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Seeking Stories of Queer California: A Hidden Histories Online Exhibit

Performing Arts

The performing arts is an umbrella term which covers many disciplines of music, dance, theatre, and film. The interpretations of these disciplines have grown and changed over time, and LGBTQ+ actors, dancers, performers, and directors have been a key part of this evolution.

Collection Information

For more information on the materials in this gallery, see their holding institutions.

ASU FIDM Museum
Ballet by Cecil Beaton

California History Section, California State Library
Turnabout Theatre souvenir program

Gerth Archives & Special Collections, California State University Dominguez Hills
Finocchio's: House of the Fabulous Female Impressonators
Outfest 07 Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Historical Society of Long Beach
Gold Record for "Melissa Etheridge" album by Melissa Etheridge

Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
Adrian Thompson
The Children's Hour
Dracula's Daughter
Gregg Araki
Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome
The Killing of Sister George
My Beautiful Laundrette
Pandora's Box
Poster and Call sheet for Making Love
Rock Hudson
Rope
Salome
Tea and Sympathy
Thirteen Women

Contents of this tag:

A postcard of Finocchio's, that was a nightclub and bar in San Francisco. It shows five female impersonators standing in the back and five sitting in the front. The steps are a black and white checkered pattern and the background appears to be the stage. From left to right, starting in the back, a performer is wearing a bright pink robe with light pink feather lining, a silver patterned dress, silver shoes, and bright pink long earrings. Next the performer is wearing a pink and gold robe with a high collar, a pink dress, and a pink wig. The center performer is wearing a bright pink dress with a black belt. Next the performer is wearing a black and silver waistcoat with bright pink harem pants. At the end of the back row is a performer in a dark purple robe and dress, with peacock feathers and a peacock feather headdress. The five women in the front row are seated, all in similar 1920s flapper dancer outfits in different colors. From left to right, the first two women are turned slightly to the left and are in light purple outfits with pink feather headbands. In the center, facing forward, she is in a yellow dress with a green feather headband. Next, turned slightly to the right, she is in a dark purple dress and a dark purple feathered headband. Lastly, also turned to the right, she is in an orange dress and has an orange feathered headband.
Photograph of Shirley MacLaine, left, and Audrey Hepburn in a scene from The Children's Hour, and a letter from Arthur B. Krim to Eric Johnston regarding three films with homosexuality as a subject, including The Children's Hour, and requesting that the Code be amended. Photograph: Core Collection. Production files. Letter: Motion Picture Association of America Production Code Administration records.