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Page 9 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 :£« , o 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 €v-fjtbm hornet in over 40 cities 76 FOURTH ST., N W 881-16675