Underground Culture (Ep 443 - Walter & Matt/The Smiths & To Kill a Mockingbird)

The Sewers of Paris

A new biopic just debuted on Netflix entitled Rustin, about the incredible life of Bayard Rustin — a civil rights leader who worked with Martin Luther King Jr. And this week, we’re diving into the Sewers of Paris archives to hear my 2017 interview with Bayard’s surviving partner, Walter Naegle, as well as with filmmaker Matt Wolf, who made a documentary about Walter entitled Bayard and Me. In addition to playing a key role in advising Martin Luther King Jr, Bayard also worked on behalf of refugees, and became an queer spokesperson in the 80s. Because there was no relationship recognition at the time, adopted his partner, Walter, in 1982 -- and that's just one of the subjects explored in Matt Wolf's documentary and in the new biopic.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute.

First, a couple quick announcements. I’ve got a video coming your way in early December about the creation of 50s heartthrob Rock Hudson — and the group of secretly-gay men who designed an icon of American masculinity.

Also I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. This weekend we’ll be watching highlights from Rock’s many rom-coms with Doris Day. 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.

And you can keep up with all of my work through my email newsletter. Every week you’ll get stories about the making of iconic movies and TV shows — sign up for that at MattBaume.com.