip … Bob's Emporium at 5100 S. Lake Park, just off Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park, has one of the best selections of gay periodicals around, including Blueboy, Mandate, In Touch, Chicago Gay Life, and The Advocate. Stop in and check it out for the best selection of magazines in the city."

(Image: Advertisement from Gay Life, March 5, 1976 )

Massachusetts State Rep. Elaine Noble speaks to 400 people at the Midland Hotel. Chicago Gay Life wrote: "Her speech touched upon areas of concern never fully expressed before in this community. The crowd was about 75% women and 25% men, very responsive to what she had to say. Noble called herself a ‘politician,' a term that many find distasteful. But she clearly pulled no punches, explaining that it is important for lesbians and gay men to take note that the struggle for liberation is far from over."

(Image: Editorial cartoon from Gay Life, Feb. 18, 1976 )

Maturity, a group for senior gays, holds a meeting of its 65 members and decides to begin circulation of a petition addressed to Mayor Richard J. Daley , seeking his support to assist in obtaining passage of the gay rights legislation currently in committee in the City Council.

1987

Events in the bars and clubs this week include the first anniversary party at TJ's, 46 E. Oak St.; K.C. Helmeid performs at Gentry of Chicago, 712 N. Rush St. on Tuesday through Thursday, and on Friday and Saturday it's Tommi & Nanette; Candywine, an all female band, performs at Riversedge, 3548 N. River Road, Franklin Park; and Judy Tenuta, "The Petite Flower Giver-Goddess Fashion Plate Saint in a Rare Appearance on This Planet!" is at Christopher Street, 3458 N. Halsted.

(Image: Gay Chicago Magazine cover from Feb. 19, 1987 )

The Howard Brown Memorial Clinic host a special preview benefit performance of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart at the Next Theatre Company, 927 Noyes, Evanston. Tickets $50, includes reception following the performance.

(Image: Advertisement from Outlines, Feb. 1988 )

Groups meeting this week include Gay Overeaters at 3225 N. Sheffield; Gay Alanon and West Suburban Gay Alcoholics Anonymous are at Longfellow Center, Oak Park; Windy City Gay Chorus Slickers rehearse at 656 W. Barry; the women's Artemis Singers meet for rehearsal at St. James Church, 6554 N. Rockwell; and Asians and Friends meet at Zoran, 3474 N. Clark St.

1995

Windy City Softball sponsors the All-Gay Skating Party at the Rainbow Rink, Clark and Lawrence, on February 21, 1995. Costumes encouraged. Admission $7 at the door, or there's a $6 coupon in Gay Chicago.

(Image: Tower Records ad from Gay Chicago, Feb. 16, 1995 )

Events in the clubs and bars this week include a Mardi Gras Toga Party at the Nutbush, 7201 Franklin, Forest Park; The Men of Body Sweat strip down to the legal essentials at Northend, 3733 N. Halsted; The Men of Body Sweat also appear at Numbers, 6406 N. Clark St.; Honey West sings at Gentry, 3320 N. Halsted; Alexandra Billings brings her unique comic stylings and vibrant vocal talents to the Ball Room at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; Live On Stage at Glee, 1543 N. Kingsbury, MCA recording artists Livin' Joy performing their club hit I'm a Dreamer. The opening act is Chicago Strictly Hype recording artist Willie Crispo singing his hit Where Have You Gone To. House mixes by Teri Bristol , Earl Pleasure and Ralphi Rosario . In the Mezz DJ Freddie Bain . Hosted by Byron Dorsey & Paolo ; Leather United host a benefit for the Reimer Foundation at the Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St. Reimer distributes free condoms to the bars.

Boy's Life, the #1 Gay Film in America! Three stories of love, lust and liberation, is at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport.

Horizons Community Services hold their 1995 Human First Awards at the Palmer House. This is the sixth annual Human First dinner and this year the recipients are Nan Schaffer , D.V.M. and Armando Smith . The events theme, "The Gay ‘90s," reflects the progress made by lesbians and gay men in the last 100 years.

Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow for Gay Life 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 the upcoming book Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.