In December 1969, Mart Crowley's play The Boys in the Band opened at the Studebaker Theatre in the Fine Arts Building on South Michigan Avenue. On the eve of the Hooker Report, just months after Stonewall, and weeks after Time magazine's cover feature on "The Homosexual in America," Mattachine Midwest ran a benefit at the Dec. 2 opening, selling 300 "choice orchestra seats." Columnists and reviewers had a field day commenting as much on the audience as on the play.
In the Chicago Daily News, Jon and Abra Anderson acknowledged that the "homosexual liberty lobby is raising funds to fight the blue meanies (police harassment)" but noted that the theater was "jammed with the limp set, lads in fur, open-necked flounce shirts, leather maxicoats, plus several would-be ladies who walked funny."
Doyenne of reviewers Glenna Syse, writing in the Chicago Sun-Times, said the audience "hooted, hollered and applauded its way through the evening and almost managed to turn what is a compassionate, devastating and brilliant piece of writing into a circus."
Sydney J. Harris, in a creditable review (like the others, he lauded the performance of Paul Rudd as Donald), warned the readers of his "family newspaper" of the "raw and raunchy" language of the play, noting that his "coarser fiber" sustained him. He concluded the play was a hit; "in this bleak season, the theater has come alive with a play that involves, that deepens our insight as much as it entertains our sadly malnourished sense of humor."
The Boys is now considered by gay historians as either a landmark event (largely because of its frank, crackling dialogue) or a play that (because of its stereotypes) set gay theater back a couple of decades.
Copyright 2008 by Marie J. Kuda
From Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City's Gay Community, edited by Tracy Baim, Surrey Books, 2008.
