City of Ghosts and Echos.
Thanks to a wonderful photographer an my Brazilian friend (well he's not actually Brazilian but he has a little in him from time to time) I have realized that there is no real gay historical sites in Los Angeles. That is to say sites of historical significance to gay people.
Arguably San Francisco has a few. At least San Francisco has the Twin Peaks (cafe). That was the first openly gay establishment that sported the plate glass window so you can freely see the goings on inside. (the horror, the horror) Los Angeles by comparison has, well, none that come to mind. There have been several clubs that have come and gone within the same old tired facades but none with any historical significance. Even that fluid change (no good pun intended) of one bar taking over another is of no import to anyone. Yet, as the comments to one of my last post brought to light is that the memory of the establishment still exists. During my life I have heard stories of places that have come and gone. Exciting tales of passion in some of the most exciting sounding venues that, to me, never existed. The other side of that is that current gay themed (yes themed, like disneyland, because gay folks are an industry to be preyed on for some corporations) businesses are in places that have held history that is the polar opposite of what is going on in there now. The closest thing that I have ever seen to a history of gay life in Los Angeles was in the hideous film HUSTLER WHITE. They have a "character" describe the history of cruising on Santa Monica blvd. What streets provide what type of trick. Almost a block by block description of what you would find and where you could find it. The thing that struck me was that this person also went on to describe how Pershing Square used to be the hot spot for gay liaisons. That was a surprise to me. While this history of the street was fairly accurate Pershing Square is nothing more than a homeless hangout and a place you can get drugs. This film brought to light that there is no history of gay culture in L.A. It is revisionist living. It has been a while since I have seen that film but I'm damn sure that the descriptions of the streets are no longer accurate. Tragically the only gay establishments that come to mind can be broken down into four simple groups. (there is a fifth but we'll get to that in a moment)
1. Clubs and bars.
2. Sex clubs and bath houses.
3. Restaurants.
4. Book stores.
In my mind, and please correct me if I am wrong, not one of these places has improved gay life in Los Angeles one bit. Let me rephrase that. Not one of these places has done anything to make being gay outside of west hollywood border any more acceptible to people who are not gay.
Sure you can say without these places where would we ... be gay. That is to say be comfortable in expressing your feelings for the same sex in public.
Well here is my answer to that:
Anywhere. If you are comfortable in your own skin you'll be fine anywhere.
(Warning: SOAPBOX ALERT!)
The whole concept of West Hollywood "The Creative City" makes my skin crawl. It is little more than a gay ghetto. A place where gays and the lesbians that hate them group together to be with people of like minds. Unless there is a gay army amassing in WEHO preparing for a mass crusade... I don't see how that type of huddle together society is productive. Unless you are creating a Theme park. Then that makes perfect sense.
Sorry, back to the topic...
Greg's Blue Dot. The Other Side. The Four Star. Incognito. Four places that are just a memory now. Four out of who knows how many. So many secrets inside these places. so many stories Passion for life and love and identity within these places. Places that disappear. Echos of the past. Surely something happened inside these windowless facades that affected gay culture but ... what. Please. I'm looking for answers here people.
Oh the fifth group for gay life is:
5. the non-profit organization.
Places like APLA and L.A. Shanti. These places rose up out of the bodies of the departed. They also will pay you a handsome fee if you put together an event that pulls in money. For instance, a celebrity auction. You can make a quick ten grand just by organizing the event. A finders fee. Keep that in mind the next time you give to help people living and dying with HIV and AIDS. These institutions do help those in need but I think there money could be a little better spent.
O.K. so, bars, bathhouses, bookstores, restaurants and non profit organizations. Thats it. thats all L.A. has to offer. None of them with any historical significance. None of them with a written history. None of them with a plan to leave anything but a memory.
The city of Angels.
