BIJOU THEATER CHICAGO FULL

In 2007, at the GayVN award show in San Francisco, Toushin was awarded the 'Life Time Achievement Award' from the Gay Adult Industry. In 1989, at the Adult Video Awards show in Las Vegas Toushin received (while he was in prison) the Reuben Sturman Award 'For Legal Battles on Behalf of the Adult Industry'. The Bijou Theater was owned and operated by American pornographer Steven Toushin. The diversity and inclusiveness featured in these productions garnered a following of show goers, that often included heterosexual men, women and couples, who would have otherwise never visited Bijou Theater. Miss Tiger's comedic timing and ability to involve the audience into the show was legendary. Miss Tiger's Cabaret was irreverent, camp, sometimes political and thought provoking all in one. Sukie was quoted as saying, 'Miss Tiger is a star! Nobody else is doing this kind of thing.' Miss Tiger would later write a popular advice column for Nightspots, a weekly Chicago LGBTQIA entertainment magazine. Sukie de la Croix of the Windy City Times. Many shows were photographed and reviewed by St. Each production featured theatrical lighting, original costumes and set design. Original music was created by Chicago music producer, DJ Christian, who often accompanied Miss Tiger in music bookings outside of the theater. Cast members included a few of the dancers from the erotic cabaret but were mostly singers and actors from Chicago's thriving community theater scene. This cabaret was unlike the former Bijou cabaret, due to its including both a male and female cast and featured very little nudity. New shows were introduced about every eight weeks with productions taking place Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:30pm and 10:30pm each night.

The cabaret shows were written and directed by Miss Tiger and were the first of their kind to be performed at Bijou Theater. Miss Tiger's Cabaret featured live singing, original music and original plays. Eventually, these more explicit shows were separated from a newly formed venue known as Miss Tiger's Cabaret. The cabaret began to shift from typical go-go boy show to an avant garde, high production value venue under the direction of Miss Tiger. Showtimes were select afternoons and nightly.

BIJOU THEATER CHICAGO FULL

Performances featured full nudity and there were typically three to four dancers a show. The Bijou Boys Erotic Cabaret featured solo performances by local and national male dancers. Guests were invited to rent a locker to store their street clothes and change into their ' play clothing.' In warm weather, the club opened the Bijou Gardens, an outdoor playground. Travel magazines implored readers to explore the 'gay man's fantasy playground' replete with glory holes, dark corners, and a BDSM dungeon with slings, crosses, and other fetish objects. The Bijou Theater was widely recognized for its second-floor sex club. Titles found on the website were then available for purchase at the DVD counter. A desk and computer were set up for patrons who would like to peruse the Bijou's website listing over 14,000 titles. The theater's lobby hosted a DVD counter to purchase gay adult films. Real estate values in that area have gone ballistic.The Bijou Theater featured a 15-by-18-foot silver screen and seats 77 people in anchored, theater-style cushioned seating. I’m sure if any such operation were to try and open from scratch at such a locale today, the surrounding yuppie parents would block it to no end. I was always amazed that the Bijou stood the test of time, with a Chicago public grade school located essentially kitty corner & across the street. Until the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum opened up across the street. The Royal London Wax Museum down the street was more our interest. Even though we grew up in the area, we never set foot in this place. Though the theatre may specialize in gay porn, I believe the accompanying book/DVD store caters to a hetero adult clientele as well. Might have just been the media trying to link the theatre to other seedy activities. Though I’m not sure if this was ever proven to be true, or just speculation due to the bomber’s supposed criminal ties.

There was also an apparent failed bombing in the early `90’s that I mentioned over on the Aardvark CT page.Īccording to news reports at the the time, the would be bomber accidentally blew himself up while alledgedly enroute to the Bijou. There were giant mugs shots from the `70’s in the gallery window. that had an exhibit based on the owner of the Bijou. A few years back there was an art gallery further North on Wells St.

Bijou theater chicago