All language subtitles for The Cockettes (2002)

\h\h\h\h\h( piano intro,
cacophony of hooting )

OH, YEAH, WE’VE
BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

JUST LET ME THROUGH,
PLEASE.

RIGHT ON.

EVERYONE WAS HOT
FOR TICKETS,

EVERYONE IN TOWN WAS GOING TO
SHOW UP AT THE ANDERSON THEATRE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( woman )
AND THERE WAS THIS
GREAT ANTICIPATION,

THIS GREAT FEELING
\h\h\h\h OF, "OH, WOW !

WE’RE GONNA SEE SOMETHING
REALLY SENSATIONAL."

THE FOLLOW-UP IN
THE VILLAGE VOICE WAS,

"THE COCKETTES
HAVE ARRIVED,"

AND THEY SEEM TO BE
INVITED TO THIS PARTY,

THEY’RE HOSTING
THAT PARTY.

TEN COCKETTES
SHOWED UP DOWNTOWN,

20 OF THEM SHOWED UP
UPTOWN...

THEY WERE JUST ENJOYING BEING
THE HOTTEST GUYS IN TOWN.

EVERYBODY WAS THERE !

I MEAN, ALL OF THE
\h\h\h\hBEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.

\h\h\h\h WHEN I SAY
EVERYBODY WAS THERE,

EVERYBODY WHO WAS IN NEW YORK
AT THAT TIME WAS THERE.

EVERYONE FROM
QUEENS OF THE ’60s,

AND YOUR POP STARS
OF THE ’70s,

AND YOUR
FASHION ICONS

AND YOUR SOCIETY GALS
AND DEBUTANTES.

ANDY WARHOL WAS THERE,
CANDY DARLING WAS THERE,

HOLLY WOODLAWN
WAS THERE.

ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE
THAT JUST WERE

COMING OUT TO
SEE THIS HAPPENING.

( glass smashes )

FAR OUT.

( man )
I TRAVELED FOR
A LONG TIME WITH A CARNIVAL...

AND THE BEARDED LADY--

EVERYBODY GOES TO THE CIRCUS
OR THE SIDESHOW AT THE CARNIVAL

AND THEY THINK
THAT THE BEARD IS FAKE.

AND IT NEVER OCCURS TO THEM
THAT THE BEARD MIGHT BE REAL

BUT THE WOMAN ISN’T REAL !

\h\h\h\h( woman )
IT WAS THE WINTER
OF ’67-68.

I CAME OUT WITH UH, BABY BOBBY
AND DAVID THE MAD BOMBER.

HE WAS WANTED IN DETROIT FOR
BOMBING INDUCTION CENTERS.

\h\h\h\hWE CAME OUT HERE AND UH,
OF COURSE WE DROPPED ACID.

AND HE LEFT ME
ON HAIGHT STREET.

\h\h\h\h ( laughs )
YOU KNOW, IT WAS--

FROM THERE IT WAS JUST,
START ROLLING, YOU KNOW,

EVERYTHING ROLLED
FROM THERE.

FRANKLY, WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE
WAS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT

THERE WERE SO MANY...

THERE WERE SO MANY QUEERS
IN SAN FRANCISCO

AND I KNEW I HAD TO SOMEHOW
MEET MY, MY PEERS.

WE WANT THE MAYOR TO TAKE NOTICE
OF THE POLICE BRUTALITY

AGAINST HOMOSEXUALS
\h\h\h\h AND TO END IT,

THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE.

\h\h\h\hI SAW A FILM IN DOWNTOWN
HOLLYWOOD CALLED "SHE FREAKS"--

A REMAKE OF "FREAKS"--

AND I WAS VERY HIGH
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON L.S.D.

AND I WAS WITHOUT A JOB
\h\h\h\h AND PENNILESS.

SO AFTER SEEING THE FILM

I GOT ON A GREYHOUND
\h\h\h\h\h\hAND CAME UP HERE.

I EMBRACED THE HIPPIE CULTURE,
I SMOKED POT,

I WAS AN ANTI-WAR PROTESTER.

I WAS A COMPLEX PERSON.

I WASN’T BLACK,
I WASN’T GAY,

I WASN’T THIS, THAT
OR THE OTHER.

I WAS JUST THIS FREAK--
I WAS INTO MUSIC,

I WAS INTO DANCING,

AND I WAS INTO DRESSING UP
AS MUCH AS I COULD.

I HITCHHIKED
TO SAN FRANCISCO.

AND EVERYONE HAD LONG HAIR,
EVERYONE WAS MELLOW.

SO I WENT DOWN TO L.A.
AND I GOT DUSTY.

\h\h\h\h EVERYBODY USED TO SAY
IT’S A FREAKY TOWN, YOU KNOW,

IT’S ALL THE HIPPIES
\h\h\h\h AND EVERYTHING.

AND L.A. WAS MORE FLOWER
CHILDREN AND NOT HIPPIES.

\h\h\h\hAND SO--
( laughs )

SO I WAS SORT OF AFRAID
\h\h\h\h TO GO THERE,

BUT I WENT WITH REGGIE.

SHE PACKED THIS
BIG OLD SUITCASE

THAT WAS BIG ENOUGH
FOR BOTH OF US

AND WE HITCHHIKED
BACK UP TO SAN FRANCISCO.

EVERYBODY HITCHHIKED
\h\h\h\h AT THAT TIME.

I WAS A BAD GIRL IN MY HEART
ALWAYS AND UM...

BUT I GREW UP, I WAS
A CATHOLIC SCHOOL GIRL

IN A SMALL TOWN
IN NEW JERSEY

AND ASPIRED TO BE
AN ADVENTURESS.

I MEAN, THAT WAS
MY GOAL IN LIFE.

AND THAT INSPIRED ME
TO GO WEST.

( man )
THE MUSIC, THE,
THE LOOK, THE UH...

THE FREEDOM,
THE WILDNESS, Y’KNOW,

WERE ALL VERY
ATTRACTIVE TO ME.

I HAD NOWHERE TO LIVE,
NO MONEY,

AND I WAS WANDERING AROUND LIKE
AN ASCETIC AND I WAS HAPPY.

VERY SIMPLE.

MY RENT WAS
$35 A MONTH.

WE ALL CHIPPED IN AND RENTED
THIS HUGE VICTORIAN FLAT.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET UP,
\h\h\h\h YOU DRESS UP,

YOU GO DOWN TO
HAIGHT STREET.

THE GRATEFUL DEAD WOULD PLAY
ONE SUNDAY,

\h\h\h\h OR SOMEBODY
WOULD PLAY IN THE STREET,

AND IT WAS,
IT WAS FABULOUS.

\h\h\h\hIT WAS JUST UH--
JUST WHAT I CAME FOR.

SO WHEN I STARTED
LIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO

I JUST DISCARDED
EVERYTHING THAT WAS...

EVEN A REMOTE REMNANT
OF MY SUBURBAN PAST

AND COMPLETELY GOT INTO
VELVET AND LACE.

AND WE COMPLETELY
COMMUNICATED THOUGH DRAG,

THAT’S HOW YOU MET
OTHER PEOPLE.

\h\h\h\h WE DRESSED UP
VERY EFFEMINATELY,

LIKE, WE TIED RAGS IN OUR HAIR
AND BOOTS AND TIGHTS.

SATIN AND VELVET AND STUDS AND,
YOU KNOW, RHINESTONES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Dawn )
A LOT OF LACE DRESSES
AND A LOT OF SILK GOWNS.

AND I’D HIKE ’EM UP
WITH A BOW, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\h AND PUT RIBBONS
AND FLOWERS IN MY HAIR.

( Fayette )
PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO

LIVE AT THE END OF
THEIR IMAGINATION.

WHATEVER YOU CAME OUT WITH,
EVERYONE SAID,

"YES, LET’S HAVE MORE."

AND THAT’S WHAT EVERYONE
DID WITH EACH OTHER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Pam )
WE WERE VERY NAIVE. THE WORLD
WAS GONNA PROVIDE FOR US.

WE DIDN’T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT WORK,

WE DIDN’T WORRY ABOUT WHERE
OUR MEALS CAME FROM

AND WHAT WE WERE GONNA WEAR,
IT ALWAYS CAME.

WE REALLY DID BELIEVE THERE’D
BE A REVOLUTION ANY MINUTE,

AND YOU WANTED TO COME DOWN
ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

\h\h\h\h ( chanting )
... END THE WAR IN VIETNAM,
BRING THE BOYS HOME !

THIS WAS THE DREAM, YOU KNOW,
THIS WAS TRULY THE DREAM.

WE WERE ON A SPIRITUAL QUEST,
WE WERE UH, YOU KNOW,

THIS WAS WHAT WE WERE
\h\h\h\h BORN TO DO,

\h\h\h\h WE WERE BORN TO
CHANGE EVERYTHING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( woman )
IT’S TO HIS BROTHER WALTER,

AND IT WAS WRITTEN
\h\h\h\h IN ’68 OR ’69.

"DEAR WALTER, A BIZARRE MORNING
HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.

"THE WIND HOWLS AS I HOWL.

"I REMEMBER LAST NIGHT
RUNNING THROUGH CHINATOWN

"WITH FLOWERS AND GLITTERING
RED CHINESE BANNERS.

"I LAY ON THE SCAFFOLD
LIKE CHRIST ON THE CROSS,

"SUNSHINE, THE STARS,
\h\h\h\h THE MOON...

"SO STRANGE TO BE LIVING
\h\h\h\hUP IN THE CLOUDS.

\h\h\h\h I LIVE WITH
THE ANGELS OF LIGHT."

IT WAS THIS COMBINATION OF ROBES
AND GREAT HEADDRESS,

AND ALL THESE COLORS
MOVING IN PROFUSION,

COMING UP THE STREET.

AND WE JUST STARED AND LOOKED,
AND THAT WAS HIBISCUS.

HE LOOKED LIKE JESUS CHRIST
WITH LIPSTICK.

HE WAS A VISION !

HE WAS JUST ALL BLOND HAIR
AND UH, BEARD AND GLITTER.

WE WERE ON ACID ALL THE TIME,
SO HE LOOKED GREAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( man )
OH, HE WAS OUTRAGEOUS.

I MEAN, AT THE TIME...

HIS APPEARANCE WAS
JUST SO OUTLANDISH

WITH THE SKIRTS
AND THE ROBES,

AND STUFF WOVEN IN HIS HAIR
AND STUFF WOVEN IN HIS BEARD.

I WENT OVER TO PETER PAN’S
HOUSE, A FRIEND OF ALL OF OURS,

AND HE WASN’T THERE,

SO I WENT OVER TO THE PARK
AND I HEARD THIS MUSIC.

HE WAS DANCING
ALL IN WHITE,

HAD A BIG BOUQUET OF FLOWERS
WRAPPED AROUND HIS ARMS.

AND I SAID, "OOH,
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MAN."

I WAS WALKING THROUGH
"PREHISTORIC POND"--

THERE’S THIS AREA
IN GOLDEN GATE PARK,

AND HE WAS SITTING AT A TREE
WITH THESE OTHER PEOPLE

AND THEY’RE SINGING SHOW TUNES,
IT WAS LIKE, SO WILD !

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( man )
♪ ... FISH GOTTA SWIM
\h\h\h\hBIRDS GOTTA FLY ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ I GOTTA LOVE
ONE MAN ’TIL I DIE ♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( all )
♪ CAN’T HELP LOVIN’
\h\h\h\hDAT MAN OF MINE ♪

I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT !
AND HERE I WAS IN
\h\h\h\hMY MEDITATIVE--

I DON’T KNOW IF I WAS ON ACID
OR WHAT, BUT, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\h RIGHT AWAY:
"WELL, COME JOIN US."

AND HIBISCUS HAD THAT
\h\h\h\h "COME JOIN US,"

MESSIANIC QUALITY ABOUT HIM.

HE COULD DRAW TOGETHER,
YOU KNOW,

THE DUMBEST OF US
AND THE SMARTEST OF US.

LIKE IF HE FOUND
A DULL PERSON HE’D JUST,

HE WOULD LIKE,
GIVE THEM A MAKEOVER.

♪ ... TELL ME HE’S LAZY
TELL ME HE’S SLOW ♪

♪ TELL ME I’M CRAZY
\h\h\h\h MAYBE I KNOW ♪

♪ CAN’T HELP LOVIN’
DAT MAN OF MINE ♪

LET’S JUST ALL DO IT !

I WENT TO SAN FRANCISCO
FOR THE FIRST TIME, UM...

AND I DIDN’T KNOW
ONE PERSON.

\h\h\h\h I GOT A ROOMMATE THAT
I DIDN’T KNOW NAMED DAN WYLES,

AND HE TOLD ME ABOUT
THE PALACE THEATER

THAT SHOWED GREAT MIDNIGHT
MOVIES ON THE WEEKENDS.

( Scrumbly )
THE "NOCTURNAL DREAM SHOWS"
WAS A MIDNIGHT SHOW

OF EXPERIMENTAL
AND VINTAGE FILMS

THAT BEGAN AT MIDNIGHT
AT THE PALACE THEATER.

IT ATTRACTED A GREAT GROUP
OF, OF FREAKS.

AT 2:00 YOU COULD GO IN

AND JUST BE WATCHING MOVIES
AND DRINKING AND SMOKING DOPE.

( Dawn )
THEY PLAYED A LOT
OF THOSE OLD MUSICALS,

AND WE’D TAP DANCE
UP AND DOWN THE AISLES.

IT WAS SO FUN.

( Rumi )
THEY’D SHOW AN EARLY
AGNES VARDA FILM,

THEN THEY’D SHOW
A SEX EXPLOITATION FILM

LIKE "APPLE, KNOCKERS
AND COKE"--

\hTHAT’S SUPPOSED TO BE
MARILYN MONROE WITH
A COKE BOTTLE.

\h\h\h\h AND I SAW MOVIES LIKE
"THE WORLD’S GREATEST SINNER,"

\h\h\h\hA MOVIE THAT I SAW THERE
THAT TO THIS DAY I REMEMBER

THAT I’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE
OR SINCE THAT SEBASTIAN
\h\h\h\hFOUND SOMEWHERE.

THAT’S WHAT I WANTED TO DO,
WAS TO SHOW MOVIES

THAT WERE NOT SEEN
\h\h\h\h ORDINARILY.

AND ALSO TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE
OF GOING THERE

UNUSUAL AND INTERESTING.

AND WE GOT THE IDEA TO HAVE
LITTLE STAGE THINGS

DURING THE INTERMISSION.

\h\h\h\h ( Ann Harris )
"IRVING KEEPS ON ASKING

"WHEN YOU WILL BE COMING BACK
TO SAN FRANCISCO.

"SO MANY NEW FACES EVERY DAY
HERE AT THE COMMUNE.

"RAIN POURING DOWN
AT ALL THE WINDOWS.

"I FIND MYSELF
A KITCHEN SLUT

"CRYING AT THE FIRE
BY A BURNING ROSE.

"I COLLECT ORANGE PEELS
AND FADED BLOSSOMS.

\h\h\h\h "I LOVE TO WATCH PEOPLE
THAT I SEE ON THE STREETS,

\h\h\h\h"TO BECOME THEM,
TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES,

ALL THE CHILDREN
OF PARADISE."

( Fayette )
SO HE SAID,
IT’S NOT ENOUGH

THAT WE’RE JUST, WE’RE ON
THE STREET LIKE THIS,

WE NEED TO BE ON THE STAGE.

AND I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT
MOMENT WHEN HE SAID THAT,

I THOUGHT--
"WHAT AN IDEA !

WHAT A GREAT IDEA !"

ACTUALLY, IT WAS
ME AND HIBISCUS AT FIRST,

AND WE WENT TO
THE PALACE THEATER.

