Steven Capsuto
@stevencapsuto.bsky.social
Author of ALTERNATE CHANNELS: QUEER IMAGES ON 20TH-CENTURY TV. Lead historical consultant for VISIBLE: OUT ON TELEVISION (Apple TV+, 2020).
This feed is mainly for my "Today in Queer TV History" video posts. Previous posts are on my YouTube channel.
This feed is mainly for my "Today in Queer TV History" video posts. Previous posts are on my YouTube channel.
Today, I'm at the Yiddish Book Center in Massachusetts for the annual Yidstock music festival. This is their Yiddish typewriter collection, on display in the book room, where the public can peruse or buy many of the thousands of vintage volumes in Yiddish that the center has rescued. #Yiddish
July 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Today, I'm at the Yiddish Book Center in Massachusetts for the annual Yidstock music festival. This is their Yiddish typewriter collection, on display in the book room, where the public can peruse or buy many of the thousands of vintage volumes in Yiddish that the center has rescued. #Yiddish
This week, I'm digitizing audio interviews I did in the 90s with people who'd been involved in gay rights activism in the 1950s to mid-1970s, and with TV producers and writers behind early US TV depictions of queer people.
I plan to post some of them online (for tapes where I have permission). 😊
I plan to post some of them online (for tapes where I have permission). 😊
July 3, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This week, I'm digitizing audio interviews I did in the 90s with people who'd been involved in gay rights activism in the 1950s to mid-1970s, and with TV producers and writers behind early US TV depictions of queer people.
I plan to post some of them online (for tapes where I have permission). 😊
I plan to post some of them online (for tapes where I have permission). 😊
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY - 2/24/1993
On the GRAMMY AWARDS, k.d. lang & Melissa Etheridge won, respectively, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female & Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female. Both had recently come out publicly, at a time when out-and-proud celebrities were rare. #LGBTQ #gay #lesbian #queer
On the GRAMMY AWARDS, k.d. lang & Melissa Etheridge won, respectively, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female & Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female. Both had recently come out publicly, at a time when out-and-proud celebrities were rare. #LGBTQ #gay #lesbian #queer
February 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY - 2/23/1981
DYNASTY: In an early episode of the original 1980s version of this drama series, a coworker decides to "fix" Steven's attraction to men by taking him to a brothel so he can see what sex with a woman is like. (And oh, that 80s hair!)
#LGBTQ #gay #queer #Dynasty
DYNASTY: In an early episode of the original 1980s version of this drama series, a coworker decides to "fix" Steven's attraction to men by taking him to a brothel so he can see what sex with a woman is like. (And oh, that 80s hair!)
#LGBTQ #gay #queer #Dynasty
February 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Saludos desde el Campamento La Brújula... @torraleschema.bsky.social
February 9, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Saludos desde el Campamento La Brújula... @torraleschema.bsky.social
TODAY IN #QUEER TV HISTORY - 1/31/1980
On the sitcom SOAP, Jodie (Billy Crystal), a #gay man who'd had a one-night fling with a woman friend, learns that Carol plans to fight him for custody of their daughter, launching an unprecedented months-long queer-parent-fights-to-keep-child story. #LGBTQ
On the sitcom SOAP, Jodie (Billy Crystal), a #gay man who'd had a one-night fling with a woman friend, learns that Carol plans to fight him for custody of their daughter, launching an unprecedented months-long queer-parent-fights-to-keep-child story. #LGBTQ
January 31, 2025 at 5:40 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY - 1/31/1977
Jonathan Ned Katz appeared on the national talk show DONAHUE to discuss his groundbreaking 1976 book GAY AMERICAN HISTORY: LESBIANS & GAY MEN IN THE U.S.A., back when all kinds of queer history were mostly hidden and taboo. #gay #queer #LGBTQ #TalkShow
Jonathan Ned Katz appeared on the national talk show DONAHUE to discuss his groundbreaking 1976 book GAY AMERICAN HISTORY: LESBIANS & GAY MEN IN THE U.S.A., back when all kinds of queer history were mostly hidden and taboo. #gay #queer #LGBTQ #TalkShow
January 31, 2025 at 5:34 PM
After watching these old silent movies, I'm starting to suspect that people being tied up in sawmills was a widespread social problem in the 1910s...
