Difference between revisions of "Criterion"
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In the 1930s the police used new powers, Such as The [[Defence Regulations and Emergency Powers Acts (EPA) | EPA]], firstly to convict individuals of homosexual activity in public, then the landlord. Proprietors had to be careful not to have their licence revoked, or worse, imprisonment. The Criterion was " staid enough until 10pm. By then the great ornate hall... Had been emptied of respectable clientele and filled with well behaved male trash". | In the 1930s the police used new powers, Such as The [[Defence Regulations and Emergency Powers Acts (EPA) | EPA]], firstly to convict individuals of homosexual activity in public, then the landlord. Proprietors had to be careful not to have their licence revoked, or worse, imprisonment. The Criterion was " staid enough until 10pm. By then the great ornate hall... Had been emptied of respectable clientele and filled with well behaved male trash". | ||
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| + | Other clubs and pubs popular with homosexuals at the time were the [[York Minster]], the [[Swiss]] and the [[Marquis of Granby]] in [[Soho]]. [[Peter Wildeblood]] called them "less [than] discreet", rough and cruisy. Throughout the 1930s respectable men in evening dress and camp queans solicited sailors and workmen in the [[Running Horse]]. Other venues included the [[Billie's Club]], the [[Hungry Horse]], [[Gerano's]] in New Compton Street, [[Chez Victor]] in Wardour Street. The downstairs bar at the [[Ritz Hotel]] was frequented by men from high society, nicknamed l’Abri (the shelter), and the [[Trocadero Long Bar]], another [[Lyon's Corner House]]. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 23:47, 18 March 2012
The Criterion Bar in Piccadilly Circus was a popular West End meeting place for London's gay men in the 1930s. George Ives called it "a great centre for inverts" since around 1905. By the 1920s it was known as the "Witches Couldren" or "Bargain Basement".
In 1932, one Saturday night, Taylor Croft visited the bar "to see the gathering of homosexuals". He left "Amazed by the blatency with which they behave, the utter disregard of normal people... or the café management.mthere were nearly 200 perverts present, noticeably dressed as usual, some with berets on the baks of their heads... Some with coloured sweaters rolled to their necks, many... painted and rouged, one boy actually in women's clothes... one man took out a lipstick and openly used it. A boy crossed to peak to a friend and kissed him on the lips ...everywhere urnings were going from table to table greeting their friends, discussing forthcoming parties."
In the 1930s the police used new powers, Such as The EPA, firstly to convict individuals of homosexual activity in public, then the landlord. Proprietors had to be careful not to have their licence revoked, or worse, imprisonment. The Criterion was " staid enough until 10pm. By then the great ornate hall... Had been emptied of respectable clientele and filled with well behaved male trash".
Other clubs and pubs popular with homosexuals at the time were the York Minster, the Swiss and the Marquis of Granby in Soho. Peter Wildeblood called them "less [than] discreet", rough and cruisy. Throughout the 1930s respectable men in evening dress and camp queans solicited sailors and workmen in the Running Horse. Other venues included the Billie's Club, the Hungry Horse, Gerano's in New Compton Street, Chez Victor in Wardour Street. The downstairs bar at the Ritz Hotel was frequented by men from high society, nicknamed l’Abri (the shelter), and the Trocadero Long Bar, another Lyon's Corner House.
References
Queer London – Perils and Pleasures in the Sexual Metropolis, 1918-1957 Matt Houlbrook, The University of Chicago Press, 2005.
