Saturday Night Fever and I: Bay Ridge Comes to Bryant Park

Bryant Park's free summer movies in NYC return this year on Monday, June 16. 1977's Saturday Night Fever kicks off the film festival that evening. Shot in Brooklyn and Manhattan, it's an iconic movie in many ways but, oddly, not a well-made or respected one by any means. I remember, when I first saw it theatrically on its initial release, being astounded by the sight of overhead mikes dipping into the shots. And the script (based freely on an article published in New York magazine) is very contrived, kind of a Rebel without a Cause Goes Disco.

SNF is best represented by and remembered for its soundtrack, for John Travolta's white suit and for evoking the zeitgeist of the disco era. That the movie celebrated disco music for mainstream movie audiences turned out to be both a blessing and a curse. It turned disco dancing into something more formalized, the music into something less soulful, forged stupid petty-bourgeoise fashions and hairstyles and disco culture itself into something ultimately overbearing. Every legit act that had been around for decades went disco in the wake of this film's success: Abbe Lane, Andy Williams, Ethel Merman! As if that wan't enough to put the nail in the coffin, there was that whole, ugly Comiskey Park (anti-gay, racist) Disco Demolition Night (akin to the Nazi book burnings; the Tea Party would have loved it).

The movie represents an era when young Brooklynites longed to move to Manhattan for the culture, the art, the money! Of course, this was in the time before Barclay's Center, DUMBO and Whole Foods. Travolta's character's escape plan was to get across the East River divide by hitting the disco floor in power platforms and an exposed chest adorned by costume jewelry.

I have a few Six Degrees of Saturday Night Fever: The disco is in Bay Ridge (Travolta's Tony Manero is from Bensonhurst); I now reside in Bay Ridge. The real-life disco it is shot in really exists; in the '90s and early 2000's, I'd travel out to Bay Ridge when it was a gay club, Spectrum. It was fabulously no-attitude; had great live acts like Hazell Dean and The Village People, great music, and that legendary flashing-colors dance floor from the film. My friend Allison's husband played John Travolta's feet! In the beginning, as Manero struts down the street near the elevated train, we see close-ups of his feet hitting the pavement. They belong to Allison's husband, foot double. Lastly, I'm gay and so, it turns out, is John Travolta. He always pinged our gaydar. Plus, we're both Jersey boys.

Saturday Night Fever, Bryant Park, on the big screen, starts @ sundown/ lawn opens @ 5 pm. Bring a blanket and a picnic basket if you wish. Alcohol ok.

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen's Mondo Entertainment

Several days ago, there were shock waves over the Internet when word was out that seemingly timeless diva and newlywed Tina Turner had suffered a stroke at her home in Zurich. But the rumors were dismissed by none other than TT's bosom buddy, Ms Oprah Winfrey. "Tina had a bad flu weeks ago. She's recovered. And LIVING life! Sent me a single long-stem red rose for my birthday," Oprah Tweeted three days ago. Living life? Well, nobody said the diva had died! And, hmmm, yet no word from Tina herself. Most odd! Who's hoaxing who here?

It is true that Devo band member Bob Casale left this mortal coil on Presidents Day. After all, People magazine said so. His band mate and brother, Gerald, said Bob died due to "conditions that lead to heart failure." Well, many "conditions" can lead to heart failure! The world awaits further details.

Devo's lead singer//co-founder, Mark Mothersbaugh said: “We are shocked and saddened by Bob Casale's passing.... He was a great friend. I will miss him greatly.”

I loved, and continue to love, Devo's debut album, Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! Bob Casale wrote the politically incorrect and yet so correct, "Mongoloid," one of my fave Devo songs. They are, however, best known for their New Wave hit, "Whip It!"

Birthdays today, too! Closet celeb John Travolta turns 60 today. Other celeb birthdays for February 18 include Cary Grant (handsomest movie star ever and possibly closeted), Oliver Hardy, Danny Kaye (closeted), Kevin Costner (59), Jason Segal, Jane Horrocks (AbFab's Bubble, aged 50), and Patricia Routledge of Keeping Up Appearances' Hyacinth Bucket just had her birthday yesterday, still keeping up her appearances at age 85.

Cheers, till next time with more dirty linen, dahlings! Keep calm and gossip on!

Beaverhausen's Gossip Galore from The National Enquirer !

"The tragic death of John F. Kennedy Jr. was marked by deep sorrow — and intense family bickering over the funerals before the bodies were even recovered, according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s secret diary," reports the New York Post.

The tabloid takes its information from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s secret diaries, apparently. "The journal’s entries in the aftermath of the July 16, 1999, plane crash that killed Kennedy, 38, wife Carolyn Bessette, 33, and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette, 34, provide a rare eyewitness account of the intensely private scene at the Kennedy compound and the petty, tense squabbling over whether Carolyn deserved the royal Kennedy treatment."

Meanwhile,  I just read some juicy stuff from the National Enquirer that I purchased mid-week. Katy Curic's wedding is on hold because she's fighting over the pre-nup! Dolly Parton collapses "after rumored lesbian lover is injured in car wreck"! Priscilla Presley's boyfriend leaves her for Raquel Welch!

