Sorry if it was implied that Wakefield had anything to do with “Him.” That inclusion of the NY Library date was done because this thread mentions shows of his work at the 55th St. Playhouse.
The ad copy for the 55th St is from the mid-early ‘70s, I am sure.
I saw HIM in Boston (South Station Cinema) at that time and posted, as shown above, as to that fact.
It is indeed a porn film about a guy with a Christ fixation, not the Grodecki film mentioned of the same name, years later.
Today, talking with an ex, he told me of seeing a trailer for this very old porn while watching a roommmate of mine’s video collection, some 15 years ago. I, myself, never saw that and was astonished.
Oh by the way, anyone intersted in Wakefield Poole’s films and career may find this interesting:
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
2007 Film/Video Program
Organized by Donnell Media Center
New York Public Library
ADMISSION FREE
All Programs held in the Donnell Library Center Auditorium
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wakefield Poole
Presents and discusses his dance and film work:
THE TWO FACES OF WAKEFIELD POOLE
Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 2:30 PM
At the Donnell Library Center
20 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
The program will include video excerpts of Wakefield Poole’s dancing on the television programs THE GARY MOORE SHOW with Gwen Verdon and LAMP UNTO MY FEET; his choreography for the “end credits†for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS that featured dancer Michael Bennett; and DO I HEAR A WALTZ. In addition, there will also be examples of his work as a filmmaker, including his first film HEAD, a light-hearted parody of a cooking program featuring a voice-over by Julia Child, a clip (featuring nudity) from his breakthrough vision BOYS IN THE SAND; and a joint interview with Mr. Poole and Casey Donovan, the star of BOYS IN THE SAND on the early cable access program “Emerald City.â€
Wakefield Poole began his dance career in Salisbury, North Carolina. After high school, he became a professional dancer with the internationally renowned Ballets Russes. He then became a Broadway chorus dancer appearing in such hit shows as FINIAN’S RAINBOW and THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN as well as dancing on television for Perry Como, Ed Sullivan, Gary Moore and Jackie Gleason. Over time, he developed into a choreographer, first assisting the legendary Joe Layton, before working solo on DO I HEAR A WALTZ and being reunited with Joe Layton on BRING BACK BIRDIE. At the end of the 1960’s a new career evolved when he asked himself, “Why can’t someone make a good porn film that’s not degrading?†That summer he decided to make one himself BOYS IN THE SAND became the first gay film to have a display ad in The New York Times and be reviewed in Daily Variety. For the next decade and a half, the name Wakefield Poole was synonymous with quality both in technical execution and artistic interpretation, as well as a trailblazer for gay culture with his quality erotica.
The former operator of the Nob Hill, CLif Newman, lived under the actual edifice in a hand-made, couture-ified space that made it into the pages of Architectural Digest, Jan. 1982. Best part… it was announced in the previous issue, which was the Reagan White House issue. Perfect!
The gal that did the interview, Cameron MacKinley, nearly suffered an aneurism as she was led through the all-too functioning theater and ‘arcade’ area behind the screen, where the stairs (behind locked door) accessed the fabulous space below. She conducted one long interview.
David Glomb was the photographer. It looks amazing even now.
“ Can anyone with any knowledge of this era end something of a debacle for me? There has been conjecture for years as to a film called "Him,” concerning some guy’s fixation on Christ. This has made it to such illustrious heights as becoming a faux legend with Michael Medved and his book about “Golden Turkeys.” People have looked at me like I am from Pluto when I have told them that, YES!, I have seen this film. I oft thought that the aforementioned advertisements in Boston After Dark or the Phoenix might lend some versimilitude to this conundrum, but I am 3,000 miles across the planet. Absolutely nobody can give so much as a ‘maybe’ on this. And a thanks to Mr DeLuca for knowing so much as to ownership of said theaters. Verify! Thanks!
posted by sinclair on Mar 22, 2005 at 10:38pm"
Thank you for posting this time capsule fraught with validation!
Can anyone go that one step further and tell me where or how to locate a copy in any form?
Had this been posted on Easter, I would’ve been forced to attend a church servive in response.