WE ASKED, "IF WE DID
A LITTLE SHOW FOR YOU

"WOULD WE BE ABLE
TO HAVE TICKETS

THAT NIGHT
TO SEE THE MOVIE ?"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
I RAN INTO HIBISCUS AND HE SAID,
"COME BE IN THE SHOW."

( Dawn )
HE SAID, "THIS WEEKEND WE’RE
GOING TO DANCE AT THE THEATER."

AND I SAID, "OKAY."
AND SO I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT
KIND OF THEATER HE MEANT.

AND IT WAS THE PALACE,
HALLOWEEN NIGHT,

THEY ACTUALLY
GAVE US THAT NIGHT.

NEW YEAR’S, ’69, ’70.

IT WAS A HALLOWEEN NIGHT.

HE SAID WE SHOULD HAVE OUR SHOW
READY FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE,

SO THAT WE CAN SHOW THE
NEW THEATER FOR THE NEW DECADE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Ralph )
\h\h\h\h HIBISCUS SAID,
"WHAT WILL WE CALL IT ?

I WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING
LIKE THE ROCKETTES."

\h\h\h\h SO IMMEDIATELY
A GUY SAID "COCKETTES."
I MEAN, WHAT ELSE ?

IT WAS ON OUR MIND
\h\h\h\h ALL THE TIME.

WE MET AT HIS PLACE
ON SUTTER STREET,

HIS COMMUNE ON
SUTTER STREET.

AND I SAID TO HIBISCUS,

I SAID, "WELL, WHAT ARE
WE GOING TO DO ?"

AND HE SAID, "COME BACK
WITH ME TO KALIFLOWER,

YOU HAVEN’T BEEN
IN THE ATTIC YET."

I HAD THE KEY TO THE DRAG ROOM
AT THE COMMUNE,

SO I LET EVERYONE IN
\h\h\h\h TO GET DRESSED

IN ALL THIS ’40’s FINERY.

I PUT ON A WHITE,
FLOOR-LENGTH GOWN.

HIBISCUS HAD ON
A GOWN OR TWO.

AND HE’D SAY, "I LIKE THAT"
OR "I DON’T LIKE THAT SKIRT,
OR "THAT TIE IS TOO SILLY."

( Fayette )
EVERY PIECE OF CLOTHING
THAT I HAD

WAS WORN EITHER BY ME
OR SOMEONE ELSE.

I MUST’VE HAD ABOUT
15 SKIRTS ON AT THE TIME.

SOME PEOPLE WERE
MORE ANTICIPATORY

\h\h\h\h ABOUT TAKING
THEIR CLOTHES OFF,

\h\h\h\hBECAUSE THIS WAS
DEFINITELY A THING

\h\h\h\h WHERE WE WERE
ENCOURAGING NUDITY.

WE HEADED DOWN TO
THE PALACE, WE PARKED,
WE GOT OUT, WE WENT IN.

ALL I WANTED WAS MY FREE
TICKET TO SEE THE MOVIE.

( Scrumbly )
WE WENT UP ON STAGE,

THEY PUT THE SONG ON
AND WE JUST DANCED.

WE DID KIND OF A SPONTANEOUS
KICK, CHORUS LINE.

"HERE WE ARE ANDROGYNOUS FREAKS
UP HERE DANCING,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHANK YOU
AND GOOD EVENING."

THAT WAS IT...

\h\h\h\h YOU KNOW, FIVE
OR TEN MINUTES, BAM.

THE AUDIENCE WENT NUTS !

AND THE THEATER
WENT WILD !

THEY WERE BALLISTIC !

WE GOT A HUGE STANDING OVATION
TO THE POINT WHERE
\h\h\h\hWE DID IT AGAIN.

\h\h\h\h THEY JUST CRANKED UP
\h\h\h\hTHE RECORD AND WE DID IT
FOR ANOTHER THREE MINUTES.

( Fayette )
AND BY THAT TIME NOBODY
HAD ANY CLOTHES ON,

AND EVERYBODY GOT UP
AND CAME ON THE STAGE.

AND THAT WAS HOW IT STARTED,
THAT WAS IT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( man )
THE ACTUAL COCKETTES
\h\h\h\hIN SAN FRANCISCO

STARTED NEW YEAR’S.

\h\h\h\h IT WAS FIRST
"THE ANGELS OF LIGHT."

AND I CALLED
EVERYONE I KNEW--

SCRUMBLY AND FAYETTE,
\h\h\h\h AND GOLDIE.

I MADE A BIG DINNER THAT NIGHT

\h\h\h\hAND EVERYONE CAME
AND GOT DRESSED UP.

AND WE ALL GOT IN THIS
\h\h\h\hOLD, OLD CADILLAC

AND DROVE TO THE PALACE.

AND THEN WE PUT ON
\h\h\h\hA CAN-CAN RECORD,

AND WE ALL JUST DANCED
UP ON STAGE TO CAN-CAN--

RUMI WAS THERE TOO--

\h\h\h\h AND CAN-CANNED
ALL ALONG THE STAGE.

AND THEN WE PLAYED
A MICK JAGGER SONG,

\h\h\h\h "JUMPING JACK FLASH"
OR SOMETHING, AND JUST DANCED.

AND THE WHOLE AUDIENCE
RAN UP TO THE STAGE

AND PUT THEIR ARMS UP.

AND IT WAS JUST THIS
INCREDIBLE SMASH HIT.

\h\h\h\h ( Scrumbly )
THE FIRST SHOW WAS
VERY MUCH A SENSATION

SO WE HAD TO
COME BACK.

AND I WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN,
I WANTED TO DO IT SOME MORE.

( Fayette )
THE FOLLOWING MONTH WE HAD
PUT A REAL SHOW TOGETHER--

WELL, WE HAD PUT MORE OF
A COMPLETE SHOW TOGETHER.

AND THERE WAS NO PLACE TO DO IT
SO WE JUST CONTINUED DOING IT

AT THE PALACE THEATER.

FROM THAT POINT ON
THEY STARTED COMING BY

ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
WITH A LITTLE STAGE SHOW.

\h\h\h\h AND THEY ALWAYS
WENT OVER REAL WELL.

IN THE EARLY SHOWS, HIBISCUS
CAME UP WITH EACH THEME.

HE GOT THIS BIG BOOK,

AND HE SAID, "LET’S MAKE
A SCRAP BOOK OF ALL OUR IDEAS,

"ALL OUR FANTASIES, WHATEVER
IT IS THAT YOU LOVE,

"THAT YOU WANNA EXPRESS,

"THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE
ON THE STAGE

AND WE’LL DO THE PERFORMANCES
OUT OF THIS BOOK."

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Rumi )
EVERY MONTH WE WOULD
TAKE A DIFFERENT THEME

AND JUST RUN WITH IT.

WE DID "THE FAIRY-TALE
\h\h\h\h EXTRAVAGANZA,"

WHERE ALL THE FAIRY-TALE
CHARACTERS CAME TOGETHER

FOR THE FIRST TIME,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON ACID.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
IT APPEALED TO ME,

THE "LITTLE RASCAL" QUALITY
OF THE COCKETTES,

BECAUSE IT WASN’T
JUST A DRAG SHOW,

IT WAS A HIPPIE SIDESHOW.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
WERE TONE DEAF,

A LOT OF PEOPLE
COULDN’T DANCE.

BUT, YOU KNOW,
WHEN YOU’RE ON STAGE

YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE
THE GREATEST.

\h\h\h\h "MADAME BUTTERFLY" WAS
ACTUALLY OUR FIRST TALKIE,

BUT THE WHOLE THING
WAS IN FAKE CANTONESE.

\h\h\h\h ( John Waters )
THEY WERE THE FIRST,

\h\h\h\h KIND OF LIKE,
BEARDED DRAG QUEENS.

THEY WERE LIKE HIPPIE,
ACID-FREAK DRAG QUEENS,

WHICH WAS REALLY NEW
\h\h\h\h AT THE TIME.

IT STILL WOULD BE NEW.

( Scrumbly )
THE SHOWS WENT FROM
BEING FIVE MINUTES

TO BEING A HALF AN HOUR,
TO BEING... THREE HOURS !

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Rumi )
WE’D DO ANOTHER SHOW, UH,

"GONE WITH THE SHOWBOAT
\h\h\h\h TO OKLAHOMA,"

AN ALL-SOUTHERN SHOW WITH
CHARACTERS AND SONGS
FROM ALL OF THOSE.

I REMEMBER SEWING ENDLESS
AMOUNTS OF HOOP SKIRTS.

I PLAYED "BELLE DU JOUR,"

LOOSELY BASED ON
"BELLE WATLING,"

\h\h\h\hTHE TOWN WHORE IN
"GONE WITH THE WIND."

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
WE WEREN’T WORRIED ABOUT
\h\h\h\h WOMEN OR BLACKS

OR WHAT ANYBODY THOUGHT,

\h\h\h\h BECAUSE WE WERE
SO UNTRADITIONAL,

\h\h\h\h WE WERE SO FAR
FROM THE MAINSTREAM,

I MEAN, WE WERE
ALMOST ILLEGAL.

( Waters )
YOU COULDN’T TELL
IF IT WAS MEN OR WOMEN,

IT WAS
STRAIGHT PEOPLE TOO.

IT WAS COMPLETE
SEXUAL ANARCHY,

WHICH IS ALWAYS
A WONDERFUL THING.

I WAS AMAZED AT ALL THE COMMUNES
IN SAN FRANCISCO THAT I WENT TO.

THE VERY FIRST NIGHT
I CAME TO SAN FRANCISCO

I WAS BROUGHT
TO THIS HOUSE.

AND THERE WAS A MAN,
HE HAD FRIZZY HAIR--

SO IT HAD BEEN GROWING
FOR YEARS AND YEARS--

AND IT WAS LIKE A BIG SUNBURST
AROUND HIS HEAD...

AND THEY SAT AROUND
\h\h\h\hA LARGE OAK TABLE

AND THEY WERE PASSING THIS
BOWL OF ROSE PETAL TEA AROUND

AND THEY WERE EACH DRINKING FROM
THIS BOWL OF ROSE PETAL TEA.

IT WAS LIKE, "OH MY GOD !"

YOU KNOW, "WHERE AM I,
\h\h\h\h IS THIS OZ ?"

AND SO THE COMMUNES WERE
ALL DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT.

( man )
WE HAD A HOUSEHOLD THAT WAS
SORT OF A 1920’s COMMUNE.

THERE WERE AT LEAST FIVE OF US
AND WE EACH HAD OLD CARS.

AND WE LOVED TO DRESS UP IN
PERIOD CLOTHES AND GO PLACES.

WE ALL COLLECTED RECORDS
AND SHEET MUSIC,

AND WE WERE JUST
VERY INTERESTED

IN THE CULTURE OF THE EARLY
PART OF THE 20th CENTURY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( man )
WE LIVED IN OUR COMMUNE,
\h\h\h\h "HUNGA DUNGA,"

\h\h\h\hAND WE WERE ONE OF ABOUT
300 COMMUNES IN THE BAY AREA.

\h\h\h\hFOR HUNGA DUNGA,
THE COMMUNE I LIVED IN,

WE DID THE FOOD CONSPIRACY.

EVERYBODY WOULD POOL THEIR
CASH AND THEIR FOOD STAMPS,

AND WE WOULD GO OUT
AND BUY FOOD IN BULK

\h\h\h\h AND DELIVER IT
TO ALL THE COMMUNES.

AND A MECHANICS’ COMMUNE THAT
WOULD FIX EVERYBODY’S CARS.

IT WAS THIS WONDERFUL NETWORK

WHERE WE ALL DID EVERYTHING
FOR ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY.

( Fayette )
THERE WOULD BE
THE FOOD COMMUNE,

THAT PEOPLE WOULD
DELIVER FREE FOOD.

THERE WOULD BE, THERE WAS
THE KALIFLOWER COMMUNE.

AND SO WE HAD THE COCKETTE HOUSE
AND THAT WAS OUR FAMILY.

AND I WAS PROUD
OF MY FAMILY.

I THOUGHT WE WERE
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL,

WE WERE THE MOST ARTISTIC,
CREATIVE PEOPLE IN THE CITY.

( Scrumbly )
WE WERE THE HOUSE

WITH THE BIGGEST REPUTATION
FOR DRESSING UP,

SHOWING LOTS OF PANACHE.

AND IT BECAME A SOMEWHAT
\h\h\h\hOF A PARTY HOUSE,

AN ONGOING PARTY HOUSE.

EVERYBODY JUST CAME OVER
\h\h\h\h ALL THE TIME.

( Reggie )
THEY WERE ALL THERE.

EVERYONE HAD HAIR
DOWN TO HERE.

IT WAS A BUNCH
OF GAY HIPPIES.

I SAID "THIS IS IT,
THIS IS WHO I WANNA BE."

GROUPIES...

THE GUYS WHO DRESSED
\h\h\h\h ANDROGYNOUSLY,

WITH LOTS OF GLITTER.

SOME OF THEM
WERE REAL QUEENS,

\h\h\h\h WHICH I’D NEVER
REALLY MET BEFORE.

I WOULD MEET SOMEBODY
AND BRING THEM HOME,

AND THAT WOULD BE IT.

THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY
BE IN THE COCKETTE FAMILY,

EVERYONE WOULD WANT TO
HAVE SEX WITH THEM,

AND WHATEVER THEY FELT
LIKE DOING THEY DID.

I WAS IN MY SECOND YEAR
\h\h\h\h OF ART COLLEGE

AT CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF ARTS
AND CRAFTS IN OAKLAND.

I WAS DOING A SERIES OF DRAWINGS
OF DEFORMED CHORUS GIRLS.

MY ROOMMATE INVITED ME
\h\h\h\h ALONG WITH HIM

TO GO TO A COCKETTE SHOW.

AND, I MET SCRUMBLY THAT NIGHT
AND STAYED WITH HIM.

AND AS IT TURNS OUT NEVER WENT
BACK TO BERKELEY AFTER THAT.

( man singing in falsetto )
♪ THAT’S ONE TWIST WHO
DOESN’T CRUISE MUCH ♪

♪ I HAVEN’T HAD MUCH
BUT I’VE HAD FUN ♪

♪ I WONDER WHAT’S AT HAND ♪

♪ FOR YOU SEE
I’M CRUISING ♪

♪ ...LOSING ♪

♪ ...I COULD BE OOZING ♪

♪ AROUND THE TOWN
TO BE CRUISING ♪

♪ ALL NIGHT ♪

♪ LOOKING FOR
THE LOVE YOU ♪

( man )
WE LIVED IN A COLLECTIVE
THAT WAS BASED ON

JOHN HUMPHREY NOYES’
ONEIDA COMMUNE

IN UPSTATE NEW YORK,

WHICH WAS A CHRISTIAN EXERCISE
IN COMMUNISM.

IT WAS ON A BOOK CALLED
"BIBLE COMMUNISM."

WHAT IT DID WAS STRUCTURED
WAYS TO LIVE, COMMUNALLY.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T BRING
ANYONE IN FROM OUTSIDE,

THIS IS GROUP MARRIAGE.

AND IRVING, IN THIS
POSITION, YOU KNOW,

WITH ALL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
THAT GOES WITH THE POSITION,

WAS STRICT.

IT WAS SO AMAZING TO ME BECAUSE
MY IDEA OF COMMUNE WAS UM,

BASICALLY WE ALL DID WHATEVER
WE WANTED TO DO, YOU KNOW,

THAT IT WAS A COMPLETE
\h\h\h\h FREE-FOR-ALL.

