Bijou Theater

The Bijou Theater is a gay adult theater and sex club in Chicago, Illinois. It was established in 1970, and is the oldest such theater and club in the United States of America.U.S. v. Toushin, 714 F.Supp. 1452 at 1454 (M.D.Tenn. April 21, 1989).  It is located at 1349 N. Wells St. in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. 

In January 1970, the Bijou opened on the first floor of a four story Victorian. The first movie shown was Richard Nixon's Checkers speech, named after Nixon's dog Checkers. The movie that followed was a gay porn movie.

In 1980, the Bijou expanded to the second floor, where a sexual playground was established. On this floor are booths, glory holes, a dungeon with slings, and a Saint Andrew's cross. The same year, the back yard was overhauled for summer frolicking. The Bijou was opened 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 1984, the Bijou expanded to the third floor.

References

Category:1970 establishments in the United States
Category:Landmarks in Chicago
Category:LGBT in the United States
Category:Theaters in Chicago
Category:1970s establishments in Illinois