When the theater was demolished, the seats were offered to the Democratic National Committee for their 1956 convention. The convention was held at the International Amphitheatre near Halsted and 42nd St. That building was razed in the late 1990s and some of the seats ended up at 6418 N. Greenview Ave. as part of the Greenview Arts Center.

The auditorium is used for the LA&M film series, Cinekink, Pantheon of Leather Awards, demonstrations, lectures, community meetings and is always available for leather clubs and groups to use free of charge including the Chicago Leather Kennel Club, Windy City Boys Troop, The Next Generation Chicago (TNGC), Chicago Leather Club and Chicago Hellfire Club among others. We never charge for the use of the auditorium, however donations are accepted.

The murals in the first Gold Coast were actually painted on the walls of the bar. When Chuck and Dom lost their lease, they had to remove the murals by using paint remover or by painting over them. Some beautiful pieces were lost forever. When the Gold Coast fond it’s new home, Chuck and Dom decided to paint the murals on these 4’ x 8’ panels so if they ever had to move the bar again, they could save his works. Good thing too, the gold coast had five locations before the name was finally retired in 1988.

One of Etienne’s more erotic fantasies… The mural entitled Carwash was on display in the locker room of Man’s Country, a gay bathhouse owned by Chuck Renslow and Dom Orejudos (Etienne). The mural was removed from Man’s Country during one of its many renovations and moved to its new permanent home here at the LA&M.

Even in the face of a tragedy, Chuck can always find humor. Zolar’s was a Disco that Chuck and one of his “boys” opened in the 1980’s. The bar was located near a Chicago “L” track, a spark from a passing train lit the bar on fire and it burned to the ground. Being a new business, Chuck had not yet obtained insurance and the business and building were a total loss. This mural was the only thing saved from the ashes. If you ask Chuck today about Zolar’s, he will tell you the bar’s motto “Zolar’s, it’s magic, Zolar’s, it’s tragic.” The mural was displayed in the Man’s Country locker room until 2006 when it was moved to the LA&M.

So why is so much of Etienne’s beloved art in the hands of other people? When Dom Orejudos (Etienne) contracted AIDS in the 1970’s, little was known about the disease and of course, there was no cure. Chuck reluctantly sold off Dom’s work to pay for his care and to try to find a cure for this “Gay Cancer”. Many of the people that obtained Etienne’s work, or knew what it meant to Chuck, graciously donated (or sold) the items back to Chuck for his collection.