BijouBlog

Hi Folks! Will Here. And, here is another title that is more like a riddle. Let's dive right in and find out what's up!

Here are your first two clues.

Although Bloomingdales was a beautiful and exciting place to work, the internal politics were not. As soon as word got out about my nom de plume, Will Seagers, and being a former star of stage, screen and bathroom wall, everything changed! It's funny how queens can be such prudes! But, that was OK... “Je ne regrette rien.” All of you Edith Piaf fans will get this one. But, for those who neither speak French or "Piaf"—"I have no regrets!" I love my past.

Elle ne regrettait rien.

So, having the summer off did give me lots of time to contemplate my next job. I came to the realization that I am a quirky guy who doesn't fit into every work situation. I needed to find a more off-center and hopefully artsy calling for my next work adventure. A friend came to my rescue.

To be more accurate, it was a friend of a friend of a friend. The ex-lover of my Alan's best friend heard that I was looking for work. He hooked me up with an interview at one of the branch stores of a made-to-order furniture company. I'm not sure if they are still in business, so I'll keep the name of this company on the QT.

My first assignment (during my interview) was to take a dozen or so objets and decorate an étagère. I got a lukewarm response from my interviewer. That didn't bother me as the objets were rather unrelated and tacky. Next, I was asked if I could sketch or draw on graph paper. To that I responded, "Yes!" I had some graphics courses in engineering school (that I knew would come in handy someday!). That perked up my potential new boss and I got the job. 

I went to their "academy," located across the Hudson in New Jersey at their factory/headquarters. This was a rather tedious week of repetitious sketching and learning the different styles they manufactured. Truth be told, I thought all this Formica furniture belonged in a John Waters movie. But, hey! I have sold many things with which I wasn't enamored.

Sorry, John. I couldn't resist.

I was a quick learn. And, within a couple of months, I was running one of their stores in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan. Oh...did I mention that more than half the employees of this outfit were gay?! Hallelujah! No pretenses...and lots of that artsy feel I wanted from most everyone. I was at that location for about six months and then was promoted to one of their flagship stores in the Upper East Side.

Two men owned the company. One was very handsome and had a very beautiful wife. Oddly enough, they used to be regulars at Fujiyama Mama's restaurant and were devoted clients of my Alan. I only found this out when Alan and I attended the company's Christmas party, and the three of them started screaming when they saw each other. This whole company was a party group. That's what made it fun to work there. But, all fun things come to an end.

The company ran into financial troubles and was bought out by a rather run-of-the-mill investment company. The new head honcho did not like gay people, and my neck was on the chopping block. Not only did I lose my store and manager position, but they wanted me to commute to New Jersey and work as a salesman at one of the stores over there. When I figured out that this move to working in New Jersey was grounds for me to leave and collect unemployment, that's just what I did. It was time for some serious thinking. And, I had some help from above...the stars!

I remained in touch with my friend Bob, the Vedic Astrologer in South Beach. It was his couch and apartment that I called home for my last few weeks in Florida before heading to north. He had family in upstate New York and would always drop by for a few days to visit Alan and me in New York City. One of his visits came right after I left the furniture company. I was distraught. I couldn't contemplate growing old in the harsh and helter-skelter climes of the city. I thought about moving back to San Francisco...it had been my rock for 14 years. Bob intervened. He very brusquely said, "No! You've already done that." Next, he put an astrology "map" together for Alan and me. It was called Astro-Cartography. With our combined birth data, he found that both Alan's and my Venus lines went straight down the middle of New Mexico. "New Mexico?" I said. He said this was great, in that Venus ruled relationships, and most people's Venus lines ran through unreachable places, like the middle of the Pacific Ocean or up in the Arctic circle!  A synchronicity began to happen. A good friend and co-worker of Alan's at Good Enough to Eat restaurant had family in Santa Fe. This friend promptly made arrangements with her mother for us to have a place to stay while we investigated this new proposal.

