Gayt Episo Ever: How ‘All the Fay’ Gave Us Our First Gay S Character | Hor, the Queer Social Network

Contents:

• ‘ALL THE FAY’: INSI THE EARLY EPISO THAT CHALLENGED ARCHIE BUNKER’S VIEW OF GAY PEOPLE
• GAYT EPISO EVER: HOW ‘ALL THE FAY’ GAVE US OUR FIRST GAY S CHARACTER
• {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}LIBERACE WAS A FLAMBOYANT PIANIST WHO TWICE HAD HIS OWN TV SHOW AND EQUENTLY PERFORMED LAS {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 5, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: BETTMANN/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1919-1987){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS LIBERACE?LIBERACE APPEARED AS A SOLOIST WH THE CHIGO SYMPHONY ORCHTRA AT AGE 16. HE LATER BEGAN GIVG NCERTS FLAMBOYANT STUM WH ORNATE PIANOS AND NLABRA, PLAYG PRIMARILY POPULAR MIC. VERY SUCCSFUL, HE HOSTED HIS OWN TV VARIETY SERI, THE LIBERACE SHOW (1952–55, 1969), AND APPEARED FILMS SUCH AS SCERELY YOURS (1955). WH HIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CLASSIL TRAG AND OVER-THE-TOP SHOWMANSHIP, LIBERACE WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMO PERFORMERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY. IN LATER YEARS HE PERFORMED EQUENTLY LAS VEGAS.EARLY LIFELIBERACE WAS BORN WLADZIU VALENTO LIBERACE ON MAY 16, 1919, WT ALLIS, WISNS, HIS MIDDLE NAME WAS TAKEN OM ONE OF HIS MOTHER'S FAVORE FILM STARS—RUDOLPH VALENTO. LTLE DID SHE KNOW THAT HER SON WOULD VELOP A VOTED FOLLOWG OF HIS OWN ONE DAY. BOTH OF LIBERACE'S PARENTS WERE TERTED MIC, AND HE BEGAN PIANO LSONS VERY EARLY ON HIS LIFE. A CHILD PRODIGY, HE BEGAN HIS STUDI AT THE WISNS COLLEGE OF MIC WHEN HE WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD. LIBERACE STARTED PERFORMG WH ORCHTRAS HIS EARLY TEENS.MIL SENSATNTO MAKE A LIVG, LIBERACE PLAYED MOVIE THEATERS AND NIGHT CLUBS. HE EVEN ADOPTED THE STAGE NAME "WALTER BTERKEYS" FOR A TIME. BEFORE LONG LIBERACE FOUND SOME SUCCS MIXG HIS LOVE OF CLASSIL MIC WH MORE NTEMPORARY TUN. HIS REAL REER BREAKTHROUGH, HOWEVER, ME 1951 WH THE PREMIERE OF THE LIBERACE SHOW. THE MIL PROGRAM FIRST AIRED LOLLY LOS ANGEL BEFORE GOG NATNAL A FEW YEARS LATER. VIEWERS—35 LN OF THEM AT THE PROGRAM'S HEIGHT—ULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF LIBERACE'S PIANO PROWS AND HIS CHEBIC CHARMS. WH HIS TRAMARK NLABRA RTG ATOP HIS PIANO, LIBERACE PLAYED WH GREAT EASE AND GLEE. HIS LARGELY FEMALE DIENCE ALSO ADMIRED LIBERACE'S GREAT VOTN TO HIS MOTHER FRANC. HIS BROTHER GEE PLAYED THE VL ON THE PROGRAM AND ACTED AS HIS ORCHTRAL ARRANGER. IN ADDN TO HIS TELEVISN SHOW, LIBERACE SOLD OUT MANY OF HIS LIVE NCERTS AND SOLD LNS OF RERDS. HE EVEN STARRED THE 1955 FILM SCERELY YOURS, WHICH SERVED AS A SHOWSE FOR HIS TALENTS. IN LAS VEGAS, LIBERACE BEME ONE OF THE CY'S MOST POPULAR PERFORMERS AND ONE OF S TOP-PAID STARS. HE BEME EQUALLY FAMO FOR THE GLZ AND GLAMOUR OF HIS SHOWS AND STUM AS HE WAS FOR HIS MIC. IN 1956, LIBERACE WAS JOED ON STAGE BY {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELVIS PRLEY. AROUND THIS TIME, HOWEVER, LIBERACE'S PERSONAL LIFE WAS TURNED TO A LEGAL DRAMA. HE HAD LONG BEEN RID FOR HIS EFFEMATE WAYS, AND HE END UP SUG A BRISH PUBLITN FOR LIBEL AFTER THE MAGAZE IMPLIED THAT HE WAS GAY. LIBERACE LATER WON ANOTHER URT BATTLE AGAST A BRISH LUMNIST OVER HIS MENTS. WHILE HE WAS LATER REVEALED TO BE GAY, LIBERACE WORKED HARD TO NCEAL THIS FACT TO MATA HIS DOMANTLY FEMALE FOLLOWG. WHILE TERT HIS TELEVISN SHOW EVENTUALLY FAD, LIBERACE REMAED POPULAR WH NCERT-GOERS. HIS SHOWS AND STUM SEEMED TO GET MORE ELABORATE AND OSTENTAT WH THE YEARS. HIS HANDS SHOWSED A NUMBER OF ORNATE, PIANO-SHAPED RGS, AND HE DRAPED HIMSELF LONG, HEAVY FUR P. HE EVEN DROVE TO HIS PIANO ON STAGE ONE OF HIS MANY LUXURY TOMOBIL. IN THE MID-1970S, LIBERACE CID TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A PEEK TO HIS LAVISH LIFTYLE. HE TRANSFORMED HIS HOLLYWOOD HOME TO A MM. HE LATER DISPLAYED HIS LLECTN OF STUM, RS AND OTHER TREASUR AT HIS OWN MM LAS VEGAS.FAL YEARS AND DEATHONCE AGA, LIBERACE FOUND HIMSELF A LEGAL STGGLE. HE WAS SUED BY HIS FORMER BODYGUARD AND CHFFR STT THORSON 1982. THORSON CLAIMED THAT HE HAD BEEN A RELATNSHIP WH LIBERACE AND THAT LIBERACE HAD PROMISED TO TAKE RE OF HIM AND SUPPORT HIM. THE SE WAS LATER SETTLED OUT OF URT. SHORTLY BEFORE HIS ATH, STORI CIRCULATED THAT LIBERACE HAD AIDS. HE AND HIS STAFF, HOWEVER, VEHEMENTLY NIED THAT THE ENTERTAER HAD THE DISEASE. LIBERACE PASSED AWAY ON FEBARY 4, 1987, AT HIS HOME PALM SPRGS, CALIFORNIA. INIALLY, HIS DOCTOR REPORTED THAT THE SHOWMAN DIED OF RDIAC ARRT. LATER, AN TOPSY BY THE RIVERSI COUNTY RONER NCLUD THAT LIBERACE HAD ACTUALLY DIED OF AIDS-RELATED PNMONIA.LEGACY AND MOVIE WHILE SOME CRICS HAVE DISMISSED HIM FOR BEG OVERLY SENTIMENTAL, LIBERACE HAS LEFT A LASTG IMPACT ON THE WORLD OF ENTERTAMENT. HIS ELABORATE AND SOMETIM GARISH STYLE HAS FLUENCED THE LIK OF PRLEY, ELTON JOHN AND DAVID BOWIE TO NAME A FEW. A FILM CELEBRATG LIBERACE'S WAS RELEASED 2013, WH MICHAEL DOUGLAS PLAYG THE LEGENDARY {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• YOU THK 'RIVERDALE' IS WILD? WA TIL YOU HEAR ABOUT ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SASA'S GAY ARCHIE PLAY