This was easy:
View link
Sorry if it was implied that Wakefield had anything to do with “Him.” That inclusion of the NY Library date was done because this thread mentions shows of his work at the 55th St. Playhouse.
The ad copy for the 55th St is from the mid-early ‘70s, I am sure.
I saw HIM in Boston (South Station Cinema) at that time and posted, as shown above, as to that fact.
It is indeed a porn film about a guy with a Christ fixation, not the Grodecki film mentioned of the same name, years later.
Today, talking with an ex, he told me of seeing a trailer for this very old porn while watching a roommmate of mine’s video collection, some 15 years ago. I, myself, never saw that and was astonished.
Oh by the way, anyone intersted in Wakefield Poole’s films and career may find this interesting:
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
2007 Film/Video Program
Organized by Donnell Media Center
New York Public Library
ADMISSION FREE
All Programs held in the Donnell Library Center Auditorium
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wakefield Poole
Presents and discusses his dance and film work:
THE TWO FACES OF WAKEFIELD POOLE
Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 2:30 PM
At the Donnell Library Center
20 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
The program will include video excerpts of Wakefield Poole’s dancing on the television programs THE GARY MOORE SHOW with Gwen Verdon and LAMP UNTO MY FEET; his choreography for the “end credits†for ONCE UPON A MATTRESS that featured dancer Michael Bennett; and DO I HEAR A WALTZ. In addition, there will also be examples of his work as a filmmaker, including his first film HEAD, a light-hearted parody of a cooking program featuring a voice-over by Julia Child, a clip (featuring nudity) from his breakthrough vision BOYS IN THE SAND; and a joint interview with Mr. Poole and Casey Donovan, the star of BOYS IN THE SAND on the early cable access program “Emerald City.â€
Wakefield Poole began his dance career in Salisbury, North Carolina. After high school, he became a professional dancer with the internationally renowned Ballets Russes. He then became a Broadway chorus dancer appearing in such hit shows as FINIAN’S RAINBOW and THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN as well as dancing on television for Perry Como, Ed Sullivan, Gary Moore and Jackie Gleason. Over time, he developed into a choreographer, first assisting the legendary Joe Layton, before working solo on DO I HEAR A WALTZ and being reunited with Joe Layton on BRING BACK BIRDIE. At the end of the 1960’s a new career evolved when he asked himself, “Why can’t someone make a good porn film that’s not degrading?†That summer he decided to make one himself BOYS IN THE SAND became the first gay film to have a display ad in The New York Times and be reviewed in Daily Variety. For the next decade and a half, the name Wakefield Poole was synonymous with quality both in technical execution and artistic interpretation, as well as a trailblazer for gay culture with his quality erotica.
The former operator of the Nob Hill, CLif Newman, lived under the actual edifice in a hand-made, couture-ified space that made it into the pages of Architectural Digest, Jan. 1982. Best part… it was announced in the previous issue, which was the Reagan White House issue. Perfect!
The gal that did the interview, Cameron MacKinley, nearly suffered an aneurism as she was led through the all-too functioning theater and ‘arcade’ area behind the screen, where the stairs (behind locked door) accessed the fabulous space below. She conducted one long interview.
David Glomb was the photographer. It looks amazing even now.
“ Can anyone with any knowledge of this era end something of a debacle for me? There has been conjecture for years as to a film called "Him,” concerning some guy’s fixation on Christ. This has made it to such illustrious heights as becoming a faux legend with Michael Medved and his book about “Golden Turkeys.” People have looked at me like I am from Pluto when I have told them that, YES!, I have seen this film. I oft thought that the aforementioned advertisements in Boston After Dark or the Phoenix might lend some versimilitude to this conundrum, but I am 3,000 miles across the planet. Absolutely nobody can give so much as a ‘maybe’ on this. And a thanks to Mr DeLuca for knowing so much as to ownership of said theaters. Verify! Thanks!
posted by sinclair on Mar 22, 2005 at 10:38pm"
Thank you for posting this time capsule fraught with validation!
Can anyone go that one step further and tell me where or how to locate a copy in any form?
Had this been posted on Easter, I would’ve been forced to attend a church servive in response.