While I am not a book reader so much, I do own the entire video collection of "Tales in the City" which I cherish. While in S.F. for three weeks for my birthday in January 2015, visiting my friend David who has been the house organist for the Castro Theatre since the 1970's and his husband Lenny. I also visited with another friend Mark Abramson a few times who would meet me at The Edge Bar on 18th Street. Mark is a close personal friend of Armistead for many years both of whom just happen to live right there in the neighborhood and Mark asked if I wanted to meet Armistead. I'm like hell yes, and so Armistead walked down to the bar and we three spent some time together. His story of Rock Hudson just blew my mind, I wished I'd been there back in the day to experience those wild times. I was seriously taken by just how normal, nice, and down to earth Armistead really is in real life. The Hollywood thing didn't go to his head, and I was impressed by that. The concept of living within a close community such as 28 Barbary Lane is something I've desired for decades, and then 2-1/2 years ago I found this gay (male only) campground south of Nashville which kinda, sorta fills that bill, and I've lived here fulltime ever since. I said to Armistead that I wished the video version of The Tales of the City could've continued much further than it did, because mentally, and emotionally, it put me in a place in my mind that I've always wanted to be in. And to have Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) as my landlord would've been a dream come true. Olympia is one of my favorite actresses of all time.
Wow, Jim! What a fun story. I’ve heard similar from my friend in SF who know him from the neighborhood. Not well enough to get him to come down to the bar for a drink. What a delight. I’m thoroughly enjoying re-reading the books. If you ever feel compelled, I think you’ll love the easy, breezy storytelling and…all those wonderful characters. Appreciate you sharing and glad you’ve found your version of 28 Barbary Lane outside Nashville. Cheers to you and yours!
Thanks Clint for the Maupin memory alert. Billy Campbell, Colin Ferguson, yum.
Typing your name frequently, and recent readings in Physics and Astronomy, brought to my memory a certain Cliff from HS days and our Physics teacher, Mr. Savage (not kidding). Mr. Savage was very good looking and very fit, not very usual in 1968-9. Cliff was my alphabetical neighbor in school and I sat right behind him in home room for 4 years. One day Cliff asked me to go with him to see Mr. Savage about some trouble. I'm puzzled 60 years later about why Cliff wanted me to go with him. I could write my conjectures about that meeting 10 different ways, but they would be based on later history. I don't think Cliff had many friends, except for a little big one that kept popping up all through HS. I had that problem in the 8th grade. I looked Cliff up and found that he looks a lot like Mark Hamill now.
I remember reading these books for the first time in the mid '80s. I was young and not very bright about life yet. A guy I was dating at the time lent them to me, and they were a revelation. I lived in a very conservative town, and these books showed me there was something better out there for me. Armistead Maupin will never know much these books changed my life. How I made my own chosen family and never looked back.
Love hearing that story, Mark. I too had a boyfriend early on who helped expand my knowledge base. Mostly with music biographies. He was a huge Etta James fan and she had just released her memoir. Wow…I remember loving it so much! Along with Tales Of The City. Cheers!
While I am not a book reader so much, I do own the entire video collection of "Tales in the City" which I cherish. While in S.F. for three weeks for my birthday in January 2015, visiting my friend David who has been the house organist for the Castro Theatre since the 1970's and his husband Lenny. I also visited with another friend Mark Abramson a few times who would meet me at The Edge Bar on 18th Street. Mark is a close personal friend of Armistead for many years both of whom just happen to live right there in the neighborhood and Mark asked if I wanted to meet Armistead. I'm like hell yes, and so Armistead walked down to the bar and we three spent some time together. His story of Rock Hudson just blew my mind, I wished I'd been there back in the day to experience those wild times. I was seriously taken by just how normal, nice, and down to earth Armistead really is in real life. The Hollywood thing didn't go to his head, and I was impressed by that. The concept of living within a close community such as 28 Barbary Lane is something I've desired for decades, and then 2-1/2 years ago I found this gay (male only) campground south of Nashville which kinda, sorta fills that bill, and I've lived here fulltime ever since. I said to Armistead that I wished the video version of The Tales of the City could've continued much further than it did, because mentally, and emotionally, it put me in a place in my mind that I've always wanted to be in. And to have Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis) as my landlord would've been a dream come true. Olympia is one of my favorite actresses of all time.
Wow, Jim! What a fun story. I’ve heard similar from my friend in SF who know him from the neighborhood. Not well enough to get him to come down to the bar for a drink. What a delight. I’m thoroughly enjoying re-reading the books. If you ever feel compelled, I think you’ll love the easy, breezy storytelling and…all those wonderful characters. Appreciate you sharing and glad you’ve found your version of 28 Barbary Lane outside Nashville. Cheers to you and yours!
Thanks Clint for the Maupin memory alert. Billy Campbell, Colin Ferguson, yum.
Typing your name frequently, and recent readings in Physics and Astronomy, brought to my memory a certain Cliff from HS days and our Physics teacher, Mr. Savage (not kidding). Mr. Savage was very good looking and very fit, not very usual in 1968-9. Cliff was my alphabetical neighbor in school and I sat right behind him in home room for 4 years. One day Cliff asked me to go with him to see Mr. Savage about some trouble. I'm puzzled 60 years later about why Cliff wanted me to go with him. I could write my conjectures about that meeting 10 different ways, but they would be based on later history. I don't think Cliff had many friends, except for a little big one that kept popping up all through HS. I had that problem in the 8th grade. I looked Cliff up and found that he looks a lot like Mark Hamill now.
Love when memories pop back in our heads in FULL Technicolor like that. Cheers, Steve!
I've actually never read the books or seen the mini-series! I wonder if it would feel dated now.
The books and I think the first miniseries are great time capsules. Such great characters!
These books are one of my fondest memories, and the original series. Thanks for reminding me!
You got it, Clarke. I’m having fun rereading the first book. So many wonderful characters…
Aww, thanks for the shoutout, man!
I've not read any Armistead Maupin, maybe this is the summer I start, but I've got a lot of TJ Klune to read, too...
I remember reading these books for the first time in the mid '80s. I was young and not very bright about life yet. A guy I was dating at the time lent them to me, and they were a revelation. I lived in a very conservative town, and these books showed me there was something better out there for me. Armistead Maupin will never know much these books changed my life. How I made my own chosen family and never looked back.
Love hearing that story, Mark. I too had a boyfriend early on who helped expand my knowledge base. Mostly with music biographies. He was a huge Etta James fan and she had just released her memoir. Wow…I remember loving it so much! Along with Tales Of The City. Cheers!
Yep, Etta James and Nina Simone. Two of my favorites.
Takes of the City all the way through to the latest: Mona of the Manor. Happy birthday
Thanks for sharing, Andrea. Definitely gonna do my best to make it through all 10 books. Cheers!
Happy Birthday, AM! Such fond memories of the books and the original 1993 series!
Same here, MTF…so much fun brilliance!
My dear friend, you are the greatest. Thank you for sharing!
Awww shucks, Kevin. Appreciate you. Look forward to meditating in a couple of weeks. Gotta miss this upcoming Monday’s. Cheers to you!
Cheers right back to you! Can't wait to see you when you're able!