Chuck Renslow, was inducted into the City of Chicago's Lesbian and Gay Hall of Fame in 1991 and had received just about every honor and award the gay and leather communities can give him. Chuck Renslow, was inducted into the City of Chicago's Lesbian and Gay Hall of Fame in 1991 and had received just about every honor and award the gay and leather communities can give him. From photographer to a respected name in the City of Chicago, I was fortunate enough to get some time before IML to have a little chat with Chuck.

What got you started in the Adult Entertainment business?
I started as a photographer here in Chicago; I hated it and stopped it when I met my lover Dom in 1954. Having this talent, we started working together taking physique photo's for the AAU along with having physique contests. At that time, there was a group of us that hung out on the weekends and we tried several bars and finally found a place on Elm and Clark in 1958, I was asked to manage the bar and when the owner died I was asked if I wanted to buy the place. That was the beginning of the Gold Coast in 1960 for a 43 year run. Being weightlifters, Dom and I we were members of the AAU that did physique pageants and out of this, we started the Mr. Gold Coast contest. It got so huge I started IML and that was 30 years ago.

Can you tell our readers about the history of Man's Country, then the split into separate entities, kind of like going full circle?
During the highlight of Man's Country, we had entertainment like Wayland Flowers and Madam and The Disco Diva's of the day. Then when AIDS hit I redid the space and opened the Bistro Too. Bistro Too had some great performances from Boy George to the last concert Divine performed before her untimely death. After 7 years, the club got so difficult to run, I closed Bistro and because of AIDS education I was able to reopen the dancehall as part of Mans Country again. I was going to close the Eagle just recently, but instead I sold the name Chicago Eagle and Jim will reopen it at 5001 N. Clark.

Can you tell us a little about the Leather Archives & Museum?
Dom Orejudos, my lover, the artist Etienne passed away and I inherited all of his artwork. Etiennes work was worth millions and I could have sold it, but I wanted to archive it in some way. I wanted to set up a foundation, so I talked to Tony Blasé who was once a curator at a museum and between Tony, Dom's artwork and myself and we started the Leather Achives.

What else do you want our readers to know?
Get active politically; these are important times for us as gay people. What all of the communities need is unity. In numbers there is strength.