but how would we know he was the real McCoy?
Sing it!
When I was researching a Hollywood sequel to “Writers Gone Wild,” I came across some amazing egregious falsehoods, way beyond the stuff in “Hollywood Babylon.” The funniest was a book on the “private life” of Humphrey Bogart – including dialog like a bad Beeline book – presented as straight-up fact.
As for the gay pimp, I wouldn’t use any of his stuff unless it was corroborated. It just smells too much like a money grab.
Now, a similar fellow with more creditable-tales to tell was Samuel Steward, who was also around at that time. He was the subject of a biography called “Secret Historian,” and he left behind personal papers as well as an index-card file of his assignations. In addition to the usual encounters with Judy Garland and Rock Hudson, he also mentions a breif hotel-room encounter in Ohio with Rudy Valentino. Great book.
I’m not familiar with Chandler, but I know that Hadleigh claimed (or claims, not sure if he’s still alive) the gay stars consented to be interviewed only if it was released after their death, which sounds vaguely believable, AND that there were neither recordings or notes made, which sounds really freaking convenient for Boze. I think the only person he can even confirm he ever spent an evening talking to was James Coco, who was fairly out by the time he died anyway and since he was morbidly obese for a large part of his career (before he got healthy and died) I doubt he had that much of a sex life anyway.
**Sampiro, **FWIW Wikipedia indicates Boze Hadleigh is still alive.. If I’m doing my math right he would only be 58, which seems on the young side to me.
Also, it says he did usually record his interviews but Mae West and Fassbinder were two who refused to be taped. I haven’t read any of his books, but I’m pretty sure all of the people listed in the Wiki article are acknowledged to have been gay from various sources. Agnes Moorehead is the only one I noticed who most likely wasn’t gay.
I know the Cary Grant stuff is bogus too. Did those rumors originate with Hadleigh? The article doesn’t say anything about it.
I have an advance copy of the book. I’ve only read about a third of it but don’t think I’m going to finish it. The entire book is about his sexual encounters which start at the age of 7 when he was molested by his friend’s father. Only he doesn’t see this as being victimized or abused in any way. When he’s 9 he’s abused by a group of priests (I believe he said there about 20 but I’m not going back to read the passage to confirm). Again, he doesn’t see this as abuse, but instead takes pity on the priests because they are expected to be celibate. By the age of 12 he’s prostituting himself to10-15 men a night. It’s all incredibly skeevy and disturbing.
Archeological celebrity sexual psychology. Because we, the American public, have an insatiable desire for hot, hot Spring Byington-on-Marjorie Man action.
Rowr! Who wouldn’t? Just make it a three-way with Edna May Oliver.
Considering the advances in motion-capture technology, you might get your wish. :eek:
“You’re inviting me to join in your…WHAT? A WHAT, now?”