Paul Lynde always played it straight, I believe. The public did not know he was gay. They thought he was just an eccentric entertainer.
Hokey movie? Blasphemy! Sheer blasphemy! I LOVE that movie. My family had the album when I was a kid (we had a lot of musical movie albums). We knew all the words to all the songs.
It's intended to be a parody of the phenomenon of teens swooning over Elvis. Conrad Birdie was supposed to be a parody of Elvis. The situation was based on when Elvis went into the army.
Each and every song is a gem. The dancing is crrrrazy, man, craaaaazy! I mean, those people had more energy than I can imagine.
I can't speak for all, but according to my mother he was in the same camp as Liberace. Everyone knew, but no one spoke of it, because he was adorable enough to get allowances.
Well, my great aunt, who had clear plastic covers on her sofa and chairs, didn't know he was gay. She didn't know Liberace was gay, either. Most of the rest of us were a bit more observant.
Must be a generational thing, as most of us totally accepted Paul Lynde as the harried husband/father back in the day (and thought he did a good job at it too)
Watched "Hollywood Squares" rabidly as a kid and Paul was an idol. His delivery was like no other. Just saw him in drag in "Glass Bottom Boat" and smirking at two men in bed as well. One gag look from him is a closet scream!
I slept with you and you're in love with my husband. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?