Astro-Cartography...a road map from the Heavens.

We were only there for a week, and we both fell in love with "The Land of Enchantment"! In that week, we found ourselves a lovely, brand new casita right across the street from our friend's mother. I even went job hunting and landed a position with Home Depot. It was there and waiting for me when I arrived a month later. That job was another shortstop in my resume...but, N.M. wasn't.

Bienvenidos and adios!

It was late September of 1999. There was a slight chill in the air. And, after taking a sentimental drive around town to say goodbye to my favorite spots in the Big Apple, I pointed my lovely Saab 9000 towards the George Washington Bridge to "Go West Young Man"! I started my cross-country trek solo...to be joined by Alan later that week. Please check in to see how this odyssey unfolds!

Giddyup, Will!

 

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, present day

You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:

Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Finding Love on a Dance Floor? | My First Week Back in the Big Apple | A Long Honeymoon!

Coming back to the Big Apple.

Hi folks! Will here. As I closed up my recollections on my time spent in South Beach, I needed to add some info on why I was "driven" to make this move back to N.Y.

Number one, I had no success at finding decent or lasting employment in any of the areas where I was qualified. Although I was not broke, I had the foresight to see that continuing on a "wishful thinking" path would eventually land me in a dangerous spot. My last few weeks in South Beach were spent at a friend's apartment - sleeping on his living room couch and living out of my suitcase. I appreciated his generosity and we remained friends long after my departure from Florida.  This was almost a duplicate of the situation I faced just before I left N.J. - sleeping on a friend's couch before the big move to South Beach. I was 44 and felt unhappy with what my life had become. The cold chill of reality told me that I needed to give up on any pipe dream of making South Beach work. 

I had remained in touch with friends and family while in South Beach. One person in particular, my sister-in-law, knowing my dilemma, offered me "a couch" until I could find my bearings. That was a life saver. In mid-March I called her and took her up on her offer. I don't even know if my brother (her then husband) was even in on her offer. By the end of that month, I had squeezed as much of my life and belongings back into that tiny Toyota MR-2 and headed up I-95 to their Bay Ridge, Brooklyn home.

I shouldn't have left it behind.

I was able to get almost everything back in that car except one suitcase full of photographs. The suitcase itself was a memoir - it was my Eastern Airlines flight attendant suitcase.  I was depressed and bitter at the time of leaving Florida and consigned the suitcase and its photos to the garbage heap of a life that I was trying to leave and hopefully recreate.  So many times I lamented over that decision. Those photos encapsulated many wonderful years and times that were irreplaceable.  Hindsight is so 20-20!  Enough of my maudlin moaning!

The trip back to New York was forgettable. I don't even remember if I stopped for a break at a motel. As I crossed into the familiar territories of northern New Jersey and finally into New York, my mood lifted dramatically ... thank God. My two "friends," the original twin towers of the World Trade Center, were there to greet me as I arrived in N.Y.  By then, my mood was soaring.

My buddies. I watched them being built when I was a teenager.

I arrived in Brooklyn and found my way to my brother and sister-in-law's flat by late Thursday afternoon, March 30th. I was warmly greeted by them and my lovely young niece upon arrival.  We had a nice dinner and then I crashed. I was emotionally and physically spent!  After a great night's sleep and a day of recovery, I started thinking about the weekend, New York and The Roxie! In my last years in N.J., before my trek to South Beach, I spent almost every Saturday night at that iconic dance club at 10th Ave. and 18th St. in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan's lower West Side. I wanted to celebrate being back in The Big Apple and could think of no better way!

Boys, girls, balloons and fans by my favorite bar.

Once inside, I was overwhelmed by all six thousand square feet of this epic club. Between the sound system, lights, all of the beautiful people and of course the wonderful drag queens, I was home again. I went to a section of the floor where I used to hang out ... not too far from the entrance and the main bar. I ordered a Cape Cod to get started and then wandered all over the joint!  The thundering music was new and fabulous - just like it had always had been!  Without a dance partner (as of yet), I inched my way onto the dance floor and let the rhythm and lights take me away. I was never averse to dancing alone.

