Tuesday 17 May 2022

To Bea or not to Bea

Speaking of Gay Days - how on earth could I have missed the fact that it was the centenary of one of the greatest "honorary gayers", and our Patron Saint Miss Bea Arthur last Friday?!!

All hail!

Beatrice Arthur (born Bernice Frankel, 13th May 1922 – 25th April 2009)

11 comments:

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    1. How could one not? We went to her one-woman show way back in 2003, and fell in love with her all over again! She was just the most brilliant entertainer, actress, comedian, and human being. Jx

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  2. Four great actresses, comediennes and gay activists. Pity they wouldn't let Sophia and Dorothy be Jewish in the show.

    Maude was very funny too.

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    1. Estelle Getty wanted her part to be Jewish, but apparently they'd already written the part as Sicilian, so that's that - and let's face it "Picture it. Sicily, 1933." remains an enduring catch-phrase...

      I never saw Maude. I don't think it was ever shown here on terrestrial TV, so presumably you caught up with it on cable? Jx

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    2. No, YouTube. Still some episodes on there. Covered some topics you wouldn't think a seventies sitcom would. She has an abortion in one episode (aged forty nine)

      There must be, or maybe must have been at some point, a Jewish community in Sicily, so maybe Sophia and Dorothy were Jewish and got out while they could. I've not seen many references to Catholicism in the programme.

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  3. Adore her. Such a funny, graceful lady. Looked like a lorry driver in drag, but funny wins every time. Just a roll of her eyes! Kizzzes.

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  4. How does she do that falling backwards thing?

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    1. If it's really her in that shot (which I doubt), it must have taken a helluva lot of trust - and probably drugs - to do it. Jx

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  5. Adorable and adored.
    So glad we managed to see her on stage.

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    1. A fab and enduring memory to treasure... Jx

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