Armistead Maupin - Tales of the City series (1 Viewer)

lolly

Rowena? From Kuwait?
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There seem to have been a few topics devoted to the books or the TV series in our history, but none for a good few years, so I thought I'd start another one.

Radio 4 have serialised books 7 (Michael Tolliver lives) and 8 (Mary Ann In Autumn) over the last few weeks, and they are still available on iPlayer radio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qffmr

I was hoping they would go on to book 9 (The Days of Anna Madrigal), but sadly they haven't.

And rather excitingly (well, for me, at least), there's a clip on Maupin's facebook page of Laura Linney on some US chat show recently, where she was asked if she would be up for more 'Tales Of The City', and she said yes, and that there were talks about it now. I so hope it happens, with Olympia Dukakis. Is she still working? With those two in place, I wouldn't be overly concerned with who else was cast.
 
I read the first book about a year or two ago, didn't really work for me. It felt very dated, as did the TV series when I tried to watch it.
 
Oh thank you for this, I shall make a point of listening. I've read Michael and Mary Ann but not sure I read Mrs Madrigal and the brief outline on wiki doesn't ring any bells.

The original tv series remains one of my favourite TV things ever. I think I was 17 or 18 when it aired and I'd never seen anything so wonderful. And then I read all 6 books in the course of a week. Dr Jon Fielding (RIP from AIDS xx) was the perfect man physically although a total slag obviously.

As for Olympia, she was named alongside Gaga in the Dionne biopic and is playing "Aunt Vicky" in an all star action drama due out next month.

(NAR: I tried a Mac'n'Cheese pot noodle last week (£1 in Tesco) and it was vile)
 
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I read the first book (which was first published in '76 - at least as a newspaper column and I think contemporaneously, I don't know when it was first published as a book, or when they became books rather than a column) at the height of all the 'AIDS: Don't Die Of Ignorance' campaigns. At that point only the first six books had been published, and obviously the books deal with the bathhouse scene of the '70s and early '80s and the onset of HIV/AIDS in San Francisco, so I remember that all feeling rather odd, but I loved them. More than any other series of books, certainly.

The TV show did feel dated even at the time, but I guess for me that was part of the charm. The first series was wonderful, and then a step down in quality for series two and three. I don't think three was ever even broadcast in the UK, unless some satellite channel did with relatively little fanfare.

I was just sorting through my DVDs, thinking I might give it another watch, as I can't have done for at least ten years, but I only have it on region one, and we binned our multi region DVD player a few years back :(
 
The very first MR SHIRL got me into them. He used to go off to work in developing X-RAY LASERS or whatever it was sometimes at the weekends and I used to LIE IN BED READING BOOKS :disco:

I've know I've said it before but 'Michael Tolliver Lives' was an utterly DREADFUL BOOK
 
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I've know I've said it before but 'Michael Tolliver Lives' was an utterly DREADFUL BOOK

I've still not read it, nor the two subsequent ones. I read less than flattering things about it, and was a little put off by the shift from the third person. And wasn't Maupin initially insistent that it WASN'T a sequel to the original six? I see he backtracked on that subsequently, however.

I loved the originals so much, and it had been so long since I'd read them, I wanted them to remain perfect. It almost felt like something threatening to sully them would be an insult to my youth.

I did enjoy the radio serialisation though, as much as it has clearly been very heavily abridged. Perhaps now I COULD revisit them.
 
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I just read this on wikipedia, from the 'Michael Tolliver Lives' page:

The realities of aging, both distressing and graceful, is a major theme of the book – as well as the generation gap between gays from the 1970s and 80s and gays from the 2000s.

Who needs that, when it's like EVERY DAY on moopy :D
 
What the cast of Tales look like today:

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My main problem with Michael Tolliver Lives was that Mouse was so clearly Armistead, in the same way that Night Listener person was, that I just got bored hearing him go on and on about himself and wanted more of the other characters.

I'm sure there was a sex scene that left me feeling mildly disgusted, and not in a good way like the cooking oil scene in The Swimming Pool Library which I read around the same time.
 
And to think I saw Marcus D'Amico on stage in pants with Rupert Graves in this...

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and then went back to our hotel with my very first boyfriend and fucked each other ragged.
 