AND I STAYED THERE TWO WEEKS
AND I WAS JUST MIFFED

\h\h\h\h BECAUSE IRVING
MADE ME DO LAUNDRY,

HE MADE ME DO EVERYBODY’S
LAUNDRY ONE TIME BECAUSE
\h\h\h\h I HAD BEEN

\h\h\h\hEATING FOR FREE
AND I DIDN’T KNOW THERE WAS
A PRICE TO PAY FOR THIS.

( Marshall )
IT WAS THE SERIOUS
HIPPIES OVER THERE.

WE WERE JUST INTO
OVERTHROWING THE GOVERNMENT

AND BE DONE WITH IT.

WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED IT WAS
CALLED "THE FREE PRINT SHOP."

AND THEY DID JUST THAT,
THEY PRINTED FLYERS AND THINGS

FOR CERTAIN CAUSES AND CONCERNS
THAT THEY FELT WORTHY.

THAT WAS FASCINATING
TO ME TOO,

THAT THIS RADICAL THING
WAS GOING ON.

( Goldie Glitters )
HIBISCUS LIVED AT KALIFLOWER.

HE WOULD OFTEN TAKE ME OVER
TO HAVE RICE.

WHICH WAS BASICALLY THE--
WHAT THEY HAD WAS RICE.

HIBISCUS, AFTER HAVING STARTED
TO DESIGN THE COCKETTES,

STARTED BRINGING IN
ALL OF HIS FRIENDS.

AND THEY WERE UH,
A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS DRAG

THAN WE WERE USED TO.

IRVING DIDN’T LIKE
ANY OF THEM.

AND I DON’T THINK HE APPROVED
OF GEORGE’S ANTICS,

OF HIS THEATRICAL ANTICS,
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT IS.

IRVING TOLD ME TO TAKE HIM
UNDER MY WING.

THAT’S WHAT
THE OLD MAN SAID.

I SAW HIM JUST BLOSSOM
MORE AND MORE INTO--

YOU KNOW, LIKE HE WANTED
TO BE ISADORA, YOU KNOW ?

AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW,
"I AM ISADORA,

"AND YOU ARE
THE ISADORABLES. U KNOW ?

"ALL YOU AROUND ME WILL LEARN
HOW TO DANCE IN PUBLIC

AND, YOU KNOW,
AND BE, BE FREE."

I MEAN,
THAT’S HOW HE TALKED.

HIBISCUS WOULD CONSTANTLY
BE FIGHTING WITH IRVING,

AND I REMEMBER HIM--
HIS BIG PLOY WAS TO

BANG HIS HEAD AGAINST
THE WALL-- HIBISCUS.

OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

UNTIL HIBISCUS MOVED, MOVED
OUT INTO THE COCKETTE HOUSE.

( Fayette )
HE PRESENTED IT AS

COMING OUT OF SOME KIND OF
PRISON OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW.

HE SAID "I’M LIKE
A CAGED ANIMAL THERE

AND THEY WON’T LET ME
DO ANYTHING."

HE JUST SAID, "I WANT TO
BE WITH THE ARTISTS.

AND SO, CAN I LIVE
WITH YOU ?"

AND OF COURSE, ALL YOU HAD TO DO
WAS ASK IN THOSE DAYS, YOU KNOW,

AND SO OF COURSE
HE MOVED IN.

I WAS VERY SAD.

I WAS REALLY,
REALLY DEVASTATED.

ALL THE PLAID SHIRTS
IN THE WORLD WERE THERE

AND ALL THE SEQUINS
WENT THAT WAY.

( piano music )

\h\h\h\h ( Scrumbly )
I WAS THE FIRST ONE TO
\h\h\h\h PLAY THE PIANO.

I FORGET HOW I WOULD DO IT,
’CAUSE I REMEMBER SINGING

"JUNE IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER"
IN "GONE WITH THE SHOWBOAT
TO OKLAHOMA,"

BUT WHO WAS PLAYING THE PIANO
AT THAT POINT, I’M NOT SURE.

I DON’T REMEMBER WHO
THE FIRST PIANIST WAS,

BUT I THINK THEY DROVE HIM
STARK RAVING MAD.

AND THEN THEY DIDN’T HAVE
A PIANIST FOR A WHILE.

AND SO WHEN I CAME ALONG,
BOY WERE THEY GLAD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
PETER WAS PERFECT FOR
THE PART, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\hBECAUSE HE NEVER TRIED TO
UPSTAGE THE QUEENS, YOU KNOW ?

HE ALWAYS STAYED IN THE BACK
AND FOLLOWED.

AND I MEAN, HE HAD
A HARD ROW TO HOE,

BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE
COULDN’T CARRY A TUNE,

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD
FORGET THE BRIDGE,

\h\h\h\h THEY COULDN’T REMEMBER,
THEY’D SING THE CHORUS AGAIN.

\h\h\h\h AND PETER
WOULD FOLLOW BEHIND.

YEAH, THEY LIKED ME
’CAUSE I HAD IDEAS

AND I WOULD JUST GO ALONG
WITH ANYTHING AND UH...

I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHAT
WAS THE OUTCOME OF THIS.

EVERYBODY SEEMED TO WANT TO
LIVE IN THIS KIND OF FANTASY

OF THE OLD MOVIE MUSICAL.

THIS IS WHAT WE DID
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAT HOME--

WE DRESSED UP AND WE SANG
AND WE PLAY ACTED.

\h\h\h\hTHIS IS OUR LIFE, IT JUST
SPILLED OFF ONTO THE STAGE.

( Fayette )
PEOPLE REALLY EXPRESSED
THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR LOOK,

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TIMES UM,
PEOPLE WOULD BE SO STONED

THEY WOULD BECOME NON-VERBAL.
( laughs )

MYSELF INCLUDED.

I HAVE TO TOUCH UP
MY LIPSTICK !

I’M SURE THE MEN ARE AS VAIN
AS THE WOMEN IN THIS REGARD.

( drumming )

IT WAS SHOCKING, IN THE
MIRROR THE FIRST TIME.

WE DIDN’T HAVE EYEBROWS.

THAT GAVE AWAY
A LOT OF US

\h\h\h\h ’CAUSE WE WOULD
SHAVE OUR EYEBROWS OFF.

( Jilala )
BUT WHEN YOU
SHAVE YOUR EYEBROWS

NO ONE WILL
TOUCH YOU ANYWAY,

BECAUSE YOU’RE OBVIOUSLY
FROM VENUS, YOU KNOW ?

( Scrumbly )
WE WERE FREAKS.

I MEAN, MOST OF US
WERE GAY, BUT, YOU KNOW,

NO ONE THOUGHT THAT MUCH
\h\h\h\h OF GENDER.

GENDER CONFUSION !

\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS
THE WHOLE POINT.

I’M TAKING A JOB
AS AN ELEVATOR GIRL

STARTING MONDAY.

OOH, GOOD.

I WAS JUST A
BOURGEOIS EXPLOITER

WHILE YOU GIRLS
SWEATED LIKE STUCK PIGS.

YOU DON’T SAY.

OH, MAXINE,
PLEASE FORGIVE ME !

WE FORGIVE YOU...

MMM...

( panting )

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( man )
WE’RE TALKING TO YOU

\h\h\h\hFROM IN FRONT OF
THE PALACE THEATER

IN SAN FRANCISCO’S FABULOUS
NORTH BEACH DISTRICT

WHERE A STUNNED AUDIENCE HAS
JUST SEEN A SURPRISE SHOWING

\h\h\h\h OF JOHN WATERS’
"MULTIPLE MANIACS."

I’M A MANIAC !

\h\h\h\h I’M A MANIAC
THAT CANNOT BE CURED.

OH, DIVINE...

OH, I AM DIVINE !

IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE
MY MOVIES EVER CAUGHT ON

OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE,
AND PROVINCETOWN.

AND IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT WAS
THIS INCREDIBLE AUDIENCE.

FIRST OF ALL, IT WAS
A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME.

SEBASTIAN PAID ME
AND IT WAS GREAT,

I HAD A WAY TO
MAKE SOME MONEY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE GOT $100 OR SOMETHING.

A DOLLAR A MINUTE, I THINK WAS
THEIR GOING RATE AT THE TIME.

WHEN "MULTIPLE MANIACS"
\h\h\h\h CAME ALONG

I JUST WAS KNOCKED OUT.

I REALLY WANTED
TO SHOW THAT.

AND THAT WAS THE ONE WHERE
DIVINE CAME TO TOWN.

DIVINE AT THE TIME--

I GUESS IN DIVINE’S MIND--
WAS STILL GLENN MILSTEAD.

HE HADN’T SWITCHED OVER
TO BEING, IN HIS MIND,

DIVINE ALL THE TIME.
COMES TO SAN FRANCISCO--

ALL HE HAD WAS THE AIR TICKET,
NOT ONE NICKEL IN HIS PURSE--

GOT IN FULL DRAG,
GOT ON THE AIRPLANE ALONE

AND FLEW TO SAN FRANCISCO,

AND THE COCKETTES MET HIM
IN A BIG MEDIA EVENT.

HE FLIPPED OVER,
HE WAS DIVINE FOREVER THEN,

HE NEVER WENT BACK TO BEING
GLENN MILSTEAD AFTER THAT NIGHT.

\h\h\h\h ( Divine )
IMAGINE MY AMAZEMENT

WHEN I STEPPED OFF MY JET TO BE
MOBBED BY CRAZED COCKETTES,

EMBRACING ME, COMFORTING ME
AFTER MY ORDEAL.

NOW, I’M READY TO
TELL MY STORY.

\h\h\h\h I HAVE CHOSEN
THE PALACE THEATER

AS THE PLACE WHERE
I CAN FIND FRIENDS

\h\h\h\hWHO’LL UNDERSTAND
WHAT I’VE BEEN THROUGH.

\h\h\h\h ( Marshall )
THE PEOPLE ALL CAME
OUT OF THE AIRPLANE.

\h\h\h\hAND THERE WERE ALL THESE
DRAG QUEENS AND CONGA DRUMS.

\h\h\h\h AND-- WHSSH !
DANCING AROUND HERE.

EVERYBODY WHO CAME OFF
\h\h\h\h THE PLANE SAID,

\h\h\h\h "WE KNOW WHO
YOU’RE WAITING FOR."

WE HAD A CULT AND
THEY HAD A CULT,

AND IT WAS NICE FOR THESE
WEIRD SHOW BIZ CULTS TO MEET.

THEY LOVED DIVINE,
AND THEY REALLY WELCOMED
HIM IN WITH OPEN ARMS.

SO IT WAS A REALLY BIG POINT
IN BOTH DIVINE’S AND MY LIFE
AT THE TIME.

AND SEBASTIAN AND
THE PALACE THEATER

WERE REALLY THE FIRST TIME
IT CAUGHT ON.

( Sebastian )
THE FIRST REALLY BIG
SHOW WAS--

KINDA SOUNDED LIKE
ED SULLIVAN, DIDN’T I ?

THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE GROUP
I BROUGHT IN,

AND THAT WAS MICHAEL KALMEN
FOR THE TWO SHOWS IN A ROW--

\h\h\h\h "HOLLYWOOD BABYLON" AND
"HELL’S HARLOTS," THE ’50s SHOW.

I DON’T THINK THERE WAS ANYBODY
DIRECTING AT THAT TIME.

AND I THINK THAT’S WHY THEY
NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF
DISCIPLINE INJECTED.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
SOME PEOPLE RESENTED
\h\h\h\h BEING DIRECTED.

THIS WAS A BONE
OF CONTENTION.

SOMEBODY WOULD JUST SAY,

"OH, WELL, THIS IS GETTING
TO BE TOO MUCH LIKE WORK NOW."

WE HAD A VERY
ELABORATE STAGE PLAN

THAT THE PROPS PEOPLE
AND PEOPLE IN THE BOOTH
HAD TO FOLLOW.

AND SO THEY DIDN’T KNOW IF
SOMEBODY WENT BACKSTAGE

AND SAID, "I’M NOT GOING ON
AFTER HIM, I’VE GOTTA GO HERE."

AND I WOULD COME AND
I WOULDN’T EVEN RECOGNIZE

WHATEVER ORDER THERE
HAD BEEN TO THE SHOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Sebastian )
HOLLYWOOD BABYLON WAS MAYBE
THE FIRST REAL TOTAL SELLOUT

WHERE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT WANTED TO GET IN

THAT WEREN’T ALLOWED IN.

I ALSO REMEMBER THAT
HIBISCUS OPENED THE DOORS

AND ABOUT 100 PEOPLE
CAME INTO THE THEATER.

SO HE HAD "LIBERATED"
THE THEATER, SO TO SPEAK.

IT WAS BECOMING APPARENT THAT
THEY NEEDED TO BE PAID.

AND I WAS PERFECTLY WILLING,

BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY
FIRM STRUCTURE ABOUT IT.

I SORT OF LEFT IT
UP TO SCRUMBLY,

\h\h\h\hBECAUSE HE WAS THE PERSON
THAT I FELT MOST COMFORTABLE

\h\h\h\hIN DEALING WITH--
CERTAINLY NOT HIBISCUS.

( Scrumbly )
THERE WAS HIBISCUS WHO WAS--

HIS CONSCIENCE REPRESENTED
BY THE KALIFLOWER COMMUNE,

BECAUSE THERE WAS
THAT IDEA LIKE,

"LET’S KEEP
EVERYTHING FREE."

TWO OR THREE PEOPLE
WANTED TO DO IT FOR FREE,

\h\h\h\h THE REST OF US SAID,
IF YOU’RE GONNA DO SOMETHING
YOU GOTTA CHARGE MONEY FOR IT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE YOU GOTTA
MAKE MONEY TO PUT ON A SHOW.

MY FELLOW WORKERS...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYAAY !
YAAAY !

THE GREAT KARL MARX SAYS...

( unenthusiastic )
YAAY.

"FROM EACH... ACCORDING
\h\h\h\hTO HIS ABILITIES,

TO EACH... ACCORDING
\h\h\h\h TO HIS NEEDS."

WHAT’S THAT STAND FOR ?

THAT MEANS YOU CAN DO
WHATEVER YOU WANT

AND YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED.

OHH...

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYAAY !
YAAAY !

"LOOK WHAT I GOT
AT THE MGM SALE."

IT’S LIKE AN OLD ELEVATOR
\h\h\h\h GIRL’S COSTUME

THAT JOAN BLONDELL WORE
\h\h\h\h IN A MOVIE.

HI...

I’M MAXINE.

ANYTHING I CAN
HELP YOU WITH ?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO UP
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOR DOWN ?

ELEVATOR GIRLS WAS
THE FIRST FILM

I DECIDED TO DO, WITH
MICHAEL KALMEN DIRECTING.

AND I HAD THE LEAD
BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WORKING
SO CLOSELY WITH MICHAEL.

FORTUNATELY, WHAT WAS
GOING ON IN THE NEWS

\h\h\h\h PROVIDED ME WITH ALL
THE MATERIAL THAT I NEEDED.

THERE WAS A RAID ON THE
BLACK PANTHER PARTY

WHERE THE BLACK PANTHERS
\h\h\h\h WERE STRIPPED

AND GUNS STUCK UP THEIR ASS.

SO I JUST SAID, "FINE,
WE’LL HAVE THAT HAPPEN
TO THE ELEVATOR GIRLS."

DROP THAT !

\h\h\h\h WE KNOW ALL ABOUT YOUR
FILTHY ACTIVITIES, YOU ROTTEN--

\h\h\h\hOVER TO THE WALL
AND KEEP YOUR HANDS UP

AND NO SUSPICIOUS
MOVEMENTS !

NOW, DROP THOSE TROUSERS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h MY ZIPPER...
YOU LIKE ?

