But how were these stars able to remain powerhouses in the land of entertainment, despite so much scrutiny by the gossip rags, ready to out any star for the slightest indiscretion, all in the name of the public's right to know?

The answer is easy: they hid their sexuality.

Straight-Jacket, currently playing in select cities, is a new comedy written and directed by Richard Day (whose credits include the gay film Girls Will be Girls and TV's The Larry Sanders Show, Ellen, Mad about You and even Spin City). The comedy pokes fun of the gay-actor/straight-image Hollywood phenomenon.

In the film, our hero Guy Stone (Matt Letscher) must fight to obtain a starring role in the upcoming Hollywood epic, Ben Hur. But there is one complication, because Guy is into guys. And since the government figures that being gay is as good as being a Communist, the movie studio fears that the public may detect something "pink" if not exactly "pinko," about Guy.

To prove his heterosexuality, to squelch any nasty rumors, and to snag the cherished role in Ben Hur, Guy marries his naïve and clueless secretary, Sally (Carrie Preston).

As the characters move through a world of Hollywood-faux glamour and homophobia, bit players and studio giants alike joust for power, fame, public reputation, and yes, even love. Guy falls for a sensitive and handsome screenwriter named Rick (Adam Greer), who is not only gay, but is also a socialist. And then all hell breaks loose.

Sound familiar? It should, because it's loosely based on actual events. Unfortunately, real-life Hollywood during the 50s was just as egregious as in Straight-Jacket, but just not as funny.

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