Abbott, George. Mister Abbott. New York: Random House, 1963. The Grand
Old Man of musical theatre was born in the 19th Century, but expresses a surprisingly
enlightened attitude towards gays in this autobiography.
Ayre, Leslie. The Gilbert & Sullivan Companion. London:
Papermac, 1985. The best source for quick references on G&S and
their works.
Barrios, Richard. Screened Out:
Playing Gay in Hollywood From Edison to Stonewall. New York: Routledge,
2003. An absorbing and highly entertaining look at the depiction of
homosexuals in American film. A great read, witty and packed with
information.
Beckerman, Bernard & Siegman, Howard; Editors.
On Stage; Selected Theatre Reviews From The New York Times, 1920-1970. New York:
Arno Press, 1973 A great chance to see how Times critics reacted to the trends of
Broadway's golden age.
Chauncey, George. Gay New York. New York: Basic Books, 1994. This set
a new standard for gay historical scholarship – indispensable.
Coward, Noel. Play Parade. New York: Doubleday, 1933. Some of Coward's
best early plays, including several musicals.
Ehrenstein, David. Open Secret: Gay Hollywood 1928-1998. New York: William
Morrow & Co., 1998. A look at who was gay in Hollywood – and at why America
cared so much. The chapter on Tom Cruise is a hoot!
Ewen, David. American Musical Theatre. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston,
1970. A sensational reference book, long out of print.
Eyman, Scott. The Speed of Sound: Hollywood and the Talkie Revolution 1926-1930.
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. The best book ever on what happened when sound
turned Hollywood on its ear.
Gilbert, Douglas. American Vaudeville: Its Life and Times. New York: Dover
Publications, 1963. An early history of vaudeville – and still the best.
Goldman, Howard. Jolson: The Legend Comes To Life. New York: Oxford University
Press, 1988. The finest theatrical biography to appear in the last twenty five years.
Green, Stanley. Broadway Musicals Show By Show. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Books,
1985. An excellent reference book – could have been more comprehensive.
Israel, Lee. Miss Tallulah Bankhead. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1974.
The best of the Bankhead bios provides a fun peek into Broadway and Hollywood in the 20th
Century.
Hadleigh, Boze. Hollywood Gays. New York: Barricade Books, New York. 1996.
Hadleigh candidly interviewed some prominent homosexual men in film and television,
then withheld the texts until all of them were dead. The results provide a fascinating
look into some of America's most public closeted lives. Cary Grant, Randolph Scott, Paul
Lynde, James Coco and more.
Hadleigh, Boze. Hollywood Lesbians. New York: Barricade Books, 1994.
Same as above, with interviews of Patsy Kelly, Barbara Stanwyck, Agnes Moorehead,
Nancy Kulp and more.
Herman, Jerry. Showtune. New York: Donald I. Fine Books, 1996.
A charming and at times candid look back over an exceptional life.
Kahn, E.J. The Merry Partners: The Age and
Stage of Harrigan and Hart. New York: Random House, 1955. A sensational
read, this brings the New York of the late 1800s to life.
Lerner, Alan Jay. The Street Where I Live. New York: W.W. Norton &
Company, 1978. Hilarious anecdotes fill this autobiography.
Lerner, Alan Jay. The Musical Theatre: A Celebration. New York: McGraw Hill,
1986. Lerner's last book, a valentine to the art form he loved.
Lesley, Cole. The Life Of Noel Coward. London, Penguin, 1976. A charming
Coward bio written by his longtime assistant.
Mann, William J. Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood,
1910-1969. New York: Viking, 2001. The best book yet on the homosexual presence in
classic film, with ample and well-researched coverage of musical screen talents. A great read!
Marx, Samuel & Clayton, Jan. Rodgers & Hart: Bewitched, Bothered and
Bewildered. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1976. A
sensitive look at a frequently rocky relationship.
McGilligan, Patrick. George Cukor: A Double Life. New York: St. Martin's Press,
1991. The first biography of the great
director to deal honestly (and not unkindly) with his homosexuality. Gives a fascinating
glimpse into the most elite gay circle of Hollywood's golden years.
McNally, Terrence. Love! Valor! Compassion! New York: Dramatists Play Service,
1995. A masterful play about gay perspectives in the 1990s – gotta love that Buzz!
Mordden, Ethan; Editor. Waves. New York: Vintage Books, 1994. Superlative short
stories, with one of the best by Mordden himself.
Nimmons, David. The Soul Beneath the Skin: The Unseen Hearts and Habits of Gay Men.
New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002. An eye opening and beautifully written look at how gay
life is helping to redefine society at large. Highly recommended!
Payne, Graham and Day, Barry. My Life With Noel Coward. New York: Applause Books,
1994. Coward's longtime companion in a loving (not gossipy) series of reminiscences.
Porter, Cole. The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter. New York: Vintage Books, 1984.
Read 'em and laugh, then read 'em and weep – what a legacy!
Rudnick, Paul. Jeffrey. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1995. Possibly the
best gay comedy of the 1990s.
Russo, Vito. The Celluloid Closet. New York: Harper Row, 1985. Still the
best of its kind, it was the first major look at gays as seen on film.
Schanke, Robert A., and Kim Maara, Editors. Passing Performances:
Queer Readings of Leading Players in American Theater History. Ann
Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1998. Some fact and a lot of
speculation compromise these interesting essays on actors who challenged
sexual barriers.
Schulman, Sarah. Stagestruck: Theatre, Aids, and the Marketing of Gay America.
Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1998.
Just when I thought I was alone, along comes a book that reads Rent's
beads for what it says about gays, lesbians and AIDS. A real eye opener about
cultural politics and the literary establishment.
Smith, Cecil. Musical Comedy in America.
New York: Theatre Arts Books, 1950. One of the first books on musical
theatre, and still a great resource – especially for the 1800s.
Springer, John. All Talking! All Singing! All Dancing! New York: Cadillac
Publishing, New York. 1966. A delicious collection of photos with brief but perceptive
text.
Stein, Charles; Editor. American Vaudeville. New York: Da Capo Press, 1984.
A great collection of vaudeville articles and other resources.
Toll, Robert. Blacking Up. New York: Oxford University Press, 1974. The
best book on minstrelsy, honest and well-researched.
Wolf, Stacy. A Problem Like Maria: Gender
and Sexuality in the American Musical. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan
Press, 2002. I usually have little use for scholars out to "queer the
canon" of popular culture, but there are some intriguing ideas in this,
the first book to discuss musicals from a lesbian-feminist perspective.