Another part of the Mistress's early gay years comes to an end. The legendary flapper girl bobbed, redheaded drag queen, and Philadelphia legend, Carlotta Tendant is putting away the Bingo balls and hanging up the heels. A sad day for Philly indeed. Across almost four decades Carlotta has called hundreds of games all while performing tomfoolery, eliciting laughs, along with wise cracks, a pinch of profane and a healthy dose of silliness, all while being donned in anything from retro looks to Chicago musical looks, to Eva Gabor gowns and sensible high heels. In that time and fun Carlotta has managed to raise almost over $5 million for people living with AIDS/HIV, and numerous gay charities, and helped steer a community through crisis, providing a respite to those experiencing immense loss and stigma. This swan song came to the closing of the cities 30th season of Pride month, The man behind Carlotta, Micheal Byrne hung up his heels, packed the wig and bid adieu to his drag persona and his longtime gig hosting Philly's Gay Bingo. Now at 65 arthritis stifles her strut in stilettos and says drag is a young girl's game.
Even as medicine has advanced and HIV/AIDS has become manageable, she's crafted a safe place for years for Philadelphia's queers. For one night each month for over 30 years she's been an entertainer and equalizer, responsible for uniting gay and straight alike. When I first moved to the Philadelphia about the only two queens I can recall were her and Brittany Lynn and have such fond memories of both of them...everyone knows Carlotta! All I can say is thank you Carlotta for all the good you have done for future queens, who have up and came, and coming, and all the tremendous things who have brought about for the community...$5 mil ain't bad for a queen in a bob calling bingo. It's going to be really different without Carlotta. No one's going to fill her heels, but I think that the vibe and her energy is going to live on.
A short snippet from the news.
Excellent post and ode! I think the city was shocked when she announced she was retiring. We will never forget that queen in the red bob and hairy chest.
ReplyDeleteCarlotta, Brittany and Martha Graham Cracker, RIP....the three original queens in Philly for me. And to many more years for Carlotta and Brittany.
DeleteAnd our community was dying being able
ReplyDeleteSuch a legacy, Mistress, Thank You for bringing to the forefront, people of such substance and the fiber of our community.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to see her get her dues now and not thanked and honored after she's gone. She has had a very nice run....be damned arthritis!
DeletePraise and gratitude to Carlotta/Micheal Byrne for all she and he have done for the community.
ReplyDeleteFabulous story and life!
ReplyDeleteA well deserved tribute to a community hero!
ReplyDeleteThanks to Carlotta for all she's done for the LGBTQ+. She deserves a rest.
ReplyDeleteThank her for the decades of service, onward to the next act.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fantastic that they’ve recognized her contributions to the community.
ReplyDeleteThat’s decades being on the trenches, babes. So glad that the Philly gays have had her.
XOXO
While she is still here too! I think every medium gave dues to her. Philly has always treated the LGBT with respect and treat us like the citizens we are...another reason I love the city so. A great community.
DeleteWell, goddess bless him! Truly. What a wonderful legacy.
ReplyDeleteP.S. That first photo made me think of Patti LuPone.
My first thought, too! Jx
DeleteI say screw the heels....she could do a whole hour show on a stool bantering and singing tunes of Patti Lupone I've said!!!!! Having seen Ms LuPone on Fire Island, Carlotta could totally do it!!!!! She'd be a smash I tell ya!
DeleteI agree - someone should tell her to try it --- just once.
DeleteWhat a wonderful tribute.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Carlotta/Michael Byrne for her outstanding contributions to her community and for making BINGO fun!
ReplyDeleteWe just don't want to know where the bingo balls were stored.....
DeleteSeems like a nice person in or out of drag. An added plus that it made the TV news, and in a positive way at that. I hope that means that the backlash against the LGBTQ community is on the decline.
ReplyDeleteI will say Philadelphia is the one city where they never had a big backlash like other cities....more then not the LGBT has always been welcomed with open arms. They were having prides way before other cities made it "vogue"
DeleteOMG! I thought that was Patti LuPone!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post and what a role model and queen. They don't make queens like this anymore.
You aren't the only one dear.
DeleteLoved gay bingo in Philly. Always had a great time with the BVDs. Thanks for everything you have done Carlotta!
ReplyDeleteHENNY! She is PHILADELPHIA! Lovely story but I do not think she’s too old to do drag at all! Always loved this crazy bitch.
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE US OUR CARLOTTA! What an inspiring queen we have.
ReplyDeleteRead the name and thought there was a typo.
ReplyDeleteRead it again out loud and cracked up 😂 What a person!!!! I think she deserves a rest. What a hero for many.
It's a great name!
DeleteGo love her!!!! A modern-day hero. May she long live whatever she does.
ReplyDelete