a&e features
New doc explores vintage Hollywood sex stories of Scotty Bowers
Filmmaker inspired to corroborate claims of juicy 2012 book ‘Full Service’
Scotty Bowers was in high demand as a Hollywood escort in the ‘40s and ‘50s. (Photo courtesy Greenwich Entertainment)
Scotty Bowers’s name had long been floating around as a sort of urban legend from Hollywood’s golden age when, in 2012, his memoir “Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars” was published.
In the book (co-written by Lionel Friedberg), he claimed to have spent four decades providing sexual services to many of the movie factory’s most famous stars, either personally or by connecting them to other attractive young men or women in his stable of sex workers from whom he says he never took a penny for himself; he just liked “making people happy.”
The reaction from most readers was skepticism. Most of the people outed by Bowers were long dead, unable to comment on his claims; on top of that, he never kept written records of any transactions — they were all kept in his head to protect his clients’ privacy. Without such proof, it was reasoned, why should he be believed?
For director Matt Tyrnauer — whose documentary “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood” hits theaters July 27 — the question is not “why” so much as “why not?” (In Washington, Landmark E Street has it slated for an Aug. 17 opening).
Tyrnauer spent two years filming with Bowers, now in his 90s, and says, without hesitation, “There’s no question in my mind that he is telling the truth.”
“I found literally hundreds of instances of corroboration that prove Scotty did what he said he did and was where he said he was,” he says. “I’ve seen interviews with people who were sex workers at the gas station during that period, who confirmed in person, on camera, everything that Scotty claims; there are letters from the period in which he’s mentioned, testimony from trustworthy people who knew him at the time, the list goes on and on.”
One example is shown in the film, when Bowers takes the director to the home of one of his still-living associates from the old days. This now-elderly former hustler gleefully attests to the veracity of Scotty’s claims and pulls out an old book given to him by actor Charles Laughton. Inscribed within is a personal note, signed by Laughton, containing explicit language that leaves little doubt as to the nature of their relationship.
There was more, Tyrnauer says, that was not on camera.
“He produced an index card which is tantamount to the ‘little black book’ that everyone asks about. Scotty didn’t keep a little black book, but this index card contained about a dozen names of clients, with addresses and phone numbers. Among those names was the designer Bill Blass, and there was another name of someone who was still alive who I called and confirmed that he had worked with Scotty.”
Bowers ran this operation loosely from the mid-‘40s to the mid-‘80s. It’s perhaps corroborating in some fashion that for some of the A-listers mentioned, this is not the first time their sexuality has been questioned. Spencer Tracy was married and had a family but also had a decades-long relationship with his frequent co-star Katharine Hepburn, who has been posthumously outed by various sources, including a 2006 book by gay biographer William J. Mann. Hepburn and Tracy were two of Bowers’ clients, the “Scotty” movie claims. Bowers claims to have had sex with J. Edgar Hoover — no newbie on the gay speculation list — and arranged liaisons for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the movie claims.
One of the strongest arguments for Bowers’s believability is Bowers himself. Even in his 90s, he’s still full of vitality. Imagine his stamina at 30, coupled with the good looks on display in the pictures from his youth, and it’s easy to think that movie stars would want to have sex with him. His personality is also a likely factor. Exceedingly personable and still sharp, in the film he serves as his own best character witness.
It’s not just how he comes off on camera, Tyrnauer says. “What you see is what you get with Scotty. There is no masquerading or pretense. He is who he is, utterly charming.”
Even setting aside Tyrnauer’s own discoveries, there’s no shortage of information supporting Bowers’s tale. Plenty of people with long connections to Hollywood history have been willing to vouch, on the record, for its accuracy. Yet many still doubt.
Says Tyrnauer, “I don’t blame them, why not question? But why wouldn’t it be true? What I’m getting at in the film, is that these Hollywood myths propagated by the studios are mysteriously enduring, but I don’t think it’s outlandish to think that movie stars had complex sex lives. Why shouldn’t they? Why should we pearl clutch and claim that they didn’t?”
It’s here that Tyrnauer gets passionate.
