Gay actor in the 50s
When Hollywood Studios Married Off Gay Stars to Preserve Their Sexuality a Secret
Valentino also married costume architect Natacha Rambova in 1923, at a time when his career was starting to take 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 preserve 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 think the hardest thing for a historian is to compassionate 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, gay and straight, that he claims he both arranged and took part in, beginning in 1946.
Bowers wrote that he had been sexually involved with lead
For many, June represents the month of pride; a occasion to celebrate, teach and communicate all that is lgbtq+, gay and fabulous. Although today creature gay isn’t much of a deal, back in the 50’s it was a dangerous label to have. Throughout history, thousands contain 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 acquire a look at some celebrities from the golden age of Hollywood who were gay, or at least thats what the rumours said. It’s hard to know if all these celebrities, and of course many more, were truly gay, but I wanted to share a scant stories just so see how far we’ve come. Pleased 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 insatiab
The Real LGBT Stars of Old Hollywood
The gay subculture of early Hollywood has gained more attention recently thanks to the Netflix series Hollywood. While the show does film portrayals of some real celebrity characters, its main center is on the fictional minority characters and the made-up success story of their diverse clip. Many stars in Hollywood from the 1930s suppressed their sexuality. They didn’t get the liberty that LGBT performers have now, but that doesn’t signify their lives needed a false content ending in command to be known and appreciated.
Knowing the complete history of LGBT stars in the first decade of Hollywood is difficult since, in order to appeal to the general, publicists believed that aspect of their lives needed to be hidden. Knowing as much as we do about some LGBT stars is a feat considering how much rewriting and covering up the Hollywood studio heads did to everyone they managed, whether homosexual or straight. Biographies were changed to sound more curious or relatable to fans, and relationships were deliberately orchestrated to publicize a movie or announce a new celestial body to the universal. The only indication of some stars’ hidden
Old Hollywood Stars You Didn't Recognize Were Gay
Let's articulate the obvious: Being a gay icon during the days of Aged Hollywood was no walk in the park. Behind Tinseltown's glitzy facade loomed the specter of Hollywood's "sexual gestapo," a legal title coined by Matt Tyrnauer, director of the documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (via NPR). "It was very difficult," he said, "for people to have real lives." And Tyrnauer should know: His film profiled L.A. individuality Scotty Bowers, who reportedly acted as a "confidante, friend, and pimp for Hollywood's closeted show stars."
The threat of exposure was real and ever-present for these entertainers. Per Tyrnauer, studio contracts contained so-called "moral clauses" that could instantly vaporize a lucrative career. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department's vice squad were all too willing to bust celebrities, often working in cahoots with the press in their quest to hobble reputations.
Definitively name-checking these stars is impossible, as they were all in the closet throughout their careers. SFGate cannily suggested that "gossip is where the real truth lies" in this are