Aug. 7, 2002
	Chicago Whispers   By Sukie de la Croix   South Side jazz clubs … In a letter from poet Edouard Rodita to the late Chicago historian Gregory Sprague (dated Nov. 11, 1983), Rodita writes about his student days at the University of Chicago in 1937-1938. He briefly mentions a Black club, "Living on very limited funds, I was unable to lead a very active and varied homosexual life, but was able to observe a lot that I can still remember. The Canine Club on the South Side was a Black nightclub with an excellent all-transvestite floorshow. Its customers were mainly heterosexual sightseers, but a fair sprinkling of homosexuals too."   Cabin Club/Inn … In the Chicago Defender Nov. 5, 1938, under the headline Cabin Inn Has Snappy Revue, a columnist called Uncle Bob wrote: "When Valda Grey chose Odessa Morrow as a feature in the new show, Brown Gal, at the Cabin Inn, it meant a tremendous hit. Joanne Crawford, Peaches Browning, Francis Dee and Doris White, a quartet of female impersonators are used as co-stars. The Three Jokes, a trio of ultra smart dancers that have been headlined over some of the larger circuits are being held by request. Bobbie Davis, Creole songbird, is truly tops as a delineator of sweet songs. Joe Hart, billed as the Singing Artist, has a style of his own which makes his delivery a distinct hit." The Cabin Club (or Inn) opened on 35th and South State St. Street. It was opened by jazz musician Jimmie Noone and billed itself as the oddest nightclub in town because it had a transvestite chorus line, allowed homosexuals in and also interracial dancing. The club was closed in 1940. On Nov. 4, 1939, the Chicago Defender reported on the club's continuing success, under the headline, Cabin Inn's Revue Still Town's Talk. "Jimmie Noone and his recording artists are still holding the high card in Valda Grey's big production at Nat Ivy's Cabin Inn. Chicago's most unique night spot. Among the big names that appear are Joanne Crawford, Carlo Lee and Alice White. [Sukie: They were drag queens, along with Valda Grey.] Other stars are: Rose Hostler-Morgan, deluxe comedienne and Bob Love, robust tenor soloist. These are supported by six lovely chorines, headed by Odessa Morrow with Catherine Verse, Evelyn Nelson, Verda Gibson, Doris Ratliff, and Cleo Gilliam. Herman Ferdinand is the wise cracking emcee that helps to bring and hold the vast patronage." The Chicago Defender Nov. 2, 1940, contained this report: "Now that Valda Grey, America's most outstanding sepia female impersonator has taken control of things at Cyril Richards' Manchester Grill has taken on new life. Francis Dee, another well known impersonator and Anita Brown, the glamour girl of nightlife, are being featured at this ultra smart spot. Horace Malcolm and his swing masters furnish the music. "Dainty Francis Dee did a soft shoe number that clicked, while Anita Brown used her own composition, Mr. Jive." Another gay-friendly Black club on the South Side in 1940 was Joe's Delux, and in the Chicago Defender Oct. 3, 1943, Uncle Bob reported: "True to her word, Valda Grey, the producer at Joe's Delux Cafe is giving the public an A-No 1 show. A swingy opening led by Valda features six lovely chorines in a skit, 'Six Girls named Flo.' Buxom Mary Reed gets off to a good start when she says that it just about 'Knocks her out.' Dixie Lee, the club's sweetheart, steps out with a line that pleases. Band selections by Dallas Bartley and his Country Boys steal the show. A jungle dance star shapely Dorothy Foster in a voluptuous native dance that completely stops the show. Billie Hite, a dancer well known along Broadway, is making his first South Side showing and from the applause it looks as if Manager Charles Christian made a good selection in bringing this nimble toed youngster to his spot ... sinuous Pete Swanson, tells the girls that it 'Aint Right,' and that they must love their sweeties with a feeling. Clarence Weems, the clever emcee, is back and was given a royal welcome by the gang." At that time in the Black jazz clubs gays were accepted as just another piece in the jigsaw puzzle of life. In an early interview I did for Chicago Whispers, F.W. described Joe's Delux: "Joe's Delux was a very nice but not an overly ornate interior. The shows were of a very high level of talent and it was a great place to go but not that popular because of the racial feelings at the time. Several of the men in the shows there had their own long hair and their costumes and make up were very tasteful and beautiful. They