Sal Mineo played both sides of fence sexually!
Folks in West Hollywood are familiar with two facts about actor Sal Mineo
For starters, there were whispers that Sal Mineo walked a tight-rope when it came to his sexual prowess.
Some say, for instance, that he was a wild child - with a hunger for kinky sex - who played both sides of the fence.
Subsequently, there were quite a few rumors - and alot of outright speculation - that Sal Mineo and screen heart-throb James Dean often liked to tango.
The tales about James Dean weren't new to me.
For a brief period, I rented a small apartment at 1236 N. Harper in West Hollywood, which was known to have been a residence for a handful of luminaries in the business back in the fifties.
For instance, Katherine Hepburn allegedly rented the front suite for a couple of years, before she moved on to larger digs west in Beverly Hills and beyond.
And, the one-bedroom apartment next door was a respite from it all - neighbours have sworn up-and-down about it, in fact - that James Dean once hung his hat there before he sauntered back east to study acting and pursue serious roles more fervently.
The suites were known for their deep walk-in closets which fueled alot of titillating gossip, too.
It has been rumored that Dean, for instance, engaged in "S & M" romps behind those heavy wooden doors with a posse of actor friends during the heady days of his budding career.
Curiously, several years ago, I crossed paths - and became friends with - an Englishman by the name of Lawrence (Larry) Parnes.
Mr. Parnes, among other things, was not only credited for having discovered the English Pop Singer - Tommy Steele - but was also known to have managed the Beatles when they were the Silver Beatles.
The fab four later became Internationally famous around the globe after signing up with Manager Brian Epstein - who essentially launched their careers - after scooping them up from under Parne's nose.
I mention Parnes in this post in reference to Sal Mineo & James Dean because apparently (while on a trip to America with his parents way back in the 50's) Mr. Parnes crossed paths with - and had a torrid affair with - actor James Dean.
Indeed!
A few years ago - while visiting Mr. Parnes on his estate in the quaint little English town of Rye (coincidientally, he resided on an old country road just down the way from McCartney at the time) he confided to me that he had savored a clandestine affair with Dean way back when.
Allegedly, the impressario (a teen at the time) was strolling along a Los Angeles Street one day on his own - when he spied a handsome young man standing in front of a bar - who gave him a wink and motioned him over for a chat.
"Can I buy 'ya a drink," the rugged dude asked out-of-the-blue.
"But, I'm under age," was Parne's rueful reply.
"That's okay. The bartender is a friend of mine," the handsome hunk chuckled, as they strolled inside the dark environs of the smokey little watering hole to down an ale or two.
Uh-huh.
The stud was none other than James Dean!
One thing apparently led to another - at which point - Parnes found himself in the sack with Dean.
Although Larry didn't provide any details - he didn't infer by a long shot - that any kind of S & had gone down on the occasion of their roll-in-the-hay.
So, as to the rumors about Dean - and his alleged hunger for kinky sex (cigarette burns) - I can not attest to whether they are true or not.
An interesting bit of scuttlebutt, though, when one considers the rumors about the two actors - Mineo and Dean - who worked side-by-side on the set of "Rebel Without a Cause".
Bottom line?
What intrigues does James Franco intend to pursue in respect to the Sal Mineo film bio?
News at 11!
http://www.thetattler.biz
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