Entertainment

Lost Gay Artist J.C. Leyendecker Profiled in “In Love with the Arrow Collar Man”

By the time of his death in 1951, American illustrator J.C. Leyendecker had so drifted into obscurity that his partner sold Leyendecker’s original works for money to live on — and the highest price got for one was $7. Now Leyendecker comes back to life in a biographical play.

Many are well acquainted with Leyendecker’s painted contributions to American culture. He created the idea of the New Year being represented by a baby, welded the Fourth of July to firecrackers and giving flowers to Mother’s Day. He was the artist responsible for putting Santa in his now-ubiqutous red and white suit, and he created the first advertising superstar, a genteel man of square jaw and regal countenance known as the Arrow Collar Man.

He was, as many knew in his inner circle, gay — and the face he made so famous belonged to his lover of five decades, Charles Beach. In his new play (which had its world premiere earlier this week at Theatre 80 St. Marks Place), Lance Ringel mixes much fact with some conjecture to try to flesh out exactly who Leyendecker was and what kind of life he and his inner circle experienced.

More Hot Stories

It’s a story told largely through flashbacks, as an art teacher (Joanna Parson) uses slides to explain to the class (also in this case, the audience before her) the prodigious talents and multitude of demons set loose in the Leyendecker household.

Along the way, she introduces Leyendecker’s star-crossed brother Francis (Rupert Simonian), who regarded brother Joe’s work for The Saturday Evening Post and commercial products as beneath him, and so turned to distracting vices to keep himself inoculated from jealousy of his brother’s wealth and fame. Leyendecker’s harpie of a sister Mary shows up as well, with nary a nice thing to say about Joe’s lover or their lavish lifestyle, which included all-night parties with the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, as well as a who’s who of roaring ’20s glitterati.

The play works well enough as an art lesson, and even better for those interested in LGBT cultural history. What it lacks (aside from very modest production values) is any real heat between the principals, Joe (Ian Brodsky) and Charles (Jack D. Martin). The pair are never depicted in any moment of passion, and their closeness looks more like a chummy friendship of interdependence than a lifelong love affair. It’s clear from the scant evidence left behind (much of it recounted by Leyendecker’s protege Norman Rockwell, played here by Steven Trolinger) that Leyendecker was indeed very much in love with his muse, Charles Beach. What is less clear — aside from his chisled chin and dashing demeanor — is why.

Tell Us What You Think in the Comment Box Below
[elfsight_youtube_gallery id=”2″]
Leave a Comment
Share
Published by
Kevin Phinney
Tags: theater

Recent Posts

Nicholas Galitzine and Tony Curran Attend STARZ’s LA Red Carpet Premiere for “Mary & George”

On Thursday, March 21, STARZ celebrated the highly anticipated premiere of “Mary & George” with…

5 days ago

Glitter & Doom: the New Film Musical Told Through 25 Iconic Indigo Girls Classics

The soundtrack to Glitter & Doom – the new film musical told through 25 iconic…

7 days ago

The FIRST LGBTQ Polo League Is Changing Up Gay Sports Leagues

The world’s only LGBTQ polo league is returning to Wellington, Florida ushering in stallions, world…

7 days ago

Joel Kim Booster is on a Comedic Path to Loot

Joel Kim Booster has done just about everything in Hollywood. Producing, writing, acting, podcasting, hosting,…

2 months ago

California’s Gold Rush Country: Savor the Unique Terroir that Defines Amador’s County’s Distinctive Wines

Nestled in the picturesque Sierra Foothills of California, Amador County boasts a flourishing wine region…

2 months ago

Broadway’s Spring Thaw

I know you can’t feel it yet, but believe me, spring is coming. The proof…

2 months ago