Time Line 1979

Time Line 1979 (Time Line 1978) -- (Main Index) -- (Time Line 1980)

Books Published

• "Rushes" by John Rechy, a novel many consider to be strongly anti-SM.
• "Project Lambda", a novel by Paul O'M. Welles.
• "Germany of MS" a novel by Christian Pierrejouan.
• Publication of the first of a series of magazine size photo books from Zeus studios featuring muscular men in bondage. The series continues through 1986.
• Andreas Spengler publishes "Sadomasochisten und ihre Subkulturen", the German 129 page version of his study on the sadomasochistic subculture. The detailed German text explains that there is insufficient data to finally conclude there are no female sadomasochists, a point lost in the English version and subsequently on most researchers. [wd]

Clubs and groups formed

Formation of Castaways MC, Milwaukee; Chicago MOB (Men of Brotherhood); Dolphin MC, Sydney; Excalibur of New Jersey; The Inn Men, Akron, OH; Leathermen/Atlanta; Minnesota Marauders, Minneapolis; New World Rubbermen, Santee CA, later Port Townsend, WA); and St. Louis Leathernecks. Northern Lights MC, Montreal disbands.

Bar openings and closing

The bar formerly known as the In Between, the No Name, and by several other names over the years is purchased by Hank Diethelm and becomes The Brig, quickly becoming the most popular heavy leather bar in San Francisco. It closes in 1986 not long after Diethelm is murdered by a trick.

The Stables, The Watering Hole and the Trench open in San Francisco. None has a long life but the two latter bars become very popular with the water sports crowd. [R]

A sex club called the Hothouse opens at 5th and Clara in San Francisco [R]

1979

The Pocono Warriors hold their first Whitewater Weekend, which includes opportunities for whitewater rafting, and a very well equipped dungeon space. The first organization after Chicago Hellfire Club to formally include an SM sex party in the activities.

1979

Satyrs MC, the country's oldest, celebrates its 25th anniversary in the Grand Ballroom of the Queen Mary, Long Beach CA.

1979

The Amsterdam Eagle opens

1979

The Robert Samuels gallery in New York City hosts the fifth Tom of Finland show, the largest and most successful to date, until the time came for payment and return of the unsold pieces.

1979

"Mr. Benson" by John Preston, writing as Jack Prescot, begins serialization in Drummer #29.

1979

Hundreds of the 1978Tom of Finland calendar are left unsold. Durk Dehner comes up with a scheme to cut off the calendar and sell the beautifully printed drawings as a photo set and the Tom of Finland company is born. [Hooven 95]

1979

Sasha Alyson starts Alyson Publications. Alyson is one of the first publishers to welcome gay leather/SM works, including those by John Preston and the lesbian SM book Coming to Power.

1979, Feb.

Brittain's Queen Elizabeth II is named an "honorary man" by hosts during a visit to the Persian Gulf so "he" could visit areas barred to women. [TOL]

1979, May

David Kloff, of San Francisco, is named the first International Mr. Leather at the contest in Chicago. Durk Dehner, of Los Angeles, is First Runner Up.

1979, May 21

Dan White convicted only of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of Milk and Moscone. The conviction results in the White Night riots by gay men in San Francisco.

1979, June

Drummer # 30 features Jack Fritscher's "Meditations on Arthur Tress" including several photos by this very homoerotic, and leather suggestive, photographer.

1979

John Rowberry replaces Jack Fritscher as Editor of Drummer, starting with issue # 31.

1979

Drawings by Dirk Dykstra, A.K.A. "Lazy Leo" & "Leo Ravenswood" first published in Drummer #31.

1979

It is a year for leather shop openings in San Francisco. Leather Forever and Leatherworld open in the Castro district. And in the Folsom area Taylor of San Francisco opens on Clementina, and Alan Selby opens Mr. S Leather on 7th between Folsom & Howard.

1979

Bette Midler records "My Knight in Black Leather". [R]

1979, June

"Dykes on Bikes" make their first appearance in a Pride Day Parade, in San Francisco. [TOL]

1979, July 7

Rod's (bar) opens in Madison WI. Not strictly a leather bar, but leather friendly and for years the best there is in Madison.

1979, July 8

Robert Opel shot and killed by a hold-up man at his Feywey Studios, 1287 Howard St., San Francisco.

1979, Aug 31

Sally Rand (b 1904) exotic dancer and actress dies

1979, Sept. 14-16

Chicago Hellfire Club's Inferno 8 goes to a two night SM party and Tony DeBlase creates a schedule of demonstrations, contests, and a flea market to fill the intervening day. It is covered extensively with text and photos by John Preston and Tony DeBlase in Drummers #34 and 35. This is the first real publicity on Inferno.

1979, Oct. 14

The first Lesbian and Gay March on Washington. Over 100,000 attend.

1979, Oct. 30

A Different Light Bookstore opens in Los Angeles, they will be the first bookstore to have a separate Leather/SM section.

1979, Nov.

DungeonMaster a newsletter of male SM techniques, starts publication. Fledermaus, a.k.a. Tony DeBlase, publisher, editor, etc. He uses the phrase "Safe and Sane S&M" to describe its subject matter.

1979, Dec. 1

"Bent", a play by Martin Sherman, about the prosecution of gays in the Nazi concentration camps opens on Broadway.

(Time Line 1978) -- (Time Line Index) -- (Time Line 1980)
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