After Dark May 1971 (Part 2)

In addition to cover girl Bette Midler, Claire Bloom, and Fortune and Men's Eyes, this issue also featured the Summer Festivals that were coming up for the 1971. It was a compilation of many annual theater, film, music and dance attractions that was to occur throughout the United States and abroad. In Central Park, the New York Shakespeare Festival, while Georgia had the Atlanta International Film Festival. Countries like Bulgaria, Austria, Turkey and Yugoslavia were holding festivals of their own.

The Harold Prince/Michael Bennett musical Follies was being presented with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Goldman. Dorothy Collins lead the cast as Sally Durant.

Yvonne De Carlo and John McMartin appeared as Carlotta and Ben.

Michael Bartlett performed "Beautiful Girls" with Alexis Smith, Fifi D'Orsay and Mary McCarty.

Here is Sheila Smith, Ethel Barrymore Colt, Alexis Smith, Dorothy Collins, Helen Blount, and Yvonne De Carlo in the show-stopping production number, "Who's That Woman?" while the ghosts of the original Follies girls mirror the routine.

Contemporary artists got spotlighted in a portfolio of photographs by Jack Mitchell. Collagist Ray Johnson, who was the founder, innovator, and official head of the New York Correspondance School.

Robert Indiana, is the painter best known for his "LOVE" painting seen here with the sculpture representing his painting.

Ian Hornak is a young Realist painter of highly detailed landscapes and nudes seen with his "Self Portrait".

Stephen Mueller's paintings have been described as lyrical abstractions.

Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein and his wife Dorothy in their living room.

America's leading Op Artist Richard Anuszkiewicz surrounded by some of his paintings.

Kenn Duncan photographed these models for the feature "Who Wears Short Shorts?" City Center Joffrey Ballet's Christian Holder in cotton velvet Half Mast pants by Seafarer.

Terry Eno and Leigh Carole of the touring version of the English musical Cantebury Tales are in fashions by Seafarer and Capezio.

Bob Clancy, Carolyn Gale and Lee Wright in more fashions by Seafarer and Capezio.

Capezios are not just for dancing, but Joffrey Ballet's Gary Chryst wears a suede and leather hotpants suit while Lili Cockerille is in a Levi-inspired hotpants suit in butter-soft chamois.

Speaking of short shorts, the Parr-Shirt (which continues in one piece as an underbrief) is paired with these tab shorts. They were available from Parr of Arizona.

Kaftans were going strong in this striped number worn by Australian Ballet star Alan Alder.

High Gear offered a kaftan wrap in polyester knit for $40.

I love ads in After Dark as you can tell, but sometimes the simple ones stand out to me like this one for Scozz Afava.

Whitt Goldsmith used a seductive ad to sell their original designs in jewelry.

The St. Croix Binkini Swimsuit and variations of it will appear numerous times in my posts, but this is from a Skinwear Ltd. catalog ad.

A new novel by Leo Skir called Boychick was advertised this issue. This ad definitely makes me wonder what the book was about. I wonder if it dealt with any homosexual issues? What do you think?

Two more Kenn Duncan photos before I finish out this post. The first is this model in a long wrap-around paisley loincloth from Dutch designer Koos Van Der Akker.

The second photo is a portrait of Joe Dallesandro. This portrait was used to sell a coffee table book called Kenn Duncan Nudes.

Well for my After Dark Bette Midler weekend, the next issue will be the January 1973 issue which features Bette in a fashion layout.

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.

Under the Weather

Summer colds are the worst! I've been sick for two days, but thanks to Nyquil and Zicam, I'm back (though not 100%).

If you like After Dark and Bette Midler, be sure to visit this weekend. Bette Midler was After Dark's most prolific cover girl and I'll be featuring those issues.

Time for an Intervention

YouTube Tuesday presents: The funny and talented Kristin Chenoweth

Kirstin (in collaboration with funnyordie.com) spoofs the A&E show Intervention and leads a hilarious musical intervention to a gay meth addict!



Now I've got to go back and watch my Pushing Daisies DVDs.

Angel Beau Updated

Monday's Man UPDATE: Dennis Cole

One of my previous Monday's Man posts concerned regular Charlie's Angels guest star and former husband to Jaclyn Smith, Dennis Cole.

