SIDE E:
Bob recounts being arrested for taking a young sex worker to a John, after his wire was tapped. At the time of his arrest, the baths were already surrounded by the police as well. Upon returning to the baths, there were about 300 gay people on the streets, screaming and shouting and rocking…
SIDE E:
Bob recounts being arrested for taking a young sex worker to a John, after his wire was tapped. At the time of his arrest, the baths were already surrounded by the police as well. Upon returning to the baths, there were about 300 gay people on the streets, screaming and shouting and rocking the police cars - gathered from the nearby bars when folks realized the Tubs were being raided (including George Hislop and Peter Maloney). Bob mentions that the Hot Tub raids were the only baths where they did not arrest any of the ‘found-ins’. Bob mentions another bath, were patrons during the raid had the room numbers written on their backs in black crayon. While being interrogated, Bob requested to see Peter Maloney, Maloney told Bob they had 18 charges on him. Bob and Peter were taken to 51 Division. Bob’s bail was set at 5000$. The Tubs opened up the night after (closed only for one night), but fewer and fewer clients came due to fear of the raids. Soon after, they had lost 70% of their patronage, and Bob decided to close it. But, the employees demanded to keep it open, offering to reduce their wages or work for free. Interview cuts out at 15 minutes, and subsequently the audio comes in and out. Bob has to leave, so the interview cuts out.
Another interview recorded on the same tape begins. This was recorded on June 18, 1988 (two weeks later). Bob decided to drive down to a Florida with a young man, where Bob got jobs working at two hotels, and the young man got a job at Burger King (this was around June). The young man, Derek, stole all of Bob’s stuff and left Florida back for Toronto. Bob rented another car and tried to find him, driving all the way to New York. While in New York, Bob began working at an escort agency, and then expanded the service into Boston. While in Boston, an informant let the police know Bob was there. The police caught an underage sex worker working with the agency. Bob was taken to court, and charged for ‘transporting a minor across state lines for prostitution’. He says he could not be charged for this as he had not transported the sex worker. Bob discusses the details of his court trail, and his experience at a federal prison in Lake Placid. Bob came back to Canada through a prisoner exchange program, and thus was able to serve the two jail sentences at once. Bob moved to Middlehaven, a maximum security prison in Kingston, and was then transferred to Joyceville (medium security), where he served time for two years.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, Boston, Kingston, Florida, New York, 1980s
SIDE F:
While in Joyceville, Bob received a large inheritance, and called a lawyer in Kingston, who guided him to plead guilty to all 18 charges (including sodomy). After pleading guilty, the judge did not give Bob much time (even despite the unrecovered car) - totalling to only 18 months total, running concurrently with the sentence from the states. In the end, Bob was in prison from the beginning of 1981, until 1984 (and was away from Toronto for all the bathhouse raids demonstrations). Bob further discusses his friend, Eddy, who was bludgeoned to death by an ashtray by a young man. Bob talks about the evolution of gay community in Toronto, and no longer feeling like there is a ‘gay family’ because of influx of gay men attending the bars. Bob also mentions a dissatisfaction with Xtra, and the closing of Body Politic. Bob also discusses the guides to gay businesses in Toronto he published in Toronto. At the end of the tape, Lionel and Bob talk about perceptions of the gay community in the 80s and the impact of HIV/AIDS. Bob speaks briefly on his faith, and seeing ‘certain prophecies fulfilled’. Lionel strongly disagrees, having also been raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, and emphasizes his feelings on JW perspectives on ‘homosexuality’.
Dates and locations discussed: Toronto, Joyceville, Kingston, 1980s
Access Restrictions
N/A
Location - Original
CLGA only in possession of digital copy. Cassette tape retained by Lionel Collier
