Lavender Lounge – The TV Show

Opening Graphic From Lavender Lounge TV Show 1991-1995

The untimely death of “Soul Train” creator, Don Cornelius made me think more about the TV show I created, also called “Lavender Lounge”, that ran from 1991-1995. In 1971, Cornelius saw that black recording artists were not properly represented on so-called TV dance party shows like Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand”. Just like Don Cornelius seizing the opportunity to produce a “black American Bandstand”, in 1991 I took the opportunity to produce a “gay American Bandstand” and called it “Lavender Lounge”.

Bypassing the “network route” of commercial television, Cornelius chose to find his own sponsors and syndicate the show to individual local TV stations in various markets. As a result, he was able to retain ownership of the show and have complete creative control, accumulating a fortune along the way as “Soul Train” went on to become the longest running syndicated show in history. Twenty years later, those “non-commercial” programs I created don’t really belong to me, leaving me in copyright limbo as to future use. Of the 60 episodes of “Lavender Lounge”, 20 were created outside of Public Access, so I probably could claim ownership to them, but what is the real value of them all these years later?

"Underwear Night" Lavender Lounge TV Show 1991-1995

With no other resources available, the “Lavender Lounge” TV show ran on an entity called “Public Access”, a channel owned by the local cable TV provider but mandated by city contract to offer access to members of the public. The dirty little secret of Public Access is that the cable provider claims ownership of the content produced in it’s studio, as illuminated in a sub-plot of the Stuart Smalley movie “Stuart Saves His Family” starring Senator Al Franken. (Plus the fact that the music we played on the show was all copyrighted material, too.)

Just as “Soul Train” was a cultural game changer for black audiences, “Lavender Lounge” was a local phenomenon for gay audiences. As host of the show (like my role models Don Cornelius, Dick Clark and “Hairspray’s” Corny Collins) I still to this day get recognized on the street from the show. Over the years I’ve heard so many testimonies from budding homos when the show ran who were thrilled to see people like themselves on TV for the first time. Remember, my show ran years before “Ellen”, “Will And Grace”, “Queer Eye”, or the Logo Network.

Without “Soul Train” upping the funk factor of TV dance parties, the blandness of “American Bandstand” may have folded sooner, “Club MTV” or 1988′s “Hairyspray” may never have happened. All of those shows were my influences, so I may never have gotten inspired to do my show either.

So now that the name “Lavender Lounge” is deeply embedded in the porn business, what should I do with my old TV show? I have some ideas, but nothing solid yet, but you can bet your last money it’s all gonna be a stone gas, honey!