In many cases, these men didn't have sexual lives. A number of biographers of these men have argued that they see little evidence of any sexual life at all for these early trailblazers. They were ostracized by gay men in even the most private gatherings or anonymous encounters out of fear of being connected to them publicly. They were loved from a far by many, but did not even have moments of real intimacy at all. The irony is tragic.
Oh don’t believe everything you read, biographers write to make money from telling all about someone they think they know and more often than not they embellish the facts to get “a best seller” which makes even more money for them, usually there is a disclaimer hidden in the book…….e.g. The Spare…Harry has made a truck load off that.
Could always just take or leave Cilla Black but seeing her here outside of her singing/gameshow persona she comes across as a very considered, smart and genuinely funny person, no wonder she and Paul O'Grady were such friends. The doc', although true, is very heavy on the doom and gloom and there is no way we're going back into the closet as we've chopped it down to make a bonfire to dance around....lol
OO-ERR! Britain was very advanced in camporama. The fuzzy lines between entertainment and queer was simply marvelous. Even straight actors Morcambe and Wise slept in the same bed. So happy my Cherokee has been introduced.
They are greatest double entendre comedians , kids would the enjoying the over top entertainment and parents would be laughing at the jokes . The kids would laugh along with parents .
I think it comes from oppression - growing up in an unsafe environment where you had to try and be straight to survive first then escaping that later- and the relief of becoming yourself finally.
@@KarmasAbutch I tried to be straight but it just didn't work. The fundamentalist church tried to tell me that I am not gay, sorry darlings, it didn't work!
John Inman and Larry Grayson may have left many in doubt as to what 'being gay' was-was it a funny act or a far reaching life-choice? Or something in between? But what they did best was to be self deprecating about it, and present 'being gay' as quietly affirmative.
This thing about 1950/60 and the people not knowing they where gay is is pure fiction my grand parents and there friends and neighbours would open talk about these men being gay . So to say people did not know is ignorance on the part of the showmbis types who thought they where keeping a big secret. I am a child of 1970s gay men where everywhere my grandparents had lots of gay friends. It was notca huge issue
Barry Humphries/Dame Edna was never a queen. A queen icon, yes, but was always a straight man wearing a dress to perform as Dame Edna Everage as a comedy act.
Camps and alternates are important to society so hetros can appreciate inclusion and diversity. It's just a great shame that most belong to a cohort born vindictive and committed to forcing their venom upon the rest of the world. A cohort not content like the rest of us to simply to ply their trade but insistent that the rest of us fall in lockstep behind their megaphoned virtues of inclusion and diversity. Virtues which they find offensive, were they to adopt themselves. The universal cliche of comedians that 'no topic should be taboo', magnifies a delicious and imperishable irony whenever camp comedians are lampooned and criticized for their bellicose angry vomit aimed at truly wonderful comedians whose immortality is indelible. A relatively unknown loosely self titled comedian immediately leaps into the frame. Hanna Gadsby's projectile vitriole of vomit against the trail blazing Barry Humphrey, ensured two things. The elevation of Barry to sainthood, whilst simultaneously casting herself into oblivion. RIP Barry. Thanks for the belly laughs. Lest we ever forget, for only we who are left grow old. I offer my prayers for them both🙏
Kenneth Williams was unprecedented, unique and unequalled. There will never be another.
he was a very unhappy homosexual
This is fabulous. Kenneth Williams was such a joy. RIP Barry Humphries.
Kenneth Williams and Dudley Moore in the Hound Of The Baskervilles spoof is the most fun you'll ever have watching television haha.
I agree! I wish they'd release the blu-ray in the UK.
Fabulous entertainers! You can't judge their camp choices because they had to grow up, live and thrive in a hostile world back then.
It's still a hostile worldi n Florida ,,,, it's like going back to the 60's😢😢😢
Thank you so much - this is a glorious companion during Lockdown x
“ If I could take a pill and wake up normal,” is one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard.
Sad that we have lost two of the top tier queens Lily and Edna. I loved danny la rue as a kid.
In many cases, these men didn't have sexual lives. A number of biographers of these men have argued that they see little evidence of any sexual life at all for these early trailblazers. They were ostracized by gay men in even the most private gatherings or anonymous encounters out of fear of being connected to them publicly. They were loved from a far by many, but did not even have moments of real intimacy at all. The irony is tragic.
Oh don’t believe everything you read, biographers write to make money from telling all about someone they think they know and more often than not they embellish the facts to get “a best seller” which makes even more money for them, usually there is a disclaimer hidden in the book…….e.g. The Spare…Harry has made a truck load off that.
