It is revealed that in the early days of AIDS, there was a suspicion that poppers were spreading the disease. I had no idea about this or a lot of other revelations the filmmaker captures here. The archival footage is rare and rich with blur and grain, which is to be expected and even appreciated, as old VHS has an aesthetic appeal. The interviews have double-barreled action of both juiciness and wisdom, as you would expect from survivors of such a glorious flashpoint.
I am declaring Studio One Forever is now required viewing for the newer generations of queer culture. There is so much here about how hard it was to get to where things are today. Vilanch has a touching moment where he appreciates that there is even such a thing as queer history, as everything used to be secret and unrecorded. Younger people need to realize what it was like back when LGBTQ+ Americans were the most hated segment of society and were legal to hunt for sport.
“…required viewing for the newer generations of queer culture.”
One heartbreaking sequence details someone being murdered for being gay right outside the club. The murderer got a slap on the wrist as the victim’s father worked to get him a plea, as the father didn’t want it known his son was gay. The only difference then between deer season and queer season was it was open season for queers all year. Over and over, you would hear patrons talking about how safe they felt in Studio One.
How special this was is showcased in the jaw-dropping Disneyland section, where a private party for gays only was booked for one day. When the park found out who was coming, they tried to stop it, as this had never happened before. It went on with other gay bars busing in more participants. You cannot measure the jubilation expressed over being able to walk around Disneyland while holding hands with your boyfriend.
Yes, there was sex and drugs, but the biggest thrill was just being allowed to be yourself. That is permitted more now than back then when you could die for being who you are. Tragically, many did. Studio One Forever shows what freedom really looks like and why it can’t be allowed to be taken away again.
Studio One Forever screened at the 2023 Austin Film Festival.
"…the biggest thrill was just being allowed to be yourself."
Amazing
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How can I watch thos folm. It would be fab if it were shown in the old Studio One!
I loved dancing there with friends. One Halloween a Psychologist friend of my invited me to a pre Studio 1 party before we went there to dance in costume. He and 8 of his friends dressed up to look like Ann Miller and they got up in there matching costumes and wigs performed one of her songs. Guess what. Ann was in the audience and saw the performance and was thrilled and got up on stage with them.
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Absolutely. I say 10 out of 10❤️❤️❤️
So glad I could be a part of this wonderful documentary of the greatest safe gay hang-out that all loved.
I was hired by Scott Forbes to be one of his bartenders after he gave me a tour of the whole club. I said “I’ll work the Backlot”
and he said “You got it” so I was the original bartender in the Backlot and a few times I would also work one end of the long bar in the Disco.
What a wonderful review for Studio One Forever. And it really does re-tell what it all was like back in those days…and I can relate because I was the original bartender in the Backlot. Working there many years was very exciting and just great knowing we all could be safe inside, being who we really were. Glad I was able to share things in the documentary that took place while I was working there.