The club ... in private and in the masses.

On a side note. In preparing for this episode of the blog, I did some research on The Roxie ... its history and the impact it had on the many cultures that graced its floor. Keeping it to a minimum, here are some basics. The club opened on December 5, 1979 as a "roller disco." This was at the height of this form of entertainment. That opening night was attended by the likes of Mick Jagger, Diana Ross and Dustin Hoffman, to name a few celebs. Other regular attendees who regularly performed there were Madonna, Cher, Bette Midler and Beyoncé. This place was an icon of entertainment.

Once again ... in private and in the masses.

Things were not always smooth sailing for the club, however. Over the years it transitioned from the roller disco of the late 70s, to the hip hop of the 80s. Violent clashes on the floor and even gunfire in and around the club forced its closing by the late 80s. But, in 1991, under the new ownership of John Blair, the club went through a huge $1.3 million renovation centering on internal architectural restructuring and a maple hardwood dance floor!  With the stewardship of Mr. Blair and his "Chelsea Boys, " the next 15 years brought the club fame and notoriety.

Myself, I was drawn to the club primarily by the music. You could always count on the fabulous music of DJs like Frankie Knuckles, Junior Vasquez and Victor Calderone - just to name a few luminaries! The sound system was legendary, too. To my knowledge, I believe it was a Richard Long system.  Studio 54 and Paradise Garage were two other of his achievements. All of that aside, the club had a very welcoming feeling. Whether you were alone or with a group, the whole monstrous dance floor and its revelers felt like one big private party!

I remember a popular song from the late 80s - "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life!"  I have to take that and put a spin on it: "Last Night a Club Saved My Life." Let me explain. On or about 4am, with the entire 6,000 square feet of the club in full swing, and me out there on the dance floor (solo), a most beautiful and exotic man danced his way right in front of me me and took away my solo dancing status!  Very handsome and reminding me of Yul Brynner (from The King and I), I was taken not only by his looks and great dancing, but by the aura around him. I knew within an instant that he was very special. I couldn't tell just how ... but, I knew that my life had changed. I know this must seem corny and melodramatic, but, we are still together 31 years later!

The familiar sight of sunrise as you leave the Roxy.

We danced together till dawn. I wanted to be with him. But, he asked if we could get together at a later date. I tried being forceful and persuasive ... to no avail. I got his number and thanked him for a wonderful night. Not "getting together" that night put this whole encounter on another level. After my persisting with a few calls and conversations, we had our first date. The night of that date was both mesmerizing and scorching!  Soon, I was renting an apartment about a block away from his ... that is, until I was welcomed into his home permanently!

So, thank you Roxie ... you magical place!  So many dance songs have lyrics about people meeting and falling in love on a dance floor. I am living proof! Please stay tuned ... as the next 31 years are pretty special, too!

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, present day

You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:

Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era

Hi folks! Will here. This title explains the fun, travel and adjustments my Alan and I had over the first year or two of being together.

Since the two of us have similar humor, we spent a lot of time laughing and poking fun at life in general. Alan has a great smile. So, it was always on my to-do list to make him laugh and smile. He always obliged!

I think one of the things that helped in our relationship then and now was our diverse working schedules. When I met him he was working at two very successful restaurants and making a bundle from both! Fujiyama Mama's, on Columbus between 82nd and 83rd Streets, was the first of his work locations that I visited. It was pleasantly wild and avant-garde. Great food, cocktails and ambiance were always "on tap." Add to that a very theatrical waitstaff and you have more than an ordinary late 1990s night out.

Way more than a Japanese restaurant.

