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Then one day as I was looking through the newspaper to see which Hollywood release I would check out next, I came across an ad for a place that showed other kinds of motion pictures that were also made mostly in California: "XXX All Male Movies" at the Bijou Theater. You see, "back in the day" before you could readily watch porn in the privacy of your own home courtesy of VHS tapes (remember those?), the Bijou was the primary place where homo-Chicagoans went to view films that were euphemistically called "instructional videos." And so on the same weekend the Bears won the Super Bowl in 1986, instead of going to the Woods Theater or catching an art house film at the Fine Arts, I took in a double feature on continuous loop - at the Bijou (probably a Falcon video and a Catalina feature by director William Higgins). Much to my enjoyment, I found out that the Bijou was, and still is, so much more than an all-male adult film palace. Basically, the Bears scored a lot that weekend, and so did I! Celebrating its 38th anniversary this month at its location on Wells Street, the Bijou, which is open 24/7-365, is the oldest gay porn movie house in the country. The first floor theater space has 77 seats and changes its weekly presentation of new releases every Friday. Mondays is "Classics Night," with the showing of films from the pre-condom era, while the third Friday of each month features a "Full Monty" stripper presentation by Chicago Beef dancers from 10pm-midnight. Yes, they show movies and occasionally have strippers, but the great thing about the Bijou is its holistic approach to satisfying the carnal needs and wants of its patrons. Thus, beyond the door just to the right of the movie screen is where the real fun and magic happen at the Bijou. Best described as a sex club, the second floor of the Bijou boasts plenty of easy opportunities for encounters of the casual kind, complete with first-cum, first-served private booths, glory holes, a full dungeon room with a sling, and free-for-all public spaces. Compared to the involved processes at a bathhouse (i.e. registration, finding your room or locker, and trying to look your best in a towel before you even begin your phallic quest), satisfaction at the Bijou can quickly be had by simply opening wide - you choose the orifice - and/or with a quick unzip and the dropping of trou'. Yeah, some may call it sleazy, but the fact of the matter is that this is an efficient way to have a whole lot of fun and to "get ya some!" Now, if you don't want to take advantage of the sex club and prefer your visual consumption of "instructional videos" within the confines of your home, a trip to the Bijou is still advisable. The lobby area of the theater, where no admission price need be paid, is home to one of the largest selections of all-male porn movies that you'll ever find anywhere. The folks at the Bijou bill themselves as "erotica experts" and thus can help you find both the latest release as well as that classic from a bygone era.
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When
I first came to Chicago two decades ago for an internship, I
was a horny 20 year old gay boy with no way of getting into the
gay bars and clubs (translation: no fake ID). With no friends
yet in the city, my weekend social activities mainly consisted
of shopping by day mostly window shopping as I was only
making intern money - and movies by night (primarily at the Water
Tower Theaters). As for any sort of sexual stimulation or pursuits,
copies of Blueboy and Mandate magazines, my imagination, and
my right hand were pretty much it.
Bijou
1349 N. Wells St.