22 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE OCTOBER 15, 1993

ENTERTAINMENT

Lesbian memories of the '50s and '60s

Forbidden Love Cleveland Cinematheque

Reviewed by Doreen Cudnik

Forbidden Love, The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives is a poignant, funny and often historical film in which nine women are interviewed and share with us their memories of what it was like to be lesbian in the 1950s and '60s.

At the time, lesbian trash novels were all the rage, shelved right alongside the westerns and mysteries. With titles like Man Hater, Queer Affair, Women of Evil, they were quite off-base in their portrayal of real lesbians, but nevertheless popular. One of the women interviewed in the film said that her mother, who at the time was having difficulty accepting her daughter's sexuality, was reading these novels to better understand her. The woman went on to say that this was probably the worst thing, next to the Kinsey report, that her mother could read to try to better understand her lesbian daughter!

American novelist Ann Bannon, interviewed in the film and herself the author of six lesbian paperback novels, talks about how the majority of these novels had a

tragic ending. Because of the views of the times about homosexuality, women who loved other women had to experience some sort of terrible retribution for their "perverted desires." The difference in Bannon's novels was that she changed the genre and wrote about strong women who were true survivors and involved in positive, healthy relationships.

Other women interviewed talk about their coming out experiences, and their quest to find other women like themselves in a time when this was not only taboo, but dangerous. Lesbianism in the '50s and '60s was severely punished and all lesbians knew that secrecy was their best defense. They socialized with a small circle of friends, often gay men, since no 'nice' women entered a bar without a man. One of the women interviewed recalls lesbian life in the 1950s as elegant and gay. The King Edward Hotel and the Continental bar were places where you dressed to the nines to get in, came with your gay male escort and then split up and found the other lesbians as soon as you got in. She says of her gay male friends; "They were always impeccably dressed, good looking, and we got in to any place we wanted to go."

But life was not so elegant and gay for some of these lesbians. Others interviewed relate what it was like to survive a bar raid by the police, talk about the alcoholism and drug abuse in some of the more seedy bars, and often, the violence that existed in many lesbian relationships. The ratio of butch to femme was about 10 to 1, which often resulted in a very territorial attitude by some women and subsequently, a frequent bar room brawl. As I watched the film, I was struck by the courage and candor of all of these women. As they looked at their lives through the filter of time, the fact that we have come a long way in our struggle for equality was apparent. These women survived and flourished in an era of intolerance much worse than what we experience today. We owe these sisters our thanks and respect.

Forbidden Love premieres Fri., 10/15 at 9:15 p.m., Sat., 10/16 at 7:15 p.m., Sun., 10/17 at 9:15 p.m.

Interspersed throughout the film is a lesbian novel come to life called Forbidden Love. In it, Laura leaves her smalltown home in search of a new life in the big city. She comes to a gay bar where she meets Mitch, a young butch who pursues her

and then takes her home. Scenes are hot when they finally do make love, and the dialogue, hysterically funny. The film was written and directed by Aerlyn Weissman and Lynne Fernie and distributed by Women Make Movies of New York.

The film will be shown at the Cleveland Cinematheque on Fri., Oct. 15, at 9:15 pm, Sat., Oct. 16, at 7:15 pm and Sun., Oct. 17, at 9:15.

OUTINGS

Guerrilla Theater Company

"Gore-Rilla Haunted Theater," the company's first haunted house, is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 10 pm, beginning Oct. 22 and running through Nov. 6. In this alternative to all those other haunted houses, Guerilla Theater Company will scare you out of your mind with a myriad of the normal Halloween creatures-and a slew of demons that plague the everyday world in a way no one has ever seen before.

Admission is $2, all ages admitted. Located at the Actors' Gym, 2392 Professor St. in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. 574-9003.

Cleveland Zoo

On Saturday, Oct. 23, the Cleveland Zoological Society will present

LalapaZOOza!, a festive art auction and party to benefit Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's education programs. The event takes place from 7-9:30 pm in the RainForest. The Zoo's education outreach includes the Cleveland Public School system, public and private schools in Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township as well as other organized education programs for children and adults. Last year the Zoo reached over 200,000 people through these programs.

