Why Do People Live Like This? (Ep 442 - Eric/Kennedy Center Honors)

My guest this week is historian Eric Gonzaba, whose fascinating work includes the Wearing Gay History archive — a collection of vintage queer t-shirts — and Mapping the Gay Guides, an accounting of queer travel guides from the 60s and 70s. Eric’s interest in history was piqued at an early age, when he developed an obsession for the Kennedy Center Honors, which pay annual tribute to lifetime innovators in the cultural fields. And it’s through his field of study that he continues to explore our sometimes-murky queer past, and inspire others to do the same.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute.

First, a couple quick reminders, starting with a heads-up that my new video about the rise and fall and rise again of 50s heartthrob Tab Hunter is now up on YouTube! And I’ll have a video about the creation of Rock Hudson coming your way very soon.

Also I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. This weekend we’ll be watching the queer Thanksgiving classic Addams Family Values. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume, Sunday at noon pacific, 3pm eastern.

And if you haven’t yet, take a look at my new book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! — available now wherever books are sold. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy.

Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.