CAN YOU FEEL THAT ?
THAT’S MY GUN !

WE DIDN’T EVEN
HAVE A SCRIPT.

WE HAD MY MEMORY OF WHAT
\h\h\h\hI THOUGHT I WROTE

AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE
\h\h\h\hHAD TO LIP-SYNC.

BUT THE SITUATION’S
GOTTEN OUT OF HAND.

OKAY, I’LL REFUSE TO GO UP,
I’LL ONLY GO DOWN.

NO, GIRLS, LET’S STRIKE.

HIBISCUS SAID THAT
HE WAS GONNA SHOW UP.

I DIDN’T KNOW THAT HE WAS GONNA
BRING ALL THOSE PEOPLE

TO DO A STAGE SHOW.

THEY STARTED DANCING
AND CAVORTING ON STAGE

AND THEY JUST KEPT IT UP
\h\h\h\h THE WHOLE TIME.

STOP THE SHOW !
STOP THE SHOW !

LISTEN TO ME !
LISTEN TO ME !

I THINK THAT I BEGAN TO FEEL
THAT I WAS PERFORMING

GAY LIBERATION THROUGH
MY ART AT THAT POINT.

LISTEN TO ME !
LISTEN TO ME !

GET THAT CRAZY BROAD
\h\h\h\h OUT OF HERE !

THERE WERE STRAIGHT PEOPLE
AND GAY PEOPLE,

AND WE WERE ALL DOING
\h\h\h\h THE SAME THING

\h\h\h\h AND WE WERE ALL
HAVING A GOOD TIME

AND WE WEREN’T WORRYING ABOUT
WHO WAS SLEEPING WITH WHOM.

OH, LIGHT MY FIRE.

OOH !

PEOPLE USED ME LIKE UH,
AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW,

OF THE BREADTH
OF THE COCKETTES.

"WE’VE EVEN GOT MARSHALL
WITH A WIFE AND KID."

AND THEY’D BRING GROUPS OF
TOURISTS BACK TO MY ROOM

TO LOOK AT US-- REALLY.

MARSHAL IS...
ALL MAN.

AND COVERED HEAD TO FOOT
WITH TATTOOS.

I REMEMBER HE HAD THIS
REALLY SEXY LITTLE ELEPHANT

ON HIS ANKLE
THAT I REALLY LIKED.

\h\h\h\hIF I HAD MY LIFE
TO LIVE OVER AGAIN

I MIGHT BE GAY,
YOU KNOW...

I HAVE HAD TROUBLES
\h\h\h\h WITH WOMEN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
FAYE WAS MORE ABOUT LOOK.

AND HER DRAG WAS AS FLAMBOYANT
AS HIBISCUS’S.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW, I MEAN,
SHE WAS A FEMALE HIBISCUS.

THE FIRST TIME I EVER
MET HER I THOUGHT, "WOW,

HOW CAN SHE WEAR THOSE
UP TO HERE ?"

HER WHOLE ARM WAS JUST
TOTALLY BRACELETS.

( Ralph )
FAYE HAD DEVISED A ROLE
AS PART OF THE COCKETTE SHOW--

I CAN’T REMEMBER
THE NAME OF THE SHOW--
BUT SHE WAS THE "SINGING CUNT" !

SHE HAD MADE THIS
ELABORATE FUR THING

THAT SHE STOOD IN THE
MIDDLE OF IT AND SANG.

I SAID, "NOW THERE’S
A SOUL SISTER !"

( Goldie Glitters )
HAVING WOMEN IN THE COCKETTES

DIDN’T MAKE
ANY SENSE AT ALL.

I DIDN’T MIND FAYETTE BEING
IN THE SHOWS, NOR SWEET PAM.

NO, I NEVER FELT LIKE
A SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN,

ALTHOUGH THERE WERE A LOT MORE
GOOD-LOOKING GUYS

WHO WERE ATTRACTED
\h\h\h\hTO THEM THAN US.

BUT WE DID HAVE OUR SHARE.
WE’D GET LOVE NOTES BACKSTAGE

\h\h\h\hAND I HAD PEOPLE
CHASING ME AROUND,

BUT MOSTLY IT WENT THE OTHER WAY
AND THAT WAS UM--

IT WAS A LITTLE HARD
TO TAKE SOMETIMES.

I LOVED THE WOMEN BECAUSE
THEY WERE NOT INTO

TRYING TO BE PERFECT WOMEN
LIKE A LOT OF THE MEN

THAT WERE REALLY EXPLORING
THEIR FEMININE SIDE.

THE REAL WOMEN DIDN’T GIVE
A WHATEVER ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW,

THEY WANTED TO GO WAY PAST THAT
AND BECOME SOMETHING ELSE.

THE COCKETTES SHOULD
HAVE BEEN ALL GUYS,

IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h12 GUYS.

SOMETIMES THEY WERE,
YOU KNOW, NASTY.

THERE WAS A FEW-- WAH--
YOU KNOW.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME
IT WAS OKAY,

I MEAN, IT WAS THEATER.

AND THEN THERE WAS
DUSTY DAWN,

WHO WAS LIKE THE EARTH MOTHER
OF THE GROUP, YOU KNOW ?

SHE WAS A MOM, SHE HAD
OCEAN MICHAEL MOON,

WHO WAS, YOU KNOW,
THE COCKETTE CHILD.

\h\h\h\h( Kreemah Ritz )
SHE WAS ALWAYS WORRIED THAT
SHE WAS GONNA GIVE BIRTH

IN THE MIDDLE OF A
COCKETTE SHOW ON STAGE.

( Goldie Glitters )
AND THEN WHEN DUSTY HAD HER BABY

WE HAD TO STOP EVERY
15 OR 20 MINUTES

BECAUSE DUSTY HAD TO
DO A FEEDING.

OH, THEY LOVED HIM,
YOU KNOW,

HE WAS LIKE THE LITTLE BABY,
THE SUPERSTAR BABY.

AND I DRESSED HIM UP IN
LITTLE COSTUMES, YOU KNOW.

I HAD A LITTLE BACKPACK,
A VELVET ONE,

AND HE’D BE IN THERE
UNTIL HE’D WAKE UP

AND THEN I’D BRING HIM UP
IN FRONT TO NURSE HIM

WHILE I WAS SINGING.

WELL, WELL...
WELL... WELL.

THIS IS SO EXCITING,
SO GLAMOROUS, SO DIGNIFIED.

DUSTY COULD SING THROUGH HER
THROAT LIKE SHE WAS UNDERWATER.

( gargle singing )

( laughter, applause )

( gargle singing )
♪ I’M FLYING UP THERE
WITH ALL THOSE BUBBLES ♪

♪ TODAY ♪

I USED TO COMPLAIN, MYSELF,

AND I USED TO SAY,
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ?"

’CAUSE I COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND
WHAT SHE WAS TRYING TO SAY.

"I’M SAYING BLUP," WHATEVER.

AND I SAID, "FINE, OKAY,
WE’LL DO IT YOUR WAY."

( Waters )
THE COCKETTES, THEIR
WHOLE LIFE WAS SPENT

GETTING TOGETHER THESE OUTFITS
AND BUILDING THESE SETS

AND GOING TO THRIFT SHOPS.

I MEAN, GOING TO THRIFT SHOPS
WAS A RITUAL.

PEOPLE PRACTICALLY CHANTED
WHEN THEY DID IT.

WE WENT SHOPPING EVERY DAY,
THAT’S WHAT WE DID EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY WE WENT SHOPPING.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL’S,
\h\h\h\h GOODWILLS.

WE WOULD GO TO SACRAMENTO,
WE WOULD GO TO STOCKTON, LODI.

GARAGE SALES,
LAWN SALES.

WE CAN HAVE
ALL THIS STUFF ?

IF WE NEEDED BRAND-NEW THINGS,
THEY WERE NEW TO US !

( Fayette )
THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT
FINDING CLOTHES FROM ANOTHER ERA

AND WEARING THEM AS
YOUR REGULAR CLOTHES.

( Kreemah Ritz )
I DIDN’T WEAR ANYTHING THAT
WAS MADE AFTER WORLD WAR II.

WE’D MAKE AN ENTRANCE
AND SOMEONE WOULD SAY,

"GIRL, WHERE’D YOU
GET THAT DRESS ?!"

"OH, THIS CAME FROM
THE THIRD-HAND STORE,

MARSHALL FOUND IT
FOR ME."

\h\h\h\h ( Marshall )
I HAD A THIRD-HAND STORE.

AND THE COCKETTES ALL
CAME THERE TO FIND DRAG,

AND SO I COLLECTED STUFF.

I ALWAYS HAD THE NERVE
\h\h\h\h TO DO ANYTHING.

DID I HAVE THE NERVE TO
GO ON STAGE IN A DRESS ?

YES !

IT DIDN’T TAKE AS MUCH NERVE AS
RIDING A MOTORCYCLE ON THE WALL,

YOU KNOW, LIKE--

IT JUST, IN A DIFFERENT WAY
IT SEEMED VERY DANGEROUS,

BUT, IN SAN FRANCISCO
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

( men singing in falsetto )
♪ OHH, SWEET MISERY... ♪

( laughter, applause )

ONE OTHER FEATURE OF THE SHOWS
THAT SORT OF BECAME A TRADITION

WAS KREEMAH RITZ SINGING
DUETS WITH SCRUMBLY.

( indistinct warbling )

( applause, cheers )

THE AUDIENCE ATE IT UP,
THEY LOVED EVERY NOTE OF IT,

THEY RAVED, THEY CHEERED,
THEY STOOD ON THEIR SEATS.

WE HAD A BIG FOLLOWING THAT
WOULD COME TO EVERY SHOW.

I LOVED THAT.

THE COMMUNE ALWAYS WENT.

\h\h\h\hIT WAS SOMETHING
THAT WE NEVER MISSED.

WE NEVER MISSED
A COCKETTE SHOW.

MATRONS AND SOCIALITES
WOULD COME

AND OGLE WHAT WAS
GOING ON.

THEY WERE IT.

I MEAN, YOU JUST HAD TO SEE IT
AND, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\h HAD TO SEE IT
A COUPLE OF TIMES.

AND EVERYBODY REALLY WAS
TALKING ABOUT THEM.

STRAIGHT MEN WOULD COME TO
OUR SHOW IN DRESSES.

"I GOTTA PUT A NICE
OUTFIT ON."

THEN RIGHT AWAY I SAID,
"I GOTTA PUT SOME OF THAT
GLITTER ON MY MOUSTACHE,

I GOTTA FIX MYSELF UP,
I JUST CAN’T GO LIKE THIS."

THERE WAS
LOTS OF GLITTER.

IT CHANGED MY WHOLE WAY
OF DRESSING.

THERE’S SOME CLOTHES
THAT YOU JUST--

IT HAS TO BE
WOMEN’S CLOTHES.

WE WOULD DRESS UP IN ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER, YOU KNOW,

SOME OF US WOULD PUT ON MAKEUP
OR GLITTER OR WHATEVER.

( Cara )
THERE WAS NO SUCH WORD
AS "GENDER-BENDER."

YOU NEVER HEARD "TRANSSEXUAL,"
"TRANSGENDER," YOU KNOW,

NOW THEY HAVE THE GAY PARADE
WITH EVERYTHING INCLUDED.

THIS HAD EVERYTHING INCLUDED
WITH NO NAMES, NO TAGS.

THESE WERE LIKE REAL PEOPLE,
RIGHT, JUST THEIR TRIP.

NOTHING TO GRAB ONTO.

♪ BECAUSE HE BAKED
THOSE PIES SO WELL ♪

♪ LA LA LA ♪

♪ THAT IS WHY THEY
\h\h\h\hTASTE SO SWELL ♪

♪ LA LA LA ♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Pam )
"LES GHOULS" WAS FUN,
THE DANCING TOMBSTONES--

OH, LES GHOULS
WAS A LOT OF FUN.

IN LES GHOULS THERE WAS
THREE BRIDES OF FRANKENSTEIN.

THERE WAS MYSELF, MISS BOBBY
AND JOHN ROTHERMEL.

ABOUT MAYBE, I WOULD SAY
HALF AN HOUR TO AN HOUR

BEFORE GOING ONSTAGE,
I TOOK A M.D.A. TABLET.

IT WAS THIS BIG-- AND I
KID YOU NOT, IT WAS THAT BIG--

I TOOK THE PILL, AND
ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER

THE DRUG HAD HIT SOMETHING AND
I WAS HAVING A SCREAMING FIT.

\h\h\h\hTHE UPSHOT WAS GOLDIE HAD
A SEIZURE, EPILEPTIC SEIZURE,

AND WAS CARRIED OUT
\h\h\h\h ON A STRETCHER

\h\h\h\hTHROUGH THE CROWD
OF THE PALACE LOBBY.

\h\h\h\hPEOPLE LIKE JANIS JOPLIN,
I MEAN, YOU HAD EVERYBODY THERE,

THE WHOLE ELITE FROM
THE WHOLE HIP CROWD.

AND GOLDIE WITH HIS HAIRDO,
THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN--

"DARLING, THEY’RE
TAKING ME AWAY,

"THEY’RE TAKING ME TO
THE HOSPITAL," YOU KNOW,

"SAY GOODBYE FOR ME !"

THEN WE ONLY HAD
TWO BRIDES OF FRANKENSTEIN

AND THEY ENDED UP DOING A
LESBIAN ACT TOGETHER IN ACT TWO.

AND I ENDED UP GOING OFF WITH
THE FRANKENSTEIN DOCTOR.

\h\h\h\h ( Reggie )
\h\h\h\hTHE STAGE, TO ME,
IS WHERE MAGIC IS.

THAT’S WHERE YOU CAN
SIT IN THE AUDIENCE

AND LOOK UP AND GO AWAY.

AND WE WERE CONJURING UP THOSE
IMAGES TO TAKE YOU AWAY.

( Fayette )
IT WAS ABOUT
A MAGIC POTION.

IT WAS ABOUT COMBINING ELEMENTS
THAT YOU BELIEVED IN,

THAT YOU REALLY LOVED,

AND PUTTING IT ALL
IN ONE BIG POT,

THROWING IT ON THE STAGE
AND SEEING WHAT CAME OUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Jilala )
WHEN YOU’RE USING DRUGS, UH,

YOU KNOW, FOR CEREMONIAL
\h\h\h\h MAGIC PURPOSES,

YOU’RE JUST WALKING ON
PHILOSOPHICAL THIN ICE,

I THOUGHT.

\h\h\h\h AND THAT’S WHY
THE LES GHOULS SHOW

WAS SUCH A DRAMATIC
\h\h\h\h EVENT FOR ME.

IT WAS MY FRIENDS, MY BELOVED
ONES WERE DABBLING, YOU KNOW,

IN THE DARK ARTS.

( screeching singing )

\h\h\h\h ( Waters )
SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN
NEVER IMAGINE TODAY,

GOING SOMEWHERE WHERE
EVERY PERSON ON THE STAGE

AND IN THE AUDIENCE
\h\h\h\h WAS ON DRUGS.

I PERSONALLY NEVER
PERFORMED... OFF DRUGS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
WE ALMOST BRUSHED OUR
\h\h\h\h TEETH WITH IT.

I MEAN, L.S.D. WAS---
IT WAS A MAINSTAY.

THE EARLY SHOWS,
I WAS ALWAYS ON L.S.D.

\h\h\h\h WELL, L.S.D. WAS WHAT
FREED ME UP TO DO WHATEVER...

TO DO WHAT I DID.

UH... IT TOTALLY CHANGED
EVERYBODY’S PERCEPTION.

WE HAD BUILT
OUR OWN REALITY.

