THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

The first International Mr. Leather (IML) contest was held in the Grand Ballroom at the Radisson Hotel in 1979, but the seeds of it were sown in the early 1950s, when Chicago gay activist and entrepreneur Chuck Renslow, and the artist Dom 'Etienne' Orejudos, ran Kris Studios—one of the world's leading photo studios for the study of the male nude.

In a time of McCarthyism, it's ironic that the late '40s and early '50s should be a time when men's 'Muscle Mags' would explode onto the market. Physical culture magazines go back to the beginning of the 20th century, but Bob Mizer's Los Angeles-based Athletic Model Guild, and the subsequent publication of Physique Pictorial, took male nude photography from the 'underground' into the mass-marketing arena.

On May 1, 1958, Renslow bought Irv Johnson's gym, the most popular gym in Chicago, and renamed it the Triumph. Here Renslow and Orejudos had access to the young models who appeared in their publications. At the shoots, Orejudos, the artist, would arrange the themes and poses, and Renslow, more the technician, would do the lighting and take the photographs.

Renslow's political activism began in 1958 when Kris Studios was raided, after the Post Office called in the Federal Justice Department, because some of the photos showed models with 'excessive genital delineation.' In those days gay people didn't fight back, and the local district attorney expected an easy conviction, so they were surprised when Renslow and his ACLU lawyers turned up in court.

Unlike similar previous arrests, Renslow's lawyers didn't claim the photographs were 'art,' but that they were not pornographic, as the human body was not obscene. Among the evidence submitted by the ACLU lawyers were photographs of nude statues on Chicago's City Hall, the very building where the trial was taking place.

It was more than a year later that the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in Renslow's favor.

It was also in 1958 that Renslow became the manager of the Gold Coast Show Lounge at 1130 N. Clark; the first gay-owned hangout for the leather and motorcycle groups in Chicago. For the detail-oriented: In 1962 the Gold Coast moved to 1110 N. Clark, then to 2165 N. Lincoln in 1965, then to 501 N. Clark in 1967, and to 5025 N. Clark in 1984. In 1985 Frank Kellas traded GayLife newspaper stock for ownership of the Gold Coast. The bar closed on Feb. 10, 1988.

Many Renslow bars followed, including a drag bar called Sparrows at 5220 N. Sheridan Rd., the Big Basket, later the non-alcoholic Sugar Shack, both where the Baton stands now at 436 N. Clark St. He later opened a leather/Levi bar called the Ramrod at 430 N. Clark St., which lasted about six months, and was followed by Center Stage, Zolar and many others.

Chuck Renslow's life is a book in itself, but it was his and Orejudos' interest in the male physique and S/M & leather that ultimately lead to IML.

'Both Dom and I were bodybuilders and weight lifters,' Renslow told Windy City Times, 'I was a member of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), that's a weight-lifting organization. The guy that ran it was Norm Gruber. He was an old-time weight lifter. The AAU also ran the physique contests, the Mr. Chicago, the Mr. Illinois, but he (Gruber) didn't like doing it, so he put me in charge of that. So I was in charge of Mr. Chicago, Mr. Illinois and so forth. But then I said to Dom one day, 'Let's do a Mr. Gold Coast contest.' And so we did, and that was the first bar contest. So we had a Mr. Gold Coast for years and it got so popular that we had to put speakers out on the street. People couldn't get into the bar. So I said 'Let's move it to an auditorium' and Dom said, 'Yeah but you got a Mr. Gold Coast and you move it to another place, that isn't right. Let's make it bigger, let's make it World Leather,' and he came up with International Mr. Leather and that's how we started it.'

Like the Stonewall Riots in 1969—reported on page 33 of The New York Times—back in '79, International Mr. Leather was surprisingly under-reported in the Chicago gay papers. Looking back at the old bar ads in GayLife and Gay Chicago, nearly every gay bar in the city had a Mr. contest.

In the May 24, 1979 issue of Gay Chicago there's one photo of the IML winners, next to one of a Mr. Big Red contest, and the text reads: 'Hardly a week has gone by in recent weeks when there isn't a Mr. Contest. We realize these two photos here do neither of the contest's justice. However, with all the other events going on in the past week we just ran out of room.'