Lo and behold, my friend Dan came through again, because he had an issue of Ultra magazine that had a centerspread on Dennis Cole. Specifically, it was the February 1977 issue of Ultra.

In the article that came with the photos, Dennis talked about his marriage, career and the single scene. He also talked about previous jobs, which included being a bouncer at a strip club. Eventhough, this issue came out the same month that his first guest starring role in Charlie's Angels appeared, no mention was made of meeting Jaclyn who would end up being his future wife.

Well, if you liked the previous post on Dennis, I hope you enjoy the additions that Dan was gracious enough to send me.




P.S. Don't forget to check out Dan's Flickr pages! There's plenty to see there.

After Dark July 1979 (Part 2)

For part two of my post on the July 1979 issue of After Dark, I'm going to focus on the feature represented in the cover photo of Kirby Fosdick. Provincetown.

Welcome to Provincetown, where each of these gentlemen own or are employed at a number of guest houses and restaurants in the area.

Now there was feature article on the history of Provincetown by Jason Thomas with photos of landmarks and historic sites, but it was the fashion photos by Kenn Duncan, of course, that I'm going to spotlight. Let's run on down to the beach and see what's in store.

Cover boy Kriby in a plastic sweatsuit by John Stavors. I wonder how sticky that could become..?

John Stavros also designed this deep V-neck pullover that Brian Grant is wearing.

John Stavros got a feature in another issue of After Dark with some really great photos of this hot designer, but that'll come later. In the meantime, let's settle for this bikini bathing suit worn by model Ric Warner.

Ric is completely protected from the sun in this hooded sweatsuit by David Leong.

Pierre Cardin designed this suit that Kirby is wearing.

He also designed this collarless pullover that Brian is wearing.

Ric keeps his eye out for approaching ships or sailors in this boxer bathing suit from Haberdashery of Denver.

Marilyn Manos joins the boys in her terry outfit by Le Gaspi while Brian wears their bathing shorts. Ric is more military in his fatigue pants by French Jeans.

Ric does some resort cocktailing in style by Pierre Cardin.

Kirby Fosdick goes military in this gray outfit by Pierre Cardin.

Can you mix designers? Brian Grant does in this Pierre Cardin shirt with fatigue slacks by French Jeans.

The all-white tux by Pierre Cardin gets a couple of different looks when worn by Kirby Fosdick...

...or by Brian Grant who gets a glass of wine from Marilyn Manos in a low-cut afternoon dress by Clovis Ruffin.

Ric mixes designers when he combines a stretch t-shirt by John Stavros with loose beach slacks by David Leon.

Kirby doesn't have to worry about room in his Punjab pants from Unique Clothing.

Finally, Kirby relaxes with a Tab in a modified stretch boxer swimsuit.

Do you want to visit Provincetown now? Well if you did back then, After Dark had an ad that directed you to the Provincetown Business Guild.

Wanting more fashion? How about retrowear? Gene London and Associates have a collection of antique, museum-quality clothing that includes gowns worn by Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Jean Harlow. With this collection, Gene London creates stylish fashions that add a nostalgic dash to contemporary wardrobes. After Dark photographer Kevin Higgins took these photos while Gene London designed looks for dramatic tableaus. This first example contains lace dresses made from the wardrobe of Eleanor Roosevelt.

The lady reclining on the chair in this next photo wears a 1930's red crepe, crystal-beaded dress designed for Harlow.

This model is dressed in a 1950s Joan Crawford creation of white tulle with black butterfly sequins.

More vintage gowns in this gothic scene.

Next is black velvet with rhinestones and sheer net stocking gloves.

Finally, this young man is trying to get a look through the louvre blinds look that this 1930's striped silk on gauze has.

Just a couple of more items to point out. Jean LeClerc took over the role of Dracula from Raul Julia and Frank Langella.

Glenda Jackson and Carol Burnett were in an upcoming film, Health, recently shot in Florida by Robert Altman.

And finally, I finished off part one of this issue with a photo of ballet dancer Yann Le Gac from Maurice Bejart's Ballet of the Twentieth Century, so I guess I'll finish off part two with another photo of Yann.