The other restaurant to which Alan added his charm was Good Enough to Eat, also located on Manhattan's Upper West Side. At the core of the success of this restaurant was its wonderful home-cooked comfort foods and its family-like atmosphere. Again, as mixologist and server, Alan made a very comfy income. Here, one could very well be rubbing elbows with a lot of New York's elite who were dressed down and surprisingly inconspicuous. I remember him coming home many times telling me who he met while working. He was most impressed with JFK Jr.!

The name says it all!

He was also a very talented florist. He had two friends in the business that loved his work when he was available. When his stint at Fujiyama Mama's suddenly ended, one of his friends with a flower shop in Manhattan and a second one in South Beach gladly scooped him up and put his talents to work! This would lead to a couple of extended stays in Florida. I was not a fan of that. As the old saying goes, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." But, it also gave me the excuse to go down on weekends and visit him in South Beach—still one of my favorite getaways! At that time (the late 90s), Pan Am was a major player in the New York-to-Florida flights, and their fares were great! One memorable client of the South Beach flower shop was Oprah Winfrey. She didn't make appearances at the shop. To brighten up the place, she would have Alan or the shop owner come to her condo on the all-too-exclusive Fisher Island of greater Miami Beach! 

Another of his talents was as a stylist—setting up scenes with photographers at various shoots around town and ultimately Florida. If you are getting the impression that Alan is a workaholic—you're absolutely right. So, while in Florida it wasn't uncommon for him to be off on shoots with photographers there and all over the Caribbean when not at the flower shop.

Our wonderful friendship with Patricia in South Beach and New York.

When I "Pan Am-ed" my way down on the weekends, I did command a personal audience with Alan! We partied a lot at local clubs, restaurants and, of course, the beach. It was an exciting and growing chapter in our relationship. It was at the beach where we first met our wonderful friend Patricia. She was in and out of Miami frequently as a flight attendant for a German carrier. IMHO, this all happened during the pinnacle of South Beach's "Gay Revival" history. Like in San Francisco, gay pioneers went into run-down neighborhoods and gentrified them. But also like in San Francisco, more hip straight society was right on their heels and more or less took over. Regardless, who could resist all that Art Deco architecture and the fabulous beaches?

Be careful whose heels you come in on!

Of course, time marches on and things change. The South Beach flower shop was sold, taking away half of Alan's income. So, his return to the Big Apple was imminent. This was supplemented by more stylist shoots and a foray into a new SoHo flower shop. Needless to say, I was happy to have him home again, even though I had to share him with his work and our growing bird family!

Me and the kiddies patiently waiting for Alan to get off work.

Meanwhile, I had gone through a few changes (workwise) myself. All that glitters is not gold. And the short-lived glitter of Bloomingdale's came to an end after just six months. My initial impression of my co-worker situation was spot on. Between the back biting of the assistant manager of the department and the cattiness of the other sales people, it was at the end of my probationary period that they sacked me. It was (almost) comical at my exit interview. I have never heard the phrase "below standards" used to describe my work. It didn't bother me—I knew it wasn't true—I considered the source. My sales were good and I had a lot of complimentary letters from clients. But, I did leave with at least one golden memory. It was spotting Catherine Deneuve on the main floor and locking gazes with her. After a second or two, she actually smiled back at me. I'll never forget how beautiful she was!

It was the beginning of the summer. I decided to take my time and not rush into another "seemingly perfect" job. Oh, and did I mention that Sandy Hook and the Jersey Shore were just an hour away? I made good use of that proximity and had a great time until once again gainfully employed in the fall. You see, things just have a way of working themselves out. More on this enchanted journey coming up. Stay tuned!

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, present day

You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:

Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Finding Love on a Dance Floor? | My First Week Back in the Big Apple

Hi Folks! Will here. For the first time in a while, I have a title for my blog that pretty much explains itself! So, let's dive back in.

My warm welcome to Brooklyn, followed by a magical night at the Roxie, only needed a third component to prove that good things come in threes! And, this third component was finding a great job at one of NYC's famed "Carriage Trade" retailers within the first week of being back!

