In this episode, Thomas tells us about the life of Black, lesbian blues singer, pianist and entertainer: #GladysBentley. A star of the #HarlemRenaissance of the 1920s and 1930s, Bentley seemed in every way someone living their life on their terms. Until, that is, her star power began to dim and Bentley began to doubt her identity.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of medical abuse and fatphobia. Listeners are strongly encouraged to consider to exercise caution.

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1. Gladys Bentley. Unknown photographer.
2. Gladys Bentley and Willie Bryant in front of the Apollo Theater
3. Advertisement for a Gladys Bentley performance at Mona’s 440, San Francisco
4. Advertisement for a Gladys Bentley and Miss Jimmy Reynard performance at Mona’s
5. Advertisement for a Gladys Bentley performance at the Memphis Club, Philadelphia, 1934
6. Clipping from Vere John's "In the Name of Art," New York Times, 1934.
7. Gladys Bentley. Photographer unknown. "I Am a Woman Again," Ebony Magazine, August of 1952.
8. Clipping from unknown author, "Here's What Happens at Harlem's Famous Ubangi Club,"1936
9. E. Simms Campbell, "A Night Club Map of Harlem," 1932

#lgbtqia2shistory #lgbthistory #lesbianhistory #Blacklesbian #Blacklesbianhistory #queerhistory #queerhistorypodcast #theseoldqueers

In this episode, Megan talks about The Pansy Craze - a period of increased LGBT visibility in popular culture from the late 1920s until the mid-1930s, that came to an end following the Great Depression, The Hays Code and the rise of World War Two.

During the "craze," drag queens, drag kings, masculine women and femme queer men — known as "pansy performers" — experienced a surge in underground popularity, especially in US cities such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

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images:
1 front page of 'Breveties'
2 illustration of "pansy" stealing a sailor from a "working girl" - Breveties
3 #GladysBentley
4 #JeanMalin out of drag
5 Jean Malin in 'Arizona to Broadway'
6 #KarylNorman
7 Karyl Norman
8 #RaeBourbon
9 Rae Bourbon out of drag
10 #WilliamDorseySwann

#pansycraze #thepansycraze #hayscode #thehayscode #queerpodcast #queerhistory #queerhistorypodcast #theseoldqueers

Autostraddle: 41 Super-Hot Butches and Tomboys of the Early 20th Century https://www.autostraddle.com/40-smokin-hot-butches-and-tomboys-of-the-early-20th-century-389859/ #Dykes #LGBT #LGBTQ #Trans #Lesbian #2SLGBTQ #Podcast #queerwomentheydidn'tteachyouaboutinhistoryclass #lesbianstheydidn'tteachyouaboutinhistoryclass #lesbianhistorylist #femalemasculinity #GladysBentley #greatesthits #herstorylist #Lists/Top10s #LGBThistory #Herstory #butch

I love discovering previously overlooked corners of musical history. #GladysBentley #blues #HarlemRenaissance https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-great-blues-singer-gladys-bentley-broke-all-the-rules