ONE MORE TIME: OLD SCHOOL BALL

ABOUT

“One More Time: Old School Ball” Celebrating 50+ years of Black Queer Performance in PIttsburgh

On October 26th 2013 at 7pm, a crowd of 70+ gathered into the warm social hall in West Homestead to honor a little known lineage in Pittsburgh. The event was a drag ball, and the honorees, a pair of senior citizen female impersonators.

Miss Connie, otherwise known as the “Queen of the Commonwealth,” and Miss JoJo, also known as “Josephina-larina Queen of the Conga-lina,” are both former members of the legendary Pearl Box Review. For the past five years, the pair had been resolute to step out looking glamorous, one more time.

In their late 60’s and early 70’s respectively, Connie and JoJo have participated in oral history projects aimed at preserving the stories of black queer performers. In 2008, Dr. Laura Grantmyre, then at the University of Pittsburgh, interviewed Connie for her research on female impersonators of the Hill District between 1920 and 1950. Later, Laura introduced Connie to Harrison Apple, whose ongoing research examines gay and lesbian after-hours nightlife in Pittsburgh from 1960 to 1990.

Over many lunches and interview sessions, Laura, Harrison, and Connie discussed the idea of throwing a ball. It quickly became evident that this event would not only honor those still living, but also to honor those whose lives ended too soon.

Connie and JoJo know far too well the violence toward, and marginalization of, queer performers of color. This ball became not only a celebration of those still living, but also the many performers who made each others lives livable.

One such performer was Miss Denise Darshell, Connie and JoJo’s drag daughter. If you live in the Pittsburgh area – and you have a head on your shoulders – you’ve likely heard of Denise’s daughter: Kierra Darshell. Kierra is the founding owner and director of the Miss Tri-State pageant (but you can read her long list of accomplishments on her website: http://www.kierradarshell.com).

Kierra graciously agreed to MC the ball. She spoke beautifully about women like Connie and JoJo, who “paved the way for me to do the things that I do today,” and revived the memory of other performers, Denise, CoCo, Big Mama – all of them shapers of her career and her history. Kierra Darshell’s mantra has always been “Let’s keep drag alive.” She is a link to Pittsburgh’s entertainment history, as well as a mentor to many new performers. At “One More Time”, she spoke to a captivated audience, both young and old, about the importance of their history as black performers. Recalling the changes her mother made, she quoted the late Denice Darshell,

“They denied me, baby, but they’re going to love you and I’m going to see that they love you.”

And of course, they did. And we have Denise, Coco, Big Mama, JoJo, Connie, Bobby Lopez, Chunga, and countless others to thank in part for that.

Many thanks are due to DJ Alexis Icon for her limitless skills that evening, as well as my colleagues at Trans-Q Television for shooting video all evening.

Below is an video excerpt from the ball, featuring Miss JoJo’s performance, and the entertainers who came out to celebrate their history. They are: Kierra Darshell, Dani Lamorte, Shantel Cummings, Milan Tre’Zur, and even Connie’s niece, Jackie Dorsett. Enjoy.

WHEN

October 26, 2013

HOURS

8 to late

WHERE

Bulgarian Macedonian National Culture and Education Center, W. 8th Avenue, Homestead, PA