SIDE A:
Note: The archivist notes that, on the label of this tape, it mentions that these are recordings off of an original 120min tape.
No interviewer appears to be present for this entire interview. The audio is recorded in collated clips. One of the interviewees (whom the archivist believes is l…
SIDE A:
Note: The archivist notes that, on the label of this tape, it mentions that these are recordings off of an original 120min tape.
No interviewer appears to be present for this entire interview. The audio is recorded in collated clips. One of the interviewees (whom the archivist believes is likely to be Doug Chin) mentions that there are a lot of problems, but does not specific with what. The interviewee mentions problems with staff, settings, and service users. The interviewee appears to be talking about a hypothetical facility, to satisfy needs including counselling, and privacy. The tape cuts. Another recording starts, with the same interviewee. They continue discussing the needs of the facility. The tape cuts and starts again, discussing the same subject. This happens again. The interviewee recommends a site for the facility: Basil’s at Gerrard and Yonge. The interviewee recommends the city purchase the entire building, to produce this facility. The interviewee mentions taking their proposals to “Chris King”, and being accused of ‘tokenism’. But, the interviewee asserts, diverse hiring practice is not tokenism, it is diversity. In another clip, the second interviewee (whom the archivist strongly believes is Bob Allard) joins the interview approx. 27 mins. They discuss how, while gay kids and straight youth may have similar problems, the approaches must be different. The two interviewees discuss the state of various legal cases they are involved in.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1970s, 1980s
SIDE B:
The archivist notes that the sound is quite poor on this side of the tape, and it is occasionally difficult to understand the interviewees. The interviewees discuss the difficulties and strain of working in community engagement. They debate the dangers of being too involved against the importance of being emotionally involved as a counsellor or social worker. The two take firm opposing stances. The recording cuts out 13 minutes in, and returns at 14 minutes. The audio becomes extremely distorted. The interviewees briefly discuss their sexualities — one calls themself a “slut,” and mentions having had sex with 15 men in one night at the bathhouse. The two interviewees call themselves the “doers”. One (whom the archivist believes to be Doug Chin) discusses the possibility of running for mayor. They mention Tri-Aid and discuss expanding Tri-Aid. The board of directors at Tri-Aid have asserted that they do not want the interviewee to run for mayor. The interviewee mentions being president of a Chinese community association, and the other interviewee discusses the movement of Chinese populations in Toronto. The other interviewee describes what drew him to Tri-Aid. The interviewee answers a phone call, and asks about the price of buying a building at Yonge and Gerrard (which the archivist believes to be the Basil’s building mentioned on Side A).
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
SIDE C:
In this brief recording, the interviewees continue their conversation from the previous tape. Audio cuts at two minutes.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1980s
SIDE C:
In this brief recording, the interviewees continue their conversation from the previous tape. Audio cuts at two minutes.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
SIDES A and B:
In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puritanical upbringing, his struggle to accept his homosexuality, time in service during…
SIDES A and B:
In this oral history interview Elgin Blair and Richard Brown discuss their lives in Toronto as gay men. The interview begins with Elgin (58 years old) commenting on his coming out experience, his puritanical upbringing, his struggle to accept his homosexuality, time in service during the war, radical consciousness, and his work in the Unitarian gay caucus. Other topics include gay social structure in Toronto in the 1950s, gay bars, and Elgin’s involvement in the gay liberation movement and gay organizations such as CHAT, The Body Politic, Older Gay Association, and the Gays and Lesbians against Disarmament (GLAD), as well as in the CCF. Elgin also discusses how bars and pubs, and the people who met there, were instrumental in his coping with depression and sexual orientation. Richard Brown joins the conversation in the second half of the interview. He discusses the important role of gay business like bars and baths in the building of the gay community. He also comments on his personal life, growing up, coming out experience, and involvement in Lambda.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
Transcript available; see F0083-03-022 Transcript of Interviews with John Nixon.
SIDE A:
Nixon begins the interview with a discussion on lawyers, and he was from a conservative background. He wanted a trial by judge and jury, as he wanted to drag the case on to make it hard for the Crown. He found…
Audio quality is mediocre at the beginning and audio is muffled and at times indistinguishable.
