Hi, Ho Steverino! No More. RIP Louis Nye
He could prance and and flit and nance the hell out of anyone, including Jack Benny (who wasn't really so fey, but he had the walk down pat). Louis B. Nye, who made his comedy bones with Steve Allen and in hundreds of films and television programs has gone to comedy heaven, where everyone is a Miss Priss, not that there's anything wrong with that.
Louis Nye was more than funny, he was fascinating. When he was on screen, you just could not look at anyone else. It wasn't a matter of upstaging anyone, but rather his fancy pants sissy took us by the scruff of the neck, whirled us around, and made us listen when he said "hey there big boy".
Nye was straight. If he wasn't we would have probably lost one of show business' most memorable characters. If he had really been gay, he wouldn't have been able to pull it off (you have a dirty mind). He would not (and could not) have even tried. Joe Besser, the last Stooge in the shorts, was probably more straightforwardly camp, but I don't believe his wrist was as limp as Nye's (Besser was also straight in real life).
Both were stalwarts in a vanishing show biz tradition, the so out there "fag" who was 100% sweet cream, mother love, but even so, could date women, romance them with their peculiar charms and have us believe every bit of it.
When Louis Nye played Sonny Drysdale for a season on the Beverly Hillbillies, his character was so out and open and free and swishy, it would have been almost, I think, unbelieveable for any other actor to play him. We believed when he set his cap for Elly Mae. And we would have liked him to win her over.
Nancy's, fagala's, lightfoots, or whatever the name you put on the swish actors, were not gay, but rather sexless (but not unromantic) pixie's who at first might be annoying, but became sympathetic, with one hand on hip, martini in the other and face that shouted out "I dare you".
Louis Nye dared us, and won us, and I loved him.
Joe Postove
Louis Nye
Louis Nye was more than funny, he was fascinating. When he was on screen, you just could not look at anyone else. It wasn't a matter of upstaging anyone, but rather his fancy pants sissy took us by the scruff of the neck, whirled us around, and made us listen when he said "hey there big boy".
Nye was straight. If he wasn't we would have probably lost one of show business' most memorable characters. If he had really been gay, he wouldn't have been able to pull it off (you have a dirty mind). He would not (and could not) have even tried. Joe Besser, the last Stooge in the shorts, was probably more straightforwardly camp, but I don't believe his wrist was as limp as Nye's (Besser was also straight in real life).
Both were stalwarts in a vanishing show biz tradition, the so out there "fag" who was 100% sweet cream, mother love, but even so, could date women, romance them with their peculiar charms and have us believe every bit of it.
When Louis Nye played Sonny Drysdale for a season on the Beverly Hillbillies, his character was so out and open and free and swishy, it would have been almost, I think, unbelieveable for any other actor to play him. We believed when he set his cap for Elly Mae. And we would have liked him to win her over.
Nancy's, fagala's, lightfoots, or whatever the name you put on the swish actors, were not gay, but rather sexless (but not unromantic) pixie's who at first might be annoying, but became sympathetic, with one hand on hip, martini in the other and face that shouted out "I dare you".
Louis Nye dared us, and won us, and I loved him.
Joe Postove
Louis Nye
posted by Mr. Liberty at 1:40 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home