The Silver Age of Queer Cinema (Ep 458 - Tyler/It's a Sin)

My guest this week is my friend and colleague Tyler Albertario, a writer and researcher with a magnetic enthusiasm for queer history and culture. Tyler always had an interest in our vast queer past, but it was a chance viewing of a show about gay life in the 80s that turned it into a more serious field of study — and that’s led to some of his fascinating insights into the silver age that we’re living in right now.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a quick reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably enjoy my other projects — like my YouTube videos about movies and TV shows, my weekly livestreams on Twitch, my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo!, and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com.

People Who Have Real Magic (Ep 457 - Ryan/Dune)

Photo by David M. Barreda

For this week’s episode, the recent release of Dune Part 2 reminded me of a Sewers of Paris episode from 2018 where my guest Ryan and I talked about the grip that fear can have on a person’s mind. Ryan grew up in a rough environment, where his parents subjected him to devastating homophobia and dangerous "ex-gay" treatments. After Ryan legally emancipated himself from his family, what followed was a period of homelessness and addiction that took years for him to overcome. But overcome them he did — and now in 2024 he’s working as a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles.

We originally recorded this interview back in 2018, during a thunderstorm in Colorado, so you'll hear some noise of rain in the background and a few rolls of thunder that were oddly well-timed for Ryan's story. 

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that I’ve got a weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I just released a new video about the movie Rebel Without a Cause — that’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume. And I’ve got one coming your way in March about the movie Victim.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume. 

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my 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 this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.

Very Powerful Women (Ep 456 - Paul/The Eyes of Laura Mars)

My guest this week is artist Paul Robinson, who just launched a fantastic new project called Twelve Soldiers. It’s a year-long series of monthly profiles, spotlighting heroes of the queer community — and it’s just one of the ways that Paul hopes to give back to a community that’s been very good to him. Starting from the early days of his career as a photographer, working with friends like Lara Flynn Boyle and Jennifer Tilley, to his more recent projects like elevating the work of emerging filmmakers in Africa and around the world.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I just released a new video about the movie Rebel Without a Cause — that’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume. 

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume. 

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my 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 this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.

A Writer's Job (Ep 455 - Wicked/Gregory Maguire)

There’s a new trailer out for the upcoming Wicked movie, so I thought it was a good time to dive into the Sewers archives to revisit my chat with Gregory Maguire, author of the Wicked novel, among many other works. Though I’m sure you’re familiar with his book and the musical adaptation, you may not know the extent to which Gregory’s childhood was infused with elements of fairytale — from the fantasy novels he devoured, to the family tragedy that led to his time in an orphanage. 

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I’ve got a video coming your way this Sunday, February 18, about the movie Rebel Without a Cause at YouTube.com/mattbaume. 

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume. 

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my 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 this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.

If I Drown Myself in my Bathtub for my Art, so Be it (Ep 454 - Sam/Pushing Up Daisies)

My guest this week is a sort of collector of culture. Sam is the co-host of a YouTube series called P and S — be careful not to say it too quickly in polite company — where he and his friend Ewan dissect the strangest pop culture artifacts they can find. Sam’s sensibility was shaped in part by stories about fictional oddballs finding each other. And now through his own videos and comedy, he’s creating culture that helps oddballs find each other in real life. You can find more of Sam’s work via Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I’ve got a video coming your way about the movie Rebel Without a Cause at YouTube.com/mattbaume. 

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume. 

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my 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 this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.

I Didn't Know I Could Love Someone Like That (Ep 453 - Mark/Rent)

My guest this week is Mark Daley. Mark’s background is in politics, and included some time as communications director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. But a few years ago, he stumbled across an opportunity to apply his advocacy skills in a new arena, when he and his partner became parents — under circumstances that were not exactly what they’d planned. Mark has a new book out entitled Safe — it’s a look back at how he became a dad, how he maintained a family amidst the challenges of the foster system, and how he founded TheFosterParent.com to help families like his.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I’ve got a video coming your way this month about the movie Rebel Without a Cause at YouTube.com/mattbaume. 

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume. This weekend we’re continuing our watch along — and debate about the queerness — of James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause.

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. It was just named one of the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Honorees! Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy.

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

How Much Can We Get Away With? (Ep 452 - David/The Muppets)

My guest this week is David Levy, co-host of the Muppeturgy podcast. David thrives when he’s putting on a show, goofing around with friends, finding ways to make an audience laugh — but finding the best way to do that took some trial and error and a bit of a lawsuit.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I just released a new one about the 2004 movie Straight Jacket, which made a big splash when it came out, then disappeared for mysterious reasons, and is finally poised for a triumphant return. That’s now live at YouTube.com/mattbaume. And keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming video about Rebel Without a Cause.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume. This weekend we’re about to start a watch-along of the movie Rebel Without a Cause.

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. It was just one of the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Honorees! 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.

I Live My Life Like Performance Art (Ep 451 - Dean FM/That's So Raven)

My guest this week is Dean FM, a genderqueer rapper from Massachusetts. Dean was always a colorful kid and loved to escape into music — but never considered that it might become a career until a series of setbacks made him re-evaluate where he was living and what he was doing with his life. Dean just released a new album — there’s a link to that in the shownotes — and he has big dreams for what’s next.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I just released a new one about the 2004 movie Straight Jacket, which made a big splash when it came out, then disappeared for mysterious reasons, and is finally poised for a triumphant return. That’s now live at YouTube.com/mattbaume.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume. We’ll be watching Straight Jacket this weekend, as well as some of my favorite scenes from the drag camp classic Girls Will be Girls.

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my 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.

Everything but the Snakes (Ep 450 - Joseph/Worship songs)

This month sees the return of the Ryan Murphy series Feud, with its first new season in about five years. The topic this time is Truman Capote and his battles with high society. In honor of Capote’s return to the zeitgeist, for this week’s episode we’re diving into the sewers archives to revisit my 2017 conversation with Joseph Krebs, for whom Truman’s work played a pivotal role. Josef's done a lot of thinking about the impact he can have on the world, whether in through the evangelical church where he grew up, or in the world of theater where he eventually found a more satisfying home. Like his heroes, Joseph’s work has always been about chasing the feeling of ecstasy.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I’ve got a new one coming your way about a queer film that vanished for years and has only recently resurfaced. That’s coming next Sunday, January 14 at YouTube.com/mattbaume.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume.

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my 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.

It's Worthwhile to Fall in Love (Ep 449: Jin/Tales of the City)

Sorry this episode’s coming a day late! I’m recovering from laryngitis and still can’t talk, so you’ll hear a Very Special Guest introducing this week’s episode.

My guest this week is Jin De Luong, author of the novel Naked Love Berlin. Jin never intended to uproot his life and move across the planet. But on what was supposed to be a short vacation, he fell in love — first with a city, and then with a man. And he took a cue from one of his favorite literary icons and let an adventure carry him away into the bars and backrooms of Berlin.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I’ve got a new one coming your way about a queer film that vanished for years and has only recently resurfaced. That’s coming next Sunday, January 14 at YouTube.com/mattbaume.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume.

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! 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.