From: "Alice K. Turner" 
Subject: Re: (urth) Mattachine Tower
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 19:32:43 -0500

Back in the 60s, before the Stonewall Rebellion, before gay liberation of
any note, the Mattachine Society on the East Coast (and for all I know on
the West) was a coded name for a quite sizeable male homosexual club or
group here; I expect the historical note is an ironic nod to being
"closeted." I doubt that Wolfe knew that!

-alga

> According to the History Channel, the Mattachines were an Italian
> tradition of court jesters who were indulged to "speak the truth" when
> appearing masked and hooded. Not to doubt the veracity of the Hitler
> Channel, but has anyone else heard of this, or suspect that it folds
> into the torturers' tower?
>



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