Homosexuals have always played a creative role in Hollywood. But gay stories almost never made it to celluloid. Or did they?

On Monday, Turner Classic Movies cable channel begins Screened Out, an ambitious series on how American movies from 1912 to 1970 dealt with homosexuality. Forty-four films, ranging from rarely seen silent features to mainstream hits, will be shown starting at 8 Monday and Wednesday nights throughout June.

"What people don't realize is that 77 years ago homosexual themes were considered viable enough to be part of mainstream entertainment," said Richard Barrios, whose 2005 book Screened Out is the basis for the series. "I think it's going to open a lot of eyes."

But all that stopped in 1934 with the adoption of the Motion Picture Production Code, which set standards so strict that for 20 years thereafter movie married couples had to sleep in twin beds. Any open mention of homosexuality was forbidden.