FOXY LADY

Per the first poster “This is the event you’ve been waiting for! You don’t have to be a resident of Portland to enter. No campaigning (as with the Rose Court you did – remember?) A few bar tours. Talent optional. Don’t miss it! Three costume changes: *Dress Look *Pant or Pant Suit *Your Own Foxy Lady Creation. Escorts for this event with be the 1974, Mr. Hunky Court. Applications are available at most taverns and bars.”  That’s right, you had to apply.

This first ‘Mr. Hunky’ was held in June 1974 and the First Annual Competition for ‘Foxy Lady’ took place on February 23, 1975. Soon, they both expanded to two Sundays, not just one. For ‘Mr. Hunky’, contests were always held on a Sunday evening, during the early incarnation of ‘gay pride week’ which is always in June, and ‘Foxy Lady’ would be held around Valentine’s Day. They were hosted by Darcelle, sometimes Mame/David Hamilton and the co-founder, Sanford Director. With this connection to the family furniture store Directors Furniture, if you won, you received a sash (with the Roman numeral indicating which one you were), a photo op, a directors chair with the words, “Mr. Hunky’ or ‘Foxy Lady’ on them, and a  all of those who competed would also get a small pendant with a key and ribbon that said, “I had a gay time in Portland, Oregon.”

Year 1 1975-1976

Sanford would always be the organizer and appear in drag as Sandra Dee. Joining Mr. Hunky and Foxy Lady, later he thought up an event entitled, Turnabout, where performers hilariously donned the opposite of the drag that they usually preferred. Those events poured tens of thousands of dollars into Portland’s gay-friendly charities when the need was greatest.

Contestants

• Betty Rubier aka Betty No Boobs

• Rebecca Campbell aka Beckie

• Michelle Travis

• Pat Miles aka Mexi-Fox

• Sally Jean Trent

• Ellen Nemer

• Lola Bosen aka Sabert

• Katherine H Kelley aka Lady Kelley

• Kay Allison

• Jeanie Breall aka Jelly Bean

• Suzanne Shelley

• Penny Stephens

• Anne Walker

• Carolyn Stewart

• Jerri L Rodakowski aka “Little Fox

Photos below are from “Meet the contestants” held at Zorba the Greek restaurant/bar Valentine’s Day Feb 14, 1975

Foxy Lady I – 1975 Betty No Boobs

LEFT: Article in the Northwest Gay Review December 1975

RIGHT: Men were strutting their stuff along with the women.

BELOW LEFT: Empress Elsa Daniels and Sanford Director. BELOW RIGHT: Walter/Darcelle eating a hotdog with two other people.

Empress Elsa Daniels in the balcony area.