Some lounge members have commented how Sal’s wife realized he was gay after his Ann Margret performance in the bedroom.  I don’t think she did.  I don’t think she has ever met a homosexual, I don’t think any gays were portrayed in any way in any electronic media pre Midnight Cowboy?, what would she compare him to?

When the Coke/Patio Execs saw the commercial Sal directed they spoke the EXACT words that were going through his wife’s head.  “something’s not right. I can’t put my finger on it.  It seemed like a good idea but now that we see it… I know it was our idea so I’ll take the blame.” 

After they left the SC staff chimed in with the words that have been going through Sal’s head – “they’re right something’s wrong with it.  It doesn’t work..etc.” 

Both they and Sal’s wife don’t wish to explore it any further because they don’t know exactly what’s up or don’t wish to know the real truth if they press on.

Don’s comments to Sal about keeping him on were the words Sal’s wife would use if she came just a bit closer to knowing the truth.

James, sorry, but I have to disagree with you on this one.  Everyone in the 1950's knew what "queers" were.  Even comedies of the 1930's often had a character who was a real flamer.  "Some Like It Hot" came out in 1959, and while not gay, cross dressing was often considered in the same ball park.  Audrey Hepburn was in "The Children's Hour" in 1961.  A child accuses her teachers of being lesbians.  I was 8 in 1963, and prancing around the house like Sal, and my father knew exactly what he was looking at.  He lost no opportunity to ridicule me for it.
     Sal's wife couldn't put her finger on it before, but after his performance, her face said it all.  "Ohmygod, my husband is a great big queer."

Allen Ginsberg - 1956 - "America I'm putting my queer shoulder to the wheel."

Didn't Betty, herself, joke to Don that Sally might be a lesbian because she was using Don's tools? Or am I misremembering?

I'm no expert, but I recall hearing the term "Nancy boys" in movies before the '50's. Seems a bit less antagonistic to me.

jackspratt, sorry you had to go through that. Must have been a rough childhood. Fathers of that era (mine included) could be real taskmasters.
Don seems to take the opposite direction with his hands off approach, virtually ignoring the kids, which is equally appalling.

I don’t know from experience I wasn’t even born in 1963 but my history says gays were a hidden subculture in the 50s & 60s.  Yes there were flaming sissy boys in some movies to compare Sal to but other than his Ann Margret performance he’s been pretty butch – Rock Hudson.   Goes to strip clubs with the guys, talked about how much he liked boobs in episode one, and he’s apparently had heterosexual sex with the Mrs. several times.   

She seems bright but I don’t know that she’s figured it out.  It’s not like Sal sought her out to be his “beard” or as cover to climb the work ladder.  He seems to genuinely care for her, possibly more than some straight men.   He’s self absorbed, non sexual and then became a drama queen went talking about directing a commercial. 

It all adds up for us but I don’t think she can wrap her head around it.  Who else does she know in the same situation or who has she ever heard about in the same situation.    Like the Patio guys she “just can’t put her finger on it,” or “explain it.”  There will have to be another big shoe to drop for her to be sure what’s wrong with Sal.

mneeley, thanks for the kind thought.  Yes, it was rough, but my mom was a real June Cleaver type and would protect me when she could.  My parents divorced in 1979 (younger woman), and I have not had much contact with him since then.

@James:  one small correction.  It was Pepsi execs.  I remember Patio, and it became Diet Pepsi.  I agree with the SC guy who said, "Who wants to drink something named after a floor?"

Dang - I don't know my cola companies.

And I could be wrong about Sal's wife.  My big prediction for last season was that Pete and Trudy were going to, or almost adopt a baby, that would turn out to be Peggy’s ( and Pete's).  Didn’t happen, probably because that would have been too soap opera ish.

Re: Sal's wife - I took her expression as one of "what the hell did I just see" bordering on shock.

I too took Sal's wife's expression as one of both shock and surprise.  I think it may have finally dawned on her that Sal is not who she apparently thought he was.  Although, I do like the character of Sal and it's too bad that men of that era had to pretend to be straight.  Too bad for their wives too.

