Today it is still one of the most informative and provocative books written about gay people and popular culture.

“At the end of Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita (1960), a drugged transvestite hits the beach and screams ‘By the end of the year 2000 the whole world will be homosexual!’ To America, however, homosexuality was still something you did in the dark or in Europe-preferably both. When Vito Russo published the first edition of The Celluloid Closet in 1981, there was little question that it was a groundbreaking book. This copy is signed to one of Russo’s closet friends, the cabaret singer Baby Jane Dexter. It was frequently to comic effect, such as when screenwriter Gore Vidal wrote in an implied gay relationship for Charleton Heston in Ben-Hur that was obvious to anyone (in the know) but not to the actor himself-he played it straight (so to speak). Special features: Commentary with filmmakers Robert Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman, Lily Tomlin, producer Howard Rosenman, editor Arnold Glassman, author Vito Russo. Fortunately, the censors lacked the sophistication to succeed. Yet, it is also infuriating, as film historian Russo exposes the collusion of religious organizations, conservative politicians, and movie studio executives in thwarting positive portrayals of gays on screen.

It is impossible to overstate how important this book was to the nascent gay rights movement. Book is warmly inscribed, “June 16 1981, Dearest Baby Jane, With love and gratitude for your friendship and encouragement. Book and dust jacket are both in very good condition-there is a small tear to one of the pages, and dust jacket shows edgewear and a repaired tear to the rear flap. With Lily Tomlin, Tony Curtis, Susie Bright, Arthur Laurents. The Celluloid Closet, Homosexuality in the Movies. The Celluloid Closet: Directed by Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman.

The Celluloid Closet by Vito Russo