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

1973

Dignity/Chicago host a St. Patrick's Day Soiree at the IOOF Hall, 4221 Irving Park Rd, with music by Grady Johnson and the Soul Merchants. A donation of $6 includes food, drinks and dancing.

A notice in the March 1973 issue of the monthly Mattachine Midwest Newsletter reads:

SOCIAL NOTE: We are very pleased to announce the engagement of RAY ANTHONY to LARRY GENE. Wedding bells–by Tinkerbell or some other good fairy – are expected in May.

(Image: Advertisement for Newberry Theatre from MATACHINE MIDWEST NEWSLETTER, March 2, 1973)

The Free Fellowship Church–"A church in the heart of Chicago–with gays of Chicago at heart"–is open Sunday afternoons in the Chapel, 8 S. Michigan Ave, Suite 312.

1980

A contingent from the Illinois Gay Rights Task Force (IGRTF) march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, after earlier being rejected by the parade's committee who said there was no room for anymore entries. So IGRTF accepted an invitation to march with the Chicago Irish Feminists.

Gay candidates Chuck Renslow and Ted Hoerl lose in their bids to become national convention delegates.

The recently formed Windy City Gay Chorus, Artemis Singers, and the Chicago Gay/Lesbian Community Band, now fall under an umbrella group called Toddlin' Town Performing Arts.

(Image: Advertisement from GAY CHICAGO, March 19, 1981)

Bathhouses in Chicago include Club Baths/Chicago, 609 N. LaSalle; Man's Country, 5015 N. Clark St.; Man's World North, 4740 N. Western; Ohio & State Health Club, 9 E. Ohio; Steamworks Ltd; 3131 N. Lincoln; and Wacker Health Club, 674 N. Clark.

1993

Events in the bars and clubs this week include joining Patti O'Furniture and all the leprechauns at the St. Patrick's Day Party at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted; Disco Palace with Boogie DJ's Pat Harms (up front) and Jungle Jorge Suarez (dance floor) at Roscoe's, 3354-56 N. Halsted; S.E.E.D. Productions presents Fun Factory Bar with the Boys from the Roxy, NYC, spin yourself sick on the Orbotron and Soundwaves by Carlos Valderrama and Mark Hultmark; the hilarious Khris Francis is the only fun in town at Gentry of Chicago, 712 N. Rush St; Musical comedian Kevin Ecker appears at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; There's an open mic from 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at Bugle Boy, 3320 N. Halsted; and there's a kick-off party to benefit the 1993 National March on Washington at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont.

(Image: Advertisement from GAY CHICAGO, March 19, 1992)

The Honorable Richard M. Daley officially proclaims March 19, 1993 as James W. Flint Day in Chicago in honor of the Baton Show Lounge's 25th anniversary, as well as Mr. Flint's numerous other accomplishments.

Test Positive Aware (TPAN), the Midwest's largest resource and support system for people living with HIV/AIDS, announces a new program for the HIV community, the Saturday Night Coffeehouse. It's an opportunity for people to socialize in a setting open and conducive to the issues surrounding HIV. Occasional films, poems, short stories, plays, and performance pieces will also be showcased. It takes place at TPAN, 1317 W. Belmont.

Laurie Dittman, executive director of Illinois Gay and Lesbian Political Action Committee (IMPACT) is the special guest on WXRT Radio's public affairs show. She is interviewed by DJ Terri Hemmert.

The Illinois Federation for Human Rights engages Mark S. Killion, a well-connected Republican lobbyist and former assistant to Gov. James R. Thompson, to assist in the organization's effort to amend the Illinois Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation.

Donnie "BAM" Warner, DJ/VJ at Hunters and Vortex, lists his Top Ten Music Playlist in Gay Chicago: 1) Phorever People (D's Phat Mix) – The Shamen; 2) Little Bird (Utah Saints Remix) – Annie Lennox; 3) I'm Every Woman (Cole & Civilies Remixes) – Whitney Houston; 4) Trip Harder (Twitch Remix) – Ultraviolet Catastrophe; 5) I Feel You (Babylon Mix) – Depeche Mode; 6) Take Me Higher – Mellow-Dee Project; 7) Cosmotrash (Remixes) – Trashmen; 8) Elevator Up & Down – Interactive; 9) Some Lovin' – Liberty City; 10) I'm Ravin' – Low Atomic Style.

In the March 18, 1993 Gay Chicago, Rick Karlin writes in his Etc. column: "Set your VCR to tape The Jerry Springer Show this Friday. Local drag diva, Tina Tech, is featured in the show that showcases the fact that many top designers are utilizing female impersonators as high fashion models."

Homework:

Does anyone know what happened to Patti O'Furniture, or DJ Pat Harms, or Carlos Valderrama?

Are the Artemis Singers still performing, if not, why not?

Did you meet your other half in a Chicago Gay Bar? Tell us the story.

(Leave your comments below)

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.