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Folklore and Gay Identity, 1945-1960

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Folklore and Gay Identity, 1945-1960 University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations 1996 The Circle Always Grew: Folklore and Gay Identity, 1945-1960 David S. Azzolina University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, and the Folklore Commons Recommended Citation Azzolina, David S., "The Circle Always Grew: Folklore and Gay Identity, 1945-1960" (1996). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 3088. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/3088 The graduate group for this dissertation is Folklore and Folklife. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/3088 For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Circle Always Grew: Folklore and Gay Identity, 1945-1960 Abstract It has become a common place in Gay studies that the rise of Gay culture as we know it today has its roots in the years immediately following World War II. Using life history field techniques as a means of doing field esearr ch, the folklore of Gay men of this era is examined. Interviews were conducted with men who were out in the Gay world during the fifteen earsy after 1945. Biographies of the men are provided. Specific kinds of folkloric behavior are explicated including bar customs, nicknaming, parties, festival events and popular means by which men were able to identify one another as Gay and become part of the Gay community. The role folklore plays in the process of Gay identification is also examined. Historical context is provided for the era as it impacts the ways in which Gays were seen and the influence the Gay presence reflects the tenor of the times. Underlying concepts of Gay identity and community are given priority as a theoretical underpinning furthering understanding of the ways in which folklore is a necessary ingredient for both identity and community. It is demonstrated that any understanding of Gay men of that era must attend to their creative abilities in using folklore to carve a place for themselves in the cultural arena. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) First Advisor Margaret Mills Subject Categories Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Folklore Comments The graduate group for this dissertation is Folklore and Folklife. This dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/3088 THE CIRCLE ALWAYS GREW: FOLKLORE ANO GAY IDENTITY, 1945-1960 Davids. Azzolina A DISSERTATION in Folklore and Folklife Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 1996 , N... (' Graduate Group Chairperson , ~. UNIVERSITY OF '>fi'U.".' .•.. ( 'Jf/~I ---_.Udl!~ I',~ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of all the rituals and rites of passage of the doctorate, none is more satisfying than acknowledging the people who made completing the Herculean task possible. And let it be noted that no one I have ever met completes a dissertation gracefully. Anyway, if my observations of my friends are accurate, these pages may be the only ones of the dissertation that will get read (rightly, I might add), so I had better get it right. People whose names will mean nothing to one another make clear the reality that our human lives are intertwined inextricably and inexplicably. So if Howard Becker is right in naming "Art Worlds," there is surely a phenomenon of a "dissertation world." The fact is the germination of ideas in this case goes back to my haziest memories of love of learning, books and words. From a family that was fractured and obdurate, I nevertheless learned a love of stories, storytellers, and storytelling. For Dallas Herbert and Matthew O'Brien who taught me against all odds, namely the Neptune school system, that the life of the mind m~ttered, profound thanks. For J. Bonner Ritchie and Edward Geary who demonstrated that dissonance was inherent in any thinking process, thank you for helping me grow up. For Bert Wilson, one of the few academics I have met whose life is a testimony of his mind, heart and soul, lowe more than I can ii ---------------------------.------~= say. He was my first professor of folklore and set the standard which has never been exceeded. Kenny Goldstein looms so large in my life that I am reduced to attempts at relevant metaphor. To me, he is like a giant redwood. Folklore as a discipline owes him so much and now the redwood has fallen. Peace and eternal love to him. Just a mere "my boy" from him could keep me going in moments of discouragement. When I originally asked him to supervise this dissertation, he thought it was because I thought he would be easy on me. The real reason, I explained, was that I thought of all the faculty, he was the only one who would understand and sympathize with what I was trying to do. He did understand and gave so much by the example