Chicago Eagle (gay bars)
leather gay bar in Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Eagle is a gay bar in Uptown, Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is part of the informal, global network of "Eagle" bars that cater to leather and kink communities.
History
Renslow era
The Chicago Eagle was founded in 1993 by businessman and leatherman Chuck Renslow, who wanted to open a leather bar after the sale and closure of his first leather bar, the Gold Coast.
The bar was located at 5015 N Clark Street adjacent to Man's Country bathhouse. Dom Orejudos designed much of the bar's original signage.
The bar's design exuded leather, sex and kink: the entrance was disguised within a semi-trailer in the alley; the bathroom was marked a neon sign shaped like an ejaculating penis and contained a large bootblack chair; the coat check was housed in a mock jail cell; and every room featured televisions playing pornography.
The bar's lower level, called the Grease Pit, was especially popular for sex: it featured padded benches, a St. Andrew's cross and "a very busy bathroom"; former patrons and staff recounted all manner of sex acts, including flogging and fisting.
The Chicago Eagle frequently hosted rubber and leather contests including Mr. World Rubber and Mr.
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