My first gay bar ...
"It was the Greenleaf in Rogers Park. I think it was 1978. I was taking a class at Northwestern on gay and lesbian lifestyles ( the first of its kind ) and the grad students who were teaching it were gay ( naturally ) and decided we needed a field trip. The owners of a gay bar in Chicago had come to talk with the class about gay culture ( bar culture, really ) , and had invited us down to see what it was about. It was an interesting experience. The bar was on a dark, narrow side street ( Greenleaf ) , not too far into the city. There was absolutely no one around. If it weren't for the faint beat of bass coming from one of the buildings, you would never have known there was a business there. There was no sign, no lights ( well, one light bulb right over the door ) . You had to be 'buzzed in' when the bartender saw who you were through the tiny glass window in the door, as you stood on a cement step outside. ( There was a button you pushed to let him know you were there. )
"Inside it was dark and red, smoky, mostly filled with men, and an exhilarating experience for a confused young lesbian. I was asked to dance a lot—again by men—the men were friendly, young and energetic, and obviously having a great time. The women who were there, by contrast, seemed very aloof and protective of themselves and their companions. ( There was only one other woman in the class with me, and she didn't come on the field trip. I wasn't ready to deal with women anyway; I hadn't really come out yet. ) The place had a tiny dance floor in the back, a jukebox and the two guys who owned it were a couple—at one time anyway—a contrast in physiques, one large and the other quite small, both with long hair, down to their shoulders.
"The bar sold 'air odorizers' from behind the counter—something else I had never run across before. While dancing with one of the guys, I was offered a hit. ( I was not one to try drugs, but this whole scene was pretty intoxicating, so why not? ) That was the first and last time I tried 'poppers.' I don't believe it enhanced the experience—for me, anyway, but it was definitely part of it. I remember the favorite tunes on the jukebox seemed to be 'Bobby's Girl' and 'I Will Survive.' I came to equate those songs with gay life, and still get a warm feeling whenever I hear either one today.
"I found my way back to the Greenleaf frequently. As far as I knew, it was the only gay bar in Chicago. It was almost a year before I found out otherwise." — Cheryl
Letter from R.R.
"Your articles about the Chicago—and Chicago area—gay and lesbian watering holes are most interesting. I have read them with great interest, hoping some mention would be made of a Chicago gay hangout named Ganna Walska's.
"I've inquired about this establishment with some veteran Chicago friends—who were 'on the scene' for decades—but none of them have any recollections or knowledge of this place.
"Perhaps one of Chicago Whispers readers remembers Ganna Walska's and can provide some insight about this seemingly forgotten haven ... perhaps frequented by opera buffs."
Memory check: The Greenleaf was located at 1770 W. Greenleaf. The bar opened in September 1976, then, in January 1980, changed its name to OZ for two months then disappeared.
During its four years in existence, the Greenleaf became an integral part of gay life in Chicago; mostly because it was located near Loyola and Northwestern universities. When the bar opened, the ads boasted "a pool table, soccer, a video, tennis and bowling machines and a medium-sized dance floor."
The manager, operator, and co-owner, Dick Nielson, claimed that it was the friendliest bar in the whole city of Chicago. He had once been a bartender at the Lost & Found and other bars in the city. The bar's slogan was "There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't met yet."
The bar often had entertainment, including Lynda Elimon, Ellen Rosner, Tricia Alexander, Linda Mitchell and Star Kissed: A Tuna Band.
In 1978, the bar was attacked by a gay basher. Charles Lucker, 17, pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated assault in connection with the attack. Lucker had been arrested and charged with assaulting Chuck Hadley, co-owner of the bar, with a tire iron. Lucker, according to Hadley, entered the bar and threatened the patrons. When Hadley approached the youth, he was hit by the tire iron.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Ben Edelstein placed Lucker under one year's court supervision and also ordered him to pay, within nine months, a total of $500 restitution for damages.
Future historians take note: The memory section in this column contains just that—memories—and are only to be used as a starting point for your research. 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 via e-mail sukiedelacroix@ozhasspoken.com
