Pearls Over Shanghai

On Saturday, Mary Messhausen and myself saw Pearls Over Shanghai, the reproduction of the musical by The Cockettes. The updated version is brought back to the stage 40 years after its debut by The Thrillpeddlers in collaboration with some of the original Cockettes members.

It was great to see original composer Richard “œScrumbly” Koldewyn on the piano and original Cockette Rumi Missabu reprising his role as the evil Madame Gin Sling (photo below). It is such a fun and exciting show, including an opium induced scene played in the dark. Our favourite song is “Apples and Won Ton” sung by Lili Frustrata.

Pearls Over Shanghai is playing in San Francisco until August 1st.
The Thrillpeddlers are currently also playing Hot Greeks, which was the only other scripted book musical by The Cockettes. Now I wish I had seen this one too.

Photo by David Allen

The Cockettes: 2 and a half years, 40 years later

I have recently written an article about The Cockettes for Laser Magazine #3.
Read the full text after the jump.

The Castro in the 70s

The fun East Village Boys has an excellent post about and by photographer Dan Nicoletta, a friend and photographer of Harvey Milk and the Castro of the 70s. Below are just three pictures out of many. Make sure to head over to evb.

“(above right) Divine terrorizing the Trockadero Dance Club, October 29, 1978. He had just thrown an entire cake into the audience, nailing many, and was on his way to the other side of the stage to tear down the Trock”™s other white and silver faux palm trees. I guess he didn”™t like the decor. This was just after his starring role in John Water”™s, Female Trouble.”

Castro Street cruising, August, 1976

The recently released “œMilk: A Harvey Milk Pictorial Biography“, foreword by Armistead Maupin, introduction by Lance Black, the screenwriter of the film “œMILK”. It features many photographs by Dan Nicoletta.

(via omgblog)

Looking Shockingly Like Milk

Every gay blog on the planet has written about Milk. The new Gus van Sant biopic about Harvey Milk, the first openly gay city supervisor of San Francisco, and gay rights activist. Milk and Mayor George Moscone were shot to death by resigned city supervisor Dan White in 1978.

The movie opens later this year.
Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk.
Watch gay gayness below.

SF Chronicle (March 2008): It’s a wrap – ‘Milk’ filming ends in S.F.

Kiss-Off Party

Trannyshack, the long-running weekly drag-show in San Francisco, founded by Heklina is closing the doors. They have a Kiss Off Party on August 23rd featuring their greatest performers and special guests including Lady Bunny and Lady Miss Kier.

The first time I went must have been in ’96 or ’98. And then almost every Tuesday for a couple of months in 2004.

I couldn’t find my most memorable performances online, featuring a drag zombie dancing to Beyonce or blood pouring down a bucket onto the drag queen in a stars and strips bathing suit lip-syncing Irene Cara’s Flashdance, What A Feeling… Anyway, check out Heklina’s and Glamamore’s version of All Is Full of Love:

What are your thoughts on Trannyshack closing its doors as a weekly event?
Lady Bunny: “With all of those hags out of work I am terribly concerned for the safety and sanitation of San Francisco”™s streets!”

Interviews with Heklina, Lady Bunny
Lots of performance videos on youtube & interview with Heklina