Fellow Travelers
Summary
Frankie Hines is one of the most provocative and shot - stealing characterson Showtime’sFellow Travelersseries . fiddle by Noah J. Ricketts ( American Gods , High Fidelity ) , Frankie is an forthright and unapologetic barkeep at the Cozy Corner bar in Washington D.C. , where most ofFellow Travelers’first three episodes take place . Frankie also reduplicate as a pull performer at nearby venues in the D.C. area , which might seem surprising given the diachronic impact of the Lavender Scare under Senator Joseph McCarthy and drawing card of the Subcommittee of Investigations , Roy Cohn .
Fellow Travelersepisode 3dives deeper into Frankie ’s backstory in ways that late episode of the Showtime serial have only hinted at . Franke and Marcus start a spontaneous relationshipafter Frankie makes several insidious yet direct approach on Marcus at the Cozy Corner . Frankie is an unforgiving costless feeling compared to Marcus , who intensely mask his intimate identity element for the sake of his professional reputation as a political newspaper publisher newsperson . Marcus , Hawk , and Tim all work closely with McCarthy , Cohn , and other pregnant members of the United States Federal Government during the Lavender Scare of the 1950s and must whole blot out their romanticist affairs to avoid ostracization .
Drag Performances Became Popular In Post-WWII 1950s America
Drag Shows Were A Sensational & Profitable Form Of Mainstream Entertainment
Drag performances were a popular mainstream variety of entertainment in post - WWII America despite the baleful influence of McCarthy ’s Lavender Scare . eating place like the one Frankie play at as depicted inFellow Travelers episode 3did actually exist at the meter and were not seen as an alternate or subversive outlet as one might take for granted given the political climate of the era . One example of a real - life drag ensemble that tour the United States at the meter was the Jewel Box Revuewhich was a stunning and profitable form of entertainment that hoi polloi of many demographics sought out ( via CNN ) .
Commonly referred to as " female interpretation " clubs , pull public presentation such as the Jewel Box Revue were permitted mostly due to the amusing angle that they marketed and squeeze in their other carrying into action . Interestingly , most of these ball club were owned and operate on by hoi polloi who were not entirely gay - friendly but understand the opportunity for great net profit from hosting these type of events . In round , many of these " female interpretation " spectacles became winnings - win scenarios for the performer and the venue owner alike , who did n’t bother asking many questions as long as the tickets were sell and seats were filled .
Drag Shows Were Still Lawfully Permitted Throughout The Lavender Scare
Drag Queens In The 1950s Were Widely Seen As Pure Spectacle
Because of the popularity and lucrativeness of the drag performances , and the reassertion that they were stand for to entertain and not advance LGBTQ+ activeness , they were not forbidden by constabulary during the Lavender Scare . The United States during the early 1950s continued to crack down on known homophile streak , especially as a substance to expose sure LGBTQ+ members who also were employed by the Union government . The Cozy Corner inFellow Travelerswas one of the most well - established gay bars in the Washington D.C. areabut was considered safe for being far away from the Capitol near Howard University ( via IndieWire ) .
The show that Frankie invite Marcus to inFellow Travelersepisode 3 is at an constituted " white " and " non - queer " restaurant have sex as Duke ’s Hideaway . Frankie appear to be a background singer for another Cozy Corner steady performer namedStormé DeLarverie , who was a real - living biracial , butch lesbian drag king and a far-famed vocalizer . Stormé was the chief MC of the Jewel Box Revue from 1955 to 1969 and was one of the first mainstream puff kings in American story . She would later on play a significant function during the historical Stonewall uprising in 1969 as one of a few known masses who physically fought against constabulary .
Frankie In Fellow Travelers Represents A Riskier 1950s Drag Queen
Drag Queens Were Socially Permitted On-Stage But Not Widely Elsewhere
Frankie is an inexorable and outspoken character in Showtime’sFellow Travelers , which may hint at worry for Marcus ’s fresh love interest as the miniseries progresses forward . While drag performers were socially and lawfully accept as shape of entertainment on stage , they were process much differently by law enforcement officers and Union government employee when they were not on stage . Frankie already indicate an ability to amply encompass the truth of his sexual identicalness and does not extend a similar discretion as Marcus , Hawk , and sometimes Tim do in the serial publication . Marcus has establish that he will not shed too many bed of his public image to protect Frankie down the crease inFellow Travelers .
Source : CNN , IndieWire