\h\h\h\hTHERE WAS A PRODUCT ONCE
CALLED "BLACK VOODOO" ACID.

\h\h\h\h IT WAS SCARY,
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

I KNOW THAT L.S.D. MADE ME
REALLY EXAMINE EVERYTHING.

I GOT NOTHING FROM CHURCH
OR SCHOOL OR FAMILY.

BUT FROM ACID, I COULD
GO SIT AT THE BEACH

AND COME AWAY TOTALLY ENHANCED
BY SITTING THERE.

FULL, JUST KNOWING
\h\h\h\h WHO I WAS,

KNOWING I WAS A PART
\h\h\h\hOF THE UNIVERSE,

KNOWING THAT THE UNIVERSE WAS
THIS BIG, BIG BEAUTIFUL THING

AND I WAS THERE.

( Glitters )
SYLVESTER WAS A FRIEND OF MINE
BEFORE THE COCKETTES HAPPENED.

I KNEW SYLVESTER WHEN HE
LIVED IN LOS ANGELES.

HE HAD TALENT, HE COULD SING,
HE COULD DANCE.

I SAID, "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO
COME TO SAN FRANCISCO ?

I’M WITH THIS TROUPE."

\h\h\h\h( Ritz )
SYLVESTER CAME UP TO VISIT
AND WE SAID,

"HEY, WE’RE DOING A GOSPEL SHOW,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN IT ?"

AND HE SAID, "SURE."

SO HE SAT DOWN AT THE PIANO
AND DID ALL THIS BUSINESS

\h\h\h\h WITH OF COURSE,
BRACELETS UP TO HERE

AND RINGS ON EVERY FINGER.

AND WE WENT,
"OH MY GOD !"

WE’D NEVER HEARD ANYBODY
SING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

"OH MY GOSH, HE WANTS TO
BE WITH OUR GROUP ?

YES !"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Sylvester )
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHOUGH YOU THINK
I’M YOUR ANGEL FROM ABOVE,

\h\h\h\h I’M JUST A JADED LADY
AND YOU’RE A FOOL IN LOVE.

( laughter, applause )

♪ JADED LADY ♪

♪ THAT’S WHAT MY FRIENDS
\h\h\h\h ALL CALL ME ♪

♪ I’M A JADED LADY ♪

♪ I’LL COME
TEAR YOU APART ♪

♪ BUT I’M A JADED LADY ♪

♪ OHH... ♪

( applause & cheering )

( Mintun )
WELL, I GUESS AFTER
SYLVESTER LEFT REHEARSAL

I SAID TO
JOHN OR SOMEBODY,

I SAID, "WOW, SHE’S
REALLY FANTASTIC."

HE SAID, "SHE ?
THAT’S SYLVESTER."

I SAID, "OH--
OH, IT’S A GUY, OKAY."

( Waters )
EVERYBODY KNEW
THAT SYLVESTER

HAD THE MOST TALENT
OF ALL THE COCKETTES,
OR THAT WAS THE LEGEND.

AND HE WAS PROUD OF BEING
\h\h\h\hIN THE COCKETTES,

BUT I THINK IT BECAME
\h\h\h\h "THE COCKETTES

AND SPECIAL GUEST STAR
\h\h\h\h SYLVESTER."

HIBISCUS LEFT A CANDLE
BURNING ONE TIME.

AND WE CAME BACK FROM A SHOW
AND THERE WAS A FIRE.

( chuckles )

SO WE FOUND HAIGHT STREET,
WHICH WAS JUST A GREAT PLACE.

IT WAS A HUMONGOUS
10-ROOM PLACE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( John Flowers )
WHERE, WITH MY STUDENT LOAN,

I HOUSED, IN A 7-ROOM FLAT
ON HAIGHT AND DIVISADERO,

\h\h\h\hI THINK IT WAS 23 PEOPLE
WERE LIVING THERE AT ONCE.

IT WAS FOUR OF US
PER ROOM,

AND THERE WAS ABOUT
FIVE ROOMS IN THE HOUSE.

SO THERE WAS LIKE,
A LOT OF US LIVING THERE.

( Fayette )
AFTER HIBISCUS LIVED
THERE A LITTLE WHILE,

THEN JILALA MOVED IN,
WHO WAS FROM KALIFLOWER COMMUNE.

AND HE CAME IN AND HE PULLED ME
OVER TO THE SIDE AND HE SAID,

"YOU KNOW, IRVING
WANTS ME TO MOVE IN

SO THAT I CAN KEEP
AN EYE ON HIBISCUS."

AND I SAID, "KEEP AN EYE ON
HIBISCUS, ARE YOU KIDDING ?"

AND HE SAID, "WELL, THAT’S
WHAT I TOLD IRVING,

BUT REALLY IT’S BECAUSE
I WANT TO LIVE WITH YOU ALL."

THERE WAS ONE ROOM ESPECIALLY
LIKE, FOR LESSER STARS,

AND THAT’S THE ROOM
THAT I WAS PUT INTO.

JILALA LIVED AT
HAIGHT STREET HOUSE,

SO HE INFLUENCED THE PEOPLE
THAT HE COOKED FOR THERE.

HE WAS BASICALLY THEIR CHEF
AND THEIR MAID.

BUT HE DID INFLUENCE
A LOT OF PEOPLE.

HE WAS MYSTIC AND HE HAD
EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES.

AND HE WOULD TRY AND
ADAPT NUMBERS FROM SHOWS,

AND SAY, "IF YOU DID THIS,
IF YOU DID THAT,

IT WOULD BE MORE SPIRITUAL,"
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT A LOT OF US DIDN’T GIVE
A SHIT ABOUT SPIRITUALITY,

WE WERE JUST UP THERE
TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS AROUND
THE STRANGEST GROUP OF PEOPLE

THAT I HAD EVER MET.

BUT HIBISCUS LET ME IN,
YOU SEE, BECAUSE HE WAS
MY UH, MY FRIEND...

EVEN THOUGH OF COURSE
IT WAS LIKE LETTING IN,

SHALL WE SAY, WELL...

IF IT WERE A ZOO, IT WAS THE
WRONG CREATURE TO HAVE LET IN.

\h\h\h\h ( chorus )
\h\h\h\h♪ ... IN SHANGHAI
ALWAYS SORRY, ALL BLUE ♪

♪ ON THE DOCKS
OF SHANGHAI ♪

♪ WE’LL BE WAITING
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR YOU ♪

\h\h\h\h( Rumi )
EACH SHOW BECAME
MORE SCRIPTED

UNTIL BY THE TIME WE WERE DOING
"PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI"

WE ACTUALLY HAD A SCRIPT
\h\h\h\h IN FRONT OF US.

♪ ... SOON, SHANGHAI,
\h\h\h\hYOU’LL BE MINE ♪

( Scrumbly )
"PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI"

STARTS WITH THE THREE GIRLS,
SORT OF ANDREWS SISTERS TRIO,

ARRIVE ON THE DOCKS
AT SHANGHAI.

WE WERE "DELIGHTFUL," "DELUXE"
AND "DELICIOUS."

AND I WAS DELICIOUS.

AND THEN THEY MEET
THE POPULACE,

AND THE POPULACE SINGS THIS BIG
"SHANGHAI THE GLORIOUS CITY."

\h\h\h\h ♪ SHANGHAI, WHERE THEY
DINE ON YOUR MORAL ATTITUDE ♪

♪ SHANGHAI, THE HOTTEST TOWN
OF ANY LATITUDE ♪

♪ SHANGHAI, YOU’LL BE
BEGGING AND BORROWING ♪

THE GIRLS GET KIDNAPPED,

TAKEN TO MADAM GINSLING’S
WHOREHOUSE.

MADAM GINSLING SAYS,
"HA, HA, HA, WHITE SLAVERY."

IT TURNS OUT TO BE A HAPPY
ENDING IN THE END,

BUT THE PLOT DOESN’T
MATTER, RIGHT ?

♪ ... GOOD OLD SHANGHAI... ♪

( applause )

\h\h\h\h ( Reggie )
I THINK PEOPLE WERE
WORKING TOWARD STRUCTURE

FROM THE BEGINNING.

HIBISCUS DIDN’T
NEED THAT.

\h\h\h\h ALL HE NEEDED
WAS A BIG HEADDRESS

AND JUST TO BE ONSTAGE,
THAT WAS THE SHOW.

\h\h\h\h ♪ SWEET TEMPLE BELLS
PINING FOR THE SOUND WE LOVE ♪

♪ SWEET TEMPLE BELLS
OFFERING TO LIKENESS OF ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ SWEET MELODY HOW IT
BRINGS THE MOONLIGHT OUT ♪

♪ HOW I PLAY
A BELL IN TIME ♪

♪ SWEET BELLS ♪

( applause )

HIBISCUS AND I HAD
THE BEST COSTUME--

FOR OUR CHINESE COSTUMES.

AND AT ONE POINT THERE
WERE COSTUMES STOLEN FROM
THE CHINESE OPERA,

THE PEKING OPERA
THAT CAME.

OOH, GOD, YOU WANT ME
TO GET INTO THAT ?

THE CHINESE OPERA
DID PERFORM AT THE THEATER

WHEN WE WEREN’T THERE.

THEY LEFT A TRUNK AND THE
COCKETTES GOT INTO THEIR TRUNK.

I KNOW THAT THEY DID
"PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI"

\h\h\h\h NOT TOO LONG AFTER
THE MISSING COSTUME AROSE.

\h\h\h\h SO, ONE CAN PUT
TWO AND TWO TOGETHER.

EVENTUALLY, I HAD TO
\h\h\h\h PAY FOR THEM.

EVERYBODY STOLE.

IT WAS REALLY POLITICALLY
CORRECT TO SHOPLIFT

AND TO STEAL THINGS
FOR A SHOW.

I STOLE FILM FOR MY SHOWS,
THEY STOLE SETS, COSTUMES...

EVERYBODY DID, IT WAS A VERY--
TIME OF COMPLETE ANARCHY

IN SAN FRANCISCO.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THOUGHT SEXY,
WE THOUGHT LENIN, YOU KNOW.

NOT VERY GOOD THOUGHTS
\h\h\h\h ON PROPERTY

AND WHO SHOULD HAVE IT.

I DON’T KNOW HOW ANYONE LIVED--
NO ONE I KNEW WORKED, EVER.

WE WORKED ON OUR OWN PROJECTS,
WE WERE BUSY--

BUT WORK WAS NOT EXACTLY--

WHO COULD GET A JOB
LOOKING LIKE THAT ?

JOBS ?

WAS THAT A 3-LETTER WORD
OR A 4-LETTER WORD ?

WELL, I DIDN’T WORK,
I WAS DISABLED.

MY EPILEPSY DOES
SORT OF, YOU KNOW--

"YOU’RE DISABLED, YOU HAVE
EPILEPSY, OH MY DEAR."

I DEFINITELY DIDN’T WANNA
TAKE JOB AT THAT POINT,

I WANTED TO STAY FREE.

EVERY PLACE I FOUND MYSELF KEPT
SAYING KEEP GOING LIKE THIS.

( Rumi )
FROM MY RECOLLECTION, UM,

NO ONE HAD A STRAIGHT JOB
EXCEPT BIG DARRYL.

HE WAS THE ONLY ONE
WITH A STRAIGHT JOB.

THAT’S WHY WE MADE HIM
OUR TREASURER, RIGHT.

I WAS THE ONLY
WORKING COCKETTE.

DURING THE COCKETTES
I WAS ON WELFARE.

( Dawn )
I’D SAY A GOOD 90% OF US

WERE WELFARE BABIES.

BUT IT WAS FREE MONEY,
IT WAS GIVEN OUT TO EVERYBODY.

MANY PEOPLE GOT A.T.D.--
AID TO THE TOTALLY DISABLED.

I WAS TURNED DOWN,
THEY TOLD ME I WAS INSANE

BUT NOT PERMANENTLY.

\h\h\h\h ( Kalmen )
AND ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS
PROVE YOU WERE CRAZY,

OR THAT YOU COULDN’T WORK OR
THAT SOMETHING WAS, YOU KNOW,

WRONG UP HERE,

AND YOU GOT FOOD STAMPS AND
BUS TOKENS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

( Pam )
JOHN FLOWERS AND
A BUNCH OF THEM,

AND LINK, NO,
THEY WOULDN’T GIVE IT TO LINK.

HE WENT INTO IT
IN A NEHRU BLACK AND
WHITE STRIPED,

EGYPTIAN HAT AND ROBE
AND HE THREW UP ON THE DESK

AND THEY WOULDN’T
GIVE IT TO HIM.

IT WAS A GRANT, ACTUALLY,
FROM THE GOVERNMENT,

TO CONTINUE YOUR INSANE
LIFESTYLE IN THE ARTS
IN SAN FRANCISCO.

SO A.T.D. WAS A GOOD THING,

IT JUST MAYBE WASN’T
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT

ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR IT.

( Kalmen )
WHEN REAGAN GOT ELECTED

HE JUST WIPED OUT
ALL THAT STUFF.

ONE MESSAGE CAN BE GIVEN
IN TWO WORDS: GROW UP.

BUT AS FAR AS I WAS CONCERNED
IT WAS REAL.

AND IT WAS REAL TO ME
TO GET THE FUNDING

TO BE ABLE TO LIVE BECAUSE
I DIDN’T THINK I COULD WORK.

WELL, I’M ON
SOCIAL SECURITY NOW,

I’M A MANIC DEPRESSIVE
SO I STILL AM DISABLED.

PEOPLE WEREN’T JUST GOING
AND SPENDING IT ALL ON

\h\h\h\h SHOOTING UP OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY
PRODUCING SOMETHING

\h\h\h\hFOR THE COMMUNITY AROUND
THAT EVERYBODY COULD ENJOY.

WOULDN’T IT BE FUN IF WE DID
OUR VERSION OF TRICIA’S WEDDING

AND SHOWED IT AT THE PALACE
ON THE NIGHT OF THE WEDDING ?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
WE ARRIVE NOT KNOWING--

OF COURSE, THIS IS
TYPICAL COCKETTE--

NOBODY KNEW ANY DIALOGUE,

\h\h\h\h WE NEVER HAD
A RUN-THROUGH, NOTHING.

THIS WAS THE DAY
OF FILMING.

\h\h\h\h IT WAS JUST
COMPLETELY TYPICAL.

AND AS WE’RE PUTTING ON
\h\h\h\h OUR MAKEUP

WE’RE GIVEN LINES OF
DIALOGUE TO MEMORIZE.

AND YOU KNOW,
I WAS GOLDA MEIR.

OH, YOU KNOW.

AS A JEWISH MOTHER I KNOW
EXACTLY HOW SHE FEELS.

( man )
AND THE NOW
MRS. JACQUELINE ONASSIS.

GOOD EVENING.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE
BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE ?

I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT--
IT’S SO TACKY !

( Sebastian )
JOHN ROTHERMEL RAN AWAY
WITH IT AS MAMIE.

( man )
THE MOTHER OF OUR COUNTRY,
MAMIE EISENHOWER.

( raspy laugh )

I WAS NOTORIOUS
FOR MY LAUGH,

WHICH WAS REALLY ECCENTRIC.

SO THEY INSTANTLY PUT
TWO AND TWO TOGETHER

AND MADE ME PHYLLIS DILLER--
I WAS REAL SURPRISED.

( raspy laugh )

( man )
WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US
ROSE KENNEDY,

THE MATRIARCH OF
THE KENNEDY FAMILY.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING ?

STRONG.

IS IT A FUNERAL ?

NO, NO, THIS IS
A WEDDING, DEAR.

IN THE HOUSE
THAT JACK BUILT.

IS IT A FUNERAL ?

I WAS, UH,
EDDIE COX, THE GROOM.