One of my first sights when arriving in Brooklyn.

I have to give credit to my sister-in-law for coming up with the idea. But, after all, she did spend a lot of her career as a "headhunter." I'm sure she was motivated to get me gainfully employed, so I could find my own apartment and give them back their "couch!" LOL.

All suited up for my new job.

I remember the interview as being a rather quick and straight forward - a "one-two punch" in terms of how quickly the personnel manager looked me over and hired me. My retail experience, communication skills and the fact that I was wearing my favorite midnight blue Armani double-breasted suit, helped me to land this spot in one visit. BTW, my sister-in-law and my niece not only came along to show me the way, but accompanied me right into the waiting room of the personnel department. I have to say they were my good luck charms ... particularly my little niece. You see, in 1992 right after her birth, I was asked to be her Godfather. It was and still is an honor, and is something I really cherish to this day.

So, with my prior sales experience in the men's department of a very prestigious San Francisco retailer, I was assigned to the Men's Designer Department of this legendary New York store. There was a vacancy in the department created by an internal promotion. So, they urged me to start the next day. I was thrilled!

A great place to start my endeavors in New York.

That next day was a bit of a challenge. The department manager and his assistant were both very cordial and welcoming. But, that's where it ended. I could virtually feel a chill from the other sales people in the department upon my introduction. It sort of reminded me of scenes from the movie The Women, when Joan Crawford was interacting with her fellow sales folks at the perfume counter of Blacks Fifth Avenue. LOL. Yes, this was the wonderful reality of the commissioned sales world ... competitive doesn't even scratch the surface! (Meow!) Even thought I am sensitive by nature, I was not going to let a bunch of puffed-up sales queens get in my way. So, I wanted to dig right in and let them know that this was not my first (retail) rodeo!

Meanwhile, my social life had become just as busy. I had a potential new beau. Although it was not "sex at first sight," something inside me told me it would be worth the wait ... and it was. The fireworks and sizzle were certainly there ... but, I could sense a lot more was just below the surface. I had the same kind of feeling just after meeting my first partner, Tommy. That relationship was my "rock" for 14 years. It was only his demise from A.I.D.S. that finally separated us in 1989. Remembering this very special and unique feeling, I knew I was more than ready for him, us and the rest of our lives! Like I said before - this might sound corny and melodramatic - but, here we are 31 years later.

My stay in Brooklyn quickly proved to be awkward for all parties involved. My intended mission was accomplished (and then some!). I was working, dating and doing a pretty good job on "Take Three" of living in New York. It was time for me to have my own place. It turned out well that I didn't try to live with my new beau right away.

Washington Heights ... my new digs.

I found a nice, simple studio apartment just north of his place on Riverside Drive and 155th St. in Washington Heights. "The Heights" was an adjustment. It was so far away from central Manhattan and my work. But, I had my heart set on this new man and knew my proximity to him mattered a lot. I got to meet his friends and got invited to a lot of dinners and events.

I knew my ambitions were starting to take shape. I just had to be cautious ... something that I am not used to. But, patience paid off some six months later, when he acknowledged my diligence and asked me to move in with him. I was so happy! This is when the greatest (and ongoing) chapter of my life began! So stay tuned, as I return with my next episode - The growing pains of love and living together!

Bio of Will Seagers:

Will Seagers (also credited as Matt Harper), within his multifaceted careers and participation in numerous gay communities across the country in the '70s and '80s and beyond, worked as a print model, film performer, and DJ, just to name a few. He made iconic appearances in releases from Falcon, Hand in Hand, Joe Gage, Target (Bullet), J. Brian, Steve Scott, and more, including in lead roles in major classics like Gage's L.A. Tool & Die (1979) and Scott's Wanted (1980). He brought strong screen presence and exceptional acting to his roles and was scene partners with many fellow legends of classic porn.

