Saturday, November 14, 2009

Stormé DeLarverie, of the Jewel Box Review

photo credit: Marjorie J. Levine © 2009

I was more than excited today when I bumped into the legendary Stormé DeLarverie as I was exiting the Clearview's Chelsea Cinema after seeing "2012." I have known Stormé for years and years... because at one time she lived in my apartment building. I was rushed and Stormé was going home... so we did not have time for an interview. But, I did have time to take her photo and it appears above at this blog.

The photo below from 1958 is a photo of my family on the night we went to Ben Maksik's Town and Country Club, on Flatbush Avenue and Avenue V in Brooklyn, NY. We went that night with the Parkers and the Cranes to see the "Jewel Box Revue." The Jewel Box Revue was an infamous and popular "drag" performance group which toured America and the ensemble was composed of about 24 males dressed beautifully as females and one biological female dressed in a suit as a man. That man was Stormé and she was in the show that evening as the MC and male impersonator.

I had no idea at the time that so many years later I would meet the star of the show, Stormé DeLarverie, and that 51 years after that night I would be walking in Chelsea and hear the wonderful and recognizable voice of Stormé calling me, "Hey, doll." In so many imaginative and wonderful ways, bumping into Stormé tonight helped me end the day with a smile.

I am hoping to interview Stormé soon, but until that time please learn more about her here:

WOMEN MAKE MOVIES

Storme: Lady of the Jewel Box

http://www.stonewallvets.org/StormeDeLarverie.htm



ETA: Rest in Peace, Stormé

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