I THINK I DID PRETTY WELL.

I LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY
WHO WAS MARRYING TRICIA COX.

♪ BECAUSE ♪

♪ YOU COME TO ME ♪

( Glitters )
"WE’RE DOING A MOVIE, GOLDIE,

"WE NEED YOU, YOU ARE
THE STAR OF THE MOVIE.

"WE NEED YOU TO BE
IN SAN FRANCISCO

AT SUCH AND SUCH A TIME."

AND I SAID, "BUT
WHAT WILL I WEAR ?"

"DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT,
IT’S BEEN ALL TAKEN CARE OF."

♪ ... ME ♪

AND THAT MOMENT WHEN
GOLDIE IS UNVEILED,

AND THE SHRIEK THAT
CAME UP FROM THE AUDIENCE

WILL STAY WITH ME FOR
THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I REMEMBER AT THE PREMIERE
OF THE MOVIE...

THEY SAID, "LOOK,
THAT GOLDIE GLITTERS

HAS A FACE TO HAVE SUNK
A THOUSAND SHIPS."

AND I WAS QUITE HAPPY.

AFTER ALL, I WAS THE STAR
OF THE MOVIE, SO I THOUGHT,

WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY
STILL REMEMBER THE NAME.

AND NOW--

LADYBIRD JOHNSON, WHAT IN THE
HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE ?!

HOWDY, FOLKS !

\h\h\h\h( crowd )
HOWDY, LADYBIRD !

♪ HI HO THE DERRY-O
MAMIE CUTS THE CAKE ♪

( laughs, applause )

AND I ALSO POURED THE L.S.D.
IN THE PUNCH.

\h\h\h\hTHAT WAS A GOOD,
THAT WAS A GOOD SCENE.

IS IT A FUNERAL ?

( Waters )
THAT WAS TERRORISM,
YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN.

THAT WAS BASICALLY SOMETHING
THAT THE WHITE HOUSE

WAS HUMILIATED BY.

ALL THE PAPERS
THE NEXT DAY SAID

THE COCKETTES VERSION
OF TRICIA’S WEDDING

BEAT TRICIA NIXON’S WEDDING
BY 100 PERCENT.

( Scrumbly )
PAM AND I WERE GREAT FRIENDS.

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN AND
SHE DESERVED THE NAME,

SHE’S TOTALLY SWEET.

HE USED TO MAKE HIS OWN CLOTHES
AND HE WOULD HAVE LIKE,

YOU KNOW, DOILY TYPE VESTS,
AND HIS PANTS WERE MADE OUT OF

OLD FLORAL DRAPERY
\h\h\h\h FROM THE ’40s.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN,
\h\h\h\hJUST WILD STUFF.

OH, I WAS CRAZY ABOUT HIM
IMMEDIATELY, YOU KNOW.

AND EVERYBODY LOOKED UP
\h\h\h\h TO SCRUMBLY

BECAUSE HE WAS SO ORGANIZED,
HE COULD TAKE ACID

BUT HE WAS ALWAYS TOGETHER,
HE HAD THE UNDERPINNINGS.

WE LIVED TOGETHER
AT THE FLAT.

FOR SOME REASON WE WERE
NAKED ALL THE TIME.

NOBODY LIKED TO WEAR CLOTHES
IF THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO.

SO WE WERE DANCING,
AND SUDDENLY,

PART OF THE DANCE WAS HAVING
SEX, ISN’T THAT FUN ?

UH... YES, WE FELL INTO BED
WITH EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW ?

HE WAS GAY, IS GAY,

BUT ALL THE SEXUAL
\h\h\h\h LINES BLURRED.

\h\h\h\h I THINK IT WAS
THE PSYCHEDELICS,

AND WE GOT VERY CLOSE AND UH,

IT JUST WAS NORMAL AND NATURAL
AND IT HAPPENED,

\h\h\h\h AND YOU KNOW,
THE BABY HAPPENED AND...

WE GOT MARRIED ON
MOUNT TAM

FOR ROLLING STONE
AND OUR PARENTS.

AND FOR THE BLENDER !

YOU KNOW, THERE’S PICTURES
FROM ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE,

ONLY THEY TOOK ME THROUGH
\h\h\h\hA FISH-EYE LENS.

I’VE NEVER SEEN A MORE
UNATTRACTIVE PHOTOGRAPH
\h\h\h\h IN MY LIFE !

I ABOUT DIED.

IF YOU’RE EVER GONNA BE
IN ROLLING STONE,

YOU’D LIKE IT TO BE
\h\h\h\h HALFWAY DECENT.

\h\h\h\h ( Flowers )
\h\h\h\h "WILL SUCCESS
SPOIL MEDIOCRITY ?"

AND THAT WAS SECRETLY
\h\h\h\h OUR MOTTO.

I HAD NO IDEA HOW POPULAR
WE WERE EVEN BECOMING

UNTIL THE MAGAZINE ARTICLES
STARTED COMING OUT.

I SAW JANIS JOPLIN IN THE STREET
AND SHE WAVED TO ME.

"YOU’RE GOLDIE GLITTERS
OF THE FABULOUS COCKETTES."

I’D SAY,
"WELL, YES I AM."

"CAN WE PLEASE HAVE
YOUR AUTOGRAPH ?"

WITH PROFESSIONALISM
CAME PEOPLES’ EGOS,

PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR THEIR
MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

IT WASN’T THE CAMARADERIE
\h\h\h\h TO THE EXTENT

THAT HIBISCUS WANTED US--
\h\h\h\hONE HAPPY FAMILY

\h\h\h\h SINGING TO THE
REST OF OUR FAMILY.

THE CROWDS GOT SO BIG THAT
THAT PLACE COULD HARDLY--

THEY WERE IN THE AISLES.

( Rumi )
SOMEONE WAS MAKING MONEY
OFF THE DEAL.

WE WERE OBVIOUSLY PLAYING
TO PACKED, PACKED HOUSES

THREE NIGHTS A WEEKEND
AND UH,

SOMEONE WAS MAKING
SOME GOOD MONEY.

IF YOU COULD SING AND DANCE
AND DELIVER LINES,

YOU WERE GETTING MAYBE $25 OR
$30 FOR THE ENTIRE PRODUCTION--

NOT A NIGHT, FOR THE
ENTIRE PRODUCTION.

BY THE TIME THE MONEY WOULD
FILTER DOWN TO THE PERFORMERS

I REMEMBER HAVING ENOUGH

FOR A PAIR OF FALSE EYELASHES
FOR THE NEXT SHOW.

( Fayette )
FROM THE BEGINNING
HIBISCUS CALLED IT

THE "ANGELS OF LIGHT
FREE THEATER."

THE FACT THAT WE WERE GETTING
MONEY FOR THE SHOWS,

THAT ALWAYS BUGGED HIBISCUS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Scrumbly )
HIBISCUS AND THE OTHER PEOPLE
WHO WANTED TO DO JUST FREE SHOWS

THOUGHT OF SEBASTIAN AS AN OGRE,
JUST EVIL PERSON.

( Hibiscus )
LIKE AS LONG AS
SEBASTIAN HAS THE NAME,

HE DOESN’T CARE WHO THE FUCK’S
UP THERE IN DRAG,

SO I THINK HE’S A WORM.

WE WERE CHARGING
$2 TO A SHOW.

HOW COULD THEY
POSSIBLY THINK

THAT WE WERE MAKING
\h\h\h\hA LOT OF MONEY ?

( Scrumbly )
HE WAS ALWAYS TURNING
A BLIND EYE TO EVERYTHING,

LIKE US LETTING TONS OF PEOPLE
IN FOR FREE

AND ALWAYS ALSO WAS GENEROUS
WITH THE PASSES.

THERE WAS ALWAYS THIS
DISTRUST, THOUGH,

BECAUSE HE WAS AN ACCOUNTANT,
HE WASN’T AN ARTIST.

\h\h\h\h ( Jilala )
IT WAS ON PAPER AND IT WAS
NAILED TO THE WALLS.

AND IT WAS A MANIFESTO
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF SORTS.

AND I SAID UH, YOU KNOW,

THAT MAGICIANS THAT DO
\h\h\h\hPAY PERFORMANCES,

IT WAS AS THOUGH
THEY WERE PULLING

DEAD RABBITS OUT OF HATS.

( Ralph )
HE WOULD WRITE THINGS
ALL OVER THE WALLS

OR BIG POEMS IN
LIPSTICK ALL OVER

ABOUT HOW THEY WERE
GOING TO RUIN,

AND IT’S ALL THE
WRONG APPROACH TO LIFE.

AND THAT’S JUST--

ALL KINDS OF STUFF THAT WAS
MORE OF THE IRVING CAMP.

I SAW WHAT I THOUGHT WERE
LIKE SPIRITUAL PEOPLE

DOING VAUDEVILLE SHOWS.

ANYWAY, I WAS
WELL-HATED.

BUT THERE I AM AN INTERLOPER,
I’M A GUEST, I’M HIBISCUS’ UH...

STRANGE RELATIVE,
YOU KNOW ?

( Scrumbly )
JOHN FLOWERS SAID,
"THAT’S IT, I’M MOVING OUT."

SO I SAID,
"OH, DON’T DO THAT !

WELL, IF YOU’RE MOVING OUT
MAYBE I’LL MOVE TOO."

\h\h\h\hI WAS PROTECTING
HIBISCUS, MY ASSET.

YOU KNOW, I JUST SAW HIM
AS A GRAND TEACHER.

HE WOULD DRAW PEOPLE TO HIM,
HE WAS MAGNETIC, YOU KNOW,

HE HAD GREATER POWER
\h\h\h\h THAN I THOUGHT

SEBASTIAN COULD EVER USE,

IN A MORE WONDROUS
\h\h\h\hSORT OF THEATER.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH HIM
AT THE CENTER OF IT,

WHICH IS ALL HE
REALLY WANTED.

( maniacal laugh )

( Flowers )
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE,
INCLUDING MYSELF,

THAT WERE INTO MAKING THE
COCKETTES MORE PROFESSIONAL

AND WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM
HIBISCUS’ NONCHALANT ATTITUDE

AS FAR AS ORGANIZATION GOES.

( Fayette )
SO THEN WE STARTED
HAVING MEETINGS.

I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING
WE NEVER DID BEFORE.

WE HAD TO GET SERIOUS.

THERE WAS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE COCKETTES.

I WAS NOT PART OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BECAUSE I, WELL, I GUESS
I WAS MOUTHY...

I WAS HONEST, AND I KNEW WHAT
PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE.

OF COURSE KREEMAH RITZ
WANTED ALWAYS

TO HAVE THE OVERSAY
OF EVERYTHING.

NO MORE MAKE-UP !

\h\h\h\h NO MORE
BARE MIDRIFF !

NO MORE UNDERARM
DEODORANT !

THAT’S THE RULES, IF YOU DON’T
FOLLOW THESE RULES FROM NOW ON
YOU’RE FIRED !

( Sebastian )
HIBISCUS WAS DEMANDING
THAT WE DO FREE SHOWS

AND I WAS ADAMANT THAT WE
WEREN’T GOING TO DO FREE SHOWS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Reggie )
HIBISCUS KNEW WHAT HE WANTED.

IT WASN’T WHAT THE
COCKETTES WERE DOING.

KREEMAH RITZ KNEW
WHAT HE WANTED,

\h\h\h\h IT WASN’T WHAT
HIBISCUS WAS DOING.

AND I THINK PEOPLE JUST WENT
THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.

( Kreemah Ritz )
"YOU DON’T WANNA BE
IN THE COCKETTES ANYMORE ?

FINE, BUT I’M
KEEPING THE NAME."

THAT’S WHEN I COPYRIGHTED
THE NAME AND SAID,

"WELL, IF WE’RE GONNA
GO ON LIKE THIS

WE’RE NOT GONNA START OVER
FROM SCRATCH AGAIN."

HE DIDN’T WANT TO USE
THE NAME COCKETTES,

HE LIKED THE ANGELS OF LIGHT,
HE THOUGHT IT WAS MORE ETHEREAL.

SO, HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM
WITH ME KEEPING THE COCKETTES

AND HE TOOK THE ANGELS
AND OFF HE WENT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
BUT IN THE END, I THINK,
IT WASN’T THE MONEY,

WHICH THERE WAS VERY LITTLE OF
TO BEGIN WITH,

BUT IT WAS THE STRUCTURE
AND THE PROFESSIONALISM

THAT HE SAW CREEPING IN THAT
TURNED HIM OFF COMPLETELY.

( Ralph )
WHAT THE ANGELS WANTED TO DO
WAS THIS WILD, COSMIC THEATER,

WHICH I WAS FAR MORE
INTERESTED IN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Jilala )
NOT JUST A BUSBY BERKELEY REVIEW

\h\h\h\h BUT A MAJESTIC
SACRAMENTAL EXPERIENCE.

( man singing low-pitched )
♪ WHEN THE VOICES ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ OF CHILDREN
ARE HEARD ON THE HILL ♪

♪ LAUGHING IS HEARD
\h\h\h\h ON THE GREEN ♪

I LOVED IT, I LOVED
THE FREENESS OF IT ALL,

NOT HAVING TO BE
PROFESSIONAL ABOUT SINGING.

AND IT WAS STILL THE SAME IDEA
OF FABULOUS, FREE AND FOOD.

AND WE DIDN’T HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT TICKET SALES OR, YOU KNOW,

OR CRITICISM.

♪ ... AND ALL THE HILLS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hECHOED ♪

♪ AND ALL THE HILLS
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hECHOED ♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Jilala )
THE FUN ASPECT WAS PRIMARY.

\h\h\h\h THE FUN ASPECT
ACTUALLY WAS SECONDARY.

THE PRIMARY THING WAS LOOKING
FOR BOYFRIENDS, YOU SEE,

AND THE SHOWS
WERE THE VEHICLE.

♪ ... ECHOED ♪

( applause )

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Reggie )
WHEN HIBISCUS WENT HIS WAY,

THAT’S WHEN WE STARTED LIKE,
DOING ALL THE SLICK STUFF.

I THOUGHT WE WERE
GONNA BE FAMOUS

AND WE WERE GONNA MAKE MONEY,
SO I STAYED WITH THE COCKETTES.

♪ HOSANNA ♪

♪ HOSANNA ♪

♪ HOSANNA ♪

( Dawn )
"TINSEL TARTS
IN A HOT COMA."

♪ DA-DA DA-DA
DA DA ♪

OKAY, THAT WAS
A ’30s SHOW.

( Scrumbly )
THROW 20 SONGS UP

AND EVERY BUSBY BERKELEY CHORUS
LINE CLICHE YOU CAN THINK OF

AND CALL IT "TINSEL TARTS
IN A HOT COMA."

WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT WAS,
IT WAS FUN.

( Glitters )
REX REED, UM,
TRUMAN CAPOTE,

AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE
WERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

AND OF COURSE
WE DIDN’T REALLY CARE.

WE KNEW WHO HE WAS,
WE KNOW WHO THEY WERE,
BUT IT WAS LIKE, "SO ?"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
AND WE WENT ON STAGE--

\h\h\h\h THE SAME MISSED CUES,
THE SAME SCENERY FALLING DOWN.

THE SAME BASIC ACT
\h\h\h\h YOU EVER SEE.

AND HE’D NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE IT,

’CAUSE IT WAS SO LOOSE
AND INSANE.

AND HE WROTE AN ENTIRE COLUMN
ABOUT THE SHOW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Kreemah Ritz )
THIS WAS SYNDICATED IN LIKE,

150 DIFFERENT NEWSPAPERS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SOME PEOPLE I’M SURE IT WAS
MAYBE THE FIRST EXPERIENCE

THEY’D EVER HAD WITH
THE WORD "COCKETTES."

