Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

[+ E.T.Bass]

I saw the documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood yesterday. Scotty Bowers appeared to have led a selfless, noble, fun loving life. He and director Matt Tyrnauer answered questions afterward.

 

Some might call the backstories sensational, yet these were human beings seeking companionship. To me it was interesting, nostalgic and poignant to hear about. Also, learning about his childhood during the depression and his experience at Iwo Jima was moving.

 

I ordered the book this morning.

 

Edited July 15, 2018 by E.T.Bass

[+ Avalon]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/scotty-secret-history-hollywood-review-1037277

 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/scotty-secret-history-hollywood-clip-1115919

 

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/14/entertainment/la-et-0214-book-20120214

 

 

Edited July 16, 2018 by Avalon

[+ E.T.Bass]

^

The CBS piece used the term "wild", when really these people were all human, with human needs. They weren't hurting anyone any more than folks back in the Midwest that were apt to stray from their spouse or meet someone at dusk on the edge of town. Wild? Maybe not.

[+ WilliamM]

From today's NY Times: Actor Walter Pidgeon. Later Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy, Cole Porter. The late Liz Smith idendifies Kate Hepurn as a lesbian. Scotty is 95, and very much the star.

[TruthBTold]

As time moves on and sexuality does not have to be a secret society will have much less of a need to have the existence of this type of situation. People will have to hide that they cheat on their spouses, etc. but they won't have to hide what sex they necessarily are cheating with.

[+ E.T.Bass]

As time moves on and sexuality does not have to be a secret society will have much less of a need to have the existence of this type of situation. People will have to hide that they cheat on their spouses, etc. but they won't have to hide what sex they necessarily are cheating with.

 

Yet some folks are still upset to learn Randolph Scott loved men. Until those peeps join Randolph Scott in the hereafter, they'll demand to cling to their beliefs and despise anyone that brings a different story.

[+ Avalon]

In high school I had a teacher who was quite the homophobe but how she liked Richard Chamberlain. She died before he care out. I wonder what she would have thought.

[TruHart1]

I saw the documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood yesterday. Scotty Bowers appeared to have led a selfless, noble, fun loving life. He and director Matt Tyrnauer answered questions afterward.

 

Some might call the backstories sensational, yet these were human beings seeking companionship. To me it was interesting, nostalgic and poignant to hear about. Also, learning about his childhood during the depression and his experience at Iwo Jima was moving.

 

I ordered the book this morning.

 

 

I did enjoy this book. I shall have to search for the documentary as I'd love to see it. I find Bowers himself fascinating, as a man who mainly identified as straight but was very happy in his youth to be willing to do the gay thing (bottom or top) with the men who wanted to play with him. That does remind me of a few escorts I have met over the years who are excellent in bed with me, (and many men, if their reviews are to be believed) yet identify as "straight."

 

In the book, Scotty repeatedly states that, in all his "procurements," including those scenes in which he, himself serviced or was serviced by men, he never required any payment for the connections. He did, however, describe most of his more wealthy contacts as being very generous tippers in addition to freely and voluntarily giving the providers the amount that was the going rate for escorts back then without them asking.

 

I do believe that many people, especially those who were never in the loop as to who the closeted personalities in Hollywood back in the 40's and 50's were, will always doubt the veracity of Scotty's narrative.

 

TruHart1

[+ E.T.Bass]

I did enjoy this book. I shall have to search for the documentary as I'd love to see it. I find Bowers himself fascinating, as a man who mainly identified as straight but was very happy in his youth to be willing to do the gay thing (bottom or top) with the men who wanted to play with him. That does remind me of a few escorts I have met over the years who are excellent in bed with me, (and many men, if their reviews are to be believed) yet identify as "straight."

 

In the book, Scotty repeatedly states that, in all his "procurements," including those scenes in which he, himself serviced or was serviced by men, he never required any payment for the connections. He did, however, describe most of his more wealthy contacts as being very generous tippers in addition to freely and voluntarily giving the providers the amount that was the going rate for escorts back then without them asking.

 

I do believe that many people, especially those who were never in the loop as to who the closeted personalities in Hollywood back in the 40's and 50's were, will always doubt the veracity of Scotty's narrative.

 

TruHart1

 

There are doubters and even those that want to detract from the man, as if there is still that defensive reaction the entertainment media has always played along with, even in the case of these individuals that reached their peak decades ago. The director spoke about evidence that corroborates Scotty Bowers, e.g. the details about his meeting J. Edgar Hoover.

 

The movie opens Friday in Hollywood, and the following Friday in NYC. Depending on how well it opens will affect how many other cities will show the film. I imagine a lot of folks would be interested in this movie.

 

https://www.scottymovie.com/

[+ bashful]

I read the book a few years ago. I thought it was a good book, and definitely held my interest. I've probably forgot a lot, but still remember other things. I'm looking forward to the movie, but mostly for the visuals that will go alone with his story.

[TruthBTold]

I am sure that as we have seen play out over the years those in Scotty's time those in the arts probably had a much more expansive view of life, love, and sexuality than the general public. Of course, I am sure there were those that had very conservative views and that there were members of the general public living around the edges. So for whatever reason it appears that he took it upon himself to help those in the arts to satisfy their desires considering the constraints of society. And of course those with greater resources had the better ability to avail themselves of Scotty's knowledge and connections. And it appears that those with greater resources probably had a much better ability to keep law enforcement at bay or pay them off (I suppose when you have the head of the FBI cross-dressing things are done in a different way). I am sure Scotty's book and the accompanying movie are both interesting.

[+ E.T.Bass]

I am sure that as we have seen play out over the years those in Scotty's time those in the arts probably had a much more expansive view of life, love, and sexuality than the general public. Of course, I am sure there were those that had very conservative views and that there were members of the general public living around the edges. So for whatever reason it appears that he took it upon himself to help those in the arts to satisfy their desires considering the constraints of society. And of course those with greater resources had the better ability to avail themselves of Scotty's knowledge and connections. And it appears that those with greater resources probably had a much better ability to keep law enforcement at bay or pay them off (I suppose when you have the head of the FBI cross-dressing things are done in a different way). I am sure Scotty's book and the accompanying movie are both interesting.

 

That's a good way to put it, an expansive view.

 

I get the sense that the end of the war (WWII) amplified it, especially in California, the soldiers returning, what many of these young men had been through, and the kind of world view they must have had compared to the rest, that they were more willing to admit to or not object to things that people in the heartland rejected or at least didn't understand as well.

[TruHart1]

I found these recent videos online with Matt Tyrnauer, the director of the documentary about Scotty Bowers.

The first is two talk-backs with both men (mainly audience questions after a festival screening in NYC) which is recorded from the audience:

 

The second video is an interview from the NYC studios of BUILD with the director (Scotty is not on this himself) and is much more professionally shot:

 

 

TruHart1

[+ E.T.Bass]

Replay on Starz tonight. The whole movie is great but his memories of WWII struck me the most, and how that experience likely affected such a sweet guy.

[+ friendofsheila]

I read the book. Now I'm interested to see this documentary. Thanks, E.T.

[+ oldNbusted]

Trailer:

 

 

 

 

Film available for rent or purchase on iTunes..

 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/scotty-and-the-secret-history-of-hollywood/id1438276575

[+ azdr0710]

just watched it for the first time via Netflix DVDs by mail (yeah, I know ).....

 

really a well-made, fun-to-watch documentary......he had such a positive, fun-loving outlook.....

 

he just died this last October, 2019....his wife, much seen in the movie, died last year.......

 

a very nostalgic look at old Hollywood.......