Bruz Fletcher

Bruz Fletcher (March 12, 1906 – February 8, 1941) was a singer in Los Angeles, California, during the Pansy Craze. Born in Indiana, Fletcher gained fame as a singer at Club Bali, a popular nightclub during the Great Depression. Fletcher was openly gay and lived with his partner Casey Roberts.

Early life
Fletcher was born to Stoughton A. Fletcher and Mae Henley Fletcher, who were one of the richest families in Indiana at the time. When Fletcher was a child, his mother and grandmother ended their lives in a double suicide. His sister, Louisa Fletcher, made headlines after being left at the altar of her wedding to a German count. Fletcher attended Howe Military Academy and Indiana University and moved to Los Angeles in 1926.

Career
Fletcher, known as the "Singing Satirist", was known for lyrics that were often gay coded. In 1935, Fletcher was hired to perform at Club Bali on Sunset Boulevard for two weeks. After proving a popular draw, however, he remained at the club for over four years, performing for stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Ronald Reagan, and Howard Hughes. Fletcher wrote two books and several plays.

Personal life
Fletcher was openly gay, and his living arrangements with his partner Casey Roberts were openly written about in Hollywood newspapers at the time. In 1941, Fletcher died by suicide at the age of 34.