Bonus video! Some of my archive discoveries in LA

I’m a big sitcom buff, so I’m surprised to learn about the show “Brothers,” and how long it ran. I was born in 1990, so it predates me a bit, but still. Very curious about this show now too as one of my big interests is lost media/media conservation. Going to have to check my sources and see what I find, and what episodes are lost…

Well, speaking of being a research partner: having now watched all of it, here are my personal Top Ten Queerest Episodes in The Adventures of Robin Hood! Just want to quickly say first: none of this is intended as any kind of pressure, I swear. The way I see if, it you do end up making a video on the work of Sidney Cole and Hannah Weinstein, this info might be useful for you; and if you don’t, at least I got to go on at length about something I love, so this is very much win-win for me! Also, do please tell me to stop leaving these kind of comments if this is starting to get annoying, the last thing I want to do is get on your nerves. Ep 16 (disc 2 on the Mill Creek box set, if you have it) The Jongleur: This features the first camp character in a Cole & Weinstein show who is neither ridiculous (as Friar Tuck can sometimes be) nor evil (as the Sheriff pretty much always is). And he’s played by Peter Hammond, who also played Beamish on The Buccaneers a couple of years later! I wonder whether his performance in this episode was what made them think he could take on something more significant? Ep 68 (disc 6) The Black Five: Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham have to work together to defeat a common enemy. During the scene in the garden, watch the Sheriff’s face; he briefly runs his eyes up and down the length of Robin’s body. It only takes a second, but he is absolutely checking him out. This episode also establishes that the Sheriff, while bad, isn’t the worst, and there are others who are far worse than he is. Ep 92 (disc 8) The Challenge of the Black Knight: This features a camp character who is not only a good fighter, but legendarily good at fighting; famed for it throughout the land. Also for flawless chivalry. Not the kind of qualities camp characters normally have, even now! Ep 95 (8) Knight Errant: Marian says, “Oh Robin, I get so tired of having to keep my feelings hidden all the time. Always having to meet you secretly.” Really does emphasise the whole thing of Marian and Robin being two people who love each other very much but are being unfairly kept apart by unjust laws. Hmm, what does that remind you of? 105 (9) Quickness of the Hand: A few things here: three somewhat camp guys who are so good at fighting that the Sheriff, who’s never met them before, has heard of their prowess; Tuck saves the day almost singlehandedly (also this is one of the very few times he gets to physically fight bad guys); the Sheriff shows that, baddie though he is, he doesn’t want to send men to their death for no good reason. 107 (9) The Genius: Features a very obviously camp guy who is highly intelligent, brave, on the side of good, and who Robin treats with affection and respect. 114 (9) Woman’s War: A woman tells the Sheriff she met Robin Hood, and he was so handsome she “regretted he was an outlaw”. The Sheriff says, rather wistfully, that there have been times when he’s regretted that himself, then immediately adds, “but doubtless not for the same reason”. The woman looks at him a bit sceptically. 132 (11) The Reluctant Rebel: Includes two noticably camp men who are both basically good, and also come across as a couple; or at the very least, Howard has a massive crush on Sir Jeffrey. (NB: keep an eye out for the scene where Howard knocks Sir Jeffrey off his horse and stays on top of him for slightly too long.) 138 (11) The Edge and the Point: Another somewhat camp character who is both honourable and very good at fighting; he even beats Robin himself in single combat, which we’ve never seen anyone else do, ever. Robin seems kind of fascinated by him. At the end of the episode, he says to Robin, “I’m your man”, and Robin replies joyously, “I always knew you would be!” 142 (11) Double Trouble: features a bishop – an actual bishop! – who is at least a bit camp (and also on the side of good). In a significantly more religious era, having a high-ranking member of the church being portrayed as kinda sorta possibly gay would have been one hell of a big deal. I’m not surprised they left it to the second-to-last episode of the very last series (or last “season”, if you prefer!) BTW, the slight campness mostly shows up later in the episode, so if you watch the early part and go, “Doesn’t seem camp to me” – that’s why!

Hey Matt, your references to early Hollywood, and particularly about Billy Haines reminded me of a doc I saw at TIFF in 2017, "Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood" which detailed the life and times of Scotty Bowers. He was allegedly a sex worker in the 40s, 50s and 60s whose counted among his clients a wide swath of closeted actors, and he ran his business through a gas station on Hollywood Blvd . The doc was based on a book Bowers wrote with the very apt title of "Full Service". It's impossible to know how many of his stories are true and how many are legend, but he is just an absolutely fascinating character regardless. I would advise you to give it a watch if you haven't already (and advise the same to anyone else reading this). Also, let me know when you adopt the "Loving Man" shirts as part of your merch.

I'd be fascinated to hear more about Billy Haines if you come across anything in your research Matt! I've been wanting to write a piece of historical fiction set in early Hollywood using real figures from that era as characters, but I've struggled to find much details about them online. For example, I'd love to see a picture of what Billy's home designs looked like! Apparently his first client was his dear friend Joan Crawford who referred to Billy and his partner Jimmie as "the happiest couple in Hollywood." Thanks for the bonus video as always!

Brothers was very funny at the time. The gay brother was not played as a stereotype, although his best friend in the show was the ultimate stereotype.

When you were in South Pasadena for the So Called Life House, you could have also seen the Family house on Milan Ave.

Come swimming at our place if you need a rest spot in Granada Hills, Cheers and thanks for the videos.