Episode 18: Fred Halsted’s L.A. PLAYS ITSELF (1972)

This week on the podcast, we’re finally taking a look at the film that set the gay world on fire: Fred Halsted’s L.A. Plays Itself. Described by its creator as a sort of ‘confessional yin-and-yang,’ the film’s highly controversial emphasis on sadomasochism and ambivalent tone drew as much condemnation as it did applause, making Halsted a legitimate gay icon virtually overnight.

Over the course of our discussion we’ll dive into Halsted’s backstory, the role that astrology had in the film’s production, and its incendiary New York premiere.