‘ALL THE FAY’: INSI THE EARLY EPISO THAT CHALLENGED ARCHIE BUNKER’S VIEW OF GAY PEOPLE

One example is episo five, “Judgg Books by Covers, ” which prented an unexpected take on the subject of homosexualy — at a time that nobody was alg wh . The All the Fay wiki offers up this plot scriptn: “Archie thks he knows a homosexual when he se one and when Mike v his flamboyant photographer iend Roger (Anthony Geary) to the Bunker hoehold, Archie tomatilly assum that Mike’s iend is a “flamer.

” Retreatg to the safety of Kelcy’s Bar, Archie choos to spend time wh his “he-man” pals, notably his old arm-wrtlg crony Steve (Philip Carey), who, when hearg about Roger, reveals himself to be gay — which Archie never spected. Televisn historian and thor Jim Colucci, who is currently -wrg wh Norman Lear a 50th-anniversary book voted to All the Fay, ments, “This was a brand new show g blazg out of the gate, bee if they were gog to tackle touchy issu 1971, gay reprentatn was certaly among the touchit.

Jim mentns that when he wrote his book Goln Girls Forever, he mented that the first regular gay character on televisn was the short-lived s The Corner Bar, which aired 1972. Gay liberatn and Stonewall had been 1969, so certaly was somethg the world was talkg about.