Great point
Could always just take or leave Cilla Black but seeing her here outside of her singing/gameshow persona she comes across as a very considered, smart and genuinely funny person, no wonder she and Paul O'Grady were such friends. The doc', although true, is very heavy on the doom and gloom and there is no way we're going back into the closet as we've chopped it down to make a bonfire to dance around....lol
The decision to come out is a personal choice even today.
you are so right it is tneir decicion to come out or not come out and no one has the right to make that decision for them.
I’d not heard of Bette Bourne before this !
OO-ERR!
Britain was very advanced in camporama. The fuzzy lines between entertainment and queer was simply marvelous. Even straight actors Morcambe and Wise slept in the same bed.
So happy my Cherokee has been introduced.
They are greatest double entendre comedians , kids would the enjoying the over top entertainment and parents would be laughing at the jokes . The kids would laugh along with parents .
I’m gay and don’t understand the “ I love being gay’ …. I know nothing else to love , I’ve been gay all my life, I didn’t choose !
I think it comes from oppression - growing up in an unsafe environment where you had to try and be straight to survive first then escaping that later- and the relief of becoming yourself finally.
I’m trans and I feel the same!
@@KarmasAbutch I tried to be straight but it just didn't work. The fundamentalist church tried to tell me that I am not gay, sorry darlings, it didn't work!
@@abathory1 not the same.
I suppose you don't have to know any different to love being what you are . I love being a straight white lady . I don't know any better
oh please, how can anyone acually believe that any of these guys were straight! it's stupid to have thought otherwise!!
Polari isn't a language, it's a code consisting of a few noun/verb transliterations grafted onto English syntax.
Love little Britain
Splendid! And we didn't have to put money into murdochs pocket to watch
Dame Edna Everage!
Thank you for sharing these. Good to see a bit of queer history 🙂
Brilliant so camp lol
and the women???? that were being impersonated???
Barry Humphries was Not Gay, he was straight but had a drag character. May He rest in peace.
Polari was not invented in the 20th century. This form of cant can be traced back to the 16th century. And actually it is on the wane.
11:38 OMG Dylan Mulvaney was already there ! Love yaaa ☠️
John Inman and Larry Grayson may have left many in doubt as to what 'being gay' was-was it a funny act or a far reaching life-choice? Or something in between? But what they did best was to be self deprecating about it, and present 'being gay' as quietly affirmative.
SICK !!!
Kenneth Williams was never "outrageously" gay. On the contrary, he hid it.
And there is no shame in that if he did. It was his life to live how he saw fit not anybody’s else’s
@@CatsandJP Agreed
would any straight person have understood Connors terms for gay in that awful article ?
This thing about 1950/60 and the people not knowing they where gay is is pure fiction my grand parents and there friends and neighbours would open talk about these men being gay . So to say people did not know is ignorance on the part of the showmbis types who thought they where keeping a big secret.
I am a child of 1970s gay men where everywhere my grandparents had lots of gay friends. It was notca huge issue
In the UK it was illegal until the late 60s and there was a lot of blackmailing too, as in the film victim.
Agreed 🫶🫶🫶
Barry Humphries/Dame Edna was never a queen. A queen icon, yes, but was always a straight man wearing a dress to perform as Dame Edna Everage as a comedy act.
Barry Cryer was gay!?
No, he wasn't.
And your proof comes from where, your own head.
I'm sorry , but I think perpetuating camp stereotypes makes it difficult for young gay and bisexual men nowadays who don't feel like that .
You're right, you are sorry!
Leave God apart , thanks.
Camps and alternates are important to society so hetros can appreciate inclusion and diversity. It's just a great shame that most belong to a cohort born vindictive and committed to forcing their venom upon the rest of the world. A cohort not content like the rest of us to simply to ply their trade but insistent that the rest of us fall in lockstep behind their megaphoned virtues of inclusion and diversity. Virtues which they find offensive, were they to adopt themselves. The universal cliche of comedians that 'no topic should be taboo', magnifies a delicious and imperishable irony whenever camp comedians are lampooned and criticized for their bellicose angry vomit aimed at truly wonderful comedians whose immortality is indelible. A relatively unknown loosely self titled comedian immediately leaps into the frame. Hanna Gadsby's projectile vitriole of vomit against the trail blazing Barry Humphrey, ensured two things. The elevation of Barry to sainthood, whilst simultaneously casting herself into oblivion. RIP Barry. Thanks for the belly laughs. Lest we ever forget, for only we who are left grow old.
I offer my prayers for them both🙏