Philadelphia Gay News has seen some ish in its 35 years. It would take an army of writers a good number of months to sift through the thousands of pages PGN has put out over the years to find all the juicy entertainment nuggets the paper has published.
Unfortunately, we only had one writer and few weeks to pan for bygone gay entertainment gold.
Still, there is a lot to be learned from poring through old issues of PGN.
The 1970s-era papers were particularly eye-opening. It’s like that decade was a dark-mirror universe of the times we live in today. Cherry Hill, N.J., now a suburban enclave overflowing with shopping centers, was a nightlife nerve center back in that day, with discotheques and live music venues drawing the top pop stars and comedians of the day. Atlantic City was hopping as well. Body hair and mustaches ran amok. PGN’s standards for nudity in the paper were way, way, way more relaxed than they are today. Movies were good. Concert tickets to the hottest shows were cheap and home/personal electronics were outrageously expensive (did people really lay out $1,000 for a VCR in 1980?).
Then the cultural sea change that was the 1980s hit. The movies were still good for the most part, but disco’s popularity had flamed out, politics got meaner and more complicated, the dark side of recreational drugs reared its ugly head and AIDS cast a huge shadow over pretty much everything that would come after it.
The dawn of the 1990s showed some promise on a social level. And as most, if not all, of you witnessed for yourselves, there were brighter and darker times ahead.
What follows is a list of notable events and happenings in entertainment starting from when the paper launched in 1976 up until all those editions drove us completely sharpened-pencil-to-the-nearest-eye-socket mad, which was somewhere around the early to mid- 1990s.
It wasn’t always pretty, but, damn it, it was what it was.
Enjoy …
1976 January: PGN reprints the Washington Star expose about ex-NFL player Dave Kopay coming out just a month earlier.
PGN reviews “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”
February: PGN interviews out singer/songwriter Janis Ian for the first of many times.
March:Philadelphia-based activist group Dyketactics successfully protests the screening of the controversial slasher film “Snuff,” which was filmed in South America and claimed to have an actual murder spliced into it. It is pulled from the Regency Theater after only two days. Where was this group when the “Saw” and “Hostel” franchises launched?
The comic strip “Doonesbury” introduces a gay character and a significant number of readers and newspapers freak out. Bette Midler faces a backlash from her gay fans when she is reported to have made antigay remarks in the Chicago Tribune. We guess all was forgiven at some point …
April: After a less-than-well-reviewed performance at Valley Forge Music Fair, is Bette Midler’s star fading?
PGN prints a photo essay of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Somewhere in 2011, PGN’s photographers and writers are boiling with envy.
PGN reviews the autobiography of Tennessee Williams.
May:PGN reviews ”Taxi Driver” starring Robert DeNiro and a teenaged Jodie Foster.
Giovanni’s Room bookstore is sold by Pat Hill and bought by Dyan Dreisbach and Jennifer Turner.
June: The Lavender World’s Fair in Los Angeles is a bust as organizers ran out of money to pay for anyone working the event, including performers The Pointer Sisters, who backed out at the last minute.
September: PGN does a Fall Fashion Preview. Even though it’s in black and white, it’s still kind of painful to look at today. PGN Reviews “Stay Hungry,” the film debut by bodybuilder and future cyborg-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
October: Shirley Basset and Joan Rivers perform at the Valley Forge Music Fair. Top ticket price: $15.
1977 January: Liza Minnelli performs at the Latin Casino Jan. 17-27.
February: PGN reviews “A Star is Born” starring Barbra Streisand and calls it a “cinematic miscarriage.”
PGN interviews sexploitation filmmaker Russ Meyer.
March: PGN interviews former NLF player Kopay, who appears for an autograph session for his new book at Together Books and Crafts.
April: The Valley Forge Music Fair hosts performances by Sonny & Cher and Charo.
July: PGN reviews “Star Wars” and the new sitcom “Soap.” Would you believe “Star Wars” was the more believable of the two?
October: Antigay activist Anita Bryant gets a pie in the face on live TV courtesy of gay activist Tom Higgins.
December: PGN interviews Patti LaBelle.
Donna Summer makes her Philadelphia-area debut at the Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, N.J.
1978 February: PGN features an article on Grace Jones and John Travolta. Guess which one probably wouldn’t talk to us today???