The following week Gay Chicago had a photo of IML winner David Kloss, and a report by Don Eric in his Countersport column: 'The whole leather movement has more to do with good times than some people may realize. The term 'leather' accommodates a wide range including marathon man-to-man encounters that capture male athleticism with all the paraphernalia and preparation and competition found there, only transformed to the erotic plane.'

At that first IML, there was confusion about the name of the event. The cover of the program for the evening of the contest read 1979 International Mr. Leather Contest while, on the first inside page, attendees were welcomed to the Gala 1979 Mr. International Leather. All these years later, there is still confusion over the name, and IML is often misquoted as Mr. IML.

The poster art in 1979 was by Dom 'Etienne' Orejudos, as it has been until recent years when his artwork ran out. These early posters are much prized by collectors, and can be viewed at the Leather Archives and Museum at 6418 N. Greenview Street (Tel: 773-761-9200).

Like many gay historical events, not covered fully by the press, an urban legend has built up around that first IML contest; that the runway in the Grand Ballroom lifted the contestants up so high that they had to duck to avoid colliding with the crystal chandelier. However, the photos of the event dispel this myth.

The entertainment at that 1st IML included comedienne Pudgy and music by Wacker Drive. At one point a member of the audience handed Pudgy his chaps, and another helped her put them on over her pink chiffon ruffled gown. Eventually she was wearing chaps, a leather cap, and a leather jacket, but she drew the line at boots.

The price of the whole weekend package was $25 (in 1998 it was $125) and the judges were Dom 'Etienne' Orejudos; Lou Thomas, Target studios; Tom Gora, In Touch Magazine; and Robert Dunne, Drummer Magazine. Tuoka Laaksonen, AKA Tom of Finland, was scheduled to judge that year but canceled at the last minute due to ill health. (He judged the 1983 contest.)

The winners in 1979 were IML David Kloss, 1st runner-up Durk Dehner and 2nd runner-up Jesse Capello.

By the second year IML had grown considerably with greater press coverage, and an advance brochure that read: 'If you thought last year's International Mr. Leather weekend was a rousing party, wait till you see what we've lined up for you this time around ... . It's going to be like a Leather Mardi Gras, Motorcycle Run, New Year's Eve and Roman Orgy all rolled up in one fantastic weekend.'

This was also the first year of the famous Black and Blue Ball.

The 1983 contest was dedicated to Hank Diethelm, owner of The Brig in San Francisco, who was murdered the previous month. Among the judges were Tom of Finland and Dom Orejudos—close friends who, according to Renslow, 'each claimed the other's work was the best'—and Rev. Troy Perry, ecclesiastical leather queen, and founder of the Metropolitan Community Church. (He was also a judge in 1991.)

By 1984 attendance had risen from an estimated 300 in 1979 to 1,500. 1984 was the first year that comedienne Judy Tenuta entertained the crowds, appearing again in 1985. In 1986 she was scheduled to appear, but canceled to go on the David Letterman Show. She returned to IML in 1987, when she was introduced as the woman who 'proved David Letterman is a jerk.'

1985 was notable for its AIDS awareness, with Glenn Sweetman, one of the contestants from Philadelphia, speaking out about AIDS quarantine camps that were being discussed in the media. The show was emceed by Jim 'Felicia' Flint from the Baton.

In 1986 one unfortunate contestant had to give his speech with his jaw wired shut because his jawbone had been broken by a dentist removing a tooth. It was also the year that Jojo, a Hi-NRG female duo who were back-up singers for Sylvester, performed one piece called 'International Mr. Leather' which they put together for the show.

Judy Tallwing McCarthy, International Ms. Leather (IMsL), made an appearance in 1987; the year of serious speeches dealing with AIDS, political pressure, bonding with women etc. This year the Black and Blue ball was held at the Riviera Nightclub.

