The Cockettes were one in a million. Nothing can replace them. God bless Hibiscus in heaven. The movie about them, at least, did them justice.

Posted by: glam fairy at May 20, 2008 4:30 PM

The photo above, by the way, is not of the actual Cockettes, but of Radical Faeries and other kids in Cockettes mode to promote the new festivities.

Posted by: musto at May 20, 2008 4:33 PM

this kind of stuff seems rather quaint now. make it vanish.

Posted by: lulu down syndrome at May 20, 2008 8:25 PM

THE FAERIES AREN'T EVEN GOOD ENOUGH TO SNIFF THE BUTTS OF THE COCKETTES!!!

Posted by: michelay at May 20, 2008 11:05 PM

The Cockettes' founder, Hibiscus emerged from Rosenthal's Sutter Street commune (which ran the Free Print shop that put out Kaliflower, an intercommunal newspaper linking these various communes) to form the Cockettes. At this point San Francisco had about 300 communes. The thing about them was they really did bring about a momentous paradigm shift via experimental theater and lifestyle that informs today's drag artistes, performance art in general and certainly guerilla and political theater because they did it first. So calling them quaint is like calling Chuck Berry quaint. There was also an anti-establishment subversiveness that espoused the philosophy of socialism, and anarchism underneath these glitter-beard acid queens that seems lacking in today's drag arena. To call them quaint is to be uninformed, to not understand the historical context.

Posted by: The Sco at May 21, 2008 12:51 AM

Actually George Harris aka Hibiscus started out at Caffe Cino, right here on Cornelia Street in NYC. He, his parents, and siblings were kind of like a downtown boho version of the Trapp Family. Caffe Cino was the incubator of so much cutting edge and queer culture, and the birthplace of Off Off Broadway.

Posted by: GiorgioNYC at May 21, 2008 3:04 PM

......whoah.....this makes my fag hag heart just thump!

i see that earlier there will be food and art items for sale?

Gabriel Q and Agnes always made the most beautiful things....hope they sell ANY of their work here!!!

but...a pressing question....will you be there yourself mr Musto???

Posted by: ssliska at May 22, 2008 12:53 PM

......whoah.....this makes my fag hag heart just thump!

i see that earlier there will be food and art items for sale?

Gabriel Q and Agnes always made the most beautiful things....hope they sell ANY of their work here!!!

but...a pressing question....will you be there yourself mr Musto???

Posted by: ssliska at May 22, 2008 12:53 PM

Definitely maybe.

Posted by: musto at May 22, 2008 2:29 PM

Actually, George Harris aka Hibiscus started his own theatre troupe as a child in Clearwater, Florida. I know because I am his sister!

When we moved to New York in 1963 or 4, Ellen Stewart of Cafe La Mama gave us a home for our children's theatre troupe "The Eldorado Players". As a family and seperately, we performed at The Caffe Cino, La Mama, Theatre for the New City, American Place Theatre etc, etc, etc.

Many people don't know that he was a card carrying professional actor before he went to San Francisco. When he moved back to New York he continued with "The Angels of Light" as well as "Hibiscus and The Screaming Violets". He also revived his professional career and did print ads and commercials etc.

He was not the least bit political/radical. He just loved life.

Note to Lulu: You probably wouldn't have the freedom of expression you have today if it weren't for "The Cockettes" "The Angels of Light" and others of that era. Quaint: I think not! Educate yourself, do your homework and show some respect for the people who paved the way!

All The Best,

Jayne Anne

Posted by: Jayne Anne Harris at May 25, 2008 8:06 AM

How great to see The Cockettes' art stimulating discussion!

I'm Daisy Shaver. I am producing The Cockettes are Coming! to honor the influence of the Cockettes that endures through the art of many today.

I'm a faerie who is worthy to sniff the Cockettes butts. I'd actually say I'll be kissing their fine hind parts when they are here!! I've met many of The Cockettes and feel honored they will participate in our event. Their style influenced my visual style long before their documentary came out. They are radical faerie ancestors and elders in their performance and community living.

Even bigger than our event we honor the historical acquisition of the Martin Worman Cockettes/Gay Theater Archives by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Billy Rose Theater Division at Lincoln Center.

Posted by: Daisy Shaver at May 27, 2008 10:10 PM

I'm so excited, this is a dream come true! I love the Cockettes and their northern California vibe(my home.)

They are my main inspiration and I will join the show as part of The Future Legendary Children Dance Squad with La John Joseph. "Feel Real!"

Lovely write-up!
DJD

Posted by: Darlinda Just Darlinda at June 1, 2008 11:56 PM

It was brilliant. It was magical. It was a time machine.

Posted by: Bo at June 11, 2008 7:43 PM

Casper and Zazu performed in two of the next to the last Cockette shows.
Check out www.VintageGoGo.blogspot.com for the whole story.

Posted by: Dray at June 21, 2008 10:29 PM