Four years before Stonewall, lesbian activist Pearl Hart met with Bob Basker and Ira Jones to discuss forming a Chicago chapter of the gay-rights group, the Mattachine Society. They held their first public meeting at the Midland Hotel, 172 W. Adams St. [ now the W ] , July 27, 1965.
What were those first few months like? Let's look back through those early Mattachine Midwest newsletters and get a glimpse of what gay political life was like back in the mid-'60s. The names you read are not necessarily real as MM members mostly used pseudonyms to mask they're true identity.
July 1965
The first Mattachine Midwest newsletter was published and comprised a single sheet of paper. The group announced their first public meeting at the Midland Hotel, and a 24-hour telephone answering service to start Aug. 1.
MM also urged its readers to write or telegraph Gov.r Kerner to veto the "Stop and Frisk" bill ( H.B. 1078 ) , which would allow the police to stop and interrogate anyone anywhere and to search without a warrant.
The first public meeting was a huge success. There were words of welcome and an introduction from Terry Grand, the Program Chairman, followed by Pearl Hart, who warned against petty differences interfering with the group working together. Then, the president, Robert Sloane, and secretary, Roland Keith, presented a history of the homophile movement.
Lawyer, Ralla Klepak, then talked about the vice squad using section 11-14 on prostitution to entrap homosexuals, and finally the president of the Daughters of Bilitis ( No name given ) spoke before the meeting was adjourned and refreshments served.
August 1965
The second public meeting took place at the same venue, and featured a slideshow presentation by Thomas Thiebaudt called The VD Problem and the Homosexual.
MM began collecting books and periodicals for their library and laid out the rules for joining the group: Any adult, 21 years of age or older, regardless of sex or sexual orientation.
The Rights Implementation Committee invited complaints from anyone who had experienced civil liberties violations or false arrest.
Fourteen young men were arrested by Town Hall officers Benjamin and Herman at random along Diversey and Clark, the gay neighborhood at the time. They were cleared of disorderly conduct three days later when the arresting officer failed to turn up in court. This is typical of the harassment of the time.
September 1965
Jim Bradford became president of MM. This month's meeting at the Midland Hotel was a panel discussion of "The Churches' Attitude Toward Homosexuality." The panel included a rabbi, a priest, a rector and a protestant minister.
MM had 140 members at this time. As before, young men are being arrested at random, only now, because of MM, they turned up in court with a lawyer; something that never happened before.
Members are urged to picket the White House Oct. 16, but to keep Oct. 23 open due to a possibility that there may be a conflicting Anti-Vietnam War Demonstration.
In late-September several members of MM attended the 3rd Annual Conference of the East Coast Homophile Organizations. Parts of the conference were filmed by CBS-TV, including the Chicago delegation, for a documentary.
October 1965
The monthly meeting at the Midland Hotel featured Dr. Walter C. Alvarez, professor of medicine, Emeritus, of the University of Minnesota, and a top consultant for the Mayo clinic for 25 years in internal medicine, who speaks on "Recent Ideas on Homosexuality."
November 1965
MM arranged a two-hour television program hosted by Irv Kupcinet. The program "KUPS SHOW" presented "National Leaders of the Homophile Movement." The theme of the program was "The Homophile Movement in America, Its Mark Upon Society."
The same national leaders spoke at MM's Nov. 16 meeting. They were: Dr Frank Kameny, Ph.D., founder of the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C.; Dick Leitsch, president of the Mattachine Society of New York; Clark Polak, president of the Janus Society of Philadelphia; William E. Beardemphl, president of the Society for Individual Rights, San Francisco; and an unnamed representative of the Daughters of Bilitis. They also appeared on Nite Line, presented by John Callaway on WBBM Radio. This media blitz was followed by a press conference in the Adams Room at the Midland Hotel, where local newspaper, magazine, TV and radio representatives were invited to attend to meet both local and national homophile leaders.
The first fundraising dinner took place, Nov. 25. It was also election night. The event took place in the Lincoln Room of Pick-Congress Hotel, with keynote speakers Dr. Wardell B. Pomeroy and Dr. William Simon, Trustee and Senior Staff Member of the Institute for Sexual Research ( Kinsey Institute ) . Dinner cost $10.
December 1965
In the December Mattachine Midwest newsletter, the group claims 2,000 members. Also, the first ad in a Chicago gay publication appears. It reads: "Finochio's Show Lounge at 2835 N. Broadway...60657. Chicago's Foremost Female Impersonators & Pantomimes. Shows...10 p.m....Midnight... 2 a.m. Extra show Sat. Nite 3:45 a.m. Closed Mondays. No cover! No minimum! Popular prices! Featuring Alluring and seductive Mitzi Monet. The Vivacious Personality of Jamie Jan's. Chicago's Queen of Comedy Jerry North."
Ira Jones, one of the founders of Mattachine Midwest, was the manager of Finochio's.
