It struck me as a kind of curious, quaint and somewhat charming period piece of a book. It occurred to me that a revival of the book seemed warranted. Will Fellows: Helen Branson had many gay friends in the 1940s and 1950s, and she was an extraordinary straight ally at a time when being a straight ally of homosexuals was unheard of. Randy Dotinga: What makes this book so unique? I also rang up a local historian to learn about the history of gay bars in San Diego. In an interview, I asked author Will Fellows to describe what he discovered about gay life in Southern California more than six decades ago. But then a Milwaukee author heard about it and brought it back to life in the newly published “Gay Bar: The Fabulous, True Story of a Daring Woman and Her Boys in the 1950s.” Authorities from the police to the alcohol board preferred to keep gays from congregating anywhere, so she made sure to not draw attention.īut as her affectionate and perceptive book shows, Branson still managed to provide a safe and cozy place for men who liked men. Branson wrote in her 1957 memoir “Gay Bar,” she needed to lay low by keeping her standards high. And she banned all effeminate behavior: absolutely no prancing around or wearing makeup.Īs bar owner Helen P. No kissing was allowed, and no hanky-panky in the restroom either. She didn’t allow anyone to buy a drink unless she knew them or a regular vouched for them. But the proprietor ran a tight ship, unlike any gay bar you might drop into today.
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Back in 1950s Hollywood, a hole-in-the-wall neighborhood gay bar offered an attractive mix of fizz, friends and fabulousness.