6

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE JANUARY 28, 1994

USA

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Tales of the City won Cleveland audiences

by Charlton Harper

While final figures are not yet in, it looks

like the recent airing on PBS of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City was a success in major national markets. Though the show pulled large audiences in San Francisco and Los Angeles, its success close to home was also dramatic.

Peg Neeson, director of public information at Cleveland PBS affiliate WVIZ Channel 25, says that response was overwhelming, with over 400 calls on record. "We have received a really broad-based response. There were so many different calls." Neeson says that early callers were largely negative, but after the complete airing, the supportive calls poured in. "Early on, for the first couple of days, there were quite a few negative calls. But after the [three-evening] run, we got a very vocal response. The positive calls wound up outnumbering the negative about 3-1,' "she said. "Whole families watched the shows together. We had people calling saying that they had their grandchildren watching. I think our last big response like this came with the Civil War series we ran a couple of years ago."

Neeson says that complaints were wideranging, but centered mostly on several brief flashes of nudity. "Lots of people were bothered by the nudity, even though there was so little. A lot of people turn to public television because they think they won't find things like nudity in our programming.

There was also some concern about men kissing men and the drug use."

But Neeson says that most people were won over by the trip down a 1970s memory lane. "So many people were enthralled by the characters and by the story. Sure, the time period was fascinating. It was fun to look back. But in terms of quality programming, this didn't break any new ground. It's what public television is about."

Neeson said she hoped people had watched the entire run before making decisions, but she emphasizes that public TV exists because of the input from viewers. "I hope more people will call in, pro or con. We like to hear what's going on with our viewers. It's how we make decisions."

Early Nielson ratings indicate that Tales carried an estimated 7 percent of the national audience, double what PBS usually pulls in prime time. In Los Angeles, Tales drew between 7 and 9 percent of the local audience. San Francisco, not surprisingly, drew higher percentages, between 21 and 28 percent.

Neeson says it will still be a couple of weeks before she will see PBS-generated figures for the mini-series, but says that roughly 18 million households caught some or all of the three-night run. While book two of Maupin's San Francisco chronicles, More Tales of the City, is reportedly being filmed, Neeson says she has not heard of any plans to market the project on PBS. ♡

Couples to go for marriage licenses on Valentines Day

A group of concerned Cleveland area lesbian and gay couples will have a public display of affection on Valentine's Day. Couples interested in legal sanction of their commitment status will approach the Marriage License Bureau to apply for marriage licenses.

"If gays and lesbians could get marriage licenses, then they would be entitled to rights such as partnership in property ownership, joint tax returns, access to shared healthcare benefits, even the right to visit one another in the hospital as family," said organizer Patrick McCabe.

All interested couples are invited to participate. The group will gather on Valentine's Day at 1:30 pm at the Cuyahoga County Court House at the corner of Ontario St. and Lakeside Ave. in downtown Cleveland. The License Bureau is in the basement, room 319. For more information call 932-9751.

"Our families have value, and in spite of the fact that we will be denied marriage licenses, lesbian and gay couples will continue to live lives of commitment," said McCabe.

Why not join the fun on Valentine's Day-no blood test required!

Stonewall 25 steering committee meets

by Victoria Carter

OHIO STATE DELEGATE

The place, Atlanta, Georgia. The reason, the National Steering Committee Meeting January 14-17.

There were many workshops to attend, many people to network with and many late night discussions. It was informative and most definitely stimulating.

The first workshop I attended was the Rally, the proposal was for the international youth to lead the March and the Youth of States will be their escort. There will be several entry stations into the park, from what I remember there will be five different march routes to accommodate the large number of folks. We will need many volunteers on that day to move ourselves from point A to point B. Be there! The security coordinator is Carole Hunter. The March coordinator is Steve Oxendine. Berry Douglas is the talent coordinator and is still accepting submissions to perform at the rally on the Great Lawn in Central Park. Call or write these folks and they will be

happy to help you: Stonewall 25, P.O. Box 2038, New York, NY 10013;212-626-6925, fax 212-626-6965.

In a very informative workshop it was stated that EuroPride will hold their commemoration of Stonewall 25 in Amsterdam on June 25.

I also participated in the "People of Color" caucus which was catered by Stonewall 25. It allowed us to share information from different regions and just to be ourselves. In addition, I also participated in the Midwest Regional Caucus where we discussed where and what each state has done and is doing. We have all agreed to send monthly update letters. At present we are working on planning a Midwest Regional Meeting to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In closing, it's happening folks! On to New York City, June 26, for the commemoration of Stonewall 25.

Contact us at: Stonewall 25-Ohio, P.O. Box 91031, Cleveland, OH 44101. Telephone 216-921-8130, Fax 216-921-8130 (call before sending). Staffed weekly, Tuesday, Thursday from 12-4 pm.