March: PGN interviews Henry Winkler, who at the time was starring in the film “The One and Only,” where he plays an aspiring Broadway star who ends up a professional wrestler. No, seriously …
PGN interviews Wayland Flowers and Madame. Who knew the puppet and her career would outlive him?
Current PGN scribe Tim Cwiek covers the protest of Anita Bryant’s concert in Reading.
April: The Village People perform April 25-28 at Gatsby’s. Apparently Cherry Hill, N.J., was the bomb in the 1970s.
PGN interviews Joan Rivers (long before all the plastic surgery), who was promoting her film “Rabbit Test,” about a man who gets pregnant. Thirty years later, she’ll take credit for Thomas Beatie.
PGN interviews movie star Kris Kristofferson.
May: PGN interviews comedian David Brenner, who explains the abrupt cancellation of NBC sitcom “Snip,” where he played a hairdresser who works with his ex-wife under an openly gay boss. He said NBC thought the show was too offbeat, even though it was a huge hit in Australia.
June: PGN does a feature on the “VD monster.” The list of diseases you had to watch out for circa 1978 were gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis, amoebiasis, herpes, venereal warts, crabs, scabies and cancroid. That “monster” is cute and cuddly by today’s standards.
PGN interviews actress Jane Fonda.
Patti LaBelle performs at the Academy of Music June 9-10. Top ticket price: $8.50.
August PGN interviews singer Nona Hendryx.
September PGN interviews actor Tony Randall.
November PGN interviews comedians and cannabis enthusiasts Cheech and Chong.
PGN reviews “The Wiz,” starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, calling it fun but flawed.
1979 January: PGN pans “Moment by Moment,” a drama featuring a romance between Lily Tomlin and John Travolta.
February: Many, many editorials and opinions about serial killer John Wayne Gacy.
PGN interviews actress Jacqueline Bisset.
PGN reports Michael Jackson has reservations about playing the role in “A Chorus Line” of a dancer who got his start as a female impersonator because he was worried about the effect on his image. Actual quote: “Because of my, some people already think I’m that way.” Um … wow!
March: Mark Segal interviews Tim Curry from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
PGN interviews “Chorus Line” star Michael Bennett.
PGN reviews “The Deer Hunter.”
April: PGN raves about Diana Ross’ recent concert at the Spectrum.
May: PGN talks to Divine.
PGN gives the thumbs-up to “Alien,” starring Sigourney Weaver.
PGN reports local businesses are banking on the videocassette recorders as the future of electric entertainment.
July: PGN talks to comedian Tim Conway.
PGN reviews and raves about “The Muppet Movie.”
PGN examines the controversy and protests following the making of the film “Cruising,” a movie about a serial killer who stalks gay men in New York City.
August: PGN reviews “The Amityville Horror,” “More American Graffiti” and a new rock opera called “Evita.”
September: PGN talks to hit Broadway musician Harold Prince.
October: PGN puts out special disco-themed issue … in which record executive Ray Caviano declares that disco is going out of fashion.
November: PGN reviews “The Rose” and hails Bette Midler’s performance.
December: PGN reviews “Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Quadrophenia.”
1980 January: PGN takes The Village People to task for appearing in a TV special with antigay crusader Anita Bryant.
PGN does a feature article on Eartha Kitt.
February: Gerald Walker, author of “Cruising,” talks to PGN.
Opening of “Cruising” draws 100 protesters.
Disco diva Donna Summer becomes a born-again Christian.
March: PGN reviews the debut album from The Pretenders.
Popular gay disco DCA is heavily damaged by fire March 16.
PGN reviews “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
May: PGN interviews singer Sylvester.
June: PGN gives glowing reviews of “Fame” and “The Blues Brothers,” but gives Stanley Kubrick’s take on Stephen King’s “The Shining” less than stellar praise.
July: PGN talks to The Village People, who are promoting their critical flop and soon-to-be cult classic “Can’t Stop the Music.”
August: PGN does a cover story on poppers. (The current editor would never green-light that story.) [Editor’s note: Not true. On second thought, maybe not.]
1981 January: Staff writer Rich Grzesiak writes an article about how to build a reasonably priced record collection from various record stores. Remember record stores? Of the 11 businesses mentioned, only three still remain in some way, shape or form in Philadelphia: The Book Trader, Giovanni’s Room and Wooden Shoe Books.
