BOOKS

...Listen to your mother..."

GAY BAR by Helen P. Branson. Pan-Graphic Press, San Francisco, 1957, $3.00. Reviewed by Richard Mayer, New York.

When the late Dr. Kinsey was told about Helen Branson's bar in Los Angeles, he is said to have remarked: "Well, if that woman runs that bar the way she says she does... then it is the only bar in the United States that is run that way."

As if to return the compliment and compliment it was Mrs. Branson has now provided us with a miniature Kinsey Report on homosexuality, without, I hasten to add, the statistical tables. Her book covers an encyclopedic range in an anecdotal style. While certainly not "scientific" (thank goodness!), here is the stuff upon which future science can build.

At that, Mrs. Branson bases her book upon a great many more "case histories" than Dr. Bergler required to spin his grandiloquent theories (see Homosexuality: Disease or Way of Life? by Edmund Bergler, M. D., Hill & Wang, New York, 1956; also see Mattachine Review for May 1957). In startling contrast to Dr. Berg ler's uncharitable characterization of the homosexual, Mrs. Branson's boys are idealistic, sensitive, imaginative, talented, original, thoughtful, persevering and polite. Quite obviously, Dr. Berg ler and Mrs. Branson have not known the same homosexuals.

By being observant and open-minded, Mrs. Branson has learned a great deal about homosexuality. She emphasizes, rightly I think, the role of the father rather than the mother in the development of a homosexual son. She suggests that restrictive, puritanical attitudes in some segments of heterosexual society may cause some to seek the freer sexual atmosphere of homosexuality. But she is aware that the attraction of homosexuality is not by any means 20 mattachine REVIEW

solely sexual; to certain personality types, gay life has many oth er appealing aspects. For example, she speculates that the high representation of homosexuals in the arts might have something to do with the fact that creative work requires a degree of concentration and solitude, of single-minded devotion, not easy to attain when family responsibilities exist.

But don't get the wrong idea about GAY BAR. All the information and the intriguing ideas are conveyed painlessly in one good story after another. Have you heard, for example, how Gordon lost his entire wardrobe? "It's that roommate of mine. He brought a sailor home and the next morning all my clothes were gone. He was nearer my size than Jerry's." Then, there's the way John explains to his parents why he spends so many evenings with Bob. Why, they're double-dating girls, of course.

Gordon, Jerry, John and Bob are among the "regulars" at Mrs. Branson's bar. She does not welcome strangers. "I hand pick my clients"-clients yet!-and she has a long list of "undesirables"drunks, toughs, hustlers, tourists, girls, heterosexuals (they put a damper on conversation) and homosexuals who swish ("a menace to my business") or cruise or simply dress badly. How does she manage to get rid of all these undesirables without the aid of a bouncer? Easy! "I give them such dirty looks, they usually stay for only one drink and leave." She has other strategems for insen

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$3.00

GAY BAR is one of those rare books one cannot put down. I love it! I must admit I felt quite dubious about this project when it was first announced, while reserving judgment until I had actually read the book. I'm happy to say that I think your estimate of the book was very sound. I want to order at least a half dozen copies to distrib ute among my friends. It is such a sane and wholesome book, good humored, yet not at all superficial. It is frank, yet it shows unerting good taste. I think it will appeal to all types of readers-high brow, low brow and middle brow. It de serves to be a best seller and I think it will be. LUTHER ALLEN.

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