Scope and Content
Transcript available; see F0083-03-022 Transcript of Interviews with John Nixon.
SIDE A:
Nixon begins the interview with a discussion on lawyers, and he was from a conservative background. He wanted a trial by judge and jury, as he wanted to drag the case on to make it hard for the Crown. He found out that his magistrate was especially hard on sexual related offences, and although his lawyer could have switched courts he just advised that John avoided the trial by judgement. Talks about how courts would always mandate mental evaluations for these cases, which he did at the St John’s Mental Hospital. This was in August and the trial was in September. He describes the trial having no defence as typical with child molestation cases. Describes having had three boys in his car, who were all there at the trial, yet he had ignored the two who served as witnesses and alleges weren’t able to see what went on with the third one. Talks of this encounter as a commercial relationship. Mentions knowing that these youth were inclined to engage in homosexual practices. The trial entailed the judge asking the kids if they were homosexual or practiced homosexuality. He mentions facing nine charges as he had previous encounters with these kids. The event even made it into the newspapers. He was found guilty of the first charge and pleaded guilty to the others, with a year sentence with two year probation. He served nine months and then got off. His community started up a petition to forbid him from building and owning property within it, with some relatives signing the petition. He says his father was upset but a friend of the family spoke to him and said it wasn’t his fault but he was born this way, so his dad took some time to get over it and when people started scheming against John his father provided financial and emotional support. Says his mom always knew but never has been discussed. After he came out of jail he says he would consciously ignore acquaintances unless they approached him first, which was a signal that they accepted him. Nonetheless he was active socially after getting out of jail. Moved to Toronto in the spring after getting out (potentially from Barkers Point, NB). Talks about his experiences socializing in jail in New Brunswick and the activities he would engage in. Mentions being socially accepted in there to some degree. He didn’t engage in any sexual activity in prison.
Dates and locations mentioned: New Brunswick, Toronto.
SIDE B:
Begins with a talk about his lawyer and jail mates. Interviewer describes his life as having four phases, before trial, trial, jail and the system, and then his release. He describes counting with support from activists, and the interviewer recalls him being supported by some of the kids’ families. They agree that this was crucial and important for his life. He slept with kids from 13-18 years old, but got convicted for having sex with the 13-15 year olds only. He talks about how some of these kids, especially the older ones, wanted to have a coming out party for when he got released, which was extremely difficult to do. He describes the party as simply for sex, with no food or drinks, and him as the guest of honour. The ordeal was secretive and the party took place in the woods. He describes getting famous with the high school kid crowd as curious kids got to know of his antics. He mentions being mad he got a criminal record after others had been able to get away with these charges. Says that attitudes about these issues are changing at a societal level, and that some of these kids were quite happy with their relationship. Interviewer asks about his move to Toronto. He says that being gay he could always tell drama would arise at anytime in his life, and then especially so after the prison incident. He also describes getting older and wanting better options as an older man. He ended up working in the auto industry as he had previous experience. He describes not being very active in the scene when he moved to Toronto despite knowing some people, including the interviewer. Only recalls picking up maybe 6 hustlers from Grosvenor Street. Part of it was caution after prison but also he never really liked hustlers. Didn’t know places like Buddies and first went to Manatee with Wayne. He was part of the Regent Park community. During this time he wouldn’t go out with kids but with university students, and would go to Buddies and restaurants on Queen Street. They both agree that John had a very powerful effect and impact in the city, especially after he first went to the Manatee, where he was known as ‘Mother’. He overcame difficulties and his prison trauma and created a social circle, beyond just getting sex from boys.
