Watch This: Gay Pool Party in 1945
Photo Credits: Geoff Story/Gay Home Movie
Hey, guys! Have you ever wondered how gay life was way back before our time?
Occasionally a letter or a diary will be uncovered and it, at least, would give us a hint of gay life during the time when homosexuality was still illegal (in most part of the world. As you know, it continues to be illegal today in over 70 countries).
Anyway, we are asking because a rare home movie is now making rounds on the Internet.
The year was 1945 and the movie shows several gay men having the time of their lives at a pool party. According to St. Louis filmmaker Geoff Story, the film was just one of the many from the “two old home movie reels” he bought during an estate sale held at the Lindell Boulevard mansion of the late Buddy Walton in 1996. Buddy Walton, according to St. Louis Public Radio, was St. Louis’ “hairdresser to the stars.” His clients included Barbara Bush, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess and Margaret Truman, and Abigail Van Buren to name a few.
Reports say that “Walton and his partner, Sam Micatto, were known for hosting frequent poolside shindigs in the tiny town of Hillsboro.”
Of the party, Story said, “These men are still in their 20s in the sun, swimming, like they always will.” He added, “There’s a real sweet pain, and when you watch it, there’s a happiness but you can’t believe it’s so long ago and you can’t touch it—it’s gone.”
Story said that altogether the home movies were 25 minutes long and he—along with Beth Prusaczyk—is now working on a documentary called Gay Home Movie based on said films. They are currently interviewing the families and friends of the men present in said home movies and are actively searching for people who can share how gay life was like in St. Louis during the 1940s and 50s.
You can check out other photos and clips over at Story’s Instagram account. Also, don’t forget to add Adam4Adam’s new Instagram account as well as mine while you are at it.
Thoughts? Share it with us in the comments section below.
Back in a time when gay guys found each other. No social media. No political correctness justifying them. Only people who needed to know they were gay knew. They weren’t victims. They just were who they were. They didn’t make a big deal about it. Most other people didn’t either.
I knew an older gay guy who worked in the military, Federal government, and education over several decades. He was highly respected based upon his great character even though “everyone knew he was gay.” His sexuality was secondary. He himself said it was much easier than be gay in the 40s, 50s and 60s than in the 70s and 80s.
I like the way you put this.
Theres a difference between being seen as a gay person vs being seen as a person whose gay. Each version carries an afterthought almost. Theres more to your identity than your sexual preference and some ppl dont even know what that something is so they highlight their sexuality as their “uniqueness”
Not a blanket statement just my personal observation. Im rambling.
I agree with you. Its a matter of perception. There’s more to a person than their sexual orientation.
And no, you’re not rambling…
That sure is interesting to hear that ,considering with societybeing more straight-laced and conservative back then.
I don’t see how it was easier to be gay back in the 40’s and 50’s. Considering you were still considered “sick” by a lot of society, you could be fired from your job, you weren’t a protected legal class, your underground establishments could be raided at any time AND your name could be put in the paper. Hate crimes were more prevalent (not saying they don’t exist now) and you couldn’t be truly honest about who you were. So explain to me how it was so much better back then? Things aren’t perfect now, but they are a hell of a lot better than they were before LGBT people had more civil rights and political influence.
It would have been nice to see a clip longer than 17 seconds, but from what we can see, I notice men enjoying each other’s company…free to be themselves in the otherwise stifling hetero-normative culture of the day. I do look forward to watching the whole 25 minutes when/if I get the chance!
Not this old but old enough to remember when “gay porn” consisted of beefcake magazines with crotches well covered.
It looks like stereotypical play acting.
“Steve, are you going to be the woman, today?”
Laughably terrible.
Guys sure seemed “plumper” back then . May be the resolution of the camera.
Not the camera. The fetish about 6-pack abs and hairless crotches hadn’t developed yet. Remember it well.
Well that makes sense. But should I mention that the guys look rather wide hipped for being young. Since this was right after WW2 many guys came back in shape and thinner waisted. I got confirmed that by a friend’s grandma who had 2 older brothers who served and told me about one of them having to buy new cloths (especially pants) when he came home,because his old stuff fit all loose on him.
I’ve got tons of olds clips about this very thing, documentaries/history, ones about Billy Haines, Joan Crawford’s close friend, he designed a lot of the movie stars home’s during the 30’s 40’s. If I remember correctly, the Reagans did business with him. Reportedly, he had the best marriage (openly married to another man) in Hollywood, lol, that says a lot.
I really appreciate this story , thank you for sharing