Both silent and live auctions feature works by local artists and world renowned artists such as Robert Bateman and Tom Tischler. All pieces being offered are interpretations of the natural world. Tickets are $25 which includes admission, hors d'oeuvres, beverages and entertainment. To reserve, call 661-6500, ext. 224.

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No. 2

Repertory Project

Case Western Reserve University hosts Cleveland's modern dance company, the Repertory Project, and Columbus' Susan Van Pelt in a collaborative dance concert entitled A Woman's Place Is on Nov. 4-6 at 8 pm at Mather Dance Center in University Circle. The concert will feature three solos choreographed and danced by Van Pelt, as well as three works performed by the Repertory Project. Tickets are $8, discounts available. Mather Dance Center is at 11201 Bellflower Rd. 368-6262.

The Repertory Project also is holding a "Dance Program & Dialogue" on Friday, Oct. 29 at 8 pm, at the Fairmount Fine Arts Center, 8400 Fairmount Rd in Novelty." Tickets are $6. 338-3171.

Cleveland State University

The New Vulgarians: Five Contemporary West Coast Artists features the works of LouAnne Greenwald, William Radawec, Lenard Seagal, Charles Stockly and Wendy Furman at the CSU Art Gallery. On display Oct. 22 through Nov. 19; opening reception is Friday, Oct. 22 from 5 to 7 pm. 2307 Chester Ave. 687-2103.

The Slovak Sinfonietta of Zilina visits CSU as part of its first North American tour. Their broad repertoire includes baroque, classical, early romantic and 20th century works. The performance, led by conductor Eduard Fischer, is Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 8 pm in Waetjen Hall (2001 Euclid Ave.). Call Ticketmaster at 241-5555 for tickets which are $15; discounts at the box office. 6875019 for more information.

The Cleveland Chamber Symphony performs on Monday, Oct. 18, at 8 pm in Drinko Hall. The concert includes Cleveland premieres of Trilogy by Wayne Peterson and Ann Callaway's Concerto for Bass Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra; plus the world premieres of Dennis Eberhard's Bird of Four Hundred Voices and Surface Tension by Eric Samuelson; and the U.S. premiere of Isabela by Salvatore Martirano. Admission is free. 2001 Euclid Ave. 6879243.

Life Under the Canopy, a program of lectures, exhibits and other activities gives Clevelanders a look at the way of life of indigenous populations of the world's rain forests. The program is free and open to the public now through Nov. 12. Life Under the Canopy: The Material Culture of Tropical Rain Forest Peoples, an exhibition of artifacts of daily life from the Nambicuara Indians of Brazil, the Dayak and Iban peoples of Borneo, and the Sepik River people of Papua New Guinea, is in the Rhodes Tower library lobby. Drawings and paintings by Susan Darus, the official illustrator of the Mayan Mountain Archaeological Project (MMAP) in Belize, are on display in the first floor lobby of the Science and Research Center, 2351 Euclid Ave. Special video presentations shown on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm in room 151 of the Science and Research Center include: Cannibal Tours (Oceania) on Oct. 21, and Land Dayaks of Borneo (Southeast Asia) on Nov. 4. Films shown Wednesdays at 11 am in room 152 of the Science and Research Center include Pygmies of Africa and Pygmies of the Ituri Forest on Oct. 27, and The Spirit of Kuna Yala on Nov. 10.

Cleveland Metroparks

On Wednesday, Oct. 20, discover the wonders and frequent misconceptions surrounding bats. Join a naturalist for an informative slide show indoors followed by a short hike into the night. Garfield Park Nature Center, 7-8 pm.

Give your Halloween pumpkin personality. Learn various decorating techniques including carving, sculpting, painting and using props. Sample a pumpkin treat while visiting crafters at work. Rocky River Nature Center, 1-4 pm on Sunday, Oct. 24.

It's movie night, showing The Wetlands, Friday, Oct. 22 at North Chagrin Reservation's Sanctuary Marsh Nature Center, from 8 to 9 pm. Explore the richest and least understood of America's landscapes, its swamps and marshes. In this National Wildlife Federation movie, meet the people who are waging the fight to save America's wetlands. 473-3370.

Call (216) 228-1572