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Oleen’s Review
Despite its greater area and
population, San Francisco has
no more bars offering pan
tomime drag shows than the
“Queen City,” Charlotte, N.C.
In both plates, the total is one.
That one bar in Charlotte is
called Oleen’s, and the Barb
picked the wrong night to visit
it It was a Friday night, and
-much of the populace was at
tending a rock concert by the
Doobie Brothers, inadvertent
ly (?) billed as the “Boobie
Brothers” by a local straight
(?) publication.
Oleen had hoped to compete
with a big “fashion show”; but
the organizer cancelled at the
last minute. The best she was
able to assem ble on short notice
might have been called “The
Dregs of the Drags.”
There were three female im
personators, and one man who
specialized in Tom Jones. He
was “Wayne,’’andheproduces
some shows for Oleen. His
black outfits revealed a lot of
chest as he mimed and quiv
ered
The others, it was an
nounced that one -- “Tracy” --
was only making his second ap
pearance on.«stage. Jf that’s true,
he’s got potential - and some
elegant gowns Another, Lena,
wore mostly sleeveless outfits
which revealed too-muscular
arms; and* her eye-makeup
was ghastly.: But she chose
some fine, not overly familiar
material.
Also on the bill, “Melinda
Scott” did some routine soul
Licia Taylor
numbers, getting good — but
by now, standard -- effects from
a strobe light m one song.
The sound manfor thegroup,
who must have been deaf, was
unable to do anything right
Oleen, a tall, attractive
blonde, was embarrassed and
apologetic. Her “official host
ess,” Bob Sigman, who reigns
as “Miss Gay North Carolina”
under his drag name, “Licia
Taylor,” told us aboutsomeof
the great shows of the past
and future at Oleen’s.
There’s dancing to a juke
box between shows. The dance
floor is in front of the stage,
but the activity usually spills
over onto the stage itself.
In accordancewith state laws,
Oleen’s is considered a “pri
vate club”; but they’re open
seven days, and they sure make
strangers feel welcome!
Jesus Christ Super Star
Art Elliston andthedynamic
past of the #1 Showplace of the
South, Sweet Gum Head, pre
sented their Easter: Special,
Jesus Christ Superstar. . This
play could not have been pre
sented in a finer manner, if well
known Broadway stars had
performed it. Both nights the
Club was packed, and among
some of the celebrated guests
in the aiidience was the Rev.
Troy Ferry who was visiting;
Atlanta Easter week. Woxds
cannot do justice to this pro
duction number nor the Won
derful and talented members of
the cast that spent so many
tireless hours rehearsing. Rach
el Wells and La Vita Allen
directed the play and Rachel
did the: scenic desgin, as well
as portraying J esus in a defin
ite and dramatic manner. Julie
surprised her many fans as
she played the role of Mary
Magdalene, proving tnai sne
is a versatile and talented per
son (as well as a very attrac
tive woman). Tony Doran did
an excellent job as Pontius Pi
late and Mickey Day was great
as King Herod. Caiphas, the
High Priest..was played by
Deva Sanchez.who was nothing
short of fabulous. It wasn’t
until after the show that we
learned La Vita Allen had nev
er before done a dramatic part
This. was hard to believe, after
seeing how well she played the
part of Judas. Everyone was
“simply beautiful,” the play
was one of the most fantastic
'production numbers that Art
and the Sweet Gum Head crew,,
have ever presented. It’s al
ways that “something extra”
that will maintain the Sweet
Gum Head’s tide as the #1
Show Bar of the South.
ATLANTA BARB-Page 5
Rev. Troy Perry Delivers Easter
Message At Atlanta’s MCC
What A Party!!!
Sunday, April 21st, the ftL
DJ. of Sweet Gum Head'threw
a small informal party tor a
few friends (would you believe
about 50?) It was a marvel
ous party with enough food
and snacks to feed an army.
We might also mention that
the punch had the kick of a
mule too. Tom-Tom was an
excellent host, as he circulated
conversing with his many
guests. His roommate Cecil al
so proved to be a charming
personlEvervone %as enjoying
themselves, and the party was
relatively quiet, as parties go.
It was no wonder Tom-Tom
was upset when the Police ar
rived, after receiving a phone
call from a neighbor saying
that someone was “being beat
en. ” We all laughed ana joked
about it the first time, but when
3 squad cars arrived the sec
ond time, it was no laughing
matter. The Police Officers were
“nice guys,” and realized that
they had been getting prank
phone calls. The highlight of
the party came when later in
the evening more squad cars
pulled up with a fire engine!
This was totally uncalled for,
but even the Police took it in
good humor. The straight
neighbors were lined up out
side and many guests left the
party to see what all the com-
m otio n was about Two of the
bovs at the party kissed open
ly. ana were surprised when
the neighbors applauded them.
By this time, the neighbors were
ready to join in the festivities
too. It was a great party, every
one made new frienas, and en
joyed themselves tremendous
ly. But . .as Tweety Bird
would say, “Tom-Tom, you
throw the ewazziest parties. ”
Over two hundred and fifty
people, gay and straight
turned out to see and hear the
Rev. Troy Perry, of Los An
geles, deliver the dedicatory
message, Easter Sunday at At
lanta’s Metropolitan Commun
ity Church - 800 N. Highland
Ave. Representatives were on
hand from several states in
cluding Hawaii for the service
which was accompanied by the
master organists, Quinton
Hudson and Joe Dorwaft!
Special music was presented by
the choir and MCC’s own Gos
pel Quartet
The huge audience, as usual,
gave Rev. Perry, their leader,
a standing ovation when he
was introduced by the pastor,
Rev. John Gill. The dynamic
Rev. Perry, came on strong
with good '’advice to all the
gays. In his sermon, entitled
‘Stop Hiding- Start Living,”
he referred to 363 scriptures
pertaining to hetrosexual sex
acts, and only 8 that spoke,
agcmisi nomosexual acts. He
stated that he wna not inter
ested in changing our hetro
sexual brothers and sisters to
homosexuals and lesbians.
“We should be proud of the
way we were created, and stand
up for ourequalright,”hesaid.
Ten new members wereadded
to the membership roll and the
service climaxed with the invi
tation of die Holy Sacraments
a weekly ritual with the MCCi.
According to Rev. John Gill,
the pastor, this was the largest
attendance, except for General
Conference He said that this is
only the beginning and plans
were to expand, with facilities
to accommodate many congre
gational activities.
If you would like to seeMCC
grow in Atlanta, you may send
a tax deductable gift to: MCC
P.O. Box 54763, Atlanta, Ga.
30308.
ATLANTA BARB is published Monthly in Atlanta,
Georgia. We do not accept the responsibility for un
solicited manuscripts, photos, etc. Letters are wel-
eofne, but we do not guarantee publication of all ma
terial.
Opinions expressed by our coluipnists do not neces
sarily reflect the opinion of the Newspaper.
Subscription rates are $3.00 yearly ($4.00 in plain
wrapper).
STAFF
Editor. ...... v . % , . v- . - .... . .Ray F. Green
Co-Editor. . ....... ..... . . . .... . . .Jeanni Graham
ATLANTA BARB P.O. BOX 82543 ATLANTA, GEORGIA
30354
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