The Sons of Tennessee Williams. Dir. Tim Wolff. First Run Features. 2010. 81 min.

In his introduction to the 1997 compilation of LGBT community histories entitled Creating a Place for Ourselves: Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Histories, Brett Beemyn reminds us that “gay history in the United States is not limited to New York and San Francisco.”

This documentary directed by Tim Wolff is yet another testament to that reality: it shares the story of gay men celebrating Mardi Gras together in New Orleans at a time when gay people were not legally allowed to gather together, some ten years prior to the legendary Stonewall riots.

The film centers around the preparations for the Krewe of Armeinius 40th Anniversary Ball in 2008, but vignettes are tied together from the previous fifty years since the first group of gay men celebrated Mardi Gras together in 1958. Through these vignettes, the documentary tells the history of the gay male community in New Orleans.  Members of the various “krewes” tell of the many balls they attended at which were crowned a king and queen, both of whom were in drag.  They talk about family, a gay bashing, lovers lost to AIDS, and other notable moments in the community.  Some images and video footage that survive from these earlier balls create a vivid image of this history, a history not taught in modern American history classes.

Laced with humorous moments to balance out the sad ones, this documentary is a necessary and important contribution to the continuing work of LGBTQ histories.

Libraries with collections focusing on the histories of LGBTQ communities or focusing more generally on the history of New Orleans should definitely acquire this film.

Reviewer: Dusty Roether, MLIS Student

University of South Carolina