Oral History Interview with John Gartshore (1984)
oral history, SM, bathhouse raids, Foolscap, Upper Canada College, University of Toronto, Air Canada, work, army, Letros, CHAT, homophile, Christianity, Episcopal, Chicago, Integrity
John Gartshore, a gay man age 58 at time on interview, begins the conversation outlining the his early realizations of him homosexuality at Upper Canada College. He continues onward choronologically, discussing his incomplete BA at Trinity College of University of Toronto, and involvement at St Mary Magdalene. He then explains beginning work at Air Canada (called Trans Canada Airlines at time of hiring) and then his being convinced to joi the army subsequently. Through the army, Gartshore was introduced to the Toronto gay culture – starting at Letros. Gartshore discusses his activism, through CHAT and later Courtwatch, throughout the interview, as well as his experiences consolidating his Christianity and queer identity, including his experience with the gay caucus of the Episcopal Church in Chicago and the formation of the Toronto Chapter of Integrity. Gartshore closes the interview with a brief recount of his experience with police entrapment at the bathhouse raids, and a story about his coming out at the workplace.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1984-11-15
John Grube
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
sound and text
2016-034
Toronto, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Interview with Don Franco
oral history, sm, psychiatry, bathhouse raids
Don Franco, in his 60s at time of interview, discusses his youth, family and premature exit from school to enter the workforce. Don Franco attended Victoria College at UofT at the time of World War II, but was refused entry into the Air Force due to ‘psychological troubles’. In this interview, Franco recounts his experience seeing a psychiatrist due to his gay desires, and ‘emotional instability’. Later working as a teacher, Franco also discusses sublimating his sexuality into his work. Franco was associated with various important political organizations (including the CCF, NDP and CCYM) and important political figures. The interview also covers Franco’s interest in and experiences with S&M culture, and various encounters with the police as a result of this interest. His activism for the gay and S&M communities led to his arrest in the first Barracks raid, and his house later being raided on June 6th, 1979 (having been accused of being a ‘bawdy house’). Franco expressed his gratitude that the superintendent of the school board assured him he would not lose his job after these arrests, and for receiving financial support from other members of the community to assist with legal fees. Franco’s also discusses experiences with a manic depressive lover, and the subsequent depression he fell into. Franco contrasts the differences between S&M subculture and ‘Woodshed’ scene, particularly discussing ‘Woodshed Magazine’ and the prevalence of drag in the Woodshed scene.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1984-1-5
John Grube
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
sound and text
2016-034
Toronto 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Interview with Phil Conron
oral history, gay culture, cruising
In this oral history interview, Phil Conron, 53 years old, discusses growing up in Toronto in the 1940s, trying to fit in with other boys in school, and early adolescent sexual experiences with other young men. He discusses his involvement with the gay social scene in Toronto in the 1950s and 60s, touching on topics that include cruising in Queen’s Park, going to parties and other gay social spaces on Toronto Island, bar culture, group sex parties, bath houses, police harassment, and a brief stint living in Vancouver in the late 1950s. Conron had long-term relationships with several men, which he outlines in brief. He also discusses his developing taste, later in life, for intergenerational relationships with young men in their early 20s. Conron briefly discusses his career, which is not identified in specific terms, and his growing participation as an actor in community theatre after his retirement.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1985-05-22
Anna Malla
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto, Vancouver, 1950s, 1960s
Interview with David Allandyle
oral history, relationships, bars
Oral history interview with a gay man, David, completed as part of the Foolscap project.
David, a 60 year old gay man at the time of the interview, discusses his long-term relationships and friendships in Toronto after World War II. He came out in the 1940s after being in service, while he studied Political Science and Economics at the University of Toronto. The interview covers David’s early life, family and friendships, being gay at work, the gay bar culture in Toronto, cruising in streets and parks in the city, occasional sexual encounters, police surveillance, his stance on psychiatric therapy, and his participation on demonstrations marching up Yonge street after the bath-house raids. David also discusses politics, defining himself as a conservative, his work experience in branch stores and in the field of interior design, as well as his rejection of the current gay culture.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1983-11-21
John Grube
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s
Interview with William (Bill) Atkinson (1983)
Navy, gay men, oral history
In this oral history interview, Bill Atkinson, a 67 years old gay man, describes the traumatic experience of being cashiered from the navy during a period of gay witch-hunts beginning in the late 1950s. Bill describes his life before, during and after being discharged from the Navy. He was born in England in 1916 to a middle class family, and discusses a difficult childhood. During his time in the Navy, Bill moves between Ontario and the Pacific Northwest, occasionally travelling to Detroit to meet gay men at Bar 1011. After his career in the Navy, Bill took up modelling and acting to support himself, as well as managing a restaurant for a period of time. Bill discussed his involvement in the gay political community in Toronto, working for George Hislop’s political campaign in the 1980s. Topic discussed include the experience of being gay in the Navy, sexual harassment, mental health, financial insecurity, and gay politics in Toronto.
Foolscap Oral History Project
1983-07-28
John Grube
CLGA
PDF, WAV
English
Sound, text
2016-034
Toronto, Vancouver, Detroit; 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s