January 30, 2025 at 1:46 AM
After watching these old silent movies, I'm starting to suspect that people being tied up in sawmills was a widespread social problem in the 1910s...
In search of escapist entertainment as far removed as possible from today's news, I dug out some early DVDs of silent-movie shorts. The transfer tech back then was pretty bad, so I've cleaned up some of them before putting them on my media hard drive... It keeps me out of trouble. 😀
January 29, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In search of escapist entertainment as far removed as possible from today's news, I dug out some early DVDs of silent-movie shorts. The transfer tech back then was pretty bad, so I've cleaned up some of them before putting them on my media hard drive... It keeps me out of trouble. 😀
Valentine's Day is right around the corner!
January 26, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Valentine's Day is right around the corner!
A new executive order says that everyone is whatever sex they were "at conception." Congratulations! Everyone in the world is female. No sneaking into the men's room now... #gender
January 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
A new executive order says that everyone is whatever sex they were "at conception." Congratulations! Everyone in the world is female. No sneaking into the men's room now... #gender
Just signed up as a volunteer translator with the New York Civil Liberties Union, and the knots in my stomach immediately unclenched slightly. Authoritarians want you to feel helpless, so do something to mitigate the hell that these assholes have unleashed...
January 22, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Just signed up as a volunteer translator with the New York Civil Liberties Union, and the knots in my stomach immediately unclenched slightly. Authoritarians want you to feel helpless, so do something to mitigate the hell that these assholes have unleashed...
These are six fine contemporary stage plays from Spain that I was hired to translate into English. I'm spending the next few weeks submitting the English scripts to professional theaters—a fascinating process that I'm still figuring out. 😀🎭
#theater #theatre #SpanishTheater #CatalanTheater #Catalan
#theater #theatre #SpanishTheater #CatalanTheater #Catalan
December 14, 2024 at 5:29 AM
These are six fine contemporary stage plays from Spain that I was hired to translate into English. I'm spending the next few weeks submitting the English scripts to professional theaters—a fascinating process that I'm still figuring out. 😀🎭
#theater #theatre #SpanishTheater #CatalanTheater #Catalan
#theater #theatre #SpanishTheater #CatalanTheater #Catalan
Since my life often devolves into physical comedy...
November 19, 2024 at 7:42 PM
Since my life often devolves into physical comedy...
21 years ago today, I was in Madrid giving my "Queers on American TV" lecture in my best approximation of European Spanish, using a mix of dubbed and subtitled clips that I'd brought on a VHS tape. Technologically, such a different era! (Hat tip to @javiermarin.bsky.social for this video clip.)
November 14, 2024 at 10:37 PM
21 years ago today, I was in Madrid giving my "Queers on American TV" lecture in my best approximation of European Spanish, using a mix of dubbed and subtitled clips that I'd brought on a VHS tape. Technologically, such a different era! (Hat tip to @javiermarin.bsky.social for this video clip.)
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL - 11/14/1988, syndicated
Today in 1988, this talk show devoted an hour to trans men—or, as the transcript catalogs described it at the time, "Women who've become men (transsexual)." I'd love to find video of this one!
#trans #LGBTQ #TV #TalkShows
SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL - 11/14/1988, syndicated
Today in 1988, this talk show devoted an hour to trans men—or, as the transcript catalogs described it at the time, "Women who've become men (transsexual)." I'd love to find video of this one!
#trans #LGBTQ #TV #TalkShows
November 14, 2024 at 10:01 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL - 11/14/1988, syndicated
Today in 1988, this talk show devoted an hour to trans men—or, as the transcript catalogs described it at the time, "Women who've become men (transsexual)." I'd love to find video of this one!
