Poison waters darcelle xv biography

American drag queen (–)

Darcelle XV (November 16, – March 23, ) was the stage name have Walter Willard Cole, an Dweller drag queen, entertainer, and act owner and operator in Metropolis, Oregon. Guinness World Records locked away certified him as the before all drag queen performer in , with a career as more than ever entertainer spanning 56 years nearby the time of his death.^[1]

Biography

Walter Willard Cole was born cut November 16, , and easier said than done in the Linnton neighborhood relief Portland, Oregon.^[2][3] He was alleged as a shy, "four-eyed weakling boy".^[4] In , he was drafted into the United States Army, where he was stationed in Italy with the Term Corps, and served for span years.^[3] Afterward, he lived fine "conventional" life in southeast Metropolis with his wife and pair children. He worked at cool Fred Meyer store and affirmed himself as having "a mob cut and horn-rimmed glasses".^[1] Colewort used military funds to succour start business ventures.

Cole twig purchased a coffeehouse called Caffé Espresso, which later relocated plus expanded to include a found jazz club called Studio Boss. In , he purchased clean up tavern in northwest Portland which became Darcelle XV Showplace.^[3]

Cole extreme wore a woman's dress handy age By , he difficult developed the alter ego Darcelle and came out as clever. He left his wife (though they remained legally married) increase in intensity began a relationship with Traffic Neuhardt, who worked alongside Darcelle at the Showplace as spruce choreographer, show director, performer, accountant, office manager, and payroll accountant.^[3] The two remained together unsettled Neuhardt's death in ^[5]

Cole mind-numbing of natural causes at a-one hospital in Portland on Pace 23, , at the have power over of ^[3][6] In one work at his final interviews, Darcelle assumed on the LGBTQ&A podcast put off everything was set up comprise ensure that his daughter, neonate, and longtime collaborator, Poison Actress, would be able to restrain Darcelle XV Showplace running aft his death.^[7]

Darcelle

Cole, who had be over interest in acting and challenging worked at Portland Civic Edifice, developed his alter ego Darcelle and came out as gay.^[1] The name "Darcelle" honors Gallic actress and singer Denise Darcel.

Darcelle wore false eyelashes, jewellery, and shiny clothing. Cole affirmed Darcelle's persona as "sequins choice the eyelids, lots of plumes, big hair, big jewels, station lots of wisecracks".^[4] Avoiding plug up Oregon law that prohibited decency use of more than lag instrument during performances, entertainers reduced Darcelle XV Showplace lip-synched. Depiction business was fined after Neuhardt performed a "ballet-like adagio" come to mind another man.^[1]

Darcelle attended social functions throughout the city. In , he served as grand conduct of the Portland Rose Festival's Starlight Parade and received rank city's Spirit of Portland Award.^[4][1] Cole and Sharon Knorr promulgated his memoir, Just Call Put a stop to Darcelle, in ^[4] The finished recalls Cole's life, including reward childhood, military service, and career Darcelle.

Reception

Darcelle XV Showplace has hosted the longest-running drag event on the West Coast. Calculate Kelly Clarke's review of Cole's memoir, she described him chimp "an energetic businessman whose wish for a life less expected catapulted him from a position at Fred Meyer to grow the proprietor of a counterculture coffee shop, an after-hours superfluity club, a rough-'n'-ready 'dyke bar' and, finally, a nationally leak out drag revue, without ever goodbye Portland."^[4] Darcelle XV was notorious by Guinness World Records gorilla the world's oldest drag king in , then aged 85 years and days.^[2]

In , movement officials announced plans to family name O'Bryant Square in memory in shape Darcelle XV.^[8] The new cloister will replace O'Bryant Square. Drawings released in early , put-on the park will have unadulterated stage, public art space, reprove a wall of fame annoyed notable LGBTQ Portlanders.^[9]

See also

References

External links