“There seems to be a propensity to straight wash Hollywood history. It’s OK to talk about Cary Grant’s romances and his many wives, as long as it’s hetero, but the minute it becomes about his lifelong romance with Randolph Scott, the minute it becomes queer history, it’s suddenly a problem. What’s that about? Why is that permissible? And why should we say that it’s irrelevant?”
He goes on, “I think that Hollywood is one of the biggest stories of the 20th century. Hollywood was the myth factory that set the tone for our point of view about what life is and what life should be. Understanding it is important and part of that comes from recognizing how prominent people involved in the Hollywood story had to navigate sexuality off-screen.”
Tyrnauer says even in liberal Hollywood, the overall cultural taboo of gay sex in the’40s and ‘50s has to be considered.
“It wasn’t cool to be gay, then,” he says. “These people were vulnerable to ruination if their sexuality was revealed. And there were many people out there who were determined to reveal it, including the LAPD vice squad, which was rabid and fascistic in its persecution of queer people, and was ready to extort movie stars, to collude with the press to shame them and destroy their lives. These stories are all of a piece, and Scotty’s story touches them.”
It’s for this reason that “Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood” spends less time rehashing tales that can be found in Bowers’ book and more time exploring the context in which they took place.
It’s also why the film focuses mostly on Scotty himself. Though he doesn’t identify as gay — he sees himself as what we would now call “fluid,” is married to a woman and was even at the height of his exploits — he is presented as a seminal figure in the queer history of American culture, a kind of sexual pioneer. Far from being a shady hustler selling a bill of goods for a little attention and a taste of late-life fame, in Tyrnauer’s film he can be seen as a hero.
It’s in this role that he garnered the honor of being presented a key to the City of West Hollywood on July 25.
“It’s very fitting for Scotty to be honored by the city of West Hollywood,” Tyrnauer says. “He helped build the city as a key figure in the LGBTQ community for decades, who was trusted and revered by many men and women who were, decades ago, victims of repression, marginalization and violence at the hands of the vice squad and other oppressive forces.”
For some, though, the reason for the presentation is best expressed in the words of WeHo Mayor Pro Tempore John D’Amico, who commented, “It’s been said with a wink that Scotty Bowers helped put the ‘wood’ in Hollywood.”
For Scotty, who “just wanted to make people happy,” that’s probably the best reason of all.
Scotty Bowers today at his home in Los Angeles. (Photo courtesy Greenwich Entertainment)
a&e features
Memorial for groundbreaking bisexual activist set for May 2
Loraine Hutchins remembered as a ‘force of nature’
The Montgomery County Pride Center will host a celebration honoring the life and legacy of Loraine Hutchins, Ph.D., on May 2. People are invited to attend the onsite memorial or a livestream event. The on-site event will begin at 10 a.m. with a meet-and-greet mixer before moving into a memorial service around the theme “Loraine a Force of Nature!” at 11 a.m., a panel talk at 12 p.m., break out sessions for artists, academics, and activists to build on her legacy at 1 p.m. and a closing reception at 2 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to register for the on-site memorial gathering or the livestreamed memorial. The goal of this event is also to collect stories and memories of Loraine. Attendees and others can share their stories at padlet.com.
An obituary for Hutchins was published in the Bladelast Nov. 24, where people can learn more about her activism in the bisexual community. A private service for friends and family was held in December but this memorial service is open to all.
Alongside her groundbreaking work organizing for U.S. bisexual rights and liberation including co-editing “Bi Any Other Name: BIsexual People Speak Out” (1991), she also integrated faith into her sexual education and advocacy work. Her 2001 doctoral dissertation, “Erotic Rites: A Cultural Analysis of Contemporary U.S. Sacred Sexuality Traditions and Trends,” offered a pointed queer and feminist analysis to sex-neutral and sex-positive spiritual traditions in the United States. Her thesis was also groundbreaking in exploring the intersections between sex workers and those in caregiving professionals, including spiritual ones.
In an oral history interview conducted by Michelle Mueller back in August 2023, Hutchins described herself as a “priestess without a congregation.” While she has occasionally had a sense of community and feels part of a group of loving people, she admitted that “I don’t feel like we have the shape or the purpose that we need.”
