Public Faces, Private Lives
Text from Improper Bostonians

Provincetown Provincetown's reputation as an art colony extended back to the turn of the century. In the years between World War II and Stonewall, increasing numbers of gay people began to view Provincetown as a destination for those seeking new faces and more anonymity, in a setting known for natural beauty of all kinds. " I remember going to Provincetown for the first time, probably around 1953. I can remember that when I appeared on the beach, people were getting up and applauding. I was looking behind me thinking, 'I wonder who they're applauding for?' When I asked the man I was with, he said, 'They're clapping at you, because they know you're a new face in town.'" -Robert G.