By Sukie de la Croix

this week in...

1975 One of Chicago organizes a Labor Day weekend outing to Milwaukee. The trip includes two nights lodging at the Plankington House and a Saturday night dinner. Price is $35 single occupancy, or $25 double.

The Den One, 1355 N. Wells St. hosts a benefit for Gay Horizons that features the farewell performance of Euneeda Hose, one half of the song-miming duo the Linoleum Sisters. Paul Turnup, the other half of the team, promises to continue performing after Euneeda has moved to San Francisco. The Den One disco was open September 1974–summer of 1978, before reopening as Carol’s Speakeasy in October 1978 with Mother Carol in attendance.

1976 The Top 5 Disco hits in Chicago’s gay bars are 1) “Cherchez La Femme” by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band; 2) “You Should Be Dancing” by the Bee Gees; 3) “Let’s Make a Deal” by Gloria Gaynor; 4) “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” by Lou Rawls; and 5) “Don’t Take Away the Music” by Tavares.

1977 Ami Pierce appears in her “Evening of Woman Music” at the feminist collective-run café Mama Peaches, 3059 N. Sheffield.

1983 Popular bars include Dan’s on Clark, 6341 N. Clark St.; Christopher Street, 3458 N. Halsted; La Cage, 50 E. Oak St.; the Factory, 1665 W. Fullerton; Carol’s Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells; Bughaus, 2570 N. Halsted; Company, 2683 N. Halsted; Knight Out, 2936 N. Clark T.; and Mike’s Terrace, 1137 W. Granville.

A week of North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance activities surrounding Gay World Series VII and hosted by Chicago’s Windy City Athletic Association is climaxed with a banquet and awards ceremony at the Bismarck Hotel. After the cocktail hour, Fran Picci, a mime artist, and a female impersonation troupe from Club Victoria entertain the crowd. The program is emceed by gay club personalities Michael “K” and Chicago Molly.

Popular adult bookstores for gay men are Fantasy Books, 2928 N. Broadway; Ira’s Male Box, 53 W. Hubbard; Machine Shop, 504 N. Clark St.; Over 21 Bookstore, 1347 N. Wells; and the Tool Box, 414 N. Clark.

1984 WTTW Channel 11 broadcast a PBS documentary, “AIDS: Portrait of an Epidemic” which includes a segment on the Cook County Hospital Clinic.

1987 The Chicago chapter of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays hosts a fundraising boat cruise aboard the Chicago Princess. Tickets are $25 each.

1988 The lesbian book discussion group at the Gerber/Hart Library meets to discuss “The Long Trail” by Penny Hayes.

1989 Jerry Halliday, America’s new Wayland Flowers, brings his comedy/puppet ensemble to the Rage, 5006 N. Clark. Halliday’s puppets include Mae West, Carol Channing, Tammy Faye Bakker, Katherine Hepburn and Bette Davis.

1996 Larry McKeon steps down as director and community liaison of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues.

Thanks to the Gerber/Hart Library at 1127 W. Granville for the use of their collection and archives.