Numbers (July 1993), Part One

Famous for his roles in A Streetcar Named Desire and The Godfather, actor Marlon Brando was known for his obstreperous behavior, from refusing to memorize his lines to delaying shoots with his tardiness. This bold disregard for authority extended into Brando’s personal life, where he maintained an unabashed frankness about his sexuality during an era when homosexuality still held major social stigma. In a 1976 interview with French journalist Gary Carey, for example, he discussed his bisexuality, stating “Like a large number of men, I, too, have had homosexual experiences and I am not ashamed.” This comment birthed several rumors – such as a presumed sadomasochistic relationship with fellow actor James Dean – both during his life and after his death, including claims by music producer Quincy Jones in 2018 that Brando and comedian Richard Pryor had a torrid love affair. Although conflicting evidence make it difficult to accurately discern the truth of Jones’ allegations, they add to Brando’s allure and reinforce the commodification of stardom the actor discussed in a 1973 interview with The Dick Cavett Show: “News is business. And, uh, people sell news, and unfortunately people in my position are in the public eye, are sellable commodities, but they’re not any different than Kleenex or Dial Soap or anything else.” In this July 1993 issue of Numbers (which had been broken into three parts), the publication perpetuates these rumors, discussing Gerald Clarke’s biography on Truman Capote and how it argues the famed author was one of Brando’s many male paramours. Also included in this first third are photos of model John and a photospread titled “Matador.”

In Touch (July 1989)

In 1958, a small collection of gay men in New Orleans formed the Krewe of Yuga, a social club that hosted balls in private homes as safe spaces for homosexuals to participate in the Mardi Gras festivities without fear of persecution. Their balls became so popular that, by 1960, they rented a location in the Metairie suburb and, as the size of the event grew, so did public attention, prompting a police raid in 1962 which arrested nearly 100 people. With the names of these men published in the local newspapers and many losing their jobs, the Krewe of Yuga dismantled; however, it was not the only gay-formed krewe. In 1961, the Krewe of Petronius was established and held their balls in the neighboring town of Chalmette and, in 1979, a group of lesbians founded the Krewe of Ishtar and hosted their own parade in response to the cancellation of Mardi Gras due to policed strikes. Although the Krewe of Ishtar split up in 1986, the Krewe of Petronius still exists today. By the publication of this July 1989 issue of In Touch, the prejudices which kept the gay-ran kewes of the 1950s and 1960s from participating in major Mardi Gras festivities had waned, allowing for the pictures in this periodical. Also featured in this issue are photos of models David Dabello, Tim Gilson, Tedd Long, and Anthony Velez. NOTE: THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WAS FOUND INCOMPLETE AMONG THE BOXES OF MAGAZINES; HENCE, ITS SPARSE PRESENTATION.

Honcho (June 1992), Part Two

As some soldiers returned from the battlefields of World War II with a newfound sexuality, the 1950s saw the emergence of several homosexual organizations which aimed for advocacy and visibility. Among the first was the Los-Angeles-based Mattachine Society founded by Harry Hay, which published The Mattachine Review. Although internal rifts caused tensions within the group, the association paved the way for other organizations, such as ONE, Inc. formed in 1952 and the Daughters of Bilitis established in 1955. This June 1992 issue of Honcho (which has been broken into two parts) features a short history of the Mattachine Society. Included in this second half (see the first half here) are the short stories ”Seafood Orgy” (where the narrator’s casual encounter with a sailor at a YMCA leads to a deeper connection) and “A Violation of Code” (about a code inspector and his blackmailing supervisor) and photospreads titled “The Benefit of Experience,” “Come to Papa,” “Fatherly Advice,” and “Sugar Daddy.”