Around 1973-1974, 936 W. Diversey was the location of the House of Landers, a bar operated by the Black female impersonator, Roby Landers. She was responsible for The Cinderella Ball at the Continental Plaza Grand Ballroom on Oct. 31, 1973.
In October 1975, at the same location, Chuck Renslow and Bill Swank opened Zolar. The Preview Party was described by Christopher in Chicago GayLife as a ' … new disco-bar at Diversey and the 'el' stop. … Upstairs at Zolar is the real disco scene, with the sound system that brings to mind the Bistro. Of course, the dance floor is smaller, but the lights. Wow! With the music and crowd noise, I never did hear an el train pass by. Quite unlike when Roby Landers held court in the same place some time back, and the el occasionally drowned out the music.
'Anyway, the crowd at Zolar was huge, to say the least. And it was all presided over by a very weary Chuck Renslow, who has worked long, hard hours to get the place ready. There to offer congratulations were many other bar owners. We saw (to name a few), Jim Gates (Little Jim's), Ron Hawbaker (Take It Easy Inn), David Myers (Den One), Jack David (Up North), Felicia (Baton), Chuck Unser (Adron's), Carol Farnham (Carol's), and Eddie Dugan (Bistro) ... '
On March 21, 1976, Zolar burned down, and in an interview with Renslow in the April, 1976, issue of the Chicago Gay Crusader, he talks about the lack of fire insurance.
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Somewhere around 1972, a bar called the Ritz was located at 1300 N. Rush St. It may have been in existence until 1978, although the details are hazy, because at the same time a bar called the Ritz also existed at 937 N. State St. It's the Ritz on State St. that is relevant to this article. As far as I can tell it opened around 1973.
In October 1975, the bar advertised Quad Sound 'Disco Dancing,' and the staff included Bill, Dave, Gail, Gary, Corky, Popcorn and Jay Jay. It was described as a friendly neighborhood bar during the day, and at night the large rectangular island bar and medium-sized dance floor took on a Disco mood.
On April 28, 1976, the bar held a Mr. Ritz contest, where judging was based on casual attire and (optional) swimwear. That was followed by a show starring Roby Landers, Terry Page, Tillie, and Danee. In 1976 a dancer called Ricky Love, who became a contestant in Mr. Windy City, was a star in the bar.
In October 1978, the bar started opening later on Sundays, so that popular bartender, Corky, could have Sundays as a day of rest. He/she also worked on Fridays and Saturdays at Mike's Aragon Lounge at 1113 W. Lawrence.
In the Sept. 18, 1981 issue of GayLife this article appeared under the headline: Ritz Fires Arson, Say Police.
'Fires on June 1 and September 2 at the Ritz, a popular black gay male disco at 937 N. State St., were both the result of arson, according to police investigators.
'Detectives of the Chicago Police Department's Bomb and Arson Unit determined the origin of the September 2 fire by observing burn patterns in the dance floor area. When floorboards were pulled up, they said gasoline that had seeped through. ... Earlier lab reports had confirmed that the June 2 fire had been deliberately set, according to investigators.
'Detective John Klodnicki, who is investigating the September 2 arson, told GayLife he intends to be in touch with the detective in charge of the June 2 case. 'We'll put our heads together and see what we can determine,' he said.'
According to Klodnicki, the June 2 investigation was suspended only after detectives who 'took it as far as they could' were unable to pinpoint any suspects. Klodnicki said he has leads on suspects in the September 2 fire but declined to elaborate on them.
Fred Morris, who said he owns the bar in conjunction with the 937 N. State Corporation, had this reaction: 'I guess my competition doesn't like me or the bar.
Morris took over the Ritz Oct. 31, 1980. Does anyone know if this bar opened again?
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Touché at 2825 N. Lincoln opened in early March 1976. Gossip columnist Rhonda, wrote in GayLife: 'This new place, brought to you by the same wonderful people who own the King's Ransom, is a terrific spot to meet people. Stop in and say hi to Burt and Tommy.'
At some point the bar changed hands and was bought by Chuck Rodocker and became the famous leather bar. On March 4, 1990, fire swept through the building, destroying the bar and ending an era. The extra-alarm fire was thought to have started between 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. in a rear first-floor storage area with electrical circuitry and the furnace.
If any of the above rings a bell, contact Sukie de la Croix at Windy City Times. You can leave a message on his voicemail at 773-871-7610; sukiedelacroix@ozhasspoken.com .
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A GAY MAKES
March 2-8
1998
U.S.: The Supreme Court rules that a federal law that bans on-the-job sexual harassment can apply even when the harasser and victim are the same sex. * The third issue of the Gay Theological Journal: Homosexual Hermeneutics on Religion & The Scriptures is published. * Jody Foster tells gossip maven Liz Smith: 'Yes, I'm pregnant. I couldn't be happier. But no, I'm not going to discuss the father, the method or anything of that nature.' * President Clinton nominates openly gay attorney Q. Todd Dickinson to a post as deputy assistant secretary and deputy commissioner of the Patent and Trademark Office. * Bahamas: Hundreds of anti-gay protestors march through downtown Nassau following false reports that a visiting cruise ship Veendam was carrying homosexuals.
1993
U.S.: A Lancaster, Calif., fundamentalist group called Life Spring Ministries distributes over 25,000 copies of the video The Gay Agenda, including one to every member of Congress. * Six weeks after Mayor David N. Dinkins signed an executive order allowing heterosexual and homosexual couples to register as domestic partners, the first 109 couples register at the City Clerks Office in New York City. * NBC's Tonight show cancels an appearance by homophobic reggae singer Shabba Ranks (who once said: 'If you forfeit the laws of God Almighty you deserve crucifixion'). * The U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board overturns a government decision, which had denied the Old Glory Condom Company a trademark—the American flag in the shape of a condom.
1988
U.S.: Rabbi Stacy Offner, the first woman rabbi in Minnesota, is forced to resign from a St. Paul temple because she is a lesbian. * New York activists announce their endorsement of Jesse Jackson for President. * Peru: At the end of the Gay Pride Day, members of the Peruvian police (the Guardia Civil) raid a party and detain 52 people. The police officers are accused of human-rights violations—the first time in Peru that legal action has been taken against police for harassment of gay people.
1983
U.S.: The New York Gay Men's Health Crisis Inc. publish a 62-page booklet containing information about AIDS. * The American Red Cross warns high-risk donors not to donate blood (PWAs, persons with AIDS symptoms, sexually active homosexuals and bisexuals with multiple partners, Haitians, current or past abusers of drugs, and sexual partners of individuals at high risk from AIDS). * Canada: The National Assembly of the province of Quebec votes to give gay and lesbian couples many of the same economic benefits enjoyed by heterosexual couples. This legislation is believed to be the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