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Whatever happened to that actress I wonder. Did Rupert go full frontal?

Marcus turned up in The Bill at some point as the psychotic station commander's brother. There's been a few discussions on Datalounge over what happened between him and Armistead and whether he refused to put out or was actually suddenly homophobic.
 
Whatever happened to that actress I wonder. Did Rupert go full frontal?

She was NEVER HEARD OF AGAIN

I don't remember any complete nudity, or even an arse. I do remember lots of the pair of them in tighty whities though. I don't think I've ever been so aroused in a public place.

Didn't D'Amico also appear briefly in 'Family Affairs'? I know I also saw him in a production of 'Mamma Mia' as one of the Dads. And not the gay one. The traveller who ends up with the short fat one/Julie Walters.
 
My main problem with Michael Tolliver Lives was that Mouse was so clearly Armistead, in the same way that Night Listener person was, that I just got bored hearing him go on and on about himself and wanted more of the other characters.

Even down to the much younger husband?

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The only thing I've read that was WORSE was the autobiography of the GREAT GAMBO where he kept MOANING ON about what a TERRIBLE MISTAKE LIMAHL had made by DUMPING HIM

YEAH RIGHT
 
Did they have an open relationship? I'm having flashbacks to a trucker or something that takes place in a truck. And something about the younger husband's parents?

I shall have to listen to fresh myself.
 
Limahl and Gambaccini together is a real GRUESOME TWOSOME, but in an odd way you're relieved that they are together, so neither is inflicted on anyone else.

I've seen both of them out and about in London. Limahl in the audience at 'Avenue Q' just before curtain up, standing up, waving and talking very loudly on his phone to someone who was in the balcony, and Gambaccini strolling along the South Bank with a young nephew.
 
I read the first book about 7-8 years ago I think. It was a bit slow but got better towards the end. I think I wanted to read the rest but it never happened.
 
Your mention of Avenue Q reminded me Tales Of The City: The Musical! which had the creative participation of Jake Shears.

[video=youtube;bgReoTDyyd4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgReoTDyyd4[/video]

It didn't make it to Broadway on all accounts.
 
It didn't get any replies to my thread, either.
 
I seem to recall that musical was on in San Francisco (where presumably it premiered) just after I was there for my 40th in 2011. I was quite disappointed to have missed it.

I've been to Barbary Lane (well, Macondray Lane in real life - I think) each time I've gone there. It really is quite magical.
 
I loved the original book series and TV adaptations, but didn't bother with the Mouse book (I distinctly recall Shirley's distaste among the unimpressed readers). I remember Mary Ann in Autumn being fine though, and wasn't spoilt by missing the previous one. I should look up the last book I suppose.
 
http://armisteadmaupin.com/blog/?p=1462

At the Monday, June 20, opening party for Dog Eared Books’ new store in the Castro, after Armistead Maupin read something from “Logical Family,” his forthcoming memoir, Frank Biafore asked about Laura Linney’s recent revelation that there have been talks of an updated “Tales of the City.” Maupin confirmed that some talks are in progress, and then said, “How great would it be if people found out Mary Ann Singleton and Anna Madrigal were soon headed back to 28 Barbary Lane, and they found out from gossip heard in the Castro bookstore?”

But if you weren’t in the bookstore, here’s more about it: The series will be set in modern-day San Francisco, says Maupin, “with 50-something Mary Ann Singleton returning to Barbary Lane,” as well as Michael Tolliver, who comes from “a difficult Christian family in Orlando.” Way before last week’s horrific events, Maupin had “already established 40 years ago that Michael’s parents were Florida orange growers, and his mother had joined the Anita Bryant crusade.”

In Los Angeles last week, Maupin and Linney attended pitch meetings with several networks for the new series. Linney and Olympia Dukakis are, in showbiz lingo, already “attached” to it.
 
I wonder if that means they are going to make it about the final three books? Give us a decent Michael and I'd be up for that.
 
I read the initial 6 books in the space of a week in 1999 and loved them.

'Michaael Tolliver lives' was repellently awful.
'Mary Anne in Autumn' was far better and quite enjoyable.
'The days of Anna Madrigal' was the dreariest, laziest pile of shite.
 
