Michael Kearns: California dream man
In a solo turn, Kearns dynamically portrays a fantasy man
for phone-sex enthusiasts
B Y
T I P P I
H O L D O N
or Michael Kearns, the ship has come in.
He’s the only openly gay actor working
regularly in films and television. He’s also a
pivotal force in the country’s gay theater move
ment, as both organizer and actor. Presently,
he’s touring in his autobiographical play. The
Truth is Bad Enough, and in James Carroll
Pickett’s Dream Man. It appears things
couldn’t be better— indeed, they were much
worse.
Take the early ’70s, for example. He and his
lover at the time had moved from Chicago to
Hollywood with the hope of turning Michael
into a star. Eventually, things shaped up and he
landed a role on The Waltons, playing John
Boy’s college confidant. The part proved short
lived. Some speculated that his being openly
gay had something to do with it. At the time he
was becoming known as the title character of
The Happy Hustler, a book his lover had penned
under the alias Grant Tracy Saxon. Obviously
inspired by Xaviera Hollander’s The Happy
Hooker, the book touted itself as “ the intimate
and erotic autobiography of a stud for hire . . . a
modem Whoratio Alger.’' When Warner Books
wanted a model for the book's cover, Kearns
got the job. Although wholly a work of fiction,
the book was pushed as fact and Grant Tracy/
Michael received the dubious pleasure of pro
moting the book on TV talk shows, from Tom
Snyder to Phil Donahue. Stardom, as it was.
had arrived.
Keams was a mess, though; he was abusing
booze, drugs and sex while continuing in a
deteriorating relationship with his lover.
“ There are far more tragic lives than mine,’ ’ he
says. “ It’s just that I did it all to myself. It was
self-loathing.” It wasn’t long before his work in
F
Michael Kearns
television stopped altogether.
So Keams turned to theater, where he ap
peared in Robert Patrick’s T-Shirts and Harvey
Fierstein’s Torch Song Trilogy, which garnered
him raves. His career was on the upswing, but
Keams was still abusing drugs and alcohol.
Then, in 1982, he took control and entered a
recovery unit; he’s been clean since. In fact,
he’s culled his experiences into the play The
Truth Is Bad Enough, which had a lengthy run
in Los Angeles.
Since his recovery Keams has been dedicated
to gay theater, either on stage or behind the
scenes. Last year, his production of Robert
Chesley’s7er/tercaused an FCC controversy
over obscenity when segments of it were aired
on KPFK-FM in Los Angeles. “ Words arc not
obscene,’’ Keams responded; “ homophobia is."
His involvement in gay activism and theater
reached new heights this past summer when he
and several others organized Purple Stages,
southern California’s first “ celebration of gay
and lesbian culture.” Between Aug 21 and
Sept ■ 27 nearly two dozen shows from all
over the country made it to Los Angeles to
perform in the festival, some at their own ex
pense. Keams was pleased with the festival’s
success; he says plans are underway for Purple
Stages to return in 1989.
In the meantime, Keams does spots on tele
vision. He has appeared in The Fall Guy,
Cheers. Murder, She Wrote, and in the Joan
Collins TV movie The Making of a Male Model.
The jobs support him so he can continue his
work in o»v theater.
Fine Artwork Originals
Handpainted silk
\J>
scarves and clothing
Handcrafted jewelry
Drums, masks, and
other ritual artwork
! Tapes • Cards
>5v
Dream Man is one such endeavor. In it. play
wright James Carroll Pickett has used phone sex
as the basis of a work of intense emotion and
insight. Brashly. explicitly gay. Dream Man
has been in Kearns’s repertoire for several
years. “ Ido roles that I believe have something
to say,” he explains. “ I want to continue as I
am. 1 don’t need anything beyond the fulfill
ment I’m getting — except 1 love limos.”
Dream Man will play March 11 and 12 at 8
p.m. sharp at Echo Theatre. 1515 SE 37th (off
Hawthorne). Advance tickets are $8 and are
available at CC Slaughter's, Music Millennium,
Broadway Flowers and Tickets, the Cascade
AIDS Project office and Echo Theatre. Tickets
are $10 day of show. The event is wheelchair
accessible and will be interpreted for the
hearing impaired. A portion of the proceeds
will benefit the Cascade AIDS Project. For
group discounts or more information, call
231-1232.
•
233 NE 28th
Portland, OR
Mon-Fri 12-7
Saturday 10-6
01 Utonvr\4 At 231 -3726
BUFFALO GALS
Unwinding, women's style
Each o f the Wave's rooms has a brass plate on the door
honoring a woman who contributed financially to the
establishment's partnership
kitchen (the kitchen table is the hub of many
informal gatherings). Or, reservations can be
made at the area’s many restaurants.
or a woman who enjoys a taste of luxury
Each of the Wave’s rooms has a brass plate
and who is fond of walks on an ocean
on
beach, the Enchanted Blue Wave on Washing the door honoring a woman who contributed
financially to the establishment’s partnership.
ton’s Long Beach Peninsula is just the place.
Grandma’s Room, located on the main floor, is
One of the most luxurious getaways around and
a small, private room with its own separate
an easy two-hour drive from Portland, this bed-
entrance and bath. The most spacious of the
and-breakfast offers women the elegance of a
bedrooms is the Archer-Harrison Room, which
bygone era in an atmosphere guaranteed to
boasts a king-size eight-poster bed and adjoin
wash away stress.
ing marble bathroom with a marble-lined
Each of the spacious rooms in this tum-of-
shower
large enough for a party.
the-century mansion is appointed with well-
The
Wave
sits on three acres of oceanfront
preserved antique furniture, and nearly all boast
property in Seaview. Wash., where winter
an expansive ocean view. A fully enclosed hot
storm-watching is as popular an activity as the
tub. nestled against the house, provides a sooth
Garlic Festival and the International Kite Festi
ing complement to invigorating beach walks.
val in summer. The dunes area around the man
This is a home where many amenities are
sion
harbors pheasants, deer, raccoons, and vari
thoughtfully provided. A complimentary bottle
ous migrating birds.
of chilled champagne or sparkling juice will
A visit to the Enchanted Blue Wave should be
help the transition from road to relaxation.
preceded
by reservations. The house is periodi
Rowers can be delivered to your room if you’re
cally rented by groups for meetings, retreats,
marking a special occasion. Breakfasts are
rituals, etc.
offered at 10:30 so guests may enjoy a leisurely
From November to April, a special rate is
morning. Special dietary requirements are
available during the week (Sunday through
respected in meal preparation.
Thursday): three nights for the price of two
The atmosphere in this Victorian home is
(holiday seasons excluded). Room rates range
casual. Guests are welcome to prepare their
from $46 to $66
•
afternoon or evening meals in the spacious
BY
KATHLEEN
U.
BOYLE
F
Ursula LeGuin
March 5 3 pm
at Int'l Women's Dav Booth
Celebrate International
Women's Day with us and
two dynamic authors!
Starhawk
March 27 8 pm at the Bookstore
author of Truth or Dare, Dreaming in the Dark & Spiral Dance
A Feminist
Bookstore
& More
1431 N.E. Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 284-1110
Mon.-Sat. 11-7
Sunday 12-5
Just Out • 21 • March 1988