After Dark May 1978

Here's Bette Midler appearing on her third cover of After Dark! This issue also happens to be the Tenth Anniversary Issue! There is so much going on in this issue, I am going to have to break it up into multiple posts. There are the regular features, plus a look back at some of their favorite moments, films and people. In William Como's "Speaking Out" column, he talks about the demise of Ballroom Dance Magazine and how it was reinvented as After Dark. I really need to post that first issue of After Dark. Maybe next weekend.

Bette Midler interviews The Divine Miss M. That's right! It was a cute little piece that shows the natural humor of Miss Midler.



There was a bit on the Ruby Awards, which I mentioned in an earlier post. It had a photo of the previous seven winners that included Bette Midler,

her former accompianist and friend and star in his own right, Barry Manilow,

Peter Allen,

Ann-Margret,

Lucille Ball,

Mae West,

and Ruby Keeler (here with Dorothy Collins) for whom the award was renamed.

That's right, the Ruby Award was originally called the Starry Night Award, but more on the award and the parties that were given in other posts.
Back to the issue. Since it was the 10th anniversary, William Como and the staff got together for a group shot to show you the faces behind the monthly madness of After Dark.

In continuing their retrospective, they talked about some of the movies that made an impact with the newcomers of yesteryear now being the stars of today. Nudity in mainstream films like The Strawberry Statement which featured Bruce Davison,

Midnight Cowboy with Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman,

Jane Fonda as Barbarella,

David Bowie who appeared in The Man Who Fell to Earth and was going to be starring in Just a Gigolo,

Myra Breckinridge star Raquel Welch who would soon be appearing in The Sin and The Animal.

Who else is going to be featured in this issue? I'm afraid you'll just have to wait and see. Check back this week for more from this double-size issue.
Until then, will somebody order me a Gay Bob doll? I really, really want one.

After Dark May 1971

Bette Midler, Robert Redford, Cal Culver and Ann-Margret have appeared on covers of After Dark multiple times. Bette Midler appeared on the cover of three issues beginning with this one. It was May 1971 and Bette was one of the most talked about song stylists in New York. Whatever became of her? Almost 40 years later, Bette is still working and making music.

Bette has always celebrated her gay fans and eventhough she was no longer a regular performer at the Continental Baths, she would still appear there once in awhile. Sometimes those appearances were announced, but the best times were when she appeared unannounced.

Maggie Smith had appeared in the previous season at England's National Theater in Hedda Gabler.

That season Claire Bloom was appearing at the off-Broadway Playhouse Theatre in two productions. Ibsen's Hedda Gabler is one, while the other is Ibsen's A Doll's House. Each production was played by the repertory company with actors like Donald Madden.
And each production was presented on alternating weeks with both directed by her husband Hillard Elkins.

Miss Bloom is also known on the film screen. Here she is with Rod Steiger in the film version of Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man.

In Richard III, Claire Bloom played Lady Anne to Sir Laurence Olivier.

Her first major screen role was in Limelight with Charlie Chaplin.

Fortune and Men's Eyes was in production as a film. The first time the play had been presented, it barely stayed afloat. Sal Mineo revived the play and it was a success. MGM decided to gamble in making the film and Michael Greer repeated his stage role as Queenie.

The cast of the film included Zooey Hall and Wendell Burton with Micheal Greer in this prison mess hall scene.

The film did not shy away from the gang rapes and other forms of homosexual brutality of prison routine that was described by John Herbert in his play.

Wendell Burton as Smitty finally asserts himself with cell bully Rocky played by Zooey Hall.



Another film hitting the theaters was Taking Off directed by Milos Forman. Here is a scene where the parents join in an experiment to close the generation gap by trying pot. Stars Buck Henry, Lynn Carlin, Audra Lindley and Paul Benedict appear.

On March 22, 1971, After Dark celebrated its third anniversary and presented its First Annual Starry Night Award. Keith Baxter, star of the Tony Award winning Sleuth presented it to Ruby Keeler for her triumphant return to Broadway in the hit musical No, No Nanette.

The Starry Night Award would change its name immediately and for hereafter be known as the Ruby Award. Each year that the Ruby Award was given, there would be a star-studded party and I'll present each of those times as separate posts. The award is in recognition of remarkable achievements in theater, films, and music. Future winners would include Mae West, Peter Allen, Ann-Margret, Lucille Ball, Barry Manilow and, of course, Bette Midler!

Part 2 of After Dark May 1971 will feature some fashion, ads, and artists.