In 1976 (after Cindy Williams took time off to star in The First Nudie Musical), they spun-off into their own series, Laverne and Shirley (1976-83). Theirr characters became more stable, friends and roommates who worked as bottle-cappers at Schotz Brewery in Milwaukee while waiting to "make all their dreams come true." Those dreams involved snaring rich husbands.
It wasn't one of my top 10 programs, but everyone else in the family watched, so I saw it relatively often. And, in spite of the heterosexist premise and standard 1970s obsession with sex, there was quite a lot of gay content.
1. In 1950s lesbian culture, you had to decide whether you were a butch or a femme, and date only the other type. It was scandalous for two butches or two femmes to hook up. Laverne was strong, aggressive, a good fighter and a hard drinker, into sports and home repairs, while Shirley was soft-spoken, polite, retiring, sexually repressed, and into frilly lacy things. I didn't know anything about 1950s lesbian culture in those days, but it wasn't hard to figure Laverne and Shirley out.
2. Shirley had a sort-of boyfriend, sort-of big brother in Carmine (Eddie Mekka), an aspiring actor-dancer-singer-boxer. Carmine's main source of income was an older woman named Lucille, who gave him gifts and money in exchange for unspecified favors. Outside of work and friendship, Carmine didn't seem particularly interested in women. I didn't know much about hustlers in those days, but it wasn't hard to figure Carmine out.Actor Eddie Mekka has been the subject of several celebrity hookup stories.
3. Carmine was amazingly hot, though rarely shirtless on the show (the photo is from Circus of the Stars). And lots of other hunky guys paraded through Laverne and Shirley's apartment, as boyfriends or relatives, including Christopher Guest, Ted Danson, Ed Begley Jr., and Ed Marinaro.
4. The annoying upstairs neighbors, Lenny (Michael McKean, middle) and Squiggy (David L. Lander, left), made the usual hand-biting gestures and kissing noises whenever they saw an attractive women (or in this case, an attractive man), but they rarely attempted to actually date anyone. They were devoted to each other, permanent, exclusive, passionate partners.
In a 1996 episode of The Nanny, David L. Lander, swishing it up as Fran's gay-stereotype landlord, states that he has been with his partner "Leonard" for twenty years (that is, since Laverne and Shirley premiered).
In a 1996 episode of The Nanny, David L. Lander, swishing it up as Fran's gay-stereotype landlord, states that he has been with his partner "Leonard" for twenty years (that is, since Laverne and Shirley premiered).
This is either amzing serendipity, or you heard that Penny Marshall just died. Sad to see her go, in any case.
ReplyDeleteI heard that she died, and reblogged this post as a memorial
DeleteSorry to hear of her passing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pics of Ed Marinaro’s brief stint on the series!
Interesting. When I was a teen (90s), there was a taboo against two bottoms together, both on the rez and in pop culture. This only applied to bottoms, though. Interesting that it was that way in 1950s lesbian culture, when gay male culture at the time was "anything but anal" and had few other rules. At least not ones endemic to gay men.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think Laverne and Shirley was one of the more obvious ones. Was Winkler ever asked about the irony of his character thinking they were "loose"?
Laverne and Shirley first appeared on "Happy Days" as two bimbettes who Fonzie provides so Richie can get laid. When they got their own tv series, they got new personalities, with Laverne brash and aggressive and Shirley passive and "ladylike," sort of an Odd Couple pair of besties
DeleteI seem to recall some antipathy toward two bottoms together back in West Hollywood, but it didn't come up very often, since most people didn't do anal. No stigma against two tops together.
DeleteIt was a funny show ans Mekka was hot
ReplyDeletehello -when I wanted to view tales of west hywd a google age sign in appeared -hever saw that before= any way to eliminate this step?
ReplyDeleteAll I see is the "Sensitive Material" warning so you won't accidentally enter a site with nude photos. You just have to click on the "I understand and want to continue" button.
ReplyDeleteI have always done it that way with no problem but again now google seems to have interfered and wants me to sign in -
ReplyDeleteI don't know what that's about. I haven't changed any of the controls. You shouldn't have to sign in to anything to access the site.
DeleteBy the way I had no problem getting into Tales of West Hollywood from the link you provide
ReplyDeleteFrom the poster @ 11:35 yesterday :Wish I knew how+why google interfered with my computer but the mandatory sign in remains when I try to enterTales of WH-
ReplyDeletesince we are all grown guys would you ever consider dropping the sensitive material step and just offer a "caveat emptor" without the additional step?
Blogger requires you to have a "sensitive content" warning if there's nudity.
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