May: Actor Tony Randall agrees to star in “Love, Sidney,” an NBC sitcom about a gay man, and his relationship with a single mother and her 5 year-old daughter whom he invites to live with him. It ran for two seasons.
June: PGN reviews summer blockbusters “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “History of the World Part I” and “Clash of the Titans.” Only “Raiders” got a good review. WTF?
July: PGN interviews Angela Lansbury — when she was still a theater/film superstar and shortly before her TV career took off.
PGN reviews “Cannonball Run” and “The Great Muppet Caper.” Reviewer Larry Vitacco didn’t think too much of “Cannonball.” Luckily he didn’t have anything but praise for “Caper,” because otherwise, we’d be ready to fight.
August: PGN interviews John Waters, who had just recently released his film “Polyester.” Waters is still considered far from mainstream.
September: PGN visits the Reno Gay Rodeo. This is probably the last time travel was sanctioned for a story.
October: Cover Story: Drugs. (Once again, the current editor would never let us get away with that.)
November: PGN reviews, and likes, “Halloween II” and “Time Bandits.”
December: Wow! With articles titled “Have yourself a rotten little Christmas” and “Gay ghosts of Christmas past return to haunt the holidays,” we realize people in 1981 were just as jaded about the holidays as people are now.
1982 January: Divine performs Jan. 17 at Rainbows on Walnut Street.
PGN interviews Edith Massey and Divine.
February: PGN reviews “Making Love,” a mainstream drama about a married man coming to terms with his homosexuality.
March: PGN talks to out author Randy Shilts prior to the release of his book “The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk.”
April: PGN does a special S&M-themed issue. (Current editor would never let us get away with that.)
1983 July: Marvin Gaye performs July 9 at the Spectrum.
Sylvester performs July 10 at DCA.
David Bowie performs July 18-21 at the Spectrum.
October: PGN interviews feminist activist Gloria Steinem.
1984 February: PGN reports Eddie Murphy’s antigay jokes have resulted in a backlash from gay record stores, who pulled all of Murphy’s records and videotapes.
The Venture Inn turns 150.
March: PGN debates lesbian roles in feature films such as “Personal Best” and “Silkwood.”
April: PGN reports on “Cagney & Lacey,” which was canceled, then brought back after fans launched a letter-writing campaign. The controversy around original cast member Meg Foster is examined. Foster was replaced by Sharon Gless because executives thought that Foster too aggressive and too likely to be perceived as a lesbian by viewers. May: PGN declares Annie Lennox, Joan Jett and Jamie Lee Curtis as the newest pin-up infatuations for young lesbians.
June: PGN praises Dolly Parton’s performance (and her rack) in “Rhinestone.”
1985 July: PGN reviews “Pumping Iron II: The Women” in the Lesbian Voice section.
August: Rock Hudson goes public with the fact that he has AIDS. Joan Rivers criticized Hudson in the press for not going public with this information sooner.
PGN lauds Boy George for being an out and outspoken rock star.
Disneyland reverses a 28-year-old ban on same-sex dancing at Magic Kingdom.
November: NBC airs “An Early Frost,” one of the first major films to deal with the subject of HIV/AIDS.
1986 January: PGN reviews “The Color Purple” starring future superstars Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.
July: PGN talks to Donna Deitch, producer and director of “Desert Hearts.”
August: PGN reviews summer blockbuster “Aliens,” starring Sigourney Weaver.
PGN interviews jazz singer Nancy Wilson.
September: Local bars screen the season premiere of the new season of “Dynasty.”
October: PGN talks to former Supreme Mary Wilson.
1987 January: PGN interviews adult-film actor and model Jack Wrangler.
PGN lists the 10 reasons you shouldn’t watch “The Late Show with Joan Rivers.”
February: Patti LaBelle donates 80 percent of the proceeds from her Feb. 20 concert at Forrest Theater to AMFAR.
June: U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) comes out.
August: PGN reviews “Full Metal Jacket.”
November: PGN interviews Randy Shilts, author of “And the Band Played On: Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic.”
December: Sylvester performs on Dec. 6 for over 4,000 people attending a benefit for the John Locke Fund, which offered assistance to people with AIDS.
