I need to find two books that were published within the past ten years on gay and black nightlife in early 20th-century New York: can anyone remember either of these, what they were called?
All I remember is they were both the size and weight of tombstones.
I found this one: One of the Children: Gay Black Men in Harlem (Men and Masculinity, 2), but it’s based on research in the 1980s. But there are links on that page to a few other books which may also be useful.
Hmmm, that’s not it. I think it has “Metropolis” or something like that in the title.
. . . Oh, they are two different books. One on black nightlife, pre-WWII, and one on the history of gay life in NY, 19th–early 20th century.
Ring any bells?
Eve, there was a book out a few years ago that I noticed on the shelves at the bookstore but did not buy or peruse, entitled Before Stonewall. IIRC, it was about the size of a normal full-length novel or biography in a clothbound trade edition. That may be one of them, or it may have the references you need.
One might be Gay New York.
Ah! Gay New York is one of the two, thanks! Into my bibliography is goes.
Now, does anyone remember a book about black nightlife in NYC, pre-WWII?
There’s The Gay Metropolis but it’s not specifically about black gay life.
Do you need these books specifically or are you looking for source material for something? I have a number of books at home that have information on the topic; I’m sure my humble library pales in comparison to your own juggernaut of bibliana but if I may be of any assistance please feel free.
I’m looking for books on cabarets and nightclubs (places to go dancing) in the 1910s, specifically New York and Paris—but the whole gestalt.
Picked up Gay New York at the library (paperback, thank goodness—the hardcover would weigh a ton!)
Not limited to blacks and gays—hell, if there are books about Irish scullery girls and Chinese mail-order brides going ragtime cabareting, I’d need those, too!
Eve. In my article http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfaggot.htmlon the origin of the word “faggot” to mean “homosexual” I used George Chauncey, Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940. You should own that book. It’s not a tombstone, but damn useful and good.
James Baldwin wrote quite a few novels set in NY in the 60’s and 70’s. Not exactly what you’re looking for but you might find him pretty interesting. He mentioned some of the early Harlem places in one of his novels but I can’t remember the name…
Am enjoying Gay New York (I think I read it when it first “came out,” ha ha). But some ass-monkey underlined and made notes all over this copy! What the bloody hell goes through peoples’ minds when they deface library books?!
What I need, really, is any reference to social life in the 1910s, specifically NY and Paris, but elsewhere as well. Not just gays and blacks, but anything to do with the tea-dance, cabaret, nightclub scene of the day.