FEMALE IMPERSONATION & DRAG - History in Oregon Part 2

L to R: Del LeRoy, Mickey Mercer, unknown, unknown, Gita Gilmore. Above Right: The Vice Squad report that put a nail in the ‘coffin’ at the Music Hall to have female impersonators. In The Oregon Journal article, it states, “Schneiderman [Music Hall 413 SW 10th Ave] was recommended only after the council insisted the hall no longer employ female impersonators and discourage patrons who are homosexuals.” It appears that things quieted down until on February 5, 1952, Oregonian, a want ad for “impersonators” appeared three times. [see below left]. It is assumed this meant male and or female impersonators. Then a large ad appeared [see below right] in The Oregon Journal on April 20, 1953, female impersonators were to appear at the opening of a new space, The Tropics.

The acts at The Tropics changed to say, “Caroll Wallace Revue” on January 28, 1954, as stated in the below-left ad in The Oregon Journal. Then by September 6, 1954, The Oregon Journal shows that “Carroll and his All Star Revue” had moved to the Star Theatre. [see below right ad] Notice that the ad states “Boys Will Be Girls” a byline that the Music Hall used in their ads. However, in an ad in The Oregon Journal [not shown] on October 30, 1954, Carroll and his all-star revue had moved back to the Tropics. It is unclear how long The Tropics was active, as an article appeared in the July 11, 1957, Oregon Journal newspaper that states “Carroll Revue Returns here, but the venue is now just called “620”.

There are several articles about female impersonators at the Cloud Room in Vancouver, Washington in the local newspapers. The next article [below left] in Oregon features someone who assists female impersonators with their hats. The August 21, 1960, Oregon Journal article mentions female impersonators twice – purchasing hats/feathers. Another venue that had female impersonators advertised was the Pilugo on SW 30th per February 17, 1961, Oregon Journal ad, see below right. However it states in the March 10, 1961 ad “the final two days”. There was a comment in the September 2, 1961, Oregon Journal - While attending a show for Julie Mason at Vancouver’s Frontier Room, “Say, I understand the people around here don’t go much for female impersonators.” Said I, “I don’t believe they do.”

August 17, 1962, Oregon Journal article [below left] “…at the Showcase, will be the Jewel Box Revue” [Showcase would later become The Riptide]. A large ad appeared in The Oregonian, August 20, 1962, page 21 [see below right].

There is no indication how long the Showcase had female impersonators. A September 11, 1962, Oregonian article states: “At the Showcase – that used to be the Bali Hai. The ‘entertainers’ are Lee Leonard and his female impersonators. The boy-girls dance, tell tired jokes and sing double-meaning (to them) songs like “A Good Man IS Hard To Find.” (I can’t find how long the Showcase lasted. Ads and articles ran from Augugust 22 – September 11.)

Around this time there were two bars that had mentions of ‘drag’ by Damron Guides. [The] Model Inn, 1536 S.W. First. Years: 1964-1967 Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1965 under Bars/Clubs with a notation: RT – Raunchy Types – Hustlers, Drags, and other ‘Downtown’ Types. This is the way it was listed from 1964-1967 as well as Buddies Post Tavern 926 SW 4th, gay from at least 1962 to 1968, listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1965 under Bars/Clubs with notations of M – mixed and RT – Raunchy Types - Hustlers, Drags, and other ‘Downtown Types’ (this is the way it was listed from 1965-1969). [See [The] Model Inn and Buddies Post Tavern information under Bars/Taverns/Restaurants]

1965 Oregon Daily Journal: “Also prohibited along the line of march ….female impersonators, fire crackers…” August 21, 1965 page 2, Parade Monday “Big-Time” Spectacular.

1965 – present-day The Pruitts of Portland form; a group of guys who hold drag balls which turns into the Portland Forum and eventually The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of today. These balls were held at the Neighbor of Woodcraft, Pythian, Hilton, Beaver Hall, Hoyt Hotel, Hilton, Masonic Temple, and other venues around Portland. [See The Pruitts of Portland, Portland Forum, and Imperial Sovereign Rose Court information under Organizations]

1968 – July 7 The Sunday Oregonian: Daytime it is tree green and concrete gray, a city of beauty and charm…BUT AT NIGHT “the first shows were starting on the small stages of the downtown bars. One of the bigger more expensive productions featured two female impersonators and two honest to goodness females.” There is this mention but it doesn’t say what bars.

1968 The Pied Piper 1217 SW Stark Street 1968-(?) Not known as a drag club, however, per Tim Bealer-Casias, “I remember Tina Sandell getting me a job there.” Tina would go on to dance at Club Northwest, then Demas Tavern. [See Pied Piper information under Bars/Taverns/Restaurants]

1968 Club Northwest, 217 N.W. Fourth, 1968-1972 as Club Northwest, 1972-1976 Magic Garden switched over to a complete strip club.  Per the paper, Chronology of Portland’s Gay Bars – author unknown: “1968-192, presented drag shows, first gay bar in NW Portland’s oldtown, later became the Magic Garden on September 24, 1972.” [See Club Northwest and Magic Garden information under Bars/Taverns/Restaurants]

1969 The Demas Tavern [later to become Darcelle XV Showplace] Walter W. Cole purchased the business in September 1967, began performing 15-minute drag routines in 1969 and by 1970 had moved from a tavern to a full-time drag performance space. In 2020 Darcelle XV Showplace was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. [See Demas and Darcelle XV Showplace information under Bars/Taverns/Restaurants]

1972 Article in Oregon Journal, August 30, 1972, PORTLAND AFTER DARK “Gay” Community here runs hotels, church: “A ‘drag show’ featuring male homosexuals dressed in glittering female evening formals, netted another $100 for the Portland Fire Bureau’s Toy and Joy Maker’s program. “STRAIGHT” people (heterosexuals) usually are a little bit startled if they see someone in drag,” admitted Bill, an overt gay who has a job as a federal administrator, “Actually, drag is mostly a way of having fun – of making fun of ourselves.” Oregon law no longer makes homosexuality a crime and it is no longer unusual to see “drag’ in the vicinity of Portland’s gay night spots.”

Per David Grant Kohl’s book, A Curious and Peculiar People: “Other venues sprang up and continue to do so since 1972 such as Scandals, Silverado, Mildred’s Palace, City Night Club, The Riptide.”

Many venues did pop up and one well-known venue was Dahl & Penne and their backroom cabaret space where The Vanessa held court until the venue was forced to close in 1983. [See Dahl & Penne information under Bars/Taverns/Restaurants]

1977 In the Northwest Gay Review there was an announcement of “The First Annual Jr. Rosebud Pageant”. This pageant which started in 1977 continues today as the Rosebud and Thorne Pageant. [See Rosebud and Thorne Pageant under YOUTH-UNDERAGE]

In the Northwest Fountain newspaper, November 1981, there was a large spread entitled Drag City, U.S.A.

January 1, 1985, The Eagle Newsmagazine cited the closing of JR West and the Cell. In the article, it stated, “…and with the demise of the upstairs West there is no open stage for female impersonators, although Darcelle’s certainly continues to present the professional shows.” Page 22 certainly continues to present the professional shows. Below bottom left: Ad in March 1985 The Eagle Newspaper. April 1985 issue of The Eagle Newspaper: “Vanessa is Back!” Below bottom middle, ad in the April 1985 issue of The Eagle Newspaper: “Vanessa and Company!”