1970 - Mama Bernice’s Sweetheart Ball. This ball was not part of the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court, but is placed here for historical purposes. It appears that this was the last Mama Bernice’s Sweetheart Ball.
Date: February 1970
Place:
1970 – Spring Ball produced by the Pruitts
Per the Alternative Connection, page 19, October 1991 – A BIT OF COURT HISTORY by Philip Staley: The following Halloween, the Pruitts engineered their final effort; Anything Goes.* The Pruitts did. They disbanded and scattered. [IF you look at the Fall Ball 1969 it states that it was produced/put on by the Pruitts? Though it appears that they ‘dissolved and became Portland Forum in 1969 then incorporated in 1970 both were the precursor to as The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court which in 1971 became the first court outside of San Francisco. The original name of the Portland Court was The Imperial Inland Empire.]
From the autobiography entitled Life Not Just a Drag by Gary L Alexander Portland, Oregon by 1970, I was working at a little place called Mary’s Nightclub in Portland, Oregon. About a year before that I had visited Portland and won a contest at the annual drag ball, they held every year. By then they had entered the Imperial Court System that was forming. This system in the gay community had been started in San Francisco by Impress Jose. I believe this was the beginnings or organization in the gay community. Drags brought many gays together at their annual ball. They brought many together from other cities around the country. [It appears that Gary L Alexander aka Scarlet was stating he was crowned in 1969]. Please note that [Per the 1977 by W Holman for the Northwest Gay Review in A Gay History, lest it be forgotten. Cited on page 7 of the Special Issue it states, “The following Hallowe’en, again at the Roaring 20s, the Pruitts engineered their final effort, “Anything Goes”. The Pruitts did. They disbanded and scattered. Their last show produced Queen XI Scarlet.
Where: Hoyt Hotel Gracie Hansen’s Roaring 20s Room
Date: unknown
Theme: Anything Goes [not to be confused by Empress Anything Goes Rose Queen VII 1968]
Crowned: - Rose Empress XI Scarlet O’Hara was crowned Rose Queen VII. Per Monarch's History (rosecourt.org)
Confusing as the article published in The City Open Press page 14 October 25-November 21, 1985: The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, states, “Halloween, again at the Roaring 20s, the Pruitts engineered their final effort. “Anything Goes”. The Pruitts disbanded and scattered but not before their crowning of Queen XI Scarlet.”
Per the 1977 article by W Holman for the Northwest Gay Review in A Gay History, lest it be forgotten. Cited on page 7 of the Special Issue it states, “In the namesake year of ’69, the Portland Forum was founded. Auntie Mame (David Hamilton) – residue of the disbanded Pruitts, Vanessa (Van Richards) and Gary Michael were the aggravating trio responsible for forging the Forum. Vanessa assumed presidency. Their purpose was to continue the spring and fall frolics of anasy and to be a social, recreational and charitable conglomeration representing the gay population of Portland. As a non-profit organization, it was granted charter by the State of Oregon, to become the first organized organization in the city – for gaydom. Their fundraising methods were honorable and ethical. Their prosperous biannual show proceeds were donated to various charities. They also changed, through no plausible reason known, the titled for Queen to Empress. [While a queen they might well be, they would bear the title of Empresses XII of the Inland Empire.
The yearly ball which selected an Empress added another rite: a spring spree from which another title was chosen Princess Royale (later to become Back-Up Empress).
Per Rosecourt.org ‘January 16, 1970, the Portland Forum registered with the State of Oregon as a non-profit corporation.”
Crowned: Scarlet was crowned Rose Queen XI. [later changed to Empress XI] confirmed by Monarch's History (rosecourt.org) Far Right photo is Gary in Palm Springs, Ca summer of 2023.
Scarlet O’Hara aka Gary L. Alexander born on October 11, 1942, in Los Angeles California. Upon coming to Portland, he worked at Mary’s Club [press photo to the right] as a stripper for several years in the late 60s. Leaving Portland he found work up and down the west coast from Alaska to Los Angeles as well as Nevada and Arizona for years. Per the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon data, “Scarlet was a buxom blonde with a giant smile, a big heart and a sense of humor to match.”
Following her reign as Rose Queen XI, she moved to the great state of Alaska. In 1978 she was crowned Empress VI of the Court of Alaska and was hence known as Alaska’s Empress VI Gari.
The above photos are from a proof sheet for the Fall Ball 1971
In 2013 Gary wrote a book Life’s Not Just A Drag. Which details his life on and off the stage. At the Fall Ball, the Portland Forum [under the guidance of Vanessa as Protectress of the Empresses] changed the title from Queen to Empress; [per Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, “Pruitts of Portland and community leader Vanessa is credited with going back through early records and identify all the Rose Queens crowned at the proceeding spring and fall balls.”
Vanessa retroactively changed the titles of all the Rose Queens to Rose Empress and assigned appropriate numbers. During the fall ball of 1970, Lisa Jean was the first Queen to use the moniker of Rose Empress and to receive a number designating her reign.
1970 - Fall Ball produced by the Portland Forum
Per the Alternative Connection, page 19, October 1991 – A BIT OF COURT HISTORY by Philip Staley: In the auspicious name-sake year 1969, the Portland Forum was formed. They changed, through no plausible reasoning, the title of Queen to Empress. While they might be, they would bear the title of Empress or else. Lisa Jean became the first Empress crowned by the form as Lisa Jean XII of the Inland Empire. [some of this feels wrong]
Where: per photos appears to be the Hoyt Hotel
Date: unknown
Theme:
Crowned: Lisa Jean was proclaimed Rose Empress XII. [Portland Forum changed the title from Queen to Empress]
In the article published in The City Open Press page 14 October 25-November 21, 1985: The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, states, “Lisa Jean was awarded the first title of Empress, crowned by the Forum as Empress XII of the Inland Empire. The yearly Ball which selected an Empress, added another rite: a Spring Spree from which another title was chosen, Princess Royale (later to become “back-up Empress).”
Stated in the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon records, “Lisa was a slender, beautiful queen who loved to pose for the camera decked out in feathers and jewels. She was a talented hairdresser (who completed in hair design contests), choreographer, dancer, and entertainer who acted and danced with several Portland ensembles.”
NOTE: Photo on the RIGHT is date stamped December 1969.
Per interview on 10-27-2022 with Bill Looker aka Tracey St James, Empress XIV, “Lisa Gene worked at Mary’s Club [a strip club in downtown Portland] as a female impersonator – stripper along with Gary Alexander aka Scarlet. We’d go down [along with his partner Ed] and watch her strip. He [Lisa Gene] in drag would tease all the straight guys and they would get hot and bothered and at the end of the evening Lisa would come out and drop her top and there were no tits! One night it almost caused a fistfight.
NOTE: For the photos below, some are date marked September and some December 1970.
