Well kids, its that time again, when the Mistress's vacations start. The first of three this summer and just in time. By the time this post, I should be on my way to NYC for the big gay Christmas Pride festivities...and then I and most of the clan is off to Rehoboth Beach for a week and a half. I can't wait to dip my feet and other parts in the Atlantic. Then once back, I have family and friends coming to the Casa du Borghese for a Fourth of July cookout, followed by the first visit to the Woods for some glamping and barely wearing anything. I only have three post scheduled, you know, so the joint doesn't get too dusty. We shall return sometime in July.
Behave, HappyPride, and don't forget if you stop in, give the houseboys a little something to eat, would you be a dear?
It had been a while since I was at a wedding. From the post yesterday, you read I had just gone to my good friend's wedding reception they had for family and friends. While I will go to weddings, solo, with friends or the Lad, I always dreaded them. It's like clockwork someone always asks, You're so handsome and have many interests... when are you going to settle down? While I want to roll my eyes, I always say I can respect marriage and those who marry, but I don't think it's me. The sassy lesbian, who feels much the same way, and two others asked if I ever been married yet? I said MARRIED???? I was married four times already! The first was to a banker. Then I married a ringmaster and circus owner. The next was to a priest and the last one was a funeral director. Our friend Stacy said, "My god Maddie, why such diverse careers?" I said, "Well it was 1 for the money, two for the show, 3 to get ready and four to go."
Then on top of that, the Dames assistant made a comment about the gins I was putting away. Tallhlah Bankhead would have been proud. She said to me. "Maddie, did you know that drinking alcohol kills you slowly?" I said, 'Really? Well, that's ok...I'm not in any hurry."
Then I was outside enjoying a cigar when security came up to me and the Dame's hubby and said Madame, you can't smoke a cigar right here at the entrance, I said "All right buddy, now why don't you act like your hairline and take a few steps back."
Which could be why my word of the night was Ambitchious. It's the desire to become better at being a fucking bitch. Thanks heavens my tall, dark and handsome swept me off my feet. And onto my back.
Another glorious weekend comes to a close! Even though it is to be only a three-day work week before NYC Pride and then vacation commences, that does lighten the blow to getting out of bed just a TAD easier. This weekend found me starting to get packed, picking up last minute bits and bobs for the upcoming jolly, and I attended the wedding of two good friends who tied the knot this here Pride season. They actually got married on the quite in a private affair months ago, just the two them, but decided to have a blow-out reception for family and friends...complete with a band, which Dan himself conducted, and a full on drag show with some queens I hooked them up with...and an open bar the duration of the reception. Most of Dan's family had never seen many gay people let alone a drag queen...so I would say they have come a long way in acceptance. Met a swanky and sassy lesbian who was sat with us...we exchanged numbers of course...and I became "acquainted" with one of the other male guests who happened to being staying at the Lodge where the reception was. I thought it best to stay, and "slumber" never mind I found out his religion!! Could that man wear a suit! And could that man not wear a suit!! The Capital Street Duo wondered where I got too when they left. My phone ringing the next day several times with inquires of questions. I'm sure the queens are talking. but what can I say kids...a handsome man in a very well fitted suit, a light five o clock stubble, a few gin and tonics, the jollity of the events, the feeling of Pride month and the ambient lighting, and my black underwear, all conspired to make for a night of enhancement.
The other night on TCM I finally caught Jean Malin in Arizonia to Broadway in his bit part, but very memorable and entertaining, nonetheless. All these posts for Pride over the years and I can't believe I never once posted about trailblazer Jean, who was a pioneering openly gay entertainer, "Queen of the Panzies" and drag performer during the 1930 and is almost credited with the booming of the infamous Pansy Craze. While he began his early career performing in drag, he became a cultural sensation by emceeing in a tuxedo, using his very flamboyantly queer personality and extreme razor-sharp wit, to shatter gender norms. Although he was six feet and was a bigger boy, with wavy blonde hair to die for, he was effeminate and a female impersonator, and he was known to put hecklers, homophobes and even some mobsters in their place with his wit and at time fists.
Some fun tidbits-
Born Victor Eugene James Malinovsky. He won prizes at the Manhattan drag balls as a teenager and performed in drag as Imogene Wilson in Greenwich Village. As an MC at NYC'S upscale Club Abbey however, he traded dresses for elegant tuxedos. He strolled through audiences, campily interacting with crowds and fiercely defend himself a few times with hecklers and haters. Even tangoed with a few mobsters.
As New York police began cracking down on queer speakeasies, Malin then moved to Los Angeles in 1932, opening his own Club New Yorker. He attempted a film career in 1933 and made three movies, the best being Arizonia to Broadway, where he appeared on screen in drag which was extremely rare for movies then, doing an imitation of Mae West and singing Frankie and Johnny. By this time, he was the highest paid impersonator in the business in the Panzy Craze. Jean continued to sass mobsters and slay audiences with that film and in his routines in his own club, where Malin's out and proud shows drew stars like Clara Bow, Marlene Deitrich, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard and Talulah Bankhead. Malin has had self-composed Malin songs like "I'd Rather be Spanish than Mannish." At the height of his fame Jean's life was cut short when in August of 1933, after a farewell performance at the Ship Cafe in Venice CA, he accidentally put his car into reverse and drove off a pier, drowning at age of 25. But no doubt Jean Malin was a trailblazer and he took no prisoners! Fight, Fire and Guts, with no fucks to give
I know it may seem like we have made some major strives, and we have, the majority of people don't mind people being gay, most likely know someone gay, have the live and let live motto, and the numbers are slowly growing...but many others, straight and gay see being LGBT as being more accepted so why is Pride still needed??? I saw some these. Is Pride still needed? YES!
Seen today on Main Street in Mechanicsburg while grabbing a coffee. And how true. I wonder what the fair goers for Jubilee Day tomorrow will think of seeing this? I mean here in this fair hamlet, where a church seems to be on just about every corner. One can't aim a money shot here without hitting a church.
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