1971 – Spring Ball
Where: Hoyt Hotel on Sunday, May 2nd at 6:30 PM PRICE $5.00 presented by The Portland Forum per The Fountain newspaper, page 13, May 1971 issue.
Date: unknown
Theme: “Academy Awards”
Crowned: Telané crowned Rose Empress XIII, [Empress XII Lisa Gene stepped down]
The above Left is from Kimberlle Van Patten, Above Right is from June 1971 issue of The Fountain, page 14.
Under IMPERIAL TIDINGS – The Portland Forum, June 1971 issue of The Fountain Vol 1 No. 4 newspaper. [see below] I would like to personally than everyone who made “The Academy Award’s Ball”, such a tremendous success. For me, it was one of the highlights of my reign as Empress. Never has Portland had so much Royalty assembled at one time. I join with them in wishing all of you peach and happiness, to the friendliest city on the West coast. Empress Taleni and the official court of the 13th Rose.
It also cited: REMEMBER: Watch for “The President’s Ball” to be hosted by the Royal Court July 18th – more on this later.
The Academy Award Ball was mentioned on page 13 of the June issue of the Fountain. “Doug Baker did it again in his Oregon Journal “Baker’s Dozen” coverage of the Academy Awards Ball.
The photo below may have been taken at The President’s Ball per notation in the Imperial Tidings – held on July 18, 1971.[interesting how one photo states August 1971, other states May 1971- same people/same place]
Rose Empress XIII Telane' in the middle front second row, with the rhinestone scepter and the white coverlet.
Per the article published in The City Open Press page 14 October 25-November 21, 1985: The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, states, “Telanie, later abdicating as Empress XIII, would be the last Empress to be crowned by the Portland Forum. Before the next Empress was chosen the now so-named “Rose Court” would become a separate entity; and by popular vote by the community would be the next Empress be selected.”
Empress Telani reign lasted until after the President’s Ball in July. Vanessa was designated Regent Empress XIII and ruled in her place until the Fall Ball. It is said that Rose Empress XIII Telane’ stepped down due to not having the flexibility to fulfill her duties due to the restraints that Vanessa who was given the title of Protectoress of the Empresses which meant you couldn't do or say anything without her approval. Per Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon documents state, “Vanessa was instituted as Regent and Protectoress of Empresses by the Portland Forum in order to complete the reign.” [Upon Tracey St. James stepping-down in 1972, she proclaimed Vanessa, Rose Empress XIII, thus removing Regent from her title.] Photo is Vanessa on the throne.
First of two balls – the October Fall Ball – announcement of the candidates
Theme: Right On! Rev. Jones!
Where: Hoyt Hotel – Roaring 20s Room
Date: October 31, 1971
1971 – Fall/ October ball – First “Presentation of Candidates running for Empress”
Where: Hoyt Hotel Roaring 20s Room
Theme: “Right On! Rev Jones!
Crowned: announcement of the candidates
Per the Alternative Connection, page 19, October 1991 – A BIT OF COURT HISTORY by Philip Staley: Tracy St. James, Empress XIV, was the first selected. This Empress turned to Vanessa of Royal Regency title dom, stripped her of this, and so proclaimed Vanessa to be Empress XIII …filling in the gap by the long departed Telanie.
Per the article published in The City Open Press page 15 October 25-November 21, 1985: The Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, states, “The year was 1970. A well-deserved freedom invaded the City of Roses. Portland’s Empress was not to be chosen by public balloting instead by again and prejudiced judges. Tracy St. James became the first Empress to be selected by this constitutional freedom of public voting to become Empress XIV.”
Note: Tracey St James was the first Empress to be voted on by the people instead of a set of judges. He noted that you had to apply, then go and be interviewed by the selected five judges. If you passed their scrutiny, then you were allowed to compete. Tracey also stated that when he was announced as winner, and Lillian Carter asked for a recount. Tracey was still the one who received the crown as Empress XVI.
Per the Alternative Connection, page 19, October 1991 – A BIT OF COURT HISTORY by Philip Staley: A yearly Ball which selected an Empress added still another rite: A Spring Spree which would select a Princess Royal or backup Empress. While certain freedoms began to spring up around the community, ie: City Hall and the like, so within the Gay Community changes became abundant. The Empress would be chosen by public balloting, not by prejudicial judges.
Changing from two balls to one didn’t stop from having another ‘event’ to announce the candidates, and that’s what the Portland Forum did – held a ball before the ‘big ball’ entitled Right on! Rev Jones! This ball caught the eye of the press, or should we say columnist Doug Baker. Doug who put his thoughts in the column of the Oregon Journal newspaper also had an office at the Hoyt. This is how a columnist for the Oregon Journal saw the affair and recounted it in one of his columns: “Halloween is the time of year when the gay world likes to party – a custom which dates back to the years when men dressed as women were often arrested for ‘disturbing the peace.’
In those days – 10 years or more ago – the only night of the year the gay boys could do their thing with immunity from arrest was Halloween when they could pass off their strange garb as ‘costuming’.
Times have changed and homosexuals in ‘drag’ are now seen around the city in the late hours with some frequency. As far as I know, none have been arrested for at least a decade.
Sunday night the gay crowd held the biggest such part in Portland history, gathering of 600 homosexuals in the Roaring 20s Room of the Hoyt Hotel.
Participants came from as far away as Medford and Seattle and an estimated 250 came dressed as women.
There was a floor show at which the Hoyt Hotel’s Gracie Hansen arrived aboard a Honda motorcycle. Both the motorbike and Miss Hansen were smothered with rhinestones.
Miss Hansen related a number of bawdy one-liners, some of them aimed at a prominent Oregon politician and not a few at my favorite columnist (me, Doug Baker). The partygoers tittered loudly at her shafts.
As is customary at such gatherings, the celebrants elected a ‘queen.’ The winner again this year was a salesclerk from a Portland jewelry store who is renowned for his exquisite costumes.”
In another column he said that “Gracie played housemother to the gay crowd at their annual Halloween party.”
Why was Doug Baker so surprised? Maybe for him it was but being in drag and holding drag shows were nothing new in Portland. In fact, nearly every burlesque and vaudeville program had a female impersonator in them; normally as the ‘master of ceremonies’. Since the early 1900’s the Harbor Club at SW Frist Ave and Yamhill Street offered drag shows which became the only bar in Oregon declared off-limits to members of the US Navy. In the 30s drag shows were held at the Variety Hall in the Oregon Hotel and the Music Hall (413 SW Tenth) which became Café Rumba in the 40s. By 1950 the Jewel Box Revue came into town and played at Rossini’s Clover Room.
1971 – Fall Ball
Where: Hoyt Hotel Gracie Hansen’s Roaring 20s Room
Theme: The ball was called “The Dowager Empress Ball “Show Time At Mardi Gras” [was the final ball as the Spring and Fall Ball were combined into one “coronation ball”]
Date: Sunday, November 14, 1971
Crowned: Tracey St James was crowned Empress XIV
From proof sheet 10/71 Subject: Ken/Empress Coll. Tony TRI-X 400 ASA A-20