#trans #LGBTQ #TV #TalkShows
SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL - 11/14/1988, syndicated
Today in 1988, this talk show devoted an hour to trans men—or, as the transcript catalogs described it at the time, "Women who've become men (transsexual)." I'd love to find video of this one!
#trans #LGBTQ #TV #TalkShows
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
STARSKY & HUTCH: "Dandruff" - 11/14/1978, ABC
To catch a jewel thief, the cop duo go undercover as fussy hairdressers at a posh hotel. Hutch (David Soul) "plays gay" to the hilt, though the script takes pains to keep reminding us they're straight.
#TV #queer #gay #LGBTQ
STARSKY & HUTCH: "Dandruff" - 11/14/1978, ABC
To catch a jewel thief, the cop duo go undercover as fussy hairdressers at a posh hotel. Hutch (David Soul) "plays gay" to the hilt, though the script takes pains to keep reminding us they're straight.
#TV #queer #gay #LGBTQ
November 14, 2024 at 9:50 PM
Multitasking!
The underslept translator renders 19th-century science stuff into English while his other computer digitizes videos of LGBTQ-themed TV shows. 😀
The underslept translator renders 19th-century science stuff into English while his other computer digitizes videos of LGBTQ-themed TV shows. 😀
September 18, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Multitasking!
The underslept translator renders 19th-century science stuff into English while his other computer digitizes videos of LGBTQ-themed TV shows. 😀
The underslept translator renders 19th-century science stuff into English while his other computer digitizes videos of LGBTQ-themed TV shows. 😀
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
On the Korean series SQUID GAME, released today in 2021, we learn that the murderous games exist to entertain amoral zillionaires, embodied in a sexually predatory old white American gay man who says things like "If you can satisfy me in 5 min., I'll change your life."
On the Korean series SQUID GAME, released today in 2021, we learn that the murderous games exist to entertain amoral zillionaires, embodied in a sexually predatory old white American gay man who says things like "If you can satisfy me in 5 min., I'll change your life."
September 17, 2024 at 1:53 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
On the Korean series SQUID GAME, released today in 2021, we learn that the murderous games exist to entertain amoral zillionaires, embodied in a sexually predatory old white American gay man who says things like "If you can satisfy me in 5 min., I'll change your life."
On the Korean series SQUID GAME, released today in 2021, we learn that the murderous games exist to entertain amoral zillionaires, embodied in a sexually predatory old white American gay man who says things like "If you can satisfy me in 5 min., I'll change your life."
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
The brilliant, cynical Fox sitcom ACTION, about a ruthless Hollywood producer, debuted on this date in 1999.
Viewers could tell Hollywood was a wild, edgy place because the regular characters included some gay men and a woman who was a sex worker. It was another time...
The brilliant, cynical Fox sitcom ACTION, about a ruthless Hollywood producer, debuted on this date in 1999.
Viewers could tell Hollywood was a wild, edgy place because the regular characters included some gay men and a woman who was a sex worker. It was another time...
September 16, 2024 at 3:15 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
The brilliant, cynical Fox sitcom ACTION, about a ruthless Hollywood producer, debuted on this date in 1999.
Viewers could tell Hollywood was a wild, edgy place because the regular characters included some gay men and a woman who was a sex worker. It was another time...
The brilliant, cynical Fox sitcom ACTION, about a ruthless Hollywood producer, debuted on this date in 1999.
Viewers could tell Hollywood was a wild, edgy place because the regular characters included some gay men and a woman who was a sex worker. It was another time...
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Premiere - 9/14/1985, NBC
This pilot episode differs a bit from the series: Sophia doesn't live with them and the Girls have a gay male housekeeper named Coco (Charles Levin), but the core elements are there.
#gay #queer #LGBTQ #GoldenGirls #sitcoms
THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Premiere - 9/14/1985, NBC
This pilot episode differs a bit from the series: Sophia doesn't live with them and the Girls have a gay male housekeeper named Coco (Charles Levin), but the core elements are there.