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
SIDES A and B:
In this oral history interview, Bill Atkinson, a 67 years old gay man, describes the traumatic experience of being cashiered from the navy during a period of gay witch-hunts beginning in the late 1950s. Bill describes his life before, during and after being discharged from the Navy. …
SIDES A and B:
In this oral history interview, Bill Atkinson, a 67 years old gay man, describes the traumatic experience of being cashiered from the navy during a period of gay witch-hunts beginning in the late 1950s. Bill describes his life before, during and after being discharged from the Navy. He was born in England in 1916 to a middle class family, and discusses a difficult childhood. During his time in the Navy, Bill moves between Ontario and the Pacific Northwest, occasionally travelling to Detroit to meet gay men at Bar 1011. After his career in the Navy, Bill took up modelling and acting to support himself, as well as managing a restaurant for a period of time. Bill discussed his involvement in the gay political community in Toronto, working for George Hislop’s political campaign in the 1980s. Topic discussed include the experience of being gay in the Navy, sexual harassment, mental health, financial insecurity, and gay politics in Toronto.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, Vancouver, Detroit, England, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
SIDE A:
Bruce Hunter grew up at the 5 Corners in Parkdale (by the intersection of King and Queen). He used to cruise at the park near there while he was a young adult and into his 30s. Bruce recalls one particular instance where he pressured another young man into having sex. He felt very ashamed a…
SIDE A:
Bruce Hunter grew up at the 5 Corners in Parkdale (by the intersection of King and Queen). He used to cruise at the park near there while he was a young adult and into his 30s. Bruce recalls one particular instance where he pressured another young man into having sex. He felt very ashamed about it, and met with a psychiatrist named Dr. Wolf. He saw this psychiatrist for 9 months (in the early 1950s), and this psychiatrists gave Bruce ‘the information that everyone’s got know’ about being gay. Bruce discusses his experiences as an effeminate young boy and his alienation. Bruce describes different gay bars and spaces throughout the city, including various parks, street corners and Bowles Lunch.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
SIDE B:
Orm continues talking about Bowles Lunch, and sex work at Bowles. Orm also describes his first introduction to the tavern at the Royal York, and discovering how campy and funny these gay men he met there were. Orm discusses the Chez Paree, the Ford Hotel, the Municipal, and Letros. Orm discusses Peter Marshall being banned from a venue for being too effeminate (wearing make-up). Orm discusses bathhouses in Toronto — including the Oak Leaf, the Beverley, and the Sanitarium. Orm discusses his first lover, a pharmacist who threatened to commit suicide if the police ever found out he was gay. This lover was interrogated and harassed by the police, and did commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
SIDE A:
AK was born in 1928. AK lived in Ottawa for most of his childhood, and then moved to Toronto for 10 years. AK then moved back to Ottawa, then to England for 20 years, and then back to Toronto. AK discusses first sexual experiments, at age 6 or 7, with a neighbour. AK was later the best man …
SIDE A:
AK was born in 1928. AK lived in Ottawa for most of his childhood, and then moved to Toronto for 10 years. AK then moved back to Ottawa, then to England for 20 years, and then back to Toronto. AK discusses first sexual experiments, at age 6 or 7, with a neighbour. AK was later the best man of his wedding. AK discusses the various terminology used for gay men, including “homosexual”, “queer” and “pansy” — but also mentions that his parents would not have known these words. AK was open about his sexuality once with his sister, who said that she doesn’t mind what he does, but that he doesn’t perform it in her home. AK discusses various popular places that gay people would go out at night: Letros, the beverage room at the Ford Hotel, the beverage room at the King Edward Hotel. AK discusses how various bar regulations and liquor laws shaped interactions and cruising at these bars. AK also mentions of the Park Plaza being close to the park behind the museum (Philosopher’s Walk). Despite having lived on Wood St, AK lived there before it was part of the “Gay Ghetto” or Church Wellesley Village. AK also discusses about drugs in the gay scene in the 1940’s — particularly Benzadryl. AK also mentions a restaurant, Murray’s, with cruisey washrooms, popular amongst gays starting in the early evening. AK met George Hislop at Murray’s in 1951-1952. AK describes George at that time.
Dates and locations discussed: Ottawa, Toronto, England, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
SIDE B:
AK discusses working as a clerk for militia training, and cruising the men who were stripping before their medical. AK got fired, but wants the interview to be anonymous if he was to disclose why. He lost his job because of a complaint from a priest. After losing the job, he moved to England. AK mentions homosexuality being decriminalized in England. AK discusses various cruisey places and bars in England, and sexual experiences he had there.
