mattbaume
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January Update: Queer Bathhouse History
🕑 Added 2021-01-05 17:01:02 +0000 UTCHello friends!
Welcome to whatever 2021 is going to be. Let's seize this year by the scruff of its beard and make it a good one. Somehow, impossibly, against all odds, I find myself unable to resist a curious impulse this month: Making plans. I know, I know, I should have learned by now that plans by their very nature are doomed ... and yet I've been gathering research for YouTube videos that I plan to make about gay bathhouse culture in the 1970s; about ACT UP; about The Golden Girls; and so much more. Plans! What a concept.
It's in the process of doing that research that I came across some truly delightful old vintage ads for gay bathhouses and movie theaters, and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you. What I love about them is how loaded with innuendo each one is; every sentence like it begs to be followed with "IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN." (And by the way -- I livestream a lot of my research, so if you'd like to join me for regular hunts through news archives, join me over on YouTube every other Saturday!)
Also! A little reminder that I'm streaming on Twitch every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, playing games and chatting about the goofy weird fun projects I'm working on. And I've started a new weekly newsletter, featuring little stories, updates about the queer stuff I'm working on, and cute animal videos. Sign up at mattbaume.com.
And of course, none of what I make would be possible without your support. Here are a few of the recent things I've released thanks to your backing:
- YouTube videos! I just published a video about why the 1970s in San Francisco may have been the most exciting time in history to come out -- if you ever wondered how Harvey Milk was connected to Young Frankenstein, well, wonder no longer.
- The Sewers of Paris! Recent episodes include a holiday special, an interview with mermaid expert Sacha Coward, and a thoroughly delightful chat about the queer power of reruns with television scholar Taylor Cole Miller. Stay tuned for an episode about cemeteries and another about video games!
- Livestreams! Every other Saturday I do a research livestream on YouTube -- we start with a theme and then dive into some old news archives to find weird, surprising, funny, and sometimes mysterious articles. Click the bell here to get a reminder when the next one goes live.
- Cozy Pants! A podcast for Patreon backers! Join me and my partner James for a fun affectionate chat about the cultural comforts that are lighting up our lives.
I know I say this every month, but it really is important to me that you know just how much your support means. It's not an exaggeration to say that you directly make my work possible, and you keep me chugging away on making even more great queer entertainment. I'm so happy we can do this together.
Matt
PS: If you haven't already, join me over on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and Twitch!
Comments
James Polk
Very vintage! What a dream it must have been (at times). I’m familiar with bathhouse scenes only from Al Hirschfeld’s illustration for “The Ritz,” which you’ve referenced a time or two. You know how to enamor us, Matt✨
ScoobySnacks
I never made it to the bathhouses. They shut them down before I moved to SF. I did get to go to the “Church” for some hot dogs (literal),and sucking action in SOMA after the Stud closing hour came around
