Famous gay actors of the 50s and 60s
Step back in hour with us, as we explore the colourful, vibrant, and oftentimes misunderstood nature of the 1950s. This was a decade of significant switch, marked by the rise of the civil rights movement, the burgeoning second wave of feminism, and the first roots of Diverse activism. Throughout this tumultuous era, a handful of brave individuals stood out as queer icons, their influence still palpable today. So, let's unwrap the stories of these exceptional individuals who dared to be diverse, and let their legacy of self-acceptance inspire us to continue the struggle for equality.
Who were they? These were actors, writers, singers, and activists who lived their correctness, often in the face of adversity. They were arrogant, they were bold, and they were unapologetic. They are the pioneers of the LGBTQ+ collective, their stories a testament to resilience and authenticity.
Why does it matter? Their lives and works help as an vital reminder that the rights and acceptance we enjoy today were hard-fought for. Thus, it's vital to recognise and remember the trailblazers who dared to exist on their terms, paving the path for many of us today.
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So, buckle up as w
For many, June represents the month of pride; a time to celebrate, inform and communicate all that is queer, gay and fabulous. Although today entity gay isn’t much of a deal, back in the 50’s it was a dangerous label to have. Throughout history, thousands have lost their lives because they were labeled as ‘gay’ or ‘queer’ and many lived out their true sexual preferences in secrecy. As it’s almost the end of Pride month, I wanted to have a view at some celebrities from the golden age of Hollywood who were lgbtq+, or at least thats what the rumours said. It’s difficult to realize if all these celebrities, and of course many more, were truly same-sex attracted, but I wanted to share a few stories just so see how far we’ve come. Glad pride everyone.
*Disclaimer: Please note that some of the following stories may depict graphic descriptions and behaviours which some readers may find disturbing. Discretion is advised.
Katherine Hepburn
Iconic Hollywood actress and Academy Award-winning performer in films such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond, Katherine Hepburn reportedly had an insatiable
5. Stars from a Bi-Gone Era
Most of the stories that we discussed came from one guy: Scotty Bowers, a Hollywood pimp of the queer silver screen actors of the 1940s and beyond. He was also associated with Alfred Kinsey in his famous study of human sexuality in the 1950s by providing many of the interview subjects.
A former marine, Bowers kept hushed for many years about these stories, as he did not want to adversely affect the lives of any of the actors who were still around. Many of the stories were actively hushed up using fixers paid by the studios at the time, and several of the actors were in "lavender marriages"---marriages arranged by the studio, frequently with another queer player. At the time, studios especially would not contain wanted the queer attractions of their headlining actors to be widely recognizable, as that would possess damaged the 'wholesome family image' of many of the films they wanted to market.
After all of the actors died, Bowers finally decided that his experiences and stories couldn't harm their image or beloved status---plus the nature was a more uncover place to queer attraction---so he wrote about it. His memoir, Full Service, records many of the t
BU Alum Explores the Double Life of Actor Rock Hudson in New HBO Documentary
Stephen Kijak’s film shows the movie star as both an icon of the ’50s and ’60s—and a gay man whose death from AIDS changed public perception of the disease
On screen, actor Rock Hudson was the epitome of American masculinity: square-jawed, broad-shouldered, and standing successfully over six feet lofty. An iconic movie celebrity of the 1950s and ’60s, Hudson was recognizable for his leading roles in Douglas Sirk’s melodramas (Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind), George Stevens’ sprawling film adaptation of Edna Ferber’s Giant, which earned him his only Oscar nomination, in 1956, and a string of sly, romantic comedies costarring Doris Day (Pillow Converse, Lover Come Back, Dispatch Me No Flowers). He also starred in the popular 1970s TV series McMillan & Wife.
Hudson was also gay, a confidential closely guarded in the film industry for apprehension that news of his sexual orientation would torpedo his career.
That double existence is the subject of a new HBO documentary, Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed, by filmmaker Stephen Kijak (COM’91). The film traces Hudson’s career, from smal
When Hollywood Studios Married Off Gay Stars to Keep Their Sexuality a Secret
Valentino also married costume designer Natacha Rambova in 1923, at a time when his career was starting to hold off and the roles he played were seen as less typically masculine, such as in the film “Monsieur Beaucaire” in 1924. His marriage to Rambova ended in 1925, which left some speculating that the marriages of the “pink powder puff” (a nickname Valentino acquired after playing effeminate roles on screen) were coverups to hold the sex symbol’s reputation intact.
Identifying how many Hollywood couples tied the knot to cloak their sexuality is, of course problematic since it’s primarily based on speculation_._
“I consider the hardest thing for a historian is to nice of sift through what the rumor [is] and what is actually factual," says Tropiano.
One commonly cited source for speculation is the memoir of Scotty Bowers, Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars. Bowers’ account details sexual encounters, homosexual and straight, that he claims he both arranged and took part in, beginning in 1946.
Bowers wrote that he had been sexually involved with direction