But the best gossip is about Barbra! According to that publication, 73-year-old husband James Brolin declared, "I want out!" after 15 years of marriage. He is reportedly "tired of his diva wife's controlling way, bossing him around, treating him like 'a second-rate citizen.'" Really? Barbra? I'm shocked!

Brolin complained that, "when she's not ordering him about, Barbra treats him like he doesn't exist," according to a family member. (Jason, is that you?)

Meanwhile, Brolin seems to be focusing on his acting career again, though "pals" say this contention could lead to a $390 million divorce.

As enquiring minds need to know, the paper also contained info on John Travolta's custody battle. According to The National Enquirer, his secret $220 million divorce from Kelly Preston now "explodes!" And it's about Travolta demanding custody of portly childen, Ella and Benjamin. According to The National Enquirer, the tension has erupted in the marriage as the 5-year anniversary of their son, Jett's, death approaches.

Kelly's trying to revive her career with an internet series co-starring Scientology friend, Michelle Stafford, from The Young and the Restless.

John got pretty restless about his ex's ignoring the children at the expense of reviving her moribund career. Hence the custody issue according to the Enquirer.

Doug Goterba, Travolta's former pilot, previously claimed he was the star's lover for six years and there are photos to support that allegation. In a recent trip to Dubai, Travolta "gushed over the local women, saying they 'are very beautiful and exotic in the best way.... And I like women who like men like me.'"

Fag hags, John?

Ricky Martin Made It Cool to Come Out

Peek-a-boo!

Suddenly, the idea that coming out of the closet means death to a celebrity's career has been challenged. Do you hear that, Travolta and Cruise?

Anderson Cooper just came out. His show on CNN, 360, might even get a bounce from it. Not to be upstaged, Frank Ocean came out. That hip-hop homo may see a career boost, as I'm sure his manager already counted on. The old stigma against being gay -- or, at least, openly so -- just doesn't seem to hold in our modern age.

Martin, who had been dogged by gay rumors before coming out in 2010, pretty much appears to be the trendsetter. Of course, perhaps the person we really have to thank is Barbara Walters, whose infamous 2000 interview with Ricky turned awkward once the anything-for-a-good-cry-and-a-scoop Missy W tried to out the singing superstar.

In 2010, prior to Martin's coming out, yenta-for-pay Barbara told The Toronto Star, "I pushed him very hard to admit if he was gay or not, and the way he refused to do it made everyone decide that he was. A lot of people say that destroyed his career, and when I think back on it now I feel it was an inappropriate question."

The out-&-proud Ricky went on The View in 2010 to assure Walters he harbored no resentment. But, hell, her interview single-handedly sent his then-meteoric career into the toilet bowl for a time! He even got blowsy looking and (gasp!) put on weight! And then he came out -- and came back -- with a vengeance!

Gay daddy

Martin -- or, at least, his agent -- made gay pay. And this is the blueprint that people like Anderson Cooper had to work with. Anderson should send Ricky a "thank you" note, as far as I'm concerned.

Ricky was on the cover of The Advocate, interviewed with his family in Vanity Fair (appearing on the cover of the magazine's Spanish version), and saw his autobiography, Me, become a New York Times best-seller (debuting at number five on the Hardcover Nonfiction list). A Spanish-language edition entitled Yo was published simultaneously, also a huge hit.

Martin premiered his "Ricky's Lip Conditioner" lip balm in April 2012 as part of the M.A.C Cosmetics "Ricky and Nicki for Viva Glam" campaign. The advertisements paired him with rapper Minaj. A gigantic ad prominently went up in Times Square. Mmm, Ricky's Lip Conditioner. Now that's a beautiful thought! Ricky also hit Broadway in a broad way when he assayed the role of Che Quevera in the revival of the musical, Evita!

Ricky's 2011 album soared to #3 on the US Billboard chart (#1 US Billboard Latin chart). "Freak of Nature" was a huge hit at clubs last summer and Ricky's gay fans -- old and newly found -- were on board with that one.

So Senor Martin is a trailblazer. Closeted celebs take note. You, too, can become a beloved gay icon! Of his deer-in-the-headlights response to the Barbara Walters interview, Ricky now says:

They would say to me, ‘If you have a girlfriend, don’t say so, because your fans are going to be disappointed.’ Imagine if it had been a boyfriend! This is the mentality I grew up with. I was onstage with Menudo since I was 12 years old. To us, the most successful one was the guy with the most fans. If you moved your hips and the girls screamed, you were getting it right. Who wouldn’t want to be like Elvis or Jim Morrison!

Like Garland or, better yet, Mr. Jackson, Ricky Martin was a child star. Unlike Michael, Martin has always stayed very grounded. But, Ricky, I have a feeling we're not in Menudo any more! Just keep those hips shakin' till they need to be replaced, bebe! You're so over that rainbow!

Check out Ralphi Rosario's remix of "Freak of Nature" and take a dance on the wild side: