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Chatting with John Green well is not new to
me...I’ve known him and watched him since the
summer of ’71 when he came to Atlanta from
Huntsville, Alabama and began doing shows in
a little cellar bar here. He faced his first
audiences [here in the ott-beat bars, gaining
confidence, perfecting each performance,
creating a style, a personality and a face, that
now is Rachel Wells.
Not born in a trunk, but in Bardstown,
Kentucky, John was ah army brat. John spent
his early life traveling around the country and
maybe that’s why he told me:
“Traveling around is a hassle. When I do
spots .out of town, I sometimes don’t even
unpack. When Dean Mobley became my agent
she booked me from Miami to Texas. I’d been
at the Sweet Gum Head Club since February of
’71 and after three years of performing there
and many offers decided to, well, Billy you
know the lingo, in show biz, ‘Hit the Road’ Oh,
sure I loved it...new places, new people, a new
audience, new money. I’m only kidding, I
really had a great opportunity to do new things
and see if they would be accepted...at home, I
, would wonder if this would work and if they’d
like this new song and away f’d paint
differently .”
“Paint differently,” I said, “but you still came
out Rachel.”
Now, speaking of paint jobs, I was at the
Marco Polo H otel in Miami for the Miss David
contest in 1974. Rachel came on stage bearing
a cross with a beard and a crown of thorns as
Jesus Christ and in just a few seconds, goes into
her portrayal of Mary Magdalene
transformation. Thousands stood and cheered
and I am sure they realized it was really more
than a paint job. The act “Jesus Christ
Superstar” she considers her most exhausting
act to perform, but it won her the crown as
“Miss David.”
“I enjoy doing the face of Carol Channing
rqost of all. I did that when I did my last special
at the Sweet Gum, Face. My mother saw me
tor the first tirne'nft J <?t?r&e“ !
— r - - - " ifT
too.”
“How did Mama react to your “face?” I
quizzed.
“Oh, very well. When I left home after -high
school, all ready to face the great big wonderful
world, she said, ‘Son, just make-me proud of
you ’ and I think she was proud of me and my"
act.” •
I was there arid I watched Mama’s face ..as
she was introduced to the audience and to
Rachel Wells. The audience cheered and
Mama’s eyes lit up and stayed glued to the star
on stage. She began to smile and soon she
too, was applauding.
“At the clubs where \ I work, I-never cruise,
really, and I never notice fellows, boys, or men
unless they are totally obnoxious. I don’t
mingle and mix between shows with the
audience as so many do. I just can’t relate. All
the loud music...the loud music...the constant
interruptions when tallying or trying to
acknowledge coiripliments. Sometimes the
come-ons are just too much. I’d rather them
appreciate my artistry from the stage, not a
personal aspect of my life.”
After her second year in Atlanta, Rachel was
the winner of the Phyllis Killer Oscar — Best
Actress of the Year Award. A year later she
was chosen Miss Gay Atlanta. Now, in 1977,
she appears at straight and gay clubs. She
admits that the gay audiences are the easiest
and more responsive. The straights look, stare,
and you have to work harder to be more
convincing as they decide if they like you or
believe what they are really seeing.
Granting only one or two interviews per
season, I decided this was it...So here come the
good ones...
“Whose is your favorite “face”. “Why?”
“Margaux Hemmingway, cause she has a
natural look.” .-1
“Have you ever considered a sex change?”
“Yes, I guess but no, no, no wayl Like I said
earlier, 1 enjoy creating the illusion of a girl...
I enjoy being a boy!”
“Dq you UjinR women are. more §?xuaiiy
motivated thSSS days because of Womens Libr~
BT'
1
HV- PI 11
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81 ? 1
The Barb is happy to present to its readers tne
exciting story of Rachel Wells, first in a series of
interviews of famous females impersonators by
Billy Jones soon to be published in,Phyllis Killer’s
magazine, “There’s No Biz Like Drag Biz."
by Billy Jones
“That Face,” that fabulous face of Rachel
Wells is seen, admired and loved throughout
the Southeast. The. very popular and now
reigning Miss Gay Georgia now calls Atlanta
her home.
“That Face,” that fabulous face is definately
that of a star. When she walks on stage the
applause begins. She may, with a little smile,
recognize it; but whether walking stately into
the spotlight or spritely dancing to a disco hit,
Rachel Wells is totally into her act.
“I enjoy creating the illusion of a girl.
Causing the audience to break into applause
and yells is exciting. I’m happy they like me.
When they come stage-grabbing me, huggin
me, kissing at me, with tips, well, so many tirites
the'timing is off, but I enjoy the tips. At first it
was annoying, now I keep my cool, keep
moving into or out of their direction. When I
Srit started doing shpp l to ©k it aii very
il/jcfC
seriously, now Pve learned to relax on stage,
im
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