Month: June 2015

I know I should stay away from utube, but it’s Gay Pride, and I dig this clip (despite the music)

c’mon, what’s 18 minutes of your life – click and view! Filed under “things you find looking for other things on the internet” this was a cool bit of nostalgia for me. For those not familiar with how I latched onto this obsession with porn, it all began 35 years ago at this porno theater in Chicago. Man o Man! watching this brought back some crazy memories. I forget the Bijou actually had a very small back garden; gosh, and I became friends with one of the “ticket takers” (guy behind the window who took your money) – even had a tragic date involving cheap drinks and attempting a makeout session somewhere in Lincoln Park; and the use of David Earnest’s and Peter de Rome’s “Honey Man” and other music from Hand In Hand Films here; that Bijou Catalog I bought on eBay 13-14 years ago; and what was the first film shown at the Bijou? (you have to watch to find out!); Carol’s Speakeasy (which then brings me back to the doorman – Carol’s was on the same block as the Bijou – who somehow managed to get me to one of those sleazy hotels on the North Side, which no doubt is a trendy condo now); and just the hours I’d spend at that place.

This video is from 2011, and the Bijou is probably one of a handful of gay places still around from that era. The owner/operator/founder Steven Toushin has quite a life story (check out Wikipedia’s Steven Toushin entry) ; there’s a bijou world tumblr page (which I wish had more text from Steven and less re-posts from other tumblrs… ); anotherinterview of legend steven toushin; and oh gosh, run out of steam…. hope the video and links keep you occupied for a bit.