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Arthur Bressan Jr
The Music in His Films
Such as "Gay U.S.A." and "Forbidden Letters"

gasp, he used actual gay singers in his gay films!

1943 - 1987

While Bressan is mostly known for gay porn films, his 1985 "Buddies" was the first to deal with AIDS.

I am fortunate enough to have a recording of an interview with
Director Arthur Bressan Jr, discussing the use of music in his films,
and as this is so very rare, I think this should be shared. I do not
have the actual original cassette tape, but fortunately I had access
to a broadcast recording of it on the show Wilde-N-Stein, KPFT,
on 10/29/81 by host Mike Miesch, who loved, loved gay music.

The tape was distributed by Raven's Head Communications in 1980
and I tracked down the catalog for it. They also offered tapes by iconic
(to me) gay artists Blackberri and Charlie Murphy & Chris Tanner's
"Faggot Brothers of the Moon."

  

  

Tape from Raven's Head Communications, 44 minutes

Interview with Arthur Bressan Jr, (1943 - 1987) gay filmmaker,
about gay music in films, such as "Passing Strangers," 1974;
"Gay U.S.A" 1978; "Forbidden Letters" 1976.
Interview by Steve O'Neil.

Songs included in the interview

Tommy Talley - Saying Yes to Being Gay
Margie Orden - Reflections (from Gay U.S.A.)
Paul Dubois - Last Night's Man
Paul Dubois - I Love a Man
Tommy Talley - Harlequin Eyes (from Forbidden Letters)
Ellen Robinson - Send Me No Flowers (from Gay U.S.A.)
Paul Dunham (Conan) - Pass It On (from Forbidden Letters)
(also known as Passing Stranger)
Ellen Robinson - So Glad to Be Loving You (from Gay U.S.A.)
Tommy Talley - Anthem (from Gay U.S.A.)

GAY U.S.A.

  

 

Forbidden Letters

   

above, ad from Michael's Thing, 9/30/79

I have not seen this film, nor found any site where I could trust downloading it

    

Richard Locke (1941 - 1996) at right...images are hard to find of this film

Conan, aka Paul Dunham

Trivia: Richard Locke was Paul Dunham's cousin. Dunham,
was also known as Conan, and his song "Passing Stranger"
was included in the film. And he also released it as a 45 and it
appeared on his 1978 LP, more known for his Anita Bryant
protest title song.
More info...

Alternate Magazine, August 1979

See complete Alternate Article