Join us on Wednesday, October 4th, at 6:30 PM for an author conversation with Owen Keehnen and Rick Karlin! Owen will be discussing his new book, Man’s Country: More than a Bathhouse, and Rick will be discussing his 2022 book co-authored with St Sukie de la Croix, Last Call Chicago: A History of 1001 LGBTQ-Friendly Taverns, Haunts & Hangouts.

A book signing will follow the conversation with copies of the books available for sale. Join us to learn more about Chicago LGBTQ+ bar and bathhouse history!

About the Books

Man’s Country: More than a Bathhouse

When Chuck Renslow opened Man’s Country in 1973, he wanted it to be someplace special-and he succeeded. The bathhouse was a part of Chicago gay life for 45 years-serving a number of changing roles, supporting the larger community, and spawning countless memories.

Rudolph Nureyev ran naked down the halls shouting, “Who wants to swing on a star?” Puppeteer Wayland Flowers held court in the TV lounge in nothing but a towel with his puppet, Madame, on his hand. Generations of gay men explored their sexuality in this “oasis of pleasure” with amenities that included a snack bar, a retail store, a wet area and whirlpool, an orgy room, a gym, specialty rooms, a rooftop deck and garden, and the largest steam room in the Midwest.

The Music Hall stage at Man’s Country was a venue for such talents as Divine, the Village People, Judy Tenuta, Charles Pierce, and Rusty Warren. When there wasn’t a show, there was dancing. Some men checked in to Man’s Country for six hours, and others came for the weekend. Man’s Country was a place to let your freak flag fly.

When the iconic bathhouse fell to the wrecking ball in 2018, the Man’s Country story came to an end, but not the legend. The stories and the memories will endure. Chuck Renslow always said he wanted Man’s Country to be more than a bathhouse, and it was much more.

With chapters on the techno-dance club BISTRO TOO & the leather bar, the CHICAGO EAGLE.

Last Call Chicago: A History of 1001 LGBTQ-Friendly Taverns, Haunts & Hangouts

Last Call Chicago: A History of 1,001 LGBTQ-Friendly Taverns, Haunts & Hangouts is a history of LGBTQ venues in Chicago going back in time as far as records of such venues exist. Both before and after Stonewall, LGBTQ bars and hangouts served the purpose of bringing the LGBTQ together and served as informal community centers. They were and are part of the vibrant fabric of the LGBTQ community. Opening Last Call Chicago is like stepping into a time machine that transports us across the years to bear witness to the triumphs, challenges, and sometimes heartaches of the LGBTQ community in Chicago.

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Tags: Author Talk with Owen Keehnen & Rick Karlin, Chicago, Gerber Hart Library and Archives, Owen Keehnen, Rick Karlin, Rogers Park, Sulzer Regional Library