American Bandstand - GAY 1960s Dancers

[Bearofdistinction]

Really interesting story - gay closeted history of America's most popular teen show!

 

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=They+Are+All+Gonna+Laugh+at+you+Carrie&*&spf=539

[maninsoma]

That link takes me to search results, some related to the movie Carrie and others to a comedy album by Adam Sandler. I didn't see anything about American Bandstand on the first page, so I stopped looking.

[+ sync]

https://www.google.com/#q=American+Bandstand+gay+dancers&*

[Bearofdistinction]

That link takes me to search results, some related to the movie Carrie and others to a comedy album by Adam Sandler. I didn't see anything about American Bandstand on the first page, so I stopped looking.

 

Sorry for the bizarre mix up == the twp links were poste two days apart - thanks for posting the correct link it is an interesting story

[+ Charlie]

I didn't realize this was a big secret. I used to see some of the those "American Bandstand" kids in Rittenhouse Square in the 1960s.

[+ Gar1eth]

I didn't realize this was a big secret. I used to see some of the those "American Bandstand" kids in Rittenhouse Square in the 1960s.

Was that a gay area of Philadelphia back in the day?

 

Gman

[MikeBiDude]

Was that a gay area of Philadelphia back in the day?

 

Gman

From one of the lead articles from the google search link above:

"There were even allegations that Clark conducted witch hunts, sending production staff to Rittenhouse Square, at the center of Philadelphia’s gayborhood, to see if any of the young stars were there. But overall, their meet-ups remained a sanctuary."

[JayCeeKy]

Was that a gay area of Philadelphia back in the day?

 

I think it still is a "gay area" today, isn't it? I used to visit a friend in the early 2000s who lived just off Rittenhouse Square and it seemed to me to be a gay enclave, even though the park area was enjoyed by a variety of people.

[+ Charlie]

Rittenhouse Square was one of the main gay street cruising areas in the 1950s and 60s, especially in the evening. I have no idea whether it still is.

[Courage]

The "Gayborhood" is a few blocks east of Rittenhouse Square, but Center City overall has a large gay contingent...including the only current openly gay state representative in Pennsylvania.

[+ Charlie]

Who is that?

[Courage]

Who is that?

 

 

Brian Sims.

 

He's a looker.