Will Seagers, present day

You can read Will Seagers' previous blogs for Bijou here:

Welcome Matt/Will | What's For Dessert? | On and Off the Set of L.A. Tool & Die | Wanted, Weekend Lockup and Weekends in Hermosa Beach | Honeymoon in the Palms | Birds of a Feather | The Stereo Maven of Castro Street | The Pass Around Boy | The Ecstasy and the Agony | Fitness and Fantasy | Chasing the Boys and Chasing the Sun | Becoming Invisible | The Reverse Story of Dorian Gray | Pin Money | One Organ Leads to Another! | The Wheels of Steel | Feast and Famine | An Alphabet Soup of Powders and Pills | Merry Christmas (and Getting Re-Organized) | Now and Then | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: The Badlands | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: Moby Dick Bar | DEEP INSIDE THE CASTRO: "Just Another Stroll Down the Castro!" | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Hamburger Mary's | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Long Live the Stud! | Diving Into SoMa/Folsom: Club Life..."Hit me with your Rhythm Stick!” | A "Split Ticket": SoMa/Folsom and The Haight! | Staying Vanilla in a Flavorful Culture | A Little Secret | Recollections of the 1977 S.F. Gay Pride Parade | Life's a Beach | Flora & Fauna | Once Is Just Not Enough! | A Love of Cultures – A Knack for Languages! | For the Birds | It's About Time! | The Perfect Storm | Hello Chicago/Adieu Fire Island Pines! | Sex in the Woods! | My Life at the Gym | The Last Picture Show | Cumming Attractions! | The Peter Pan Syndrome | Valentine's Day Reflections | The “Idus Martias” and a Peacock! | Taxing I.M.H.O. | Nope...This Sure Ain't Kansas! | The French Connection | Water Baby | Pride: You Wear It Well! | Life Goes On... | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 1 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 2 | The Dance Floor and the Booth, Part 3 | A Christmas Haiku | It's My Party & I'll BLOG If I Want To! | "Werk!" | Heart Throbs from the Past! | Homage to the Stars & Studios of My Era | Traveling the Arc | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 1 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 2 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 3 | Music Is My Way of Life, Part 4 | "Brick Wall" | A Gap! | Life in South Beach | Club Memories of South Beach | Finding Love on a Dance Floor?

By Josh Eliot

When I started writing blogs for Bijou World, I honestly wasn’t sure how I would be able to draw on my memories to come up with fresh new ideas every two weeks. There are times that I struggled right up to the day before I had to send a new blog in for publication. I had 20+ years of on the job training during my tenure with Catalina Video and luckily I was able to re-watch movies on DVD, from my Catalina Library, to jump-start my memories of working on the productions. I’m also grateful for still being in touch with the surviving Catalina crew members Brad Austin (director/videographer), Jeff Burton (photographer) Eddie Cacho (make-up) and Peter Romero (director/photographer). When we get together or talk on the phone, so many shared memories come spilling out, which I in turn build ideas off of. Brad Austin is really insistent that we start a Catalina crew podcast, telling all the hysterical and tragic stories of our time working together from the 1990s to 2007. I’ve written well over 100 blogs since I started this endeavor, and only recently I felt the need to cut down to one per month. It’s challenging, but for some reason I am still able to pump out stories without too much repeating. I really wish we had smart phones back then, because I’m sure I would have taken hundreds of on set photographs to help me recall all of the adventures. The fun production stories are certainly fading with age. If I had only kept a diary.

In saying that, I could not be more proud or grateful that someone in my household has been putting in the work. My partner, Tony Italiano, was born in Perth, Australia, one of seven brothers and sisters, a few of which were born in southern Italy before his parents immigrated to Australia. In 1980, Tony moved to the USA after spending years in London. In 1976, when he first moved to England, he started writing his daily adventures into a diary. At the beginning of each new year, he would stop writing in his old book, put it in storage and continue his journalisms in a freshly purchased new one. About four years ago, he decided to pull them all out of the mothballs to give them a proper new home. He is painstakingly re-typing all of his writings into the computer to make digital files of the contents.