Arguably San Francisco has a few. At least San Francisco has the Twin Peaks (cafe). That was the first openly gay establishment that sported the plate glass window so you can freely see the goings on inside. (the horror, the horror) Los Angeles by comparison has, well, none that come to mind. There have been several clubs that have come and gone within the same old tired facades but none with any historical significance. Even that fluid change (no good pun intended) of one bar taking over another is of no import to anyone. Yet, as the comments to one of my last post brought to light is that the memory of the establishment still exists. During my life I have heard stories of places that have come and gone. Exciting tales of passion in some of the most exciting sounding venues that, to me, never existed. The other side of that is that current gay themed (yes themed, like disneyland, because gay folks are an industry to be preyed on for some corporations) businesses are in places that have held history that is the polar opposite of what is going on in there now. The closest thing that I have ever seen to a history of gay life in Los Angeles was in the hideous film HUSTLER WHITE. They have a "character" describe the history of cruising on Santa Monica blvd. What streets provide what type of trick. Almost a block by block description of what you would find and where you could find it. The thing that struck me was that this person also went on to describe how Pershing Square used to be the hot spot for gay liaisons. That was a surprise to me. While this history of the street was fairly accurate Pershing Square is nothing more than a homeless hangout and a place you can get drugs. This film brought to light that there is no history of gay culture in L.A. It is revisionist living. It has been a while since I have seen that film but I'm damn sure that the descriptions of the streets are no longer accurate. Tragically the only gay establishments that come to mind can be broken down into four simple groups. (there is a fifth but we'll get to that in a moment)
1. Clubs and bars.
2. Sex clubs and bath houses.
3. Restaurants.
4. Book stores.
In my mind, and please correct me if I am wrong, not one of these places has improved gay life in Los Angeles one bit. Let me rephrase that. Not one of these places has done anything to make being gay outside of west hollywood border any more acceptible to people who are not gay.
Sure you can say without these places where would we ... be gay. That is to say be comfortable in expressing your feelings for the same sex in public.
Well here is my answer to that:
Anywhere. If you are comfortable in your own skin you'll be fine anywhere.
(Warning: SOAPBOX ALERT!)
The whole concept of West Hollywood "The Creative City" makes my skin crawl. It is little more than a gay ghetto. A place where gays and the lesbians that hate them group together to be with people of like minds. Unless there is a gay army amassing in WEHO preparing for a mass crusade... I don't see how that type of huddle together society is productive. Unless you are creating a Theme park. Then that makes perfect sense.
Sorry, back to the topic...
Greg's Blue Dot. The Other Side. The Four Star. Incognito. Four places that are just a memory now. Four out of who knows how many. So many secrets inside these places. so many stories Passion for life and love and identity within these places. Places that disappear. Echos of the past. Surely something happened inside these windowless facades that affected gay culture but ... what. Please. I'm looking for answers here people.
Oh the fifth group for gay life is:
5. the non-profit organization.
Places like APLA and L.A. Shanti. These places rose up out of the bodies of the departed. They also will pay you a handsome fee if you put together an event that pulls in money. For instance, a celebrity auction. You can make a quick ten grand just by organizing the event. A finders fee. Keep that in mind the next time you give to help people living and dying with HIV and AIDS. These institutions do help those in need but I think there money could be a little better spent.
O.K. so, bars, bathhouses, bookstores, restaurants and non profit organizations. Thats it. thats all L.A. has to offer. None of them with any historical significance. None of them with a written history. None of them with a plan to leave anything but a memory.
The city of Angels.
posted by Gavin Elster at 8:16 PM
9 Comments:
Whoa, this is an excellent piece!
Bars, bathhouses, bookstores and restaurants. Nice legacy - all disposal therefore incapable of generating a history. Sadly, I think LA is not the only city to carrying this phenomenom on its back.
However, playing devil's advocate, for a 'community' still in its youth, in a public sense, maybe the history is still brewing on a personal level, still contained within the individual rather than on display for a larger society. Maybe physical manifestations of the history will appear in time.
Jim,
One can hope.
See now why the hel don't we have a Gay History Walking tour?
Whats the matter with the people in this city? Aw fuck...
Does this mean I have to do this!?! Come on people dont make me actually DO something! Someone else please take this idea and run with it. I'd enjoy your tour! (crickets)
AW fuck I guess its up to me.
That coffee shop over in Toluca Lake seems kinda gay.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anything you think up is Magick Films' property. (It's in you life long contract).
Oh yes I vaguely remember you saying "Ink isn't worth anything to me... Now sign"
it gone
Lasomniloquy,
I agree that "ye olde hollywood" is steeped in the fruits of gay labor. I dont see any gay person being recognized as being the "person" who dressed Garbo. These invisible gay artisans are everywhere in every field. Come to think of it I dont even know why it is important to point out that they are gay. What people do with their hoo haa is their ownbusiness. I just dont see any cultural or lifestyle changing events in gay culture coming forth from los angeles. With the exception of the history of gay culture website that i found .Its a nice chronicle of a publication but it hardly notes historical moments in L.A. (with the exception of a Gay in at griffith park.
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