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Disco Music > Discotheques and Clubs Index > Dugan's Bistro (a.k.a. Bistro Chicago)
Dugan's Bistro (a.k.a. Bistro Chicago)
420 North Dearborn and/or 111. N Hubbard, Chicago, IL
Owner: Eddie Dugan Owner
DJ: Lou DiVito
Photos below from Dugans Bistro submitted by Jim Bernal:
Please feel free to link to this page by using this URL:
http://www.discomusic.com/clubs-more/4227_0_6_0_C/
COMMENTS ON THIS DISCO / DISCOTHEQUE / NIGHTCLUB
It was 1981 and I had grown up in the suburbs of chicago with no knowledge of the city or of being gay. Basically trips to state street for christmas when I was a kid and the occassional train into the city to purchase 12 in. albums was about the extent of my city life. But then I was taken to the bistro and life would never be the same. I can remember that night like it was yesterday. We actually snuck in underage. The only way to go. No bar in chicago has ever been able to rival the bistro in crowd and music. That was when I and most of my friends knew that being gay was the way. It was my oz/studio 54. To this day I still tell people about the bistro and how much fun it was.
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and my first gay experience was entering The Bistro. It was heaven, paradise, Studio 54 the exeperience I have yet to re-expereince and as of yet some have come close but it hasn't been duplicated.
Listening to Lou DiVito Award winning billboard DJ in 1978 transcended me into another dimesnsion.
Listening to Don't Leave me this way by -Thelma Houston or My Sweet Summer Suite by Love Unlimited ;songs I had never heard before; or seeing Two Tons of Fun, Sharon Redd and Sylvester performing was something I can't explain in words, seeing the artists you danced to sing their hits was unimaginable to me because their music was only in the clubs and had't reached mainstream radio yet.
The effects Bistro had on me.... I became a DJ... I now hold and collect everything from I feel love by Donna Summer (Disconet Remix Patrick Cowley), Barry White, Linda Clifford, Jackie, Moore, Crown Height Affair, Skatt Bros, Grace Jones, Garys Gang, Odessey ect...... to the current dance hits of today... its hard to beleive that since my 20's my live has been devoted to music through this one club that will always hold a place in my memories and in my heart. There slogan lives on! "There's no place like Bistro"
Dugan's Bistro in Chicago---
Along with 12 West, Flamingo, and Trocadero Transfer, - one of the legendary clubs WHERE IT ALL STARTED!!!!!!!!!
You guys have the address wrong. I still have a matchbook which lists the address as 420 N. Dearborn. Hubbard runs east west, not north south. As I recall 111 west hubbard might have been the Redoubt, another favorite gay bar of mine from that era.
The Bistro was my first gay bar experience too. What a wonderful place, especially on thursday nights when drinks were only $.75 and the place was packed with the hottest men. When I hear "Relight my Fire" I can close my eyes and I am back in the Bistro. I was in the neighborhood last week, the former location of the Bistro is still a parking lot. What a shame.
You are right the address should read 420 N. Dearborn. at the corner of Dearborn and Hubbard.
Here' some Bistro history:
I was at the Toga Party :)
On Sept. 27, 1975, the VD bus stopped outside the Bistro. Before AIDS, back in the '70s, a bus traveled from bar to bar testing customers for VD. They would sometimes test 1,000 people a night.
Around January 1976 rumors were rife that the Bistro and the Gold Coast (501 N. Clark Street) were closing down. Apparently, the area was scheduled for urban renewal, and people were leaving like crazy. Then the empty office and store buildings were re-rented and people started moving back.
An article in the Chicago Gay Crusader (Jan. 21, 1976) read: "The Bistro is still in business, despite all the rumors to the contrary, and they're doing remodeling. The Tube, it's to be called. The back room of this popular disco is being remodeled into a real wild 'cruise' room, with silver and glitter and whatnot."
March 1976 saw the Dugan U.S.O Party with production numbers from Bobby and the "Duganettes," who repeated their performances at Man's Country.
1976 was also the bicentennial year, and so it was red, white and blue for the June 3 Gay Pride Week Benefit starring Bertha Butt and lots of go-go boys.
On Dec. 20, 1977, the Bistro hosted a fur fashion show by Bonwit Teller. The Baton's own Chili Pepper and Audrey Bryant modeled the clothes.
In 1978, Lou Di Vito was the Bistro's DJ. At the time, the Bistro was giving out discount cards on the records they played. If you heard a song you liked, you asked Lou Di Vito what it was. He wrote it down on a card, which the customer could take to Sounds Good Record World or Gramophone Records and buy the disc at a discount.
Recording artist Evelyn Thomas ("I Want To Make It On My Own") signed autographs and hands out 25 free albums on Oct. 7, 1978.
