mattbaume
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Harvey Milk, Phyllis, and Wild San Francisco in the 70s: A Patrons-Only Video Update!
🕑 Added 2020-12-28 20:01:09 +0000 UTCHello friends!
I hope you're having a nice holiday time and are formulating wonderful/devious plans for the New Year. I've been working on a new video for you, and as a backer you get a little sneak peek at what's coming: A tour of one of the most exciting times in history to be openly queer, as told through the lens of Harvey Milk and a semi-forgotten spinoff of The Mary Tyler Moore Show called Phyllis.
Phyllis was a mid-70s attempt to duplicate the success of MTM, and it was ... not a huge hit, alas. The show starred Cloris Leachman (Frau Blucher from Young Frankenstein) as a recently-widowed woman who moves to San Francisco to start her life anew -- this was at a time when people were allowed to move to SF without first obtaining permission from a major tech company.
As luck would have it, SF in the 70s was an incredibly exciting place and time, from the art to the politics to the sex. The show didn't get very gay, but there is one episode where Phyllis learns that her boyfriend is gay and coaches him to come out, which is an excellent opportunity to talk about all the incredible stuff happening in the city at the time. I've been digging through archives to find some fantastic stuff -- check out this transcript I found of one of Harvey Milk's greatest speeches. I've also been gathering video of Sylvester (Queen of Disco!) creating incredible disco parties, of the early days of the Cockettes and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, of the first Gay Liberation Day parade, of the creation of the first Pride flag, and so much more.
SF in the 70s really was an AMAZING time, whether you were queer or not, and the stuff that I've found has really captured my imagination. I can't wait to share it with you! The video should be ready for you in the next few days -- and backers at $10+ get early ad-free access to watch.
Thanks again for being a member of my Patreon! I couldn't make the stuff that I do without you, and I'm so incredibly honored to have your support.
Matt
Comments
Steve McLean
I have a memory of seeing Sylvester on either Merv Griffin or Mike Douglas where one of the other guests was then Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill. I remember thinking what an odd convergence of worlds. I have looked for the episode but haven't been able to find it anywhere.
Lin Kibblemom
I remember Phyllis, although not well, and definitely not the episode you mentioned. I remember the other MTM spin-off, Rhoda, much better. I would be surprised if Rhoda didn't also have a gay episode.