1988 February: PGN praises the TV show “21 Jump Street,” starring Johnny Depp, for its handling of a plotline dealing with AIDS.
March: The death of porn star John Holmes from AIDS sends shockwaves through the porn industry, prompting a movement for mass testing of porn stars.
April: A memo from the Coors Brewing Company is leaked in which a marketing researcher from the company suggests that trying to convince the gay community to drink Coors beer is a lost cause.
May: Jesse Jackson talks to PGN about anti-Semitism and homophobia.
PGN does a story on gay and lesbian characters appearing in mainstream comic books like “Superman” and “Green Arrow.”
1989 February: PGN interviews Penn & Teller. March: PGN writer Cliff O’Neal, openly gay and a heavy-metal fan, wonders why activists aren’t hopping all over Guns n’ Roses for some of the antigay lyrics on the band’s new EP “G’N’R Lies.” After a few phone calls, he gets his wish.
PGN hails the ABC network for airing the mini-series “The Women of Brewster Place,” which features a lesbian couple among the main characters.
April: Keenan Ivory Wayans, in an interview to promote his new film “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” defends his brother Damon against accusations of homophobia stemming from a routine he did in HBO special “Partners in Crime” with Robert Townsend, in which he joked about chasing effeminate gay men.
[Side note: We guess Coors and the gay community reconciled at some point in the last year because, damn, there’s a lot of Coors ads in the paper.]
1990 August: Sandra Bernhard talks to PGN about her relationship with Madonna … and the film she’s about to start work on, “Hudson Hawk.” Ugh … If only someone would have stopped her.
September: Whoopi Goldberg talks to PGN about her new movie, “Ghost.”
October: PGN reviews “Henry and June.”
Automaker GM gets in hot water with gay activists after a promotional video circulated to Chevy dealers in which the Japanese-made competition are referred to as “little faggot trucks” hits the news.
November: GM apologizes for the promotional video flap.
PGN weighs the pros and cons of the controversial “Men On … ” skits on the TV show “In Living Color.”
1991 April: Pre-superstardom Ellen DeGeneres performs April 4-6 at the Funny Bone on South Street, a club that seats around 200 people.
May: In a heated exchange, gay activist group Queer Nation takes Arsenio Hall to task during a taping of his late-night talk show for not having more openly gay guests after the show didn’t book Gus Van Sant to promote his film “My Own Private Idaho.” Thanks, YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGQzs22K3s
November: Basketball star Magic Johnson reveals he has HIV and retires from professional basketball.
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury goes public with his HIV/AIDS status. The next day he dies.
1992 January: Mel Gibson goes on an antigay tirade in an interview with a Spanish magazine.
Marvel superhero Northstar from the comic book series “Alpha Flight” comes out.
March: The Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Task Force pickets the movie “Basic Instinct” at Sam’s Place movie theater because the film is offensive to women and lesbians.
1993 May: PGN does a feature on writer Neil Gaiman and his hit comics series “The Sandman,” which features gay and lesbian characters.
June: RuPaul performs at Philly Pride.
Dear God! Zima runs a full-page ad in the paper.
July: PGN reviews “The Firm,” starring Tom Cruise.
PGN interviews “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening.
August: PGN goes behind the scenes of the HBO mini-series adaptation of “And the Band Played On.”
October: PGN interviews out punk-rock band Pansy Division.
November: PGN talks to out singer/musician Me’Shell NdegeOcello, who has just released her debut album on Madonna’s Maverick Records.
1994 January: PGN reviews Depeche Mode’s “Devotional,” home video from their recent world tour.
PGN interviews out screenwriter Ron Nyswaner about his new film, “Philadelphia.”
PGN interviews Cyndi Lauper.
PBS airs Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” unedited on WHYY-TV Channel 12, drawing a flood of protests from the right — and even more support from fans of the series.
February: PGN interviews Melissa Etheridge, who had just come out the year before.
March: PGN runs the final interview with out author Randy Shilts’ (“And the Band Played On”), who died of AIDS in February.
April: PGN interviews writer/director Andrew Fleming about his new film “Threesome.”
PGN interviews John Waters, who is promoting his new film “Serial Mom.”
And the rest is history. (Translation: we could not go on.) If you are reading this, you lived through the rest of this timeline. And if you didn’t, do your two mommies or two daddies know that you’re reading their paper?