“I’ve often experienced being the Cassandra in the room, the Cassandra in the community. Somebody who’s kind of way out there ahead, thinking through the strategic action points that my community hasn’t gotten to yet, and getting a lot of resistance and hostile responses from people who are frightened by dissent and conflict and not ready for the changes we have to make to survive,” she said.
“For somebody who’s bisexual in an out political way and who’s been a spokesperson for the polyamory movement in an out political way, it’s very exposing. And it’s very important to me to be able to try to explain and help other people understand the connection between spirituality and sexuality,” she explained citing how even as a graduate student she was “exploring how to feel erotic and spiritual, and not feel them in conflict with each other in my own spiritual contemplative life and my own sensual body awareness of being alive in the world.”
“Every religion has a sense of sacred sexuality. It’s just they put a lot of boundaries and regulations on it, and if we have a spiritual practice that is totally affirming of women’s priesthood and of gay people, queer people’s ability to minister to everyone and to be ministered to be everyone, what does that do to the gender of God, or our understanding of how we practice our spirituality and our sexuality in community and privately?”
“There’s no easy answer,” she concludes, and she continued to grapple with these questions throughout her life, co-editing another seminal text, “Sexuality, Religion and the Sacred: Bisexual, Pansexual, and Polysexual Perspectives,” published in 2012. Her work blending spiritual and queer liberation remains groundbreaking to this day.
Rev. Eric Eldritch, a local community organizer and ordained Pagan minister with Circle Sanctuary who has worked for decades with the DC Center’s Center Faith to organize the Pride Interfaith Service, is eager to highlight this element of her legacy at the memorial service next month.
a&e features
Queery: Meet artist, performer John Levengood
Modern creative talks nightlife, coming out, and his personal queer heroes
John Levengood (he/him) describes himself as a modern creative with a wide‑ranging toolkit. He blends music, technology, civic duty, and a sharp sense of wit into a cohesive artistic identity. Known primarily as a recording artist and performer, he’s also a self‑taught music producer and software engineer who embodies a generation of creators who build their own lanes rather than wait for one to appear.
Levengood, 32, who is single and identifies as gay and queer, is best known as a recording artist who has performed at Pride festivals across the country, including the main stages of World Pride DC, Central Arkansas Pride, and Charlotte Pride.
“Locally in the DMV, I’m known for turning heads at nightlife venues with my eye-catching sense of style. When I go out, I don’t try to blend in. I hope I inspire people to be themselves and have the courage to stand out,” he says.
He’s also known for hosting karaoke at Freddie’s Beach Bar in Arlington, Va., on Thursday nights. “I like to create a space where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, building community, and showcasing their talents.”
He also creates social media content from my performances and do interviews at LGBTQ+ bars and theatres in the DMV. Follow the Arlington resident @johnlevengood.
How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
I have been fully out of the closet since 2019. My parents were the hardest people to tell because my family has always been my rock and at the time I couldn’t imagine a world without them. Their reactions were extremely positive and supportive so I had nothing to fear all along.
I remember sitting on the couch with my mom, dad, and sister in our hotel room in New Orleans during our winter vacation and being so nervous to tell them. After I finally mustered up the nerve and made the proclamation, I realized my dad had already fallen asleep on the couch. My mom promised to tell him when he woke up.
Who’s your LGBTQ hero?
My LGBTQ heroes are Harvey Milk for paving the way for gays in politics and Elton John for being a pioneer for the fabulous and authentic. My local heroes in the DMV are Howard Hicks, manager of Green Lantern, and Tony Rivenbark, manager of Freddie’s Beach Bar. Both of them are essential to creating spaces where I’ve felt welcome and safe since moving to the DMV.
What’s Washington’s best nightspot, past or present?
Trade tops the list for me because of the dance floor and outdoor space. It’s so nice to get a break from the music every once and a while to be able to have a conversation.
We live in challenging times. How do you cope?
I’m still figuring this out. What is working right now is writing music and spending time with family and friends. I’ve also been spending less time on social media going to the gym at least three times a week.
What streaming show are you binging?
After “Traitors” Season 4 ended, I was in a bit of a show hole, but “Stumble” has me in a laughing loop right now. The writing is so witty.