of his life. Other folklore teachers have also given so much. Dan Ben-Amos sets the highest scholarly measure by Which women and men in all fields may measure themselves. His encouragement of me as an undergraduate and continuing interest in my career have been an important source when I have been discouraged. I hope I have not let him down. Henry Glassie, unwittingly, provided a germ for this dissertation. His article "The Moral Lore of Folklore" convinced me that I had to do something with this exercise that mattered, even a little. My original goal in entering graduate school was to work among Australian Aborigines. Given my life circumstances, that was a bit too grand. iii Settling for the merely doable seemed a waste of time. Henry's article provoked me to seek something else. Dear Henry, immensely inspiring and romantic, and, it must be said, slippery (sorry, Henry), has been one of the main influences on the way I see the world. Other folklore teachers have led by example. Don Yoder, Roger Abrahams and David Hufford have taught me and led me to think in new ways. David, too, stepped in as the second reader at the last moment and was unfailingly available as my anxiety about finishing became, shall we say, difficult. Dell Hymes in his quiet way furthered my understanding of the connection between art and politics. Really, all of them have led me to think, period. There is, sadly, a crassness about academic life in our time and I must say that these teachers have helped me bear it with hope that some good might come of our endeavors. Fellow folklore students, too, have nourished me in all senses of that word. At the risk of neglecting to name some of them, I must name Peter Tokofsky, Leonard Primiano, Bonnie 0' Connor, Lael Weismann, Ted Mast, Debra Kapchan, Jenny Michael, Bill Westerman. All of them, and others, fed me. It has been my good fortune to know most of the folklore graduate students fairly well since I participate in teaching the library portion of Folklore 501. They have all heard me rant a bit about my work (and other less professional concerns) and have been unfailingly indulgent. iv <"'~-~-.-.'---------------- In other departments at Penn, Mark stein provided day-to-day encouragement as did steve Hocker and steve Conn. colleagues at Van Pelt deserve praise for their patience with me through this process. Providing me with moral support, computer support or just a kind word now and then has made all the difference. Jane, I simply cannot thank you enough. Your encouragement often made the difference between going on and giving up. Michael Simpson deserves special thanks for being patient when I suffered from computer panic. George McGovern often quoted Yeats in his campaign which inspired me as a young man. No truer words were written than "Count where man's glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was that I had such friends." To Julie and Charles, Gordon and Karen, Bob and Karen, Cathy, Phillip, Stephen, Keith and LOU, Hugh and Michael, Brenda, Chris: if love for me makes what I do possible, and I believe it does, you are the ones who did this work. Glenn "The Captain" Lucas was always available, providing me a necessary anchor. My housemate Karen tolerated odd hours and a clogged mind, and gave me the gift of laughter. Benny Contreras got me through the photocopying nightmare. No small debt is owed him. Through Bill and Lois I have met some people who have sustained me one day at a time for years and years: Harry, Dick, Willard, Jet, Sarah, Dorothy, Sheppard, David, Judy-- v thanks for leading the way. Sharing our primary purpose, we all succeed. Obviously, I owe an immeasurable debt to the men I interviewed. I felt very connected to many of them and though I did not like all of them, I will always treasure their willingness to spend time with me. Incredibly, two have already died, one of AIDS, the other of complications of being older. Wayne and Chris generously introduced me to some of their friends and were contagiously enthusiastic about the endeavor. Thanks, too, to my father and Audrey. I only wish Helen and Sandy could have lived to see May 21, 1996. Thankfully, the joys of my life, Laura, Jennifer and Nicholas can. I hope they all can be proud. vi Though much is taken, much remains and so I dedicate this work and whatever good may come of it, to the gifts left me by some of my dearest loves. Thomas Angeloff May 22, 1954-June 27, 1995 Daniel Baross March 8, 1954-April 1, 1993 Kenneth Blaylock April 5, 1963-January 2, 1995 Gary Byrne April 23, 1947-0ctober 17, 1991 Mark Small July 17, 1957-December 20, 1992 Michael Thompson January 14, 1938-March 24, 1989 Sometimes I think that I know what love's all about ••• I won't be ashamed of love ••• Love lasts forever ••• ---Neil Young If I mayn't speak about him to you sometimes, I shall die.
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