James, my big prediction was that Grandpa Gene was going to molest Sally.  Those sessions in his bedroom just creeped me out.  Well, at least that's not going to happen.  Now I'm afraid Sally will go to California in 1968 and join the Manson family.  Oh noes!

Jack, I wasn't necessarily thinking he would molest Sally, but he certainly was creepy. There was an intensity to his character that was disturbing. I imagine we'll learn more about his character as time goes on. But I agree... something is up.

Are you implying that last season wasn't the first time he felt up Betty? I don't think so.

Alzheimer's is a very strange disease. My uncle was an extrememly devout and straightlaced minister all his life. When he finally succumbed to it, all his inhibitions disappeared. It was like he had been saving it up all those years to spend in the last couple months. Swearing and inappropriate commments, my word. My aunt, who was just as repressed, never got over her embarassment.

I think Sal does love his wife, but he's afraid of his sexuality. He was taken aback when a client made an overture to him the 1st season, he was in love with his neighbor who appeared in a print ad he did, and he lusts after Ken. He wouldn't act on his feelings if the other person didn't make the 1st move, like the bellhop. I think he genuinely cares about his wife, so this is a big eye-opener for her. It will be interesting to see how she reacts.

I never though Grandpa Gene was like that.  I thought he was only trying to help her (by giving her a book to read aloud with some words that I might stumble over).  Maybe he was trying to broaden her vocabulary to excel in school and achieve something in life on her own....or maybe he was trying to fix her lisp, I don't know.

I actually thought he was going to hit her over that $5 and that was going to be a big issue.

I think Sal's wife knows that there's something not quite right with him. The look on her face was one of fear and shock.

And, for what it's worth, in 1948, according to Dr. Alfred Kinsey, people were definitely aware of gay *stereotypes* (but uncomfortable with it) but most openly gay men accentuated it, particularly around other gay men. What was said above about the "gay subculture" is also true. There was definitely a small population that remained pretty discreet, so there's no way of knowing how much exposure his wife has had (and if it was enough to identify Sal as homosexual). I'm not sure if Sal qualifies as "accentuated" since he's closeted. That little song-and-dance he did *instead* of having sex with his wife (talk about red flags), well, 'nuff said. He can get away with being "artistic" or "sophisticated" or what we would call "metrosexual" but the same can be said of Paul Kinsey, who is straight.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. I don't remember -- do the Romanos have any plans to have kids? At some point the situation has to reach some conclusion. I don't their marriage can (or will) continue this way.

I think James is over thinking this very badly.  For one, just b/c you may think homosexuals weren't portrayed in the media, it doesn't mean that Sal's wife grew up in a vacuum.

Sal's wife was like 'hmmm, not having sex with my husband, wonder why...' and then Sal breaks out the gay dance routine and then his wife started looking at him like he was a serial killer.

Not to stereotype, but fashion and photography, and many other arts feature liberal diversity.  Don is completely comfortable with Sal directing.  He said so himself, and he doesn't really mince words much around SC.

Also remember that Don knows Sal is gay from the fire scene at the hotel in B-more.  I think Don sees somebody with a secret, living a conflicted life, which he identifies with, and he is understanding and sympathetic.

Don respects Sal, period.  The problem with the commercial was that, as Sterling said "it's not Ann Margret."

Crackbillionaire:  You may be right about your interpretation of what's going on, but we try not to criticize each others' offerings.  Just offer up your own take on things.  Besides, I don't think it is possible to overthink Madmen.  The writers are operating on several levels, and is just plain fun to try to figure out what they are up to.

Fair enough, jackspratt.  No harm intended.

I guess no one buys my theory about the dialogue in the board room speaking directly to Kitty’s thoughts.  I can’t think the writing simply meant their comments were directed at Sal’s directing the commercial and not about his hidden sexuality as viewed by his wife.