were very reminiscent of the elegance and class of Josephine Baker when she appeared at The Palace in New York. The strippers were exotic and sensual, the comics might be a little Minnie Pearlish but they were more funny than risque. The dancers and singers were great talents and beautiful, only having to work unknown clubs because of race and gender, not because of lack of any show business ability or taste. The people who went there were for the most part established professional people who were literate and educated and not bothered by bigotry or stupidity. I think many of the patrons had probably traveled in Europe and were aware of the intellectual aspects of performing arts. Also some of them were just drunks out for a good time and knowing they would get a lot better show for a lot less money than anywhere else in town." Send your stories to Sukie de la Croix at Windy City Times. You can leave a message on his voicemail at (773) 871-7610. He interviews over the phone, in person, or sukiedelacroix@ozhasspoken.com	WHAT A DIFFERENCE A GAY MAKES Aug. 3-10 1997 U.S.: CompuServe creates an adults-only area on its CSi service and moves its gay and lesbian content there. * k.d. lang tells Out magazine: "It's been difficult for me because I've been a friend of Ellen's for six years. And after I came out (in 1992), I was going, 'Come on, all you have to do is just do it.' And she made history. I'm so proud of her." * Twenty-one-year veteran Captain Michael John, the chief spokesperson for the Secretary of the Navy&emdash;the branch of the U.S. military that leads in dismissing gays and lesbians from service&emdash;is arrested for soliciting gay sex with an undercover police officer. * Michelangelo Signorile tells the AIDS magazine Art & Understanding: "Our gay leaders come from a particular place in terms of sexual politics: the old guard of the gay community. They see an old vision of complete sexual liberation, as if our movement is still solely about sex and nothing else. These leaders are stuck in adolescence." * Netherlands: Gays and lesbians in Amsterdam climax a pride festival with a waterborne parade of more than 100 vessels. Italy: An attempt is made to steal the cremains of gay fashion designer Gianni Versace from the private vault of the Coccini family in the village of Moltrasio.   1992 U.S.: Fundamentalist Christian Jerry Falwell claims he narrowly escaped injury at the hands of a member of Queer Nation, who sent him a package of HIV-infected human urine, and 'vulgar, terribly hardcore pornography.' * Baptist preacher Fred Phelps, who lost the Democratic primary in Topeka, Kans., continues his campaign against the winner, Gloria O'Dell, by saying she's a lesbian, who is 'promoting the homosexual lifestyle.' * Pat Robertson on feminism: "This is a socialist and anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians." * Britain: A Swedish man buys an antique condom in London, which he plans to exhibit in his Museum of Eroticism. The condom was made in France in the 19th century, from the intestines of a sheep, and is decorated with pornographic illustrations. * Gay activists from direct-action group OUTRAGE disrupt a Catholic Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London, by walking to the front and holding up placards reading: 'Stop Crucifying Queers' and 'The Pope says: Hate Your Lesbian Daughters.'   1987 U.S.: Michigan Congressman John Conyers Jr. introduces the Hate Crimes Statistics Bill, which calls for the U.S. Attorney General's Office to collect and publish statistics for crimes based on race, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. * Linebacker Tom Cousineau, of the San Francisco 49ers, holds a press conference to deny rumors that he is gay. Cousineau claims it all started in 1985, when he suffered a severe hemorrhoid flare-up following a game in San Diego, and a rumor circulated that the doctor removed a foreign body from his rectum. * Northwest Airlines issues a bulletin to its ticket agents, saying that known PWAs are not allowed to fly on Northwest planes. * Outside the town of Chehalis, Wash., a billboard says: "AIDS is a miracle disease. It turns fruits into vegetables." * Barbie: Her Life And Times by Billy Boy, is in stores.   1982: U.S.: The Philadelphia City council passes a gay-rights ordinance. * The 1st International convention of PFLAG takes place in Los Angeles. * An Asian Minor: The True Story Of Ganymede by Felice Picano, is in stores.
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