“Dahl & Penne is a place I could never forget. I had some good times there. Hell, I had some great times there! For some people Dahl & Penne was their home away from home. Known to all as D&P’s it was the “in” place to be in the ’70s and ’80s. It was Portland’s first gay living room and like any other foster home, there were foster parents. In this case it was Sami and Gene, a husband and wife that were more like Mother and Father than most parents were. In those days to be gay wasn’t as “in” as it is today.

D&P’s also was one of Portland’s three drag show bars of the ’70s and ’80s. First there was the Magic Gardens. Second was Demas Tavern which is now Darcelle XV. Thank God for Darcelle who pushed a few tables together and we had a stage. Now Demas was THE REAL gay fun spot in Old Town, so uptown came number three stage — D&P’s back room run by the one and only Vanessa. It was the stage that made some great stars. In those days I was on all three stages at one time or another. Some Friday nights I could do Demas’ first show and do Vanessa’s last show. I was in the first group of show girls. The name is Irvina. Some of the other girls of that time were Vanessa, Darcelle, Rochelle, Lillian Carter, and Leroa, but the star at Demas was Tina Sandel. 

Sunday brunch at D&P’s was the place to be. The food was good and the drinks were made with much love and care. On many of these Sunday afternoons Emperors and Empresses were made or talked about as well as Kings and Queens - we all worked with the Imperial Court and enjoyed it very much. Those were the days when you were glad to say you were part of the Court, The United Ebony Kingdom was started at a small meeting at Demas’s and given birth at a Sunday brunch at D&P’s. Sami and Gene were at the birth and became members. Almost everybody had something to do with the Kingdom. Walter Cole who was soon to become Darcelle was a member. Vanessa was member. Some of our members went on to become Emperors and Empresses. There was Candi Wrapper, Melody Starr, and many more. The Kingdom had two homes, Demas and D&P’s. Demas was to soon become Darcelle XV and with the name change came a stage. The shows in D&P’s back room will always be remembered by those who will tell their real age. We had a light man that was a real pro. If Don liked you you were made to look ever so pretty, but if he didn’t, look out! You would be the green lady and not even know it until you left the stage. 

Dahl & Penne’s was the first gay bar in Portland to have an anniversary party. I mean a real party. Sami and Gene went all out. There were people there from everywhere. One of the good things about D&P’s was that you had both gays and straights and there were very few fights. When it came to drinking, Sami and Gene could keep up with the best of us, and that they did! They had fun with us and we were good to them. We spent money and on Ball weekends you went to every bar in town, but you would start and end at D&P’s. 

Foil could have a great breakfast at the bar, along with your cocktail. And if you were a regular you could go into the kitchen and cook your own. Hell, Ms. Lillian Carter was known to go in and cook her something and take half the kitchen home with her! As I said, it was home away from home. There are no fun places like that today. Even the older gays had a place to go and feel at home Sami had a way with everyone and we all loved her. 

In the Winter of 1983, D&P closed its doors, so it was time for one last party — the really big one. There were people here from near and far. Sami and Gene had made many friends over the years, and they all wanted to be here for that last good-bye. There was one last show in the back room. And what a show it was - at noon the show started and went on until the wee hours of the next morning. Even some of the guys were in the show. To name a few, there was Frank S. (don’t even try to spell his last name), Willie Tucker, and Harold Strong. They had all been a part of D&P’s long life and like the rest of us didn’t want to see it close. But all good things come to an end, and at 2:30 on a cold December morning, the doors were locked, but the party went on. No one wanted to be the first to leave. Many of us miss D&P’s, and I for one can say that I’m very glad that D&P was a part of my life. If there is ever a star placed to remember a bar, it should be at Second and Alder. Dahl & Penne’s was the Star of all bars and will always be remembered.”

Oregon nominates its first LGBTQ establishment to National Register of Historic Places

https://www.archpaper.com/2020/06/oregon-nominates-darcelle-xv-showplace-national-register-of-historic-places/

Per https://queerintheworld.com/gay-portland-oregon-travel-guide/ Darcelle XV– A quirky show bar featuring strong cocktails and friendly service, though one of the biggest drag cards has to be the stunning Drag Queen musical performances. Darcelle XV & Company have been entertaining audiences in all walks of life for over 50 years with Las Vegas-style cabaret revues of Glitz, Glamour, and Comedy. Stop by when you are in Portland and you will be glad that you did! Show-times are Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at both 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. There are also Male Strippers on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight when Darcelle XV get a little more nightclub-ish.

Check out the book: Demas to Darcelle: This history of Demas Tavern to Darcelle XV Showplace https://www.amazon.com/Demas-Darcelle-history-Tavern-Showplace/dp/B08RH2C6FT “Walter W Cole was looking for another business opportunity when he took over the ownership of Demas Tavern in the "North End" of Portland, Oregon in 1967. The North End was part Chinatown, part skid row, and was not, what many thought of as a desirable part of town. A chance meeting, a song by Barbra Streisand, a dress from Goodwill, and a 4 x 8 tabletop became, over the next few years Darcelle XV Showplace. Since 1969 the storefront located at 208 NW Third has become one of the oldest drag cabaret venues in the United States. The owner himself was named the Guinness Book of Records Worlds Oldest Performing Drag Queen, and in 2020 the club was placed on the National Register of Historic Places - the first LGBTQ business in Oregon and only the twenty-second one in the US! This book includes a history of drag, searching for other drag venues that are close in the age of the club or older, the nomination to the National Register, with photos, press clippings, and memories. Take a peek...we hope you agree, Walter W Cole aka Darcelle XV along with his partner Roxy Neuhardt and many cast and crews over the year has built and has maintained a unique club/cabaret.”

Check out Wikipedia page:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darcelle_XV_Showplace

Check out club’s website at: http://www.darcellexv.com/

Darcelle XV Showplace was nominated to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Spearheaded by Donald (Donnie) Horn who along with Kristen Minor wrote the nomination. With assistance from Senator Earl Blumenauer, Governor Barbara Roberts, Terry Bean, and Pam Pelett of City Liquidators who all testified in behalf of the club, it was approved becoming the first Oregon LGBTQ business to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. https://www.opb.org/news/article/darcelle-xv-showcase-national-register-historic-places-nomination/

In 2024, after Darcelle’s passing in March 2023 the family tried to find ways for the business to continue. It was stated in the press that it would close by the end of the year (December 2024).

• Darcelle XV Showplace at risk of going out of business, asks community for support

• Future of Darcelle XV Showplace in doubt | KOIN.com

• Iconic Portland Drag Club Darcelle XV Is at Risk of Closing - Eater Portland

THEN, in September 2024, Walter W Cole’s family began negotiations to sell the iconic club, which means it will no longer be in the Walter W Cole/Darcelle families control.

• Darcelle XV Showplace announces new ownership

• Darcelle XV bought by new owner to prevent closure

• Portland's Darcelle XV Showplace has new owners - Portland Business Journal

• Darcelle XV Showplace announces new ownership | News | portlandtribune.com

• Darcelle XV Showplace to remain open in 2025 under new ownership - oregonlive.com

• Portland's iconic Darcelle XV to remain open following new ownership