In 1988 the host hotel was the Executive House and IML visitors shared the space with a large wedding party and the Gay Press Association. The contest was emceed by Jewish comedienne Lynn 'Don't Wear Leather to the Seder' Lavner and Al Parker. As Lavner left the stage, Renslow said, 'Who says we don't get along.' He was making a reference to the 'should there be women at IML controversy.' IML winner, Michael Pereyra, introduced himself by saying, 'Fellow Leathermen and sisters in leather, I am standing here and I represent a new age of leather.' The Black & Blue Ball was held at Bistro Too, where the Village People performed.

1989 is notable for the introduction of the Leather Pride Flag, designed by Tony DeBlase, which by 1990 was fully established and adopted as the sash for IML and IMsL.

There was a dramatic 'Sex Technology' musical opening to the IML contest in 1991, and also a musical and dance number featuring Mike Pereyra (IML 1988) with an ocelot and Mark Ryan with a large hawk.

Sadly, Sept. 24 1991 Dom 'Etienne' Orejudos died of AIDS, and over the 1992 IML weekend a memorial service was held. It was also the year that thee deaf contestants entered, and the She-Devils—Gay Chicago's 1992 'Entertainers of the Year'—performed to, among other things, Dolly Parton's 'Pain of Loving You Will Never Be The Same.'

The prettiest She-Devil L'amour L'merrier remembers, 'We did a salute to S/M and bondage, and we picked songs that had to do with pain and leather. We were all done up in the She-Devil style, but we wore harnesses and leather jackets and leather vests. It didn't go over too good. I was amazed we were asked back. There were people that laughed but I think some of them thought we were making fun of them, instead of what we were doing, which was satire. At one point we had one of the She-Devils tied up to a post and we were whipping her.'

The She-Devils returned in 1993 with their 'Salute To Gays In The Military' and received a standing ovation. 1993 is also remembered because there were no contestants representing the U.S.A. in the three winners: IML Henri Ten-Have (Amsterdam), 1st runner-up Brent Lacey, Melbourne, Australia, and 2nd runner-up A.J. Steigenberger was Mr. Europe Leather.

On Jan. 1, 1994, the new City of Chicago law prohibiting public nudity went into effect, and prior to IML three men were arrested at Touche's, and so visitors to IML that year were advised to 'cover your ass so we can cover ours.'

Porn star Jeff Stryker emceed the 1995 IML contest. But the weekend is best remembered because the Hyatt hotel was also hosting the International Gay and Lesbian Square Dancers 'Tip The Cow.' weekend. So thousands of cowgirls/boys mingled with the leather/fetish people.

The 1996 IML weekend was shared with the Mr. and Ms. Deaf Leather contest, and it was also the year that Renslow announced the opening of the Leather Archives and Museum. Entertainment at the event included the Joel Hall dancers performing 'Leather Flamingo,' a dance choreographed especially for IML. One of the judges that year was Nightlines/ BLACKlines columnist Cain Berlinger.

1997 was the year IML was simulcast on the World Wide Web, and the show was headlined by Scott Thompson of 'Kids in the Hall' fame.

In 1998, IML celebrated its 20th anniversary, with the main event taking place at the Congress Theater at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave., including the world premiere of the leather documentary In God We Trust, In Leather We Lust. This was followed by the Victory party at the House of Blues.

During IML 1999, the Mr. Ebony Leather contest took place at Cell Block with emcees Frank Nowicki and Queen Cougar, who returned for the contest the following year.

In 2000, IML events took place all over the city, including the annual Black and Blue Ball at the Chicago Eagle.

The 2001 the 23rd annual Black and Blue Ball was hosted by Jeff Stryker at the Chicago Eagle and DJ Bill Bennett from Cobalt in Detroit.

Last year's IML was the biggest yet, and what started out as just another Mr. contest for gay men, has now turned into a pansexual festival of S/M, fetish and body arts—tattooing, piercings, etc. But above all, IML has remained true to the Renslow/Orejudos dream: to celebrate the diversity of our passions and desires, and to make a proud, political statement about who we are.

This year IML celebrates 25 years. www.wcmediagroup.com/article-.html