SO HE WROTE THIS
ARTICLE ABOUT IT,

AND THAT’S HOW ERROL WETSON
GOT INVOLVED AS A PRODUCER.

HE WANTED TO BRING THE SHOW
TO NEW YORK.

AND THAT PUT US INTO
A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.

TRUMAN CAPOTE AND JOANNE CARSON
SAW THIS SHOW,

AND THEY WERE ALL RAVING HOW
SENSATIONAL IT IS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND I SAID, WELL,
BASED ON THEIR ENDORSEMENT,

BASED ON, ON YOUR WORD,
WELL, COUNT ME IN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( man )
♪ OH, GET THE BEAT
OF PEOPLE’S FEET ♪

♪ TRUCKING UP AND DOWN
\h\h\h\h THE STREET ♪

♪ AND DO THE NEW YORK ♪

♪ OH, GET THE SOUND
OF CRASH AND POUND ♪

♪ OF THE SUBWAYS
UNDERGROUND ♪

♪ AND DO THE NEW YORK ♪

( Fayette )
AT THIS POINT WE ALL THOUGHT
WE WERE IN A ’30s MUSICAL,

AND WE WERE GOING
TO NEW YORK.

WHEN NEW YORK WAS AVAILABLE
FOR US AND WANTED US

IT WAS JUST LIKE,
"I DON’T BELIEVE IT,"

BUT IT WAS REAL.

OH, THAT TOUR
TO NEW YORK--

AND THIS IS ALL WHEN
EVERYTHING HIT THE FAN.

♪ ... AND DO THE NEW YORK ♪

WE DECIDED TO TAKE
THE TWO SHOWS--

"TINSEL TARTS IN A HOT COMA"
AND "PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI,"

WHICH WAS MY
PERSONAL FAVORITE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hI REFUSED TO GO
\h\h\h\h BECAUSE I THOUGHT,
"YOU’RE GOING TO NEW YORK,

"WHY NOT MOUNT SOMETHING
BRAND NEW FOR NEW YORK

\h\h\h\h "RATHER THAN DO
TWO OLD MOLDY SHOWS

THAT HAD BEEN DONE
INTO THE GROUND ?"

SOME PEOPLE BACKED OUT,
THEY DIDN’T WANNA GO.

THEY FELT THAT IT WAS
AN INTRUSION

OF THE OTHER WORLD, YOU KNOW,
THE STRAIGHT WORLD

WAS SOMEHOW GONNA
CONTAMINATE THIS EXPERIENCE.

WELL, WE FLEW TO NEW YORK,
ALL 47 COCKETTES--

EVERYBODY WAS A COCKETTE.

EVERYBODY WANTED TO JUMP IN
AT THAT TIME, AND THEY DID.

I GUESS YOU WOULD’VE
CALLED IT FIRST-CLASS

BECAUSE WE HAD THE FRONT HALF
OF THE PLANE

WITH THE LOUNGE UP ABOVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
\h\h\h\h AND NOBODY KNEW
WHAT TO MAKE OF US.

LINK WAS IN A SWIMSUIT WITH
A MISS AMERICA BANNER

AND A MINK COAT
AND HIGH HEELS.

THERE WAS ONE LITTLE OLD LADY
WHO TURNED TO ONE OF THEM

AND SAID, "ARE YOU
A MAN OR A WOMAN ?"

THEY’D BE WEARING ALL THESE
JUST HIGH HEELS AND GLITTER,

AND PEOPLE WOULD TRY TO BE COOL
ABOUT IT AND NOT LOOK,

BUT PEOPLE WERE
JUST IN SHOCK.

( Marshall )
THERE WERE A FEW BUSINESSMEN
IN FIRST-CLASS.

AND THEY ALL ENDED UP WITH
DRAG QUEENS ON THEIR LAP

GETTING PICTURES TAKEN.

THEY HAD FUN.

I WAS TERRORIZED TO FLY.

I WENT UP TO THE BAR
AND I SAID,

"IS THERE A MAN IN THE HOUSE
THAT’LL BUY A LADY A DRINK ?"

AND THIS GUY,
THIS TEXAS GUY SAYS,

"I’LL BUY YOU A DRINK, MA’AM,
WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ?"

AND I SAID,
"OH, THE LADIES DRINK

CREME DE MENTHE
AND KAHLUA."

( Fayette )
I HAD MY MARLENE DIETRICH
VEILS ON

AND A BIG HAT
TO ARRIVE IN MANHATTAN.

BY THE TIME I GOT THERE

EVERYTHING WAS ALL OVER
THE PLACE-- EYELASHES.

BECAUSE WE WERE ALL SO DRUNK
BY THE TIME WE GOT THERE.

IT WAS LIKE THE ROSE BOWL
PARADE, COMING OUT OF A PLANE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST
EXCITING-- I MEAN--

HONEY, TO SHOCK ME.

THERE, ONE AT A TIME,
OFF THE PLANE CAME

30, 40, 50 OF THE GREATEST
CHARACTERS UH,

YOU KNOW, NEW YORK HAS SEEN IN--
SINCE THE COPA GIRLS LEFT.

THEY GOT US THE BEST IN NEW YORK
AS WELL AS ON THE AIRPLANE.

( Fayette )
AND THEN WE STAYED IN
THE ALBERT HOTEL,

WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST
FLEABAG IN THE VILLAGE.

I MEAN, IT WAS
A DERELICT HOTEL.

WE ALL GOT REALLY NICE ROOMS,
IT WAS A NICE HOTEL.

OKAY, HOLD ON.

( Maureen Orth )
BUT THEY WERE PUT
INTO THIS HIDEOUS

SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOTEL
WHICH WAS FILLED WITH
COCKROACHES.

\h\h\h\h ( Marshall )
AND THE ALBERT’S FAMOUS,

YOU CAN SCORE FROM
\h\h\h\h THE BELLHOPS.

YOU KNOW, "IT’S NEW YORK,
\h\h\h\h YOU CAN SCORE."

( Sylvia Miles )
THE ANDERSON WAS
A BIG THEATER,

THAT WAS THE YIDDISH
ART THEATER.

THAT WAS LIKE A, YOU KNOW,
A TEMPLE,

A HOLY TEMPLE FOR ACTORS.

WHEN WE ARRIVED
IN NEW YORK

EXPECTING A READY THEATER
\h\h\h\h TO GO INTO,

WE FOUND THAT WE HAD THIS
BIG SHELL OF A THEATER

FOR LIKE, 5,000 PEOPLE.

THERE WAS NO SOUND SYSTEM,
THERE WAS NO LIGHTING SYSTEM.

WELCOME TO THE GLAMOROUS
ANDERSON THEATRE

PROVIDED FOR US
BY THE ZERLERS.

IF YOU CAN GAZE UP THERE
FOR A MINUTE

AT THE LOVELY QUALITIES
OF THIS THEATER.

HOW WE HAD TO WORK
OVERTIME FOR NOTHING,

HOW WE WERE FOUGHT AT EVERY STEP
OVER OUR CARDBOARD,

OVER OUR SETS, OVER OUR
WHOLE PRODUCTION STAFF.

OUR LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS ARE
A BIT MORE RAUNCHY THAN THIS

WHERE THE ROACHES HAVE FORMED
THEIR OWN ROAD COMPANY
OF "HELLO DOLLY."

( Fayette )
THE STAGE WAS ABOUT THREE TIMES
THE SIZE OF THE PALACE.

AND SO OUR SETS
WERE JUST LIKE

A LITTLE THIMBLE ON
A BIG BOARD OR SOMETHING,

SO WE HAD TO COMPLETELY
REDO EVERYTHING.

AND THEN WE STARTED REHEARSING,
WE REHEARSED FOR TWO WEEKS.

WE NEVER
HAD REHEARSALS.

WE REHEARSED AND REHEARSED
AND REHEARSED AND REHEARSED

AND I ALMOST DIED
REHEARSING.

OF COURSE, THE QUEENS,
THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED
IN REHEARSING

AS EVERYONE WANTED TO
GIVE US A PARTY.

( Errol Wetson )
THERE WAS A RUMOR
GOING AROUND

THAT THE COCKETTES
WERE SEEN ALL OVER TOWN,

EVERYWHERE BUT AT REHEARSAL.

\h\h\h\h THEY WERE JUST
ENJOYING PARTYING,

BEING THE HOTTEST
GUYS IN TOWN.

I DO REMEMBER THAT
FIRST NIGHT PARTY.

OSCAR DE LA RENTA
AND DIANA VREELAND

CAME TO SEE THE COCKETTES,

AND THEY CAME THROUGH
THE DOOR ONE BY ONE.

AND PEOPLE LIKE DE LA RENTA
AND DIANA VREELAND

WERE JUST AWESTRUCK.

\h\h\h\h ( Reggie )
AND I WAS WEARING THAT
FAMOUS WHITE DRESS

WITH TEARDROP PEARLS
AND MY ASS HANGING OUT.

WELL, MAX’S KANSAS CITY WAS
WHERE THEY ENDED UP HANGING OUT.

AND I REMEMBER
ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG WAS THERE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h( Kreemah Ritz )
AND WE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
WE DIDN’T HAVE MUCH MONEY,

AND HE GAVE US WHAT
HE THOUGHT WAS A BIG DEAL--
$1,000.

HE COULD HAVE GIVEN US 10,000
AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN

A LOT MORE BENEFICIAL TO US,
WE COULD HAVE USED IT.

( Pam )
WE WERE STARVING--
NOBODY GAVE US ANY--

IT WAS AS BAD
AS SAN FRANCISCO,

ONLY WE DIDN’T
HAVE OUR CHECKS,

WE WERE BASICALLY EATING
AT COCKTAIL PARTIES.

AND IT WAS LIKE,
ANDY WARHOL’S PARTY.

YOU HAD TO BE THERE,
YOU HAD TO BE IN MY SHOES

AND I STILL HAD TO
PINCH MYSELF.

"IS THIS REAL ?
THIS IS REAL."

AND THAT WAS FUN, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS ALL PLAYING.

WE DIDN’T REALIZE THAT
THEIR PLAYING

WAS DIFFERENT
THAN OUR PLAYING.

CERTAINLY, DRAG IN NEW YORK
IS NOT NEW, IT WAS NEVER NEW.

IT WAS-- WHEN I WAS A KID,
AND I’M OF, YOU KNOW,

SOMEWHAT ADVANCED YEARS, IT WAS,
IT WAS OLD HAT ALREADY.

WE’RE RICH...

WE’RE FAMOUS...

WE’RE BEAUTIFUL.

AND MISERABLE.

AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW,
IT WAS LIKE THIS WAR

BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND
THE NEW YORK GIRLS.

\h\h\h\h THE NEW YORK GIRLS--
WE WERE SERIOUS, YOU KNOW,

WE HAD TO LOOK REAL.

I WANTED TO TRY TO
GET BACK ON WELFARE,

BE RESPECTABLE,
HAVE A NICE PLACE.

SAN FRANCISCO THEY WERE
ALL ON DRUGS, YOU KNOW,

AND SMOKING AND DOING L.S.D.
AND YOU KNOW.

WE WERE TOO FREAKY
FOR ’EM...

JUST LIKE THEY WERE
TOO FREAKY FOR US.

IT WAS COUNTERCULTURE,
EAST AND WEST,
TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

\h\h\h\h ( Holly Woodlawn )
WE WERE ANDY WARHOL SUPERSTARS--

CANDY DARLING, JACKIE CURTIS
AND I, SO WE WERE,

YOU KNOW, WE HAD ATTITUDE.

THERE WAS NO
HIPPIE NEW YORK.

IT WAS EITHER YOU WERE
A BIG SHOT OR NOBODY.

( Orth )
AND SO HERE WERE
THESE VERY SORT OF

SUPER HIP, SUPER COOL,
DONE IT ALL,

SEEN IT ALL,
JADED NEW YORKERS

COMING INTO CONTACT
WITH THESE LIKE,

WEST COAST SCREAMERS
WHO JUST WERE SO HAPPY !

AND THEN I BECAME FRIENDS
WITH GOLDIE GLITTERS

\h\h\h\hWHO WAS--
THE WORST MOUTH !

WHEN WE WERE IN NEW YORK
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH

TO MEET HOLLY WOODLAWN.
SHE WORKED FOR ANDY WARHOL.

SO DID THIS OTHER QUEEN
AND SHE WAS "I’M SO GAY"--

CANDY DARLING.

WE USED TO GO TO
MAX’S KANSAS CITY

AND HOLLY USED TO
ALWAYS TRIP HER.

SO SHE’D GO FLYING DOWN
ON THE FLOOR, RIGHT ?

I’D BE, BY THEN,
UP ON THE TABLE,

SCREAMING AT THE
TOP OF MY LUNGS,

"IS THE MANAGER THERE ?
IS THE MANAGER THERE ?

"THERE’S A QUEEN
ON THE FLOOR !

OH, OH, I’M SORRY,
IT’S CANDY DARLING."

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Sebastian )
\h\h\h\h THIS WAS OUR FIRST TIME
TO BE AT A LEGITIMATE HOUR.

WE WERE NO LONGER
UNDERGROUND.

"WOW, THIS IS IT,
WE’VE HIT BIG TIME."

( Glitters )
EVERYBODY IN NEW YORK
WANTED TO SEE THE COCKETTES

ON STAGE AT THE
ANDERSON THEATRE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
WE TRIED TO HAVE A RUN-THROUGH,
BUT WE NEVER COULD.

THEY WERE WORKING ON THE STAGE,
THERE WERE POWER SAWS GOING.

THERE WAS NEVER LIGHTING CUES
CHECKED, NOTHING WAS DONE,

THERE WAS NEVER
A SOUND CHECK.

( Fayette )
WE DIDN’T PREVIEW,
BUT INSTEAD WE JUST OPENED !

WE JUST FLOPPED IT
ON THE STAGE AND OPENED !

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Scrumbly )
\h\h\h\h I WAS UP UNTIL FIVE IN
THE MORNING THE NIGHT BEFORE

TRYING TO GET THE LIGHTING,
KNOWING NOTHING ABOUT LIGHTS,

BUT BEING THE ONLY ONE
WHO COULD CALL HIMSELF ANYTHING
NEAR A DIRECTOR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
\h\h\h\h WE HAD PEOPLE
CALLING UP SAYING,

"JOHN LENNON’S PARTY
WANTS TO GET TICKETS."

EVERYBODY WAS
IN THE AUDIENCE

AND JOHN LENNON, MY IDOL,
WAS LOOKING AT ME.

AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE
JUST ONE OF OUR SHOWS.

BUT IN NEW YORK, THEY THOUGHT
IT WAS GONNA BE A REAL SHOW.

( applause )

♪ HEY, HI-DE-HO
WE’RE IN A COMA ♪

\h\h\h\h♪ FEELING
THE WAY WE DO ♪

♪ WE TENDER HEARTS
\h\h\h\h GO CRAZY ♪

♪ CRUISIN’ AND GROOVIN’
\h\h\h\h WITH YOU ♪

\h\h\h\h♪ AIN’T WE DELUXE
DOESN’T OUR HEART STOP ♪

♪ JUST FOR A MOMENT
\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOR TWO ♪

♪ DOESN’T OUR SMELLY FARTS SMELL
WHEN I’M DANCING WITH YOU ♪

\h\h\h\h♪ DOES IT PUT OFF
DOESN’T IT SHOW US ♪

♪ WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT ♪

♪ IF WE CONTINUE
OUR VICES ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ MAYBE WE’LL
WORK SOMETHING OUT ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ MAYBE WE’LL
WORK THE THING OUT ♪

OH BABY !

