I have just been thinking about how popluar TV presents gay characters. When I cast my mind back to the series "Beverley Hillbillies" there was a character who was so obviously gay that she must have been something of a pioneer. I'm talking about the legal clerk, I think her name might have been "Miss Mortimer". Does anyone know whether this was an early attempt to portray a gay character or was the actress herself actually gay?
2006-10-27 00:12:43 · 13 answers · asked by Not Ecky Boy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Her character on the show was Jane Hathaway. Her real name was Nancy Culp and she was gay. She passed away in 1991.
2006-10-27 01:49:30 · answer #1 · answered by mesierens 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are thinking of Jane Hathaway ("Miss Jane"), played by Nancy Culp. She was the private secretary to Milburn Drysdale, the goofy banker.
I don't think there was any "early attempt" to portray a gay character, any more than when they dressed Max Baer, Jr. (Jethro) in drag, to portray his sister, Jethrine.
Most of the storyline about Jane Hathaway showed that she was always trying to get involved with Jethro. Her character was hilarious, the intellectual type who was always trying to reason with an emotional boss and other eccentric types.
Apparently, the actress publicly acknowledged that she was a lesbian (later in life). Here is a site with a bit of information.
Do you remember when the actress played the maid in the "I Love Lucy" episode when Lucy & Ricky and the Mertzes went to London? Ricky was going to do a concert, with the Queen in attendance. Lucy and Ethel thought they would meet the Queen backstage, and they were practicing their curtsies. Then, the maid walked in and showed them how to do a full curtsy according to "British etiquette" (which could not be done by Lucy and Ethel.)
2006-10-27 05:06:49 · answer #2 · answered by SB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone things you mean Miss Hathaway. She was obviously the banker's secretary so Im not so sure that is who you mean. That show was on for 10 or 11 years so if that character only appeared once by chance then its going to be hard to remember. Back to your question, I highly doubt there was any attempt to portray a gay character in a series of that nature during that time period.
2006-10-27 01:20:30 · answer #3 · answered by J D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like the Andy Griffith show a lot better. Yes, we all remember Miss Jane Hathaway, but if you remember she was always pining away for Jethro.
2006-10-27 04:41:57 · answer #4 · answered by pinkrosegreeneyes bluerose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean Mr Drisedales secretary Miss Jane? If you do her name was Nancy Culp I don't know if she was gay or not but her character had the hots for Jethro.
2006-10-27 01:22:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Miss Jane was just being portrayed as "an old spinster type" ... the fact that she had a thing for Jed Clampett rules out your "gay" theory
2006-10-27 00:16:44 · answer #6 · answered by deadkelly_1 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i to believe its miss Jayne Hathaway. real name is Nancy Kemp. didn't play a gay because she was always chasing Jethro. he went for the younger bank tellers all the time. great show. Nancy Kemp passed in this decade a modestly income person seeing she didn't receive royalties like they do now. did i mention "great show".
2006-10-27 01:37:23 · answer #7 · answered by shyboy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I still watch it. The only one I can think of is Miss Hathaway and she wasn't gay.
2006-10-27 00:27:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you mean the banker's secretary it was Jane Hathaway. I always thought she was rather butch, but I figured it was just me stereotyping because she was tall, thin, and masculine.
2006-10-27 00:15:41 · answer #9 · answered by Star 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Heck, my childhood was one really, really long episode of the Beverly Hillbilies. I haven't seen that show in ages.
2006-10-27 04:14:45 · answer #10 · answered by carora13 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