#gay #queer #LGBTQ #GoldenGirls #sitcoms
September 14, 2024 at 3:51 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Premiere - 9/14/1985, NBC
This pilot episode differs a bit from the series: Sophia doesn't live with them and the Girls have a gay male housekeeper named Coco (Charles Levin), but the core elements are there.
#gay #queer #LGBTQ #GoldenGirls #sitcoms
THE GOLDEN GIRLS - Premiere - 9/14/1985, NBC
This pilot episode differs a bit from the series: Sophia doesn't live with them and the Girls have a gay male housekeeper named Coco (Charles Levin), but the core elements are there.
#gay #queer #LGBTQ #GoldenGirls #sitcoms
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
EMMY AWARDS - 9/10/1995, Fox
At the 1995 Emmys, the TV movie SERVING IN SILENCE, a lesbian love story / military civil-rights docudrama about Col. Margarethe Cammermayer, won 3 awards: for Glenn Close and Judy Davis, and screenwriter Alison Cross.
#lesbian, #gay, #LGBTQ
EMMY AWARDS - 9/10/1995, Fox
At the 1995 Emmys, the TV movie SERVING IN SILENCE, a lesbian love story / military civil-rights docudrama about Col. Margarethe Cammermayer, won 3 awards: for Glenn Close and Judy Davis, and screenwriter Alison Cross.
#lesbian, #gay, #LGBTQ
September 10, 2024 at 1:45 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY - 9/9/1975, Syndicated
This talk show presented day 2 of its week-long series on bisexuality on this date in 1975, back when bi people were seldom discussed on TV. Guests included Barbara Trilling.
#bisexual #bi #LGBTQ #queer #TalkShows
NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY - 9/9/1975, Syndicated
This talk show presented day 2 of its week-long series on bisexuality on this date in 1975, back when bi people were seldom discussed on TV. Guests included Barbara Trilling.
#bisexual #bi #LGBTQ #queer #TalkShows
September 9, 2024 at 1:20 PM
TODAY IN QUEER TV HISTORY
NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY - 9/9/1975, Syndicated
This talk show presented day 2 of its week-long series on bisexuality on this date in 1975, back when bi people were seldom discussed on TV. Guests included Barbara Trilling.
#bisexual #bi #LGBTQ #queer #TalkShows
NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY - 9/9/1975, Syndicated
This talk show presented day 2 of its week-long series on bisexuality on this date in 1975, back when bi people were seldom discussed on TV. Guests included Barbara Trilling.
#bisexual #bi #LGBTQ #queer #TalkShows
Now that I've digitized hundreds of queer-themed TV shows from my old VHS tapes (and Hi-8 and video-8, among other old formats), I needed a way to organize the files and my notes about the shows.
For now, my solution is a locally running media server, and frequent backups to local physical media. 😀
For now, my solution is a locally running media server, and frequent backups to local physical media. 😀
September 7, 2024 at 12:37 AM
Now that I've digitized hundreds of queer-themed TV shows from my old VHS tapes (and Hi-8 and video-8, among other old formats), I needed a way to organize the files and my notes about the shows.
For now, my solution is a locally running media server, and frequent backups to local physical media. 😀
For now, my solution is a locally running media server, and frequent backups to local physical media. 😀
Currently on the VHS digitizer: "Dumping Your Husband for Another Woman," a 1991 episode of THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW about women who had left heterosexual marriages after coming out as gay.
A surprising enough phenomenon in 1991 to warrant an hour-long TV discussion.
#lesbian #gay #LGBTQ #TalkShows
A surprising enough phenomenon in 1991 to warrant an hour-long TV discussion.
#lesbian #gay #LGBTQ #TalkShows
September 5, 2024 at 1:33 PM
Currently on the VHS digitizer: "Dumping Your Husband for Another Woman," a 1991 episode of THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW about women who had left heterosexual marriages after coming out as gay.
A surprising enough phenomenon in 1991 to warrant an hour-long TV discussion.
#lesbian #gay #LGBTQ #TalkShows
A surprising enough phenomenon in 1991 to warrant an hour-long TV discussion.
#lesbian #gay #LGBTQ #TalkShows