T.V. Transvestite
Simone di Bagno and Michele Capozzi, 1982, 60 min
Trans people were at the forefront of the 1969 uprising at Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn, but their stories have not always been central in film representations of LGBT life in the city. T.V. Transvestite captures a fierce House of LaBeija Ball thrown at a Harlem Bingo Hall. Considered “lost” and not screened in public for over two decades, the film shows legends Pepper LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Sugar in the period before voguing and the advent of AIDS. A stirring example of how queer focused and produced film has long flourished in NYC.
Simone di Bagno, director, T.V. Transvestite
Celso Satori LaBeija, member, House of LaBeija
Willyum LaBeija, member, House of LaBeija
Joe E. Jeffreys, drag historian
Smile, It’s Your Close Up: New York’s Documentaries, a nonfiction film series co-programmed by Jessica Green and Edo Choi of the Cinema at the Maysles Documentary Center and the Museum of the City of New York, zooms in on key moments, individuals, and communities to pose the question, “what makes New York New York?” Each program includes an introduction or conversation with filmmakers or other notable guests.
- $15 for adults | $12 for seniors, students & educators (with ID) | $10 for Maysles Documentary Center members and Museum of the City of New York members. Includes Museum of the City of New York admission and Twizzlers Licorice Candy.
- Attention, Maysles Documentary Center members, MDC is your discount code for advance ticketing.
- Attention, Museum of the City of New York members, to receive your discount, click on the “Buy Tickets” button above, then sign in to your account on the ticketing page.
- Groups of 10 or more get discounts and priority seating, email or call us at programs@mcny.org or 917-492-3395.
This event is co-sponsored by CUNY Graduate Center Film Studies Program, Hunter College Film and Media Studies Department, Manhattan College Department of Visual & Performing Arts, and The Documentary Forum @ City College of New York.