When 'Michael Tolliver Lives' came out Maupin did a book signing in the Vrolijk (a gay bookshop) in Amsterdam.
As I was such a massive fan of the original series, I went and queued for a signed copy. He was there with his husband. After people queuing had exchanged a few words and had their copy signed they were meant to go to the till to pay for it.
In my excitement I marched straight out of the shop with my book, not having paid.
I was crossing the road at the lights when I realised. I spun on my heel to return to the shop, but in the process, tripped and fell face first into a puddle.
I got a free book and a cut hand from the experience.
 
I absolutely loved the first six books which I read back to back as soon as I was introduced to them. Never had much time for the TV series oddly enough - the books just really worked best in my head.

I tried a few chapters of The Night Listener when it came out but it wasn't for me. I'm half tempted to give the most recent to a spin if there truly a return to some kind of form.
 
Of the last books I'd go with Mary-Ann in Autumn - that was a return to form.

The other 2 were a real downer. He should have left the books like ABBA - a perfect set. By writing the last 3 books he turned the series into the Rolling Stones.
 
That's why I've never ventured further. I loved the arc of the original 6 from the frivolity of the first to the mature sixth. Mary-Ann has always been my favourite character though, so I'm tempted by Mary-Ann In Autumn for sure.
 
I'm reading 'The Days Of Anna Madrigal' and so far I am quite enjoying it. But maybe that's just after the dreadful LESBAIN drama (they got away with it!)

Digging the revival of the short chapters style of the first books
 
I'm thinking I might add this one to the Christmas list, which covers books 7-9

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Except for the fact I know I'll probably get a bit OCD about it after and want to get the first two covering 1-3 and 4-6 as well.
 
Netflix Developing New Installment of ‘Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City’

Cynthia Littleton
Managing Editor: Television@Variety_Cynthia

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COURTESY OF PBS
JUNE 28, 2017 | 11:01AM PT
Netflix is developing a new installment of “Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City” with Working Title Television U.S. Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis are on board to revive the characters they played in Showtime and PBS adaptations of the landmark LGBT-themed novel series in the 1990s.

Michael Cunningham (“The Hours”) has penned the first script for what is envisioned as a 10-part installment, although the project does not yet have a series order from Netflix. Maupin would return as an executive producer, and Alan Poul is on board to direct. Netflix declined to comment.

Prolific novelist Maupin launched the series that follows a colorful, diverse group of characters living in San Francisco as a newspaper serial in 1976. He has published nine novels in the “Tales” series, with 2014’s “The Days of Anna Madrigal” said to be the final edition of the book series.






“Tales” focuses on the residents of a boarding house at 28 Barbary Lane run by Anna Madrigal, played by Dukakis. The Netflix series would be set in the present day, focusing on Linney’s Mary Ann Singleton character as she returns to San Francisco and the boarding house after 25 years away.

The book series has long been hailed as a cultural touchstone for the LGBT community with its finely drawn portrayals of gay, straight and transgender characters and their struggles. The “Tales” novels were among the first to address the AIDS crisis.

PBS carried the original six-part “Tales” miniseries in January 1994, which generated controversy in some regions for its depiction of LGBT relationships. Showtime ran the subsequent miniseries, 1998’s “More Tales of the City” and 2001’s “Further Tales of the City.”
 
There's a new documentary called The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin out today featuring Laura Linney and others for you fans.
 
I saw that documentary about Maupin at the Dublin Gay Film Festival this year.

It was quite boring.

I am rather tired of him these days. The first 6 books were incredibly special; and encapsulated perfectly a magical place and time that is gone forever.

Books 7 to 9 were absolutely unnecessary, and in many ways just seemed like an unpleasant attempt to cash in on his legacy. That's his right of course - they are his characters. But it degrades the original 6 to have drivel like 'Michael Tolliver Lives' and 'The Days of Anna Madrigal' in existence.

He's also written a memoir which no doubt will recycle the story of his fling with Rock Hudson over forty years ago.
 
I've read a little of and about the memoir. It was distinctly unappetising.
 
When it comes to gay writers (as opposed to 'writers who happen to be gay') Maupin is a bit like Edmund White in that he recycles the same stories in various works repeatedly.

I used to prefer Maupin until books 7 to 9 in Tales of the City which just revealed him to be a hack.

White is by far a better writer.
 

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