GAYT EPISO EVER: HOW ‘ALL THE FAY’ GAVE US OUR FIRST GAY S CHARACTER

And the gay muny had started to fd s very nascent voice, but wasn’t beg reprented mastream media and certaly not on televisn. “Not only did they have gay reprentatn, but they also were breakg the harmful stereotyp that were the only thg that day and age people knew about gay people. In 1971 people probably thought all gay people were ty, feme, limp-wristed men wh lisps — jt all the stereotyp.

While any stereotype has some tth, what the episo took pas to show is that never tells you whether Roger, Mike’s iend who wears the ast and is very boistero, and ee talks wh his hands, is gay or not.

{LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}LIBERACE WAS A FLAMBOYANT PIANIST WHO TWICE HAD HIS OWN TV SHOW AND EQUENTLY PERFORMED LAS {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 5, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: BETTMANN/GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1919-1987){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS LIBERACE?LIBERACE APPEARED AS A SOLOIST WH THE CHIGO SYMPHONY ORCHTRA AT AGE 16. HE LATER BEGAN GIVG NCERTS FLAMBOYANT STUM WH ORNATE PIANOS AND NLABRA, PLAYG PRIMARILY POPULAR MIC. VERY SUCCSFUL, HE HOSTED HIS OWN TV VARIETY SERI, THE LIBERACE SHOW (1952–55, 1969), AND APPEARED FILMS SUCH AS SCERELY YOURS (1955). WH HIS UNIQUE BLEND OF CLASSIL TRAG AND OVER-THE-TOP SHOWMANSHIP, LIBERACE WAS ONE OF THE MOST FAMO PERFORMERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY. IN LATER YEARS HE PERFORMED EQUENTLY LAS VEGAS.EARLY LIFELIBERACE WAS BORN WLADZIU VALENTO LIBERACE ON MAY 16, 1919, WT ALLIS, WISNS, HIS MIDDLE NAME WAS TAKEN OM ONE OF HIS MOTHER'S FAVORE FILM STARS—RUDOLPH VALENTO. LTLE DID SHE KNOW THAT HER SON WOULD VELOP A VOTED FOLLOWG OF HIS OWN ONE DAY. BOTH OF LIBERACE'S PARENTS WERE TERTED MIC, AND HE BEGAN PIANO LSONS VERY EARLY ON HIS LIFE. A CHILD PRODIGY, HE BEGAN HIS STUDI AT THE WISNS COLLEGE OF MIC WHEN HE WAS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD. LIBERACE STARTED PERFORMG WH ORCHTRAS HIS EARLY TEENS.MIL SENSATNTO MAKE A LIVG, LIBERACE PLAYED MOVIE THEATERS AND NIGHT CLUBS. HE EVEN ADOPTED THE STAGE NAME "WALTER BTERKEYS" FOR A TIME. BEFORE LONG LIBERACE FOUND SOME SUCCS MIXG HIS LOVE OF CLASSIL MIC WH MORE NTEMPORARY TUN. HIS REAL REER BREAKTHROUGH, HOWEVER, ME 1951 WH THE PREMIERE OF THE LIBERACE SHOW. THE MIL PROGRAM FIRST AIRED LOLLY LOS ANGEL BEFORE GOG NATNAL A FEW YEARS LATER. VIEWERS—35 LN OF THEM AT THE PROGRAM'S HEIGHT—ULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF LIBERACE'S PIANO PROWS AND HIS CHEBIC CHARMS. WH HIS TRAMARK NLABRA RTG ATOP HIS PIANO, LIBERACE PLAYED WH GREAT EASE AND GLEE. HIS LARGELY FEMALE DIENCE ALSO ADMIRED LIBERACE'S GREAT VOTN TO HIS MOTHER FRANC. HIS BROTHER GEE PLAYED THE VL ON THE PROGRAM AND ACTED AS HIS ORCHTRAL ARRANGER. IN ADDN TO HIS TELEVISN SHOW, LIBERACE SOLD OUT MANY OF HIS LIVE NCERTS AND SOLD LNS OF RERDS. HE EVEN STARRED THE 1955 FILM SCERELY YOURS, WHICH SERVED AS A SHOWSE FOR HIS TALENTS. IN LAS VEGAS, LIBERACE BEME ONE OF THE CY'S MOST POPULAR PERFORMERS AND ONE OF S TOP-PAID STARS. HE BEME EQUALLY FAMO FOR THE GLZ AND GLAMOUR OF HIS SHOWS AND STUM AS HE WAS FOR HIS MIC. IN 1956, LIBERACE WAS JOED ON STAGE BY {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}ELVIS PRLEY. AROUND THIS TIME, HOWEVER, LIBERACE'S PERSONAL LIFE WAS TURNED TO A LEGAL DRAMA. HE HAD LONG BEEN RID FOR HIS EFFEMATE WAYS, AND HE END UP SUG A BRISH PUBLITN FOR LIBEL AFTER THE MAGAZE IMPLIED THAT HE WAS GAY. LIBERACE LATER WON ANOTHER URT BATTLE AGAST A BRISH LUMNIST OVER HIS MENTS. WHILE HE WAS LATER REVEALED TO BE GAY, LIBERACE WORKED HARD TO NCEAL THIS FACT TO MATA HIS DOMANTLY FEMALE FOLLOWG. WHILE TERT HIS TELEVISN SHOW EVENTUALLY FAD, LIBERACE REMAED POPULAR WH NCERT-GOERS. HIS SHOWS AND STUM SEEMED TO GET MORE ELABORATE AND OSTENTAT WH THE YEARS. HIS HANDS SHOWSED A NUMBER OF ORNATE, PIANO-SHAPED RGS, AND HE DRAPED HIMSELF LONG, HEAVY FUR P. HE EVEN DROVE TO HIS PIANO ON STAGE ONE OF HIS MANY LUXURY TOMOBIL. IN THE MID-1970S, LIBERACE CID TO GIVE THE PUBLIC A PEEK TO HIS LAVISH LIFTYLE. HE TRANSFORMED HIS HOLLYWOOD HOME TO A MM. HE LATER DISPLAYED HIS LLECTN OF STUM, RS AND OTHER TREASUR AT HIS OWN MM LAS VEGAS.FAL YEARS AND DEATHONCE AGA, LIBERACE FOUND HIMSELF A LEGAL STGGLE. HE WAS SUED BY HIS FORMER BODYGUARD AND CHFFR STT THORSON 1982. THORSON CLAIMED THAT HE HAD BEEN A RELATNSHIP WH LIBERACE AND THAT LIBERACE HAD PROMISED TO TAKE RE OF HIM AND SUPPORT HIM. THE SE WAS LATER SETTLED OUT OF URT. SHORTLY BEFORE HIS ATH, STORI CIRCULATED THAT LIBERACE HAD AIDS. HE AND HIS STAFF, HOWEVER, VEHEMENTLY NIED THAT THE ENTERTAER HAD THE DISEASE. LIBERACE PASSED AWAY ON FEBARY 4, 1987, AT HIS HOME PALM SPRGS, CALIFORNIA. INIALLY, HIS DOCTOR REPORTED THAT THE SHOWMAN DIED OF RDIAC ARRT. LATER, AN TOPSY BY THE RIVERSI COUNTY RONER NCLUD THAT LIBERACE HAD ACTUALLY DIED OF AIDS-RELATED PNMONIA.LEGACY AND MOVIE WHILE SOME CRICS HAVE DISMISSED HIM FOR BEG OVERLY SENTIMENTAL, LIBERACE HAS LEFT A LASTG IMPACT ON THE WORLD OF ENTERTAMENT. HIS ELABORATE AND SOMETIM GARISH STYLE HAS FLUENCED THE LIK OF PRLEY, ELTON JOHN AND DAVID BOWIE TO NAME A FEW. A FILM CELEBRATG LIBERACE'S WAS RELEASED 2013, WH MICHAEL DOUGLAS PLAYG THE LEGENDARY {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

But what do show is that the macho man, the nfirmed bachelor who’s an arm wrtler and big and beefy, and a former play player, whom Archie idoliz and hangs out wh the bar all the time, has been gay all the years. “So there was jt so much that the show did, ” Jim pots out, “to give reprentatn to a gay character, which would have been ground breakg enough, but also showed multi-dimensns to what beg gay meant. In the first half of the 20th century, you uld be arrted for stagg a gay play.

Here are ten of the plays that have ntributed to LGBTQ+ theatre's rich Drag by Mae WtThe Drag follows Rolly, a gay man who marri a woman to hi his sexualy, and the nsequenc of this.

YOU THK 'RIVERDALE' IS WILD? WA TIL YOU HEAR ABOUT ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SASA'S GAY ARCHIE PLAY

As an avid and unrelentg supporter of gay rights throughout her life, Mae Wt ma wav wh The Drag 1927, which she wrote unr pen name Jane Mast. Faiar wh ntroversy followg her prev play Sex, The Drag ed the most outrage for her pictn of homosexualy and cross-drsg.

Wh a st of exclively gay actors om a Greenwich Village club, the play was a huge fancial succs, but was wily panned by crics and shut down due to obsceny laws and never ma to Broadway as planned.