Many comments stated how Kitty must have been exposed to homosexuals and how obvious it was with the dancing.  ‘He’s gay and she knows it.’  Until the kiss by the bellman I don’t think Sal truly knew he was gay so why should we expect  his wife to know based on his sissy boy dance.  When Joan kissed Sal she knew right on the spot Sal was gay.  Sal and Kitty had lots of courting and kissing before they got married what didn’t she know that Joan did?  There’s far more evidence for her that he’s straight.  I guess we’ll have to wait for the DVDs directors comments to know what she was thinking.

Let’s split some semantic hairs on the truth.  Even if what went through her head was “my husband is gay” that moment may hold no truth for her.   There are blurry lines people generate from situations; assumptions, ignorance, the truth, acceptance and denial.  Several opposite thoughts can be mixed together and held spontaneously much like the concept of “double think” from Orwell’s 1984.

If you move from ignorance to the truth and then settle in denial what is your connection to the truth?  It still may be a fact but if it’s not true for you, and you’re who really matters.   I suspect if Kitty knew he was a homosexual she would take the proper action; confront Sal, move out, become a Nun.  I don’t think we’ll see her doing any of these this season.   So to survive she will have to live in denial or with hope that he will snap out of it.  Betty lives in the truth that Don HAD affairs (he may change) Kitty lives with the strong suspicion that Sal is gay (and he will never change).   If one denies the truth does it have any relevance on how you act or think?

My Dear, dear James:  I thought I had convinced you that your theory was an epic fail.  I see that I was wrong and I will give it another try.  The Patio cola story was an example of two peoples' stories intersecting.  The commercial itself was about the Male Gaze and men thinking they knew how to speak for women.  The Pepsi execs came in and asked for the commercial to be just like the scene from Bye Bye Birdie.  Peggy pointed out to Don that the whole idea was stupid, and if you want to sell something to women, ask them what would make them buy it.  After everyone watched the commercial, Peggy got to flash Don a triumphant "I told you it was crap" look.  The Pepsi execs took responsibility for the commercial being bad.  What they couldn't put their finger on was their own flawed perspective in thinking they knew women.  They are privileged douchebags, and will probably never get it.
     Sal, on the other hand could not reveal anything about himself through the commercial, because it was not his idea.  He simply produced what they asked for.  If it was his idea in the first place, everyone would have said, "Wow, Sal, only a big queer would make a commercial like that."  And I'd agree with you.  But the pepsi execs can't be expressing Kitty's thoughts through a plot device that doesn't have anything to do with Sal.  Their thoughts belong to Peggy's story.  Sal's storyline was about him bringing the commercial home, and inadvertently revealing his truth to Kitty.  If he never worked on the commercial, he may never have pranced around the bedroom like a big queen.
     Of course, you are completely correct that Kitty may choose to deny what she has seen, and continue to live as Sal's wife.  We all have complicated relationships with the truth.  People make accommodations in life all the time. 
     PS, there is a video on the AMC site of Matthew Weiner saying that Kitty knows.  What will she do?  I can't wait to see.

There are a lot of long, pensive pauses on Mad Men, where the viewer is made to wonder, "What do you suppose _______ is thinking?"

In this instance, Kitty definitely had a pause, but there was no doubt about what she was thinking.

"PS, there is a video on the AMC site of Matthew Weiner saying that Kitty knows."

Ohh that fancy Matt Weiner thinks he knows everything.  I'm holding on to my theory to the bitter end.

Haha you win then.

James had a very nice post from 9/20...I like what you say about the truth not being his reality, for Sal.

Also, the becoming a nun line cracked me up.  Wow, things sucked for women back in the day.  Imagine that...a gay spouse and then off to the nunnery.

She may as well have jumped off the building.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sal's wife takes some of those steps to end things like moving out and filing for divorce.

After all, she 'needs tending.'  That's what she said...LOL.  Sal sure aint gonna be tending to that.  If I'm her, I am cutting my losses on the deal, and quickly.

She should be out of there soon like a thief in the night.