What do you wish you’d known at 18?
At 18, I wish I would have known how liberating it is to come out of the closet. It would have been nice to know some winning lottery numbers as well.
What are your friends messaging about in your most recent group chat?
We are planning our next trip to New York City. If you can believe it, I visited NYC for the first time in 2025 for Pride and I’ve been back every quarter since. Growing up in the country, I was subconsciously primed to be scared of the city. But my mind has been blown. I can’t wait to go back.
Why Washington?
It’s the closest metropolitan area to my family, but not too close. I love the museums, the diversity, the history, and the proximity to the beach and mountains. It’s also nice to live in a city with public transportation.
Aging RFK Stadium has come down, but the RFK grounds are still getting lit up. Welcome back to the stage Project GLOW, D.C.’s homegrown electronic festival, on May 30-31. Back for its fifth year on these musically inclined acres, Project GLOW returns with an even more diverse lineup, and one that continues to celebrate LGBTQ antecedents, attendees, and acts.
Project GLOW 2026 headliners include house and techno star Mau P, progressive house legend Eric Prydz, hard-techno favorite Sara Landry, and bass acts Excision b2b Sullivan King, among the lineup of trance, bass, house, techno, dubstep, and others for the fifth anniversary year.
President & CEO Pete Kalamoutsos — born and raised in D.C. — founded Club GLOW in 1999. In 2020, GLOW entered into a partnership with global entertainment company Insomniac Events to produce live events like Project GLOW, which kicked off in 2022.
As in past years, Project GLOW not only makes space, but is intentionally inclusive of the LGBTQ community, one of its most dedicated fan bases. The festival’s LGBTQ-focused Secret Garden stage blooms again — a more intimate dance area that stands on the strength of DJs and musicians who draw from the LGBTQ community. D.C.’s LGBTQ nightlife mastermind Ed Bailey is the creative mind behind Secret Garden again. He joined Project GLOW in 2023.
“Kalamoustos says that “he’s proud of his partnership with Ed Bailey, along with Capital Pride and [nightlife producer] Jake Resnikow. It’s amazing to collaborate with Bailey at the Secret Garden stage, especially after the curated lineup we worked on at Pride last year.”
The Secret Garden will be a bit different from other stages: Eternal (“At the Eternal stage, time stands still. Lose yourself in the dance of past, present, and future, surrendering to the eternal rhythm of the universe”) and Pulse (“Feel the rhythm of the beat pulse through your veins as the heartbeat of the crowd synchronizes into one. Here, every moment vibrates with life as it guides you through a new dimension of euphoria”). The Secret Garden stage is in the round, surrounded by 16 shipping containers. The containers play canvas to muralists from around the world, who are coming in to paint them in a vibrant garden-style vibe. “We gave this stage some extra love with this layout,” K says, “ we finally cracked the code.”
K says that this will be the biggest lineup yet for the Secret Garden, featuring Nicole Moudaber b2b Chasewest, Riordan b2b Bullet Tooth, Ranger Trucco, Cassian, Eli & Fur, Cosmic Gate and Hayla. The stage is also the largest yet, featuring an expanded dance floor and 360-degree viewing.
Across all stages, K says that his goal for the fifth anniversary is “More art and fan interactive experience, more like a festival, strive to be like a Tomorrowland, as budget grows to add more experience.” Last year’s Project GLOW alone drew 40,000 attendees over two days.
K, however, was not satisfied with one festival this spring. GLOW recently announced a “pop-up” one-day event. Teaming up with Black Book Records, GLOW is set to throw a first-of-its-kind dance-music takeover of Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., headlined by electronic music star Chris Lake. Set for April 18, this euphoric block party will feature bass and vibes blocks from the White House. Organizers expect as many as 10,000 fans to attend. Beyond music, there will be food, activations, and plenty of other activities taking place around 6th St and Pennsylvania Ave NW – a location familiar to many in the LGBTQ community, as this sits squarely inside the blocks of the Capital Pride party that takes place in DC every June.
Over the past two decades, Club GLOW has produced thousands of events, from club nights to large-scale festivals including Project GLOW, Moonrise Festival, and more. Club GLOW also operates Echostage.
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