Oral History Interview with Frederick Sproule (1983)
oral history, relationships, gay culture, Frederick Sproule, WWI, coming out, army, cruising, work, interior design, WWII, Toronto, drag, bars, gay liberation
In this oral history interview Frederick Sproule, 88 years old, discusses his life as a gay man in Toronto from the early twentieth century onwards. The interview begins with Sproule describing his coming out experience when he was 18 and lived in New York. He then narrates his life during World War I, his time in service, sexual experiences, relationships, cruising practices, and his attendance to gay parties. Other topics discussed in the interview include Sproule’s relation with his family, his social circle, his career as an interior designer, the changes in Toronto after WWII, drag practices of people he knew, his political stance, his rather pessimistic opinion about the gay liberation movement, the bar culture in the city, and his relationships with women when he was younger.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1983-08-16
John Grube, LGBTQ Oral History Digital Collaboratory (Elspeth Brown, PI), Zohar Freeman
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s; New York 1910s, 1920s.
Interview with Michael Dafoe
oral history, relationships, bars
In this oral history interview Michael Dafoe, 53 years old, describes his life as gay teacher and historian in Toronto. The interview begins with Michael discussing his background. He mentions he was born in Winnipeg to an upper middle-class family, he describes his relationship with parents and friends, his teenage years in the 1940s, his education, his growing up pretending to be straight, and his moving to Toronto in the 1960s. The interview covers Michael’s coming out experience, his entry into the Toronto gay scene, friendships, bars, parties, and meeting places. He also comments on male prostitution in the city, his relationships with hustlers, his inability to make long-term emotional connections, his disagreement with gay liberationist stances, and the need to create a group for gay old men in Toronto.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1984-03-10
John Grube
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Interview with Bob Grimson
oral history, gay men, parties
Oral history interview with a gay man, Bob, completed as part of the Foolscap project.
Bob discusses growing up Jewish and gay in Toronto from pre-World War II onwards. He begins the interview by recounting his entrance into the Toronto gay scene after the war, describing this scene as mostly WASP and class-classified. He talks about the private parties held by members of this society and his frequent feeling as an outsider, being Jewish and poor. Bob also explains the meaning of a “gay identity,” which he relates to a cultured homosexual man and not only to a sexual practice. The interview covers Bob’s days in the Air Force, his gay experiences with other men in service while abroad, and the gay scene in Naples. Other topics include being gay at work, Bob’s moving to California in the 1950s, his coming back to Toronto in the 60s, and his brief experience as the owner of “The Quest”: the first gay-owned gay-operated bar. He also informs about cruising practices in streets, parks, bars, theatres and steam-baths.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1983-03-18
John Grube
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s; Naples (during WW II), California 1950s.
Remington's
advertising
gay culture
night life
strippers
meeting places
Black text and illustration on silver background (front); Black text on silver background (back)
CLGA does not hold copyright
matchbook
English
matchbook
OUT on the Shelf: Queer library and Resource Centre
gay libraries
lesbian libraries
transgender libraries
White circular button with a pink triangle over a rainbow band, text in black.
Queer library and Resource Centre
CLGA does not hold copyright
button
English
button
Montréal Bears/Ours
bears (gay men)
community
Circular white pin with an image of a bear's head, black text and a paw print.
CLGA does not hold copyright
button
English & French
button
Body Politic: Obscene?
gay press
lesbian press
mass communication
gay culture
Black text on red/white background, "Body Politic" masthead in white rectangle with pink triangle symbol
Body Politic
1982
CLGA holds copyright
button
English
button
S.O.B. Southern Ontario Bears
bears (gay men)
community
Circular white button with black text.
S.O.B.
CLGA does not hold copyright
button
English
button
Zinesters do it on the photocopier
gay press
lesbian press
zines
gay archives
gay culture
Olive green shirt with blue text.
The Queer Zine Archive Project
CLGA does not hold copyright
t-shirt
English
t-shirt
PrideVision TV
advertising
gay culture
gay pride
mass communication
White shirt with red and black text.
CLGA does not hold copyright
t-shirt
English
t-shirt