By Sukie de la Croix

This week in…

1976

Man’s Country at 5015 N. Clark St. is visited by several uniformed police officers, leading to rumors that the bathhouse was raided. Apparently, it was just a routine check-up following a city building inspector’s inspection of the snack bar.

Popular gay dining spots include the Random House, a 24-hour restaurant at 2600 N. Clark St. with your hosts Jack and Steve; the Oak Tree restaurant at 25 E. Oak St.; and Poofy’s, 508 N. Clark St.

1979

Live on stage at the Park West is “The Neon Woman,” an outrageous comedy starring Divine.

1980

Dignity Chicago presents “A Nite on Wheels” at Axle Skating Rink, 9840 N. Milwaukee Ave., Des Plaines. A donation of $4 is suggested with skate rental extra.

The world premiere of “Tyrannicides”, a play by Chicagoan Lawrence Bommer and presented by Lionheart Gay Theatre, is performed at the Organic Theater’s space at 4520 N. Beacon.

1982

DJ Mark Hultmark at the Ozone, 112 W. Hubbard, picks the bar’s Top 5 tunes: 1) “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls; 2) “Mind Warp (All cuts)” by Patrick Crowley; 3) “In the Name of Love” by Sharon Redd; 4) “Dance Or Die” by Sweet Pea Atkinson; and 5) “Straight Ahead” by the Nick Straker Band.

The Loading Zone, 46 E. Oak St., celebrates its 4th anniversary with owner Dr. Steve Rempas in attendance with his parents, along with manager David Williams, and bartender Donald.

The Midwest premiere of “Lili Marleen,” by gay filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder and starring Hanna Schygulla and Giancarlo Giannini, is showing at the Parkway Theater at Clark and Diversey.

1988

Charles O’Grady, a member of the speaker’s bureau of Howard Brown Memorial Clinic, gives a lecture on AIDS issues in the workplace in the auditorium of the Conrad Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln.

Gay beat poet Allen Ginsberg reads his poetry and signs his books at Barbara’s Bookstore, 1434 N. Wells.

1992

Events in the bars this week include Boot Black Harry hosting the 3rd Annual “Grease Pit Party” at AA Meat Market, 2933 N. Lincoln Ave.; the Rodeo Riders “Rodeo XVII” at Deeks, 3401 N. Sheffield; Ginger Tam singing at Bugle Boy, 3320 N. Halsted; and “Chicago’s Original Country Dance,” hosted by David Boyer with DJ Ron Goodman at Whisky River, 1997 N. Clybourn.

The first Tuesday of every month D3 Productions presents “Decadence, a night of fornicators and voyeurs fucking off on the dancefloor to the wicked sounds of DJs Teri Bristol, Ralphi Rosario, and Donovan DePass.” It takes place upstairs at Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St.

2003

Martha Wash, ex-Two Tons of Love, Weather Girls and Sylvester back-up singer, performs at the Reunion Nightclub, 811 W. Lake.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu! The “Sing-A-Long Sound of Music” comes to the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport.

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