It was at that point that I noticed that he had a ton of memorabilia to go along with each month of the year. He puts keepsakes between the pages and I also scan them for the digital version, which I am convinced should be included in an LGBTQ+ time capsule “somewhere.” He kept receipts, ticket stubs, photos, buttons and more to be presented as evidence of the amazing events he experienced through his 50 year history as a “journaling” gay man. For example: on 5/17/1977, he has the original birthday card from his parents “to a dear son on his 21st,” with a beautiful full-page message written in Italian from his mother and father. Another was a photo from October, 1979 at the March for Gay Rights in Washington, DC, where he was holding an Australian flag. Many more life-changing and country-changing events follow, things I had forgotten about, like when I saw a “Schulte” pin. Steve Schulte, in addition to being the hottest, hairiest muscle stud in West Hollywood at the time, became the city’s gay mayor in 1986. Tony got the pin while working on his campaign. He has a lot of pins in his collection like “Stop Acid Rain” and “Stop LaRouche” -- Lyndon LaRouche was some asshole, anti-gay politician! The fact that he documented all these years and had the insight to keep the receipts, as they say, is a really unique thing. Can you imagine being able to go back to any day of any year and know exactly what you were doing and who you were doing it with?

Check out the templates below to see if any of the visuals stir up some memories for you.

-The first “teeny-tiny” journal book Tony purchased when he moved to London.

-Once he relocated to Los Angeles, Tony worked at Umbrello, an upscale furniture showroom on Melrose Avenue. Pamela Bellwood, who played Claudia on the series Dynasty, came in one day and Tony asked her to sign her autograph on their letterhead.

-Halloween 1984 was on the day after Joan Collin’s character Alexis, also from Dynasty, was thrown into jail. Dressed in drag, the group of friends all held “Free Alexis” signs as they paraded down the streets of West Hollywood.

-Mark and Tony (1982) in a romantic relationship that segued into lifelong “best” friends to this day. In fact Mark, Tony and I are vacationing together next week to the East Coast and are thinking about getting a place there to spend the summers.

What I find classic on this template is to see the love note, followed by a “pissed off note.” Real life, right!?

-Tony’s collection of “fortunes” from fortune cookies throughout the years are all over the place in his journaling.

-The pins tell a story of days gone by within the gay community...

-L.A. Cares “play safely” pin, from the Los Angeles Cooperative AIDS Risk-Reduction Education Service. They were a pioneering partnership between AIDS Project Los Angeles and The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center in 1980. Together, they launched a safer-sex education plan to combat the epidemic.

-The Shanti Project Foundation originated in San Francisco in 1974, founded by Dr. Charles Garfield. They were one of the world’s first community-based organizations to support individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. They also started PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support), providing free pet food, supplies and veterinary care to companion animals of low income ill or disabled individuals. In 1990, while working for AT&T in Los Angeles, Tony invited the Shanti Project to come and educate over 400 employees during ten seminars sponsored by AT&T’s Quality of Work Life Committee.

-The Spike, West Hollywood’s most popular leather/cruise bar. I’ll tell you what, when I first moved to L.A., my co-worker Chet Thomas (“Sal & Sal”) and I spent a lot of time there, always on our worst behavior!

-Christopher Street West is a non-profit organization that organized the first “permitted” gay parade on June 28, 1970 to commemorate Stonewall.

All great pins, alongside Studio One, a West Hollywood Disco, AIDS Walk Los Angeles and the not to be forgotten performance of Marilyn Chambers in Insatiable (1980).

-Remember Hands Across America? This was a massive charity event on May 25, 1986, where over six million people formed a human chain across the USA in order to help raise awareness regarding hunger and homelessness, with 15 million dollars being raised. Tony and his friend Tim Webb participated.