Dates and locations discussed: Ottawa, Toronto, England, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
F
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
SIDE C:
AK discusses bringing straight friends to gay bars later in life. He also briefly discusses the history of Cavaliers. This tape has a second recording where AK describes ‘palaces’ in Montreal — cheap overnight rooms for rent owned by gay men.
Dates and locations discussed: Montreal, Toronto…
SIDE C:
AK discusses bringing straight friends to gay bars later in life. He also briefly discusses the history of Cavaliers. This tape has a second recording where AK describes ‘palaces’ in Montreal — cheap overnight rooms for rent owned by gay men.
Dates and locations discussed: Montreal, Toronto, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
Transcript available; see F0083-03-012 Transcript of Interview with Gary
SIDE A:
This interview took place at Gary's home in Parkdale. Gary has lived in Toronto all his life. He attended central Central Technical School in the late 1940s. He also is involved in the arts. Gary discusses his early l…
Transcript available; see F0083-03-012 Transcript of Interview with Gary
SIDE A:
This interview took place at Gary's home in Parkdale. Gary has lived in Toronto all his life. He attended central Central Technical School in the late 1940s. He also is involved in the arts. Gary discusses his early life and perspective of sexuality. He discusses influentional queer literature: Giovanni's Room (Baldwin), the works of Capote, Amboy Dukes, and City of the Pillar. He became involved in theatre, and did summer stock threatre in Port Carling and Vineland. Gary started to come out in the 1950s. He describes the Riverdale Park cruising scene, which was frequented by a friend. He also mentions the King Cole Room in the Park Plaza as a gay meet up point. Gary delineates a difference between casual gay social scenes and more rigid cruising scenes. He mentions various gay spaces in the 1950s, including the Chez Paree (a swankier gay spot), Philosopher's Walk, the Varsity, Devonshire Place, Fran's at Dundas and Bloor, Hyde Park. He mentions that a lot of gays lived in rooming houses on Centre Island. He also mentions Hanlan's Point in Toronto and Wreck Beach in Vancouver. He describes the gay social scene of the period, mentioned gay parties that had not much liquor or drugs (calling them more "closety"). He refers to this time as the 'birth of rock n roll days'. He mentions Letros, the Cobra Room, the Sapphire, Bowle's Lunch (Bay and Queen), Union House, Municipal Hotel (which was near a Casino and Broadway Theatre) the Rio. He also mentiones the Manhattan queer scene; he says phrases like "they're in the theatre" and "they're decorators" were code for someone being gay. He also mentions the Continental in Chinatown (which he describes as a lesbian bar). Gary describes 'subtle queers' living in Forest Hill. He says there was a discreet queer scene at Royal York bar. Gary describes the Letros as classist; predominantly filled with the Forest Hill, Rosedale, and Old Mill crowd. He describes the Parkside, Malloney's, Union House and the Muny (Municipal House) as less haughty. He mentions that the Quest had a dress code. He also mentions The Sanitary (a bathhouse), the Beverly (near AGO), and tea in the grange at the art gallery on Sundays. He describes the Cape Cod scene: Arthur Blake, Phil Bayone, Ada Williams, Bobby Short, Imogene Coca, Blossom Deary, Craig Russel, Waylon Madam, Julie Wilson, Bobby Short, Ruth Buaaie, Dom Delouise, Jerry Herman, Eugene O'Neil, and Provincetown Playhouse. He mentions Buddies and the Albany. He also mentions that Quest had a queer East Asian patronage.
Dates and locations discussed: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, Cape Cod, Toronto, New York, Manhattan
SIDE B:
Gary describes queer-bashing/gay-bashing at Hyde Park. He also offers a history of the rise of the term "faggot" as a pejorative for gay men, and other terms including "chicken". Gary offers a survey of the gay/queer cruising scene, bar scene, theatre scenes, and other social scenes and dynamics of 1950s Toronto gay community. Gary describes Peter Marshall's parties and "Peter Marshall's beautiful people". Other gay spots he describes include The Selby, The King Edward (Eddie) and its washroom, Harper's, and Earl's (Earl Fisher) Jazz Club.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, 1950s, 1960s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
Digital copy and original audio cassette. Original cassette tape located in A/V room.
