In 1926 he started living openly w Jimmie Shields, a nice, sexy nobody-in-particular who 'looked after the house.' This relationship lasted until his death. Billy, by mid-1920s, found himself a #1 star comedian and he didn't keep his gay preferences secret. Movieland then was mostly het, unlike the gay agents, producers who dominate today and yet insist that gay talent stay closeted, or you won't get STAR roles. After small roles, he found himself w the cross-eyed (lol) Norma Shearer : 'The one woman who got a rise out of me and that's saying a mouthful.' He had a brief bash with Ramon Novarro. Ew, Hollywood! A spotty squeeze w actress Barbara La Marr helped, but she became demanding, wanting thisa-thata. What to do kerplunked him in big, dumb, easy Movieland (it's even dumber today) where you could become a big, dumb, easy millionaire ohnight. NYC in the early 20s : anything went and the fluidity of your sexuality was more of Why not? The funny & likeable Billy casually met the unknown George Cukor, Jack Kelly (later costume designer Orry-Kelly) and the guy he lived with, an acrobat named Archie Leach (later Cary Grant). The story, true or not, sums up the Haines personality, of which there was plenty. What to do with his life ? A talent agent (so the story goes) cooed, 'I like your face.' His answer: 'So do I.' Pause. His attitude was, Why not? Never mind who. He was smart, irreverent, charming and cool about sex. Fleeing his Virginia home, young Billy Haines (1900-1973) arrived in NYC after WW1, ready and willing for anything.

Wisecracker by William J. Mann