The website also hosts Myke's radio features, produced mainly for the UnFictional series on KCRW. As a starting point I went straight to this feature -
A Free-Falling Place: Aids on Fire Island, 1979-1989
http://www.myke.me/production/fireisland
Ever since my trip to the USA in 1977 with my mum and dad, and our time spent with Gay friends in San Francisco (even being taken to a Sunday morning "disco brunch", as a 12 year old!) I've been interested in American Gay culture, and the many challenges that the culture has faced, from the struggle for Gay rights in the late 1960s as expressed most dramatically at the Stonewall riots in NY, to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. When we stepped off the plane in March 1977 San Francisco was in it's peak party phase, with AIDS still a few years away, and Harvey Milk soon to take public office. Our friends took us on a tour of the Castro, looking inside the foyer of the Castro Theatre, and I have a hazy memory of going past Milk's store, Castro Camera. I think the store was pointed out as Harvey was already a seminal figure. As much as I search my memory, I can't remember if we actually met Harvey - maybe I just wanted a roll of Kodachrome! I'm not sure what happened to our San Francisco family friends, we lost touch. Hopefully they came through OK. Anyhow, this radio feature is set on the East Coast and the community of Fire Island, and captures those times well, although I wish it had delved even further into Fire Island as a place. The program's page also features extra interviews, videos and info about some of the key players. Myke's other features also look interesting, and I'm sure are worth checking out.
I really enjoyed listening to this, it was nicely produced and paced. There's something very powerful about hearing the story of a major, global epidemic from the perspective of a handful of people. I'm especially affected by recollections of the time when no one knew what the disease was or what caused it, as it rapidly swept through the community. It would have been a terrifying time. This piece reminded me of the incredibly moving documentary We Were Here, which can be streamed online from the film's website http://wewereherefilm.com
ReplyDeleteHey Sean! Thanks for posting this. As you note, there is quite a bit more about Fire Island itself in the extended features on the Web site ... the original version of the piece was supposed to be 60 minutes, but I had to boil it way down for airing on UnFictional. Someday I'd love to make a "directors' cut", but I'm just too busy moving forward with new projects!
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