The following e-mail was sent in by 'a reader.'
'One of the bars you mentioned in your April 30 column was The Matchmaker at 740 W. Madison, which opened in 1976. It only lasted about a year, I think, but some friends and I went to it a couple of times and liked it. It was in an odd location, but there was something about the bar that I liked. It had the feel for me of being different, 'down home,' and a place where you might be able to meet someone. It was a long and somewhat narrow bar as I recall. I don't recall seeing any 'all-male burlesque' or disco as you mentioned in the column, but I remember that a group of us decided to go there New Year's Eve, when they had the popular entertainer Pudgy doing a show. She put on a good show, and there were some other groups and individuals there besides our group, and we stayed several hours and had a good time. I can recall being disappointed when I heard that the bar was closing.'
Whatever happened to …
Over the years hundreds of people have appeared onstage, or have been celebrities, in Chicago's gay bars, but what happened to them all? Here's just a handful to jog your memories. If you know what happened to these people, or you ARE one of these people e-mail sukiedelacroix@ozhasspoken.com and tell me the story.
Dago Rose: She owned a bar at 905 W. Belmont, which was either called the 901 or Dago Rose's Hideaway. Dago Rose was once a bartender at the Frog Pond. In May 1986 she worked at Big Red's bar and was one of three guest bartenders on the opening night of another bar called Boobs Draw Too at 5834 W. Grand.
Skip Arnold: On Dec. 4, 1973, he celebrated his 51st birthday at the Alameda Club at 5210 N. Sheridan Road. In February 1971, Paul Carol and Skip Arnold organized a drag show to raise money to help pay the medical expenses of bone cancer victim Mary Sue Dujka. Arnold performed in drag in several bars throughout the 1960s.
Big Ed: He was described as 'A mixture of Don Rickles & Liberace, combining Boogie Woogie piano with put down humor.' He performed at the Vortex Jan. 25, 1991, and was the guest MC for the Mr. Mid-America Leather Contest at Carol's Speakeasy April 14, 1990. Is this the same Big Ed that was a regular performer at His 'n' Hers back in 1980? You tell me.
Charlene Unger: A regular character at many bars back in the 1990s. On March 7, 1991, she performed at Cairo with Lovin' Al Louis for a HRFC benefit. I heard a rumor she moved to L.A.
Hedda Lettuce: At the 4th anniversary of Alfie's in July 1980, Hedda Lettuce gave the champagne toast, but she was a regular at Carol's Speakeasy. In late-February she performed there at Chicago Molly's Rock n Roll Party AIDS benefit, and Oct. 22, 1980, at a benefit for the Mother Carol Memorial Fund.
Roski Fernandez: Born in the Philippines, Fernandez was 1st runner up in the Miss Gay America 1974 contest. In January 1979, she performed at the Show of Shows at the Bistro, and earlier had been a regular onstage at the Baton. In March 1983, she appeared at Broadway Ltd. for their Spring Fair, which also starred Lenore Allen, Amanda Lustrelle, Tina Rae, Tanya Richards, Monica Monet and 'Emperor I' Steve Allman. In 1988, she was at the 6th anniversary of the Normandy at 3400 N Clark St.
Cesar Vera: Also from the Philippines, Vera was a performer/chef at Carol's Speakeasy in 1979. On Sept. 28, 1980, he cooked up a roast pig buffet at Coconuts for a show featuring Molly's Follies, presenting Chicago Molly, Feathers and Sophie. He was also a bartender at Cheeks.
Gayle Channing: The Lite Factory at 2500 N. Southport Ave. was her home bar. The owner of the bar was Gail Coutre. Was this the same person? Channing was the MC and a performer at this drag bar from 1979 until 1984.
Euneda Hose: She was one half of the Linoleum Sisters and performed at the Missing Link Pub at 3011 N. Mannheim Rd. in June 1975. On Sept. 4, 1975, at a benefit for Gay Horizons, Hose did her farewell performance at the Den One club.
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