How did Provincetown, Massachusetts, get to be so "gay, gay, gay," as the Provincetown Business Guild puts it? Let the locals fill you in! 7pm Thursday, hear from the lounge pianist who's been there 50 years, The Fabulous Dyketones founder, the activist-artist who made a dress out of tampon applicators, the town clerk who married 200 couples in one day, and more. You'll hear about Portuguese sailors and innkeepers, fine art history, sand-filled cars, mass same-sex weddings in 2004, the dunes, "the dick dock" and more on this documentary-style romp with Out in the Bay host Eric Jansen, edited by Nora Elmeligy, through what is probably the gayest little city in the world - at least per capita! Airs 7pm Thursday April 16, 2015.
Resources: People, places and links mentioned in our broadcast: For info on what to do and see and how to plan your visit, check out the Provincetown Business Guild (LGBT tourism promoters) or the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce.
I enjoyed my stays at the Prince Albert Guest House -- one of Ptown's many small, charming historic inns -- and at The Crown & Anchor, a lodging, dining and entertainment complex with six gay bars including Ptown's largest nightclub and the piano lounge where Bobby Wetherbee holds court. Thank you hoteliers Bob Sanborn of Prince Albert Guest House and Rick Murray of The Crown & Anchor for your hospitality!
Also enjoyed waterfront cocktails at Cass Benson's Harbor Lounge (love her slogan: "Drink in the view"), a cozy place with its own pier that's not a huge "scene." It's very close to Bakker Antiques, where you'll often find art historian Jim Bakker and will surely see many fine pieces of art and antiques. Be sure to stop in and say hello to handsome and helpful Char Priolo at the Chamber of Commerce's info office at the foot of the pier, and encourage her to get The Fabulous Dyketones together for a reunion tour! (You can hear The Fabulous Dyketones and other queer music-makers, past and present, online at Queer Music Heritage, the resource on the 'net for LGBT music history.) If you're a swimmer, paddler or supporter of either, considering Jay Critchley's annual HIV services and women's health fundraiser, the Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, held every September since 1988. Finally, if you've an urge to merge in Ptown, plenty of info on marrying there is on the Provincetown Town Hall's website. Doug Johnstone has been Town Clerk since 2003.
(This broadcast was edited by Nora Elmeligy and Eric Jansen from interviews Jansen conducted onsite in June 2013. First broadcast Sept. 19, 2013; re-aired Feb. 20, 2013 and April 24, 2014.)