Book Description

Definitive, vibrant, and utterly fascinating, ALTERNATE CHANNELS traces the monumental growth of gay, lesbian, and bisexual images on radio and television from the 1930s to the present. Splashed against the tumultuous backdrop of the McCarthy witch hunts, Stonewall and the gay liberation movement, the birth of the 700 Club and the religious right, the outbreak of AIDS and the arrival of in-your-face queer activism, this chatty, authoritative broadcast history tells the stories of such notorious and noteworthy moments as -- 1947: Radio gays -- A bitchy fashion photographer throws fits at the drop of a designer hat on the adaptation of Moss Hart's Lady in the Dark -- 1967: Monkey business -- The Monkees flick limp wrists while caroling "Don we now our gay apparel" for a Christmas special -- 1974: Pepper in the wound -- A notorious Police Woman episode depicts a gang of deadly lesbians who rob, torture, and murder senior citizens -- 1977: Wash your mouth out -- Billy Crystal portrays Jodie Dallas on Soap, the first hit series with a gay character in a central role -- 1991: L.A. Law breaks 'em -- Amanda Donohoe and Michele Greene share a two-second kiss...and start a storm of controversy -- 2000: The last laugh -- Featuring not one but two gay male characters, Will & Grace skyrockets to the top of the ratings charts From mocking effeminate banter on '50s radio to out-and-proud "family" on '90s television, from the stereotyping of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals as sissies and psychopaths to their widespread acceptance as real people: these changes are charted in ALTERNATE CHANNELS. This compulsively readable chronicle of lesbian, gay, and bisexual images in the media ispacked with unthinkable shows, bizarre personalities, unlikely heroes, and some of the strangest protests ever staged in the name of civil rights.