On Tuesday, October 11th, the Calgary Gay History Project is happy to be collaborating with Calgary Cinematheque to bring you: My Own Private Idaho. A 25th Anniversary screening on 35mm film at the Plaza Theatre. The 1991 arthouse film was a breakout success both critically and financially. Director Gus Van Sant created an unusual and visually memorable film that serves as a mediation on isolation and alienation – still relevant today.
River Phoenix was widely praised for his portrayal of Mike, a narcoleptic male hustler whose unrequited love for fellow hustler Scott (Keanu Reaves) provides the backbone of the film. Sadly, River Phoenix died a couple of years later, of a drug overdose, at the age of 23. Tickets and show information can be found: here.
River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho
We were thrilled to be included in the Canadian Encyclopedia. Last week we published a feature article about Everett Klippert’s Calgary years, in the now online-only heritage institution.
Running until October 15th at Truck Gallery, is Mark Clintberg’s thoughtful art installation: Cecil Hotel. The recently destroyed hotel was infamous in recent decades, but was an important site for Calgary’s lesbian community of the 60s. Mark’s recent work has been inspired by local queer history. A previous piece installed in Winnipeg, Détournement, evokes the former Calgary gay bar, Detour, which was on 17th Ave between 2nd and 4th Street SW (known as Dick’s and 318 in other incarnations).
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Calgary Gay History 