-Porn icon Blue Blake made an appearance at the Gold Coast Bar in West Hollywood for one of their Aid for AIDS fundraisers.

-The Names Project Memorial Quilt was conceived on November 27, 1985 by activist Cleve Jones during the annual candlelight march in remembrance of Harvey Milk and George Moscone. The idea of an actual quilt came to Jones after attendees of the march taped signs of their deceased friend’s names to the San Francisco Federal Building.

-Tony has an amazing section in his journaling which includes the names and photos of over 100 of his friends who died from AIDS. A very dear friend, Chris Wooley is shown, as well as Nancy Cole Sawaya, who was one of Tony’s closest friends. She was one of the founders of APLA, and I talk about her in detail in the blog: “Is That Al Parker in Your Photograph?” Yes, another of Tony’s receipts included his friendship with Al Parker.

-The ticket stub and program from a Michael Jackson concert on Sunday November 13th, 1988. A week or so later Tony went to see Childs Play 2 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

-A photo of Tony with one of his close friends, Jim Suwalkowski. While visiting a gay bar in Italy with Mark and his friend Deric, they spotted, and started cruising, a couple of “local-lookers” named Gianni and Paolo. The Hangar Bars card in the picture has their names and phone number on the back. They all chatted and became good friends, visiting each other in their own countries for years to come. 

-Tony purchased some Padre Pio stamps that were available for a limited time in that era.

-He kept the playbill for Jeff Stryker Does Hard Time (1999), a prison-themed comedy and erotic stage show that toured major cities, including San Francisco and Chicago. A West Hollywood playhouse favorite during its run which got the audience drooling when Jeff Stryker (Powertool) performed a brief solo/masturbation sequence near the end of the show. For the record, Tony has every playbill from every show and concert he ever attended. 

-Paramount Studios was the backdrop for the finish line of the AIDS Walk-a Thon in 1989. Tony, alongside his friends Peter and Paul, celebrate after finishing the fundraiser.

-Letterhead from the incredible Miramar By The Sea Hotel in Montecito, just south of Santa Barbara. If you visited the area and were lucky enough to stay there before it was torn down, after sitting vacant for two decades, you would always remember how magical it was. The hotel, with its infamous blue roofs, was set on lush grounds, but you could walk to the beachfront, which was just across the Amtrak train tracks. Yes, the Amtrak ran right through the hotel’s property -- it was very old school.

-Two passes from the L.A. Summer Olympics 1984 and the ticket from when Tony, my parents and I climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

-A Godzilla Minus One movie stub (a fabulous movie I forced him to go to), the 3D glasses from Meow Wolf in Santé Fe New Mexico and a napkin from our trip to Boston, where we stopped in the Cheers bar for a beer. Meow Wolf is a massive, immersive art installation and mind-bending interactive museum. 

-A more recent photo of Tony in his dog trainer uniform for Petco, and a snippet from his multi-volume set of journals. 

Tony dedicated five decades to documenting his daily life and experiences. It’s amazing that items like a movie stub, receipt or pin can all of a sudden bring a barrage of memories to the forefront. I hope you got something out of seeing these items, too! He knows what he did every day, where he ate, who he was with and the bars and clubs he went to. Just think about if you had records like that. Wouldn’t it be priceless?

As you might have guessed, Tony just asked me to print an extra copy of this writing. Can you guess why? He wants to add it to his journal.

Bio of Josh Eliot:

At the age of 25 in 1987, Josh Eliot was hired by Catalina Video by John Travis (Brentwood Video) and Scott Masters (Nova Video). Travis trained Eliot on his style of videography and mentored him on the art of directing. Josh directed his first movie, Runaways, in 1987. By 2009 when Josh parted ways with Catalina Video, he'd produced and directed hundreds of features and won numerous awards for Best Screenplay, Videography, Editing, and Directing. He was entered into the GayVN Hall of fame in 2002.