Compilation/Packaged Set: Stonewall Heritage Collection

Before Stonewall - The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community
MPI Home Video (1986)
Documentary, History, Queer Themes/Interest
In Collection
#257
7*
Seen ItYes
(1986)
030306016610
IMDB   7.5
87 mins USA / English
VHS  Region 1
Red Jordan Arobateau Himself - writer
Ann Bannon Herself - university professor
Lisa Ben Herself - former secretary
Gladys Bentley Herself - Nightclub Singer (voice) (archive footage)
Rita Mae Brown Narrator
Maua Adele Ajanaku Herself - activist and teacher
Gladys Bentley Herself - Nightclub Singer
Ivy Bottini Herself - former housewife / co-founder N.Y. N.O.W.
George Buse Himself - newspaper reporter / former Army Chaplain
Carroll Davis Himself - performer
Martin Duberman Himself - historian and playwright
Grant Gallup Himself
Allen Ginsberg Himself
Barbara Gittings Herself - gay activist
Barbara Grier Herself - publisher
Mabel Hampton Herself - dancer / former domestic worker
Harry Hay Himself - political activist
Dorothy Hillaire Herself - Native American activist
Evelyn Hooker Herself
Jheri Himself - clothing designer
Frank Kameny Himself - former U.S. government scientist
Jim Kepner Himself - gay archivist
Audre Lorde Herself - poet and university professor
Nancy MacCulloch Herself - film editor
Bruce Nugent Himself - artist and writer
Henry Otis Himself - former dancer
Director/Choreographer
Schiller, Greta
J. Scagliotti
Greta Schiller
Robert Rosenberg
Producer Robert Rosenberg
John Scagliotti
Cinematography Jan Kraepelin
Sandi Sissel
Cathy Zheutlin


New York City's Stonewall Inn is regarded by many as the site of gay and lesbian liberation since it was at this bar that drag queens fought back against police June 27-28, 1969. This documentary uses extensive archival film, movie clips and personal recollections to construct an audiovisual history of the gay community before the Stonewall riots.
Edition Details
No. of Discs/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Location Personal Library - VHS Archive
Owner Deitz
Store Amazon.com
Purchase Price $1.00
Condition New
Tags HIV/AIDS, heritage, stonewall riots
Links Wikipedia: Before Stonewall
Amazon.com
Movie Collector Core
TheMovieDb.org
IMDB
References
Festivals & Awards National Film Registry, Library of Congress
Interest Tags Ravens

Notes
While Movie Collectorz displays core information associated with the dvd edition, the version in the Prometheus Collection is VHS.

Getting caught often led to ruined lives, imprisonment, commitment to a mental institution or suicide., 25 July 2010

Author: from IMDb
An absolutely fascinating account of gay life in the United States before 1969, especially how WWII changed everything.
This collection of interviews, archival material, and history gives a clear picture of how gays and lesbians lived and interacted in this country before people "came out" publicly.
I was impressed with those who came out openly in the 50s and started the first gay and lesbian organizations and magazines. These were people of extreme courage.
The incorporation of gays and lesbians in the civil rights movement and the women's movement was thoroughly examined.
This film should be seen by all to have a better understanding of oppression in America, and how far we have come.