On Oct. 16, 1978, Leonard Matlovich, Rev. Troy Perry and Dave Kopay were the special guests at the Harvest Table for Human Rights, a benefit sponsored by Illinoisans to Stop the Briggs Initiative. The evening began with a cocktail reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dugan's Bistro.
Midnight shows in October 1978 starred Alan Lozito as Sister Too Much, Consuella Lopez and Spermola.
Prizes for the 1978 6th Annual Halloween Costume Party were 1st prize $500 cash, 2nd prize, $200, 3rd prize $100 cash. Cover was $5.
In January 1979, Heather Fontane and Roski Fernandez appeared in the Show of Shows, Sheila Ceasar and d*** Gallagher entertained during the cocktail hour, and two Bistro employees were Mark Beckwith and Tom Economus.
Things get sleazy at the Bistro in October 1979 with Medusa Ann Wallflower's big party "Medusa Pigs Out At The Bistro." One paper reported that "This anti-chic gala is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. with a dress theme that's being billed as sleazy, lowdown. The flyers have only been out for a few days and already the whole town is humming ('hummm"). The door charge will include a complimentary bottle of poppers, a free buffet, plus many unmentionable surprises."
Oct. 27, recording artist Melba Moore appeared to preview her new album Burn, and Oct. 29, 1979 brought Lilly White and puppeteer Steve Margrave to entertain at the Show of Shows. 1 a.m.
Ad in Aug. 14, 1980 Gay Chicago reads: "A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Bistro. Friends, Romans & Duganites: Bring Me Your Togas! Wednesday, Aug. 20, 1980. A Special Birthday Party for Eddie Dugan." Bistro bartender Leo Beausoleil appears on the Gay Chicago cover.
I found a place where all the music Lou played online. Of all places! WBMX.COM. They have a high energy station on the website that is just too much for words.
I grew up with Eddie Dugen on The far west side of Chicago. I first knew him when we both lived on Laramie Avenue. We went to St. Mel High together and Eddie used to come with my family to our summer home in Michigan. Eddie went to Hollywood for a brief time and even appeared in one movie. I lost track of him after that, but when I heard about Dugan's Bistro, I called and was told he had passed away. If that is true, he died much too young.
wow!!! i remember the first time i walked into the Bistro, the smells were tantalizing. met some friends that are still close to me. i remember the bearded lady on stage with x-mas tree lights under his outfit. the 75 cent liquor night Lou in the DJ booth. it was such a great experience. thanks for the sight
I remember going to Dugan's Bistro back in 1975 to 1977. Such a fabulous Disco. Then my friend and I would leave there and go to the Gold Coast for more fun.
I grew up in Arlington Hts. I happened upon the Bistro during my very first adventures into the gay world--at the Newberry Theatre. I was 20. Those old farts at the Newberry (of which I am now an old letcher my self, LOL) thrilled me at every hand on my knee, usually revolted me a moment later, but a few I actually left with, briefly carried on torturous times, before returning to my girlfriend at college in Macomb. Anyway, the Bistro was magic to me. Hot guys, flannel, the Dry Look, MDA. The Bearded Lady. My careful always butch stance and cowboy dance. Underneath, glorious euphoria.
Very cool to relive it here, too. Thanks for this unique and special site.
Living in Ohio, I traveled to Chicago for the first time in Nov 1973. After 3 visits to the city and falling in Love with the town and The Bistro I was ready to move! I met The Bearded Lady (B.L.) the first month in town at a friends party. BL was with a lady friend "Cheese" and I knew from then on we would be friends. I kept in touch with The Bearded Lady up until his death. As of today I still communicate with Cheese who now resides in Glenwood, MN.
The Bistro memories will remain with me forever as the best club.
I came to bistro in may of '79, was 18 back then... time really goes by fast.
it was one of the best clubs i ever went to. hard to think, but it'll be 26 years this year since bistro closed.
so many great memories...
Not for nothin......but hey doesn't this bareback s*** make you nuts? and it just seems to be common and well worth (what) the risk for these kids. I just wish I could shake em....dude we died for you to do this? because HIV is headed for sure double trouble with super resistant virus and liver toxic antivirals. it is truly making me think no one cares.....man ALL the guys I dated before my partner of 16 years are dead. all of them. I am neg by the grace of God. thoughts??
We understand your pain and anguish about HIV. But this is the wrong place to post this subject as this site is aimed at memories of Dugan's Bistro and you will not get the response you want here. You"ll have beeter luck getting resonses about HIV at another public site aimed at HIV.
Thanks
You are quite correct that this is not the place---but act up, NIH, and several more disease groups have simply never responded. you are the single reply. I am an RN and have spent much time on chasing this subject, to, incredibly, no avail. HIV drugs themselves will be deadly from liver and cardiac damage. so very sad. thanks, john
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