I was so naive back in the day that I thought Lynde was just acting gay as part of his act. I had no idea he was really gay until years later.
What I mean is, he was SO instantaneous and outrageous that no other comedian can compare.
Well, Lynde was fagging it up a bit to be over the top, since he was, in turn, impersonating his friend Alice Ghostley with his schtick. Of course, you can’t see one of them without thinking of the other.