GAYLETTER

Hooray For Gay

By Mossy

I mean honestly, how can you resist a show called ‘Hooray for Gay’? It’s an extraordinary exhibition of pre-Stonewall gay and gay-themed imagery from the collection of Harry Weintraub. We attended the opening, a very “buttoned up” affair (which makes sense considering it’s presented in conjunction with Cornell University Library, who is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of it’s Human Sexuality Collection). All the alumni that came were wearing very impressive looking name tags with the year they graduated on them. They served a delicious prosecco, and of all things, fresh cream puffs…a nice touch—we shared one.

Abi and I chatted briefly with Harry the collector, a jolly, 50-something man, who has been amassing his collection for over 3 decades (he owns over 20,000 items.) He promised us an interview but we never got one.

“Spanning half a century but focusing on the 1940’s through the 1970’s this collection reveals a world that was still almost entirely subterranean illegal, persecuted, despised.” The photos, magazine covers and artifacts are gorgeous as objects but also function as windows into a world, and a counter culture, that has yet to be fully explored. I say hats off to Harry for championing such a worthwhile cause. His obsessive need to create this collection and leave a trail of imagery that tells the story of our people’s plight to live their lives “…in total defiance of everything that they have been told” is truly inspiring.

B. Bubba. “I’d Rather Fight Than Swish” b/w “I’d Rather Swish Than Fight.” Hollywood, CA: Camp Records, undated. 7” record, 45 rpm.

The Boy & The Gentle-Men. “Rough Trade,” b/w Max Minty & The Gay Blades. “A Naughty-Cal Tale.” Hollywood, CA: Camp Records, undated. 7” record. 45 rpm.

George Marshall. Beginner’s Guide to Cruising. Washington, DC: Guild Book Service, 1964.

George Marshall. Advanced Guide to Cruising. Washington, DC: Guild Book Service, 1965.

The Silent Men #1. New York City, NY: Times Square Studio Inc, 1968.

One Magazine, Vol. 6, no. 11. Los Angeles, CA: ONE, Incorporated, November 1958.

Unidentified artist. Postcard. Sevenoaks, England: J. Salmon, undated.

Unidentifed photographer. Vintage photo print. Undated.

George Whitmore. Getting Gay in New York: Poems. New York: Free Milk Fund Press, 1976.

Unidentified artist. Untitled drawing. Ink & watercolor on paper. Undated.

Unidentified photographer. Photo postcard. Undated.

Unidentified photographer. Vintage photo print. Undated.

Unidentified photographer. Vintage photo print. Fire Island, NY, undated.

Unidentified artist. “Clerk.” Valentine postcard, undated.

Unidentified artist. Christmas card. Undated.

Hooray for Gay: Pre-Stonewall Images From The Harry H. Weintraub Collection runs until April 8, 2013. Boo-Hooray, 265 Canal St. 6th Floor, NY, NY.