User:DrStigler/sandbox1

Info for editing the Chuck Renslow page

Revisions: Chuck Renslow was born and raised in Chicago's Logan Sqaure neighborhood. Shortly after completing high school, his entrepreneurial spirit blossomed and he founded Triumph Gymnasium and Health Studio, a bodybuilding gym serving Chicago's gay male clientele. Some time in the early 1950s, Renslow met classical ballet dancer and visual artist Dom Orejudos (1933-1991) (more commonly known by his middle name, Stephen, or the French translation— Etienne) and the two began a romantic and business partnership. Kris Studios- located near Larrabee Street and Armitage Avenue- was named in part to honor transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen and primarily shot beefcake photos for mail-order magazines geared toward gay male audiences.

Shortly following the founding of Kris Studios, Orejudos and Renslow purchased a bar at 501 N. Clark Street that they converted to specifically serve the growing gay leather community. This bar, which they named the Gold Coast, was one of the first leather bars in the country and was in business for more than 30 years. The bar, which had an unmarked exterior except for one small sign that read 'Gold Coast', was a large space with a large island bar in the middle of the room, a private backroom, and a strict leather/western/uniform/Levi's dress code. Like many gay bars during the 60s and 70s, the Gold Coast functioned as a bar, meeting space, social club, and dining hall for the local leather community. One of the most iconic features of the Gold Coast were the massive wall paintings done by Orejudos which homoerotic depictions well-muscled, male subjects.

Still to be added:

-Man's Country

-The Eagle

-Founding of the LA&M with Tony DeBlasse

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/ct-chuck-renslow-obituary-20170630-story.html

https://www.wbez.org/shows/eight-fortyeight/leatherman-chuck-renslow-reflects-on-his-life-on-chicagos-gay-scene/f0bc56a3-40cc-4e9d-9026-312ae08da8fe

http://www.columbiachronicle.com/arts_and_culture/article_d4651c49-a220-5e07-a3bb-3d1c98d9d9be.html

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lgbtqheritage/upload/lgbtqtheme-commerce.pdf