IT WAS LIKE A BIG BOMB.

IT WAS LIKE, NOT JUST
A BOMB LIKE A THUD,

I MEAN, THIS WAS LIKE...
"WHAT IS IT ?"

\h\h\h\h THE CURTAINS OPEN AND
I COULD FEEL THE AUDIENCE.

IT WAS LIKE, I KNEW, IT WAS
GOING IN THE DUMPER.

THEY COULD NOT GET OUT OF
THAT THEATER FAST ENOUGH.

AND UH...
IT HURT, IT REALLY DID.

PEOPLE FLED.

THEY GOT UP AND FLED,
IT WAS SO TERRIBLE.

IT’S THREE YEARS OLD AND
\h\h\h\h IT’S BORING.

IT’S FIVE YEARS OLD
\h\h\h\hAND IT’S BORING.

IT WAS TOTALLY INEPT AND UH,
REALLY DISAPPOINTING.

I’M BASICALLY NOT MAD,

I’M DISAPPOINTED AND SORRY
FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

\h\h\h\h ( Wetson )
"WHAT DID WE JUST SEE ?
WHAT JUST HAPPENED ?

"TELL ME, WAS THIS SORT OF A
FLASH ACID TRIP OR SOMETHING ?

TELL ME WHAT JUST HAPPENED."

\h\h\h\h IT’S NO GOOD JUST BEING
IN DRAG ANYMORE, YOU KNOW,

ANYBODY COULD DO IT.

YOU GOTTA DELIVER
IN NEW YORK.

THEY DIDN’T.

♪ THOUGH I CAN’T FORGET
MIDNIGHT IN MANHATTAN ♪

♪ MOONLIGHT IN
YOUR EYES... ♪

( applause )

YEAH, THE CRITICS
JUST COMPLETELY--

( laughs )
PANNED IT.

BUT, SO WHAT ?

I DON’T REALLY THINK WE CARED
MUCH ABOUT THE REVIEWS.

\h\h\h\h I DON’T THINK WE LET IT
BOTHER US ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
THEY EXPECTED PROFESSIONAL
PERFORMERS WHO HAD AN ACT.

\h\h\h\h AND WE WERE--
THIS WAS OUR LIFESTYLE.

WE WERE ACID FREAKS,
\h\h\h\h IF YOU WILL,

FROM ALL SEXUAL PERSUASIONS
WHO GOT ONSTAGE,

AND THAT’S WHAT THEY MISSED
THE POINT THERE, I THINK.

I GUESS THEY WANTED
PERFECTION, YOU KNOW,

EVERYBODY KICKING
AT THE SAME TIME,

EVERYBODY A VOICE PERFECT.

THE GRAND QUOTE WAS, "HAVING
NO TALENT IS NOT ENOUGH."

AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS
THE BEST THING,

WE THOUGHT
THAT WAS PERFECT.

I THINK THE SAD PART WAS,

WAS THAT AFTER THE DISASTER
OF OPENING NIGHT

THEY ACTUALLY
GOT MUCH BETTER.

THERE WAS A STANDING
OVATION THE SECOND NIGHT.

TOO BAD THE CRITICS DON’T
COME BACK THE SECOND NIGHT.

AFTER THAT, PEOPLE--
WORD OF MOUTH--

PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANTED TO
SEE US CAME TO SEE THE SHOW

AND IT WAS WELL RECEIVED.

THERE WAS A FEW OF US
THAT WERE INTO HARD DRUGS.

AND THEY JUST SHOWED UP
EVERY NIGHT.

AND WE WOULD HAVE
A LITTLE DRUG PARTY THERE

IN THE THEATER
AFTER THE SHOW.

\h\h\h\h ( Reggie )
THERE WAS TONS OF HEROIN
\h\h\h\h IN NEW YORK

BECAUSE IT WAS
\h\h\h\h$3 A BAG.

AND THERE WERE QUITE A FEW
MEMBERS OF THE COCKETTES

THAT WERE USING,
MYSELF INCLUDED.

THEY WOULD SOMETIMES SAY,
"WELL, YOU CAN’T--

BE IN THE SHOW IF YOU’RE
GONNA DO THOSE DRUGS."

AND WE JUST SAID,
"GET OUT OF HERE,

FORGET ABOUT THAT."

WE WERE THE NAUGHTY KIDS,
YOU KNOW, WE WERE NAUGHTY.

YOU COULD UNDERSTAND IT,
\h\h\h\hLIKE IN NEW YORK,

THE HEROIN THERE
IT’S LIKE WHITE,

GOES RIGHT INTO SOLUTION
WHEN YOU ADD WATER.

I MEAN, THE STUFF IS GOOD...
YOU KNOW ?

IT’S NOT THIS BROWN MISERY
THAT WE GET OUT HERE.

MARSHALL AND I UH,
I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT

WE WERE IN THE DRESSING ROOM,
WE WERE GETTING READY.

I WOULD SIT THERE
AND PAINT MY FACE

MORE ELABORATE THAN
THE NIGHT BEFORE.

AND ONE NIGHT MARSHALL CAME IN
AND HE’S WATCHING ME DO IT,

LOOKING AT ME
IN THE MIRROR.

AND I LOOKED UP AT HIM
AND HE SAID,

"HMM, THE DOPE IS REALLY GOOD
TONIGHT, HUH ?"

WHEN I LIVED WITH SCRUMBLY,
THE BAD DRUG WAS HEROIN.

AND HE AND I ASSIDUOUSLY, UH,
KEPT IT OUT OF THE HOUSE.

BUT IT WAS EVERYWHERE,
IT WAS ALL AROUND US.

IT WAS A DECADENT SCENE...

IT ALWAYS ENDS IN DESOLATION
AND IN FLAMES.

THAT’S HOW IT ENDS.

( applause, cheers )

♪ THE HIP HOORAY
AND BALLYHOO ♪

♪ THE LULLABY
OF BROADWAY ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ THE RUMBLE OF
THE SUBWAY TRAINS ♪

♪ THE RATTLE OF
THE TAXIS ♪

♪ THE DAFFODILS
WHO ENTERTAIN ♪

♪ AT ANGELO’S
AND MAXIE’S ♪

♪ WHEN A BROADWAY BABY
\h\h\h\hSAYS GOOD NIGHT ♪

♪ IT’S EARLY
IN THE MORNING ♪

♪ MANHATTAN BABIES
DON’T SLEEP TIGHT ♪

♪ UNTIL THE DAWN ♪

\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
IT WAS A REAL
COMEDOWN THOUGH.

I THINK THE NEWSPAPER
SAID SOMETHING LIKE,

"DRAGGING IT ALL
BACK HOME."

IT WAS COVERED BY THE NEWS.

\h\h\h\h THEN OF COURSE
CAME THE ARTICLES.

THE BERKELEY BARB HAD A COUPLE
OF FEATURED ARTICLES.

\h\h\h\h "COCKETTES LAY
$50,000 GOTHAM EGG."

( Kreemah Ritz )
WE REALIZED THAT
SAN FRANCISCO WAS OUR HOME,

SAN FRANCISCO WAS WHERE
OUR MAINSTAY OF FANS IS.

AND, AS DOROTHY SAID,
"THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME."

♪ OF OLD...
BROADWAY... ♪

WE ARE THE COCKETTES,
THANK YOU.

WE LOVE YOU !

NEW YORK,
WE’LL BE BACK SOON.

I MEAN, I THOUGHT IT WAS
A PARTY THAT WOULD NEVER END.

I MEAN, I WAS SO HAPPY WITH
THE LIFE THAT I THOUGHT,

"WELL, THIS IS IT, THIS IS HOW
IT’S GONNA BE FROM NOW ON."

AND, IT WAS--
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

\h\h\h\h ( Scrumbly )
♪ THE JEWELS OF PARIS
\h\h\h\h STAY AT HOME ♪

♪ UNTIL THE SUN
GOES DOWN ♪

♪ THE JEWELS OF PARIS
\h\h\h\h STAY AT HOME ♪

♪ BUT THEN THEY
GO TO TOWN ♪

SOME MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT
WE WOULD FEEL DEFEATED,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h BUT NO,
NOT THE COCKETTES.

SINCE WE LIVED IN OUR OWN
\h\h\h\h REALITY ANYWAY.

\h\h\h\h ( chorus )
\h\h\h\h♪ SAPPHIRE STARS
IN ALL-NIGHT BARS ♪

♪ USING ALL THEIR
\h\h\h\h WILES ♪

( Kreemah Ritz )
WE HAD TO DO A BRAND-NEW SHOW,
AND IT HAD TO BE FABULOUS,

AND IT HAD TO BE JUST
TEN TIMES BETTER

THAN ANYTHING WE’D EVER
DONE BEFORE.

\h\h\h\h MY VERY FAVORITE SHOW
WAS "LES ETOILES DU MINUIT."

I CAME OUT AS THE TENOR
\h\h\h\h IN A TUXEDO

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SANG
"THE JEWELS OF PARIS."

BUT THEN AFTER THAT WE HAD TO DO
A BIGGER AND BETTER SHOW.

AFTER WE DID LES ETOILES
WE DID "JOURNEY TO THE CENTER
OF URANUS,"

OUR SCIENCE FICTION SHOW.

AND DIVINE WAS THE FEATURED
STARLET IN THAT,

SHE PLAYED
"THE CRAB ON URANUS."

I GET THIS VIBRATION
OF RED IN MY EYES.

AND THERE’S DIVINE
STANDING IN FRONT OF ME

IN THIS ELECTRIC RED DRESS
WITH A FISH TAIL

THAT WENT ACROSS THE WIDTH
OF THE WING.

AND SHE’S KIND OF
WIGGLING AND SHIMMERING,

AND THE WHOLE THING IS
SHIMMERING AND VIBRATING.

AND SHE WENT ON THE STAGE,
OF COURSE, AND SANG
IN THIS OUTFIT

"A CRAB ON URANUS
MEANS YOU’RE LOVED"
AND BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE.

AND OF COURSE EVERYONE
WAS JEALOUS AND THOUGHT,

"WHY DIDN’T I SING
THAT SONG ?!" YOU KNOW.

BUT NO ONE COULD HAVE
DONE IT LIKE DIVINE.

\h\h\h\h ( Sebastian )
"HOT GREEKS" WAS A GREAT SHOW
THAT MARTIN WROTE,

"JOURNEY TO THE CENTER
OF URANUS" WAS GREAT.

"LES ETOILES"
WAS BEAUTIFUL.

JUST WONDERFUL IDEAS.

THEY WERE REALLY REACHING
\h\h\h\hTHEIR BEST PERIOD

BUT THEY WERE
COMING APART TOO.

IT WAS NOT SAD FOR ME
WHEN IT ENDED.

IT SEEMED LIKE
THE RIGHT TIMING.

IT SEEMED LIKE IT JUST PLAYED
ITSELF OUT AND IT WAS TIME.

SO WE WENT OUT WITH
A KIND OF A BOW

THAT WAS HANDING OVER
THE REINS.

DIVINE PLAYED LAST YEAR’S
"MISS DE MEANOR,"

AND WE HELD A
MISS DE MEANOR BEAUTY CONTEST.

THE COCKETTES, AS AN ENTITY,
THAT WAS OUR BOW OUT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
THINGS KIND OF FIZZLED OUT.

SYLVESTER OF COURSE
HAD HIS "HOT BAND"

AND JOHN ROTHERMEL WAS DOING
ONE-WOMAN SHOWS.

( Fayette )
I THINK IN THE CULTURE
IN GENERAL

THINGS WERE CHANGING
AS WELL,

AND A LOT OF
THE INNOCENCE WAS GONE.

WITHIN A YEAR, ’72, ’73,

I SAW SO MANY OF
MY FRIENDS DYING.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I CAN
REMEMBER BEING AFRAID.

I WAS REALLY AFRAID.

( Glitters )
GARRY DIED OF
A DRUG OVERDOSE.

DANIEL WARE DIED
OF A DRUG OVERDOSE.

\h\h\h\h ( Reggie )
A LOT OF THE COCKETTES
WENT REALLY FAST...

FROM DRUGS, FROM DRUGS.

THE LAST TIME I TALKED
\h\h\h\h WITH HIBISCUS

WAS IN ONE OF THE VERY TOP
SUITES OF THE HYATT REGENCY...

WITH LINES OF COCAINE
AND CHAMPAGNE AND PIZZA

PAID FOR BY HIS UH,
\h\h\h\h SUGAR DADDY.

HE JUST PARADED OUT
HIS ARMANI SUITS--

"OH YOU LIKE THIS ONE ?
YOU LIKE THIS ONE ?

THIS ONE ONLY COST 2,000."

I WORKED WITH HIBISCUS,
HIS LAST PLAY,

I PLAYED "MADAM SHVANSKA."

I LOOK LIKE MADAM SHVANSKA,
I WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR.

WE OPENED THE SHOW

AND TWO DAYS LATER HE WAS LIKE,
FREEZING AND HAD PNEUMONIA.

AND THEN A WEEK LATER
HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

AND A WEEK AFTER THAT
HE WAS DEAD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
HIBISCUS, FITTINGLY ENOUGH,

WAS THE FIRST ONE I KNEW TO
HAVE AIDS AND DIE OF AIDS.

BUT WE DIDN’T KNOW,
WE CALLED IT GAY CANCER.

WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

I KNOW WHEN IT CAME
INTO MY LIFE.

AND I WAS UH...
IT WAS 1984.

SO UH, I’VE HAD THIS DISEASE
FOR 16 YEARS.

A LOT OF MY FRIENDS
LIKE WALLY, JOHN ROTHERMEL,

MARTIN WORMAN, SYLVESTER--
DIED OF AIDS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY.

\h\h\h\h I WAS VERY, VERY UM,
UPSET ABOUT PRISSY’S DEATH.

UM...

I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY,
IT’S BEEN DEVASTATING.

IT’S A FUNNY THING.

HE’S ALWAYS BEEN AWAY AND BACK
AND AWAY AND BACK.

NOW, HE DIED IN 1982

AND I STILL THINK OF HIM AS AWAY
AND HE’S COMING BACK.

HE’S STILL THERE,
HE’S STILL FUNNY,

HE’S STILL...

EITHER TRIPPING US UP OR--
EGGING US ON.

THIS IS MY LITTLE SON
OCEAN MOON

WHO ONCE WAS THE
STAR OF THE SHOW.

BEING ECCENTRIC,

I THINK I PICKED UP THAT
FROM MY MOM.

ALSO BEING ABLE TO
DRESS DIFFERENTLY

AND NOT REALLY CARE
WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

YOU DO, BUT THEN YOU KIND OF
LIKE, ARE PROUD OF IT.

BASICALLY, JUST LOOKING AT
THE FUN SIDE OF THINGS,

LOOKING AT THE JOY AND
THE SILLINESS OF LIFE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Marshall )
I TELL THE STORY SOMETIMES.

I LIVE IN NORTH BEACH,

I LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
FROM UH, WASHINGTON SQUARE,

THE PALACE THEATER’S RIGHT
ACROSS THE STREET FROM THERE.

SO PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE
COCKETTES EVERY SO OFTEN.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h "I WAS ONE."
"WHAT, WHAT ?!"

YOU KNOW ?

THE WAY I ALWAYS EXPRESS MY
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COCKETTES

WAS THAT I, I HAD
A TIGER BY THE TAIL

AND I COULDN’T HOLD ON
AND I COULDN’T LET GO.

AND THAT SUMMED IT UP
FOR ME.

BUT I WOULDN’T TRADE
THOSE EXPERIENCES

FOR A BILLION DOLLARS,

THAT WAS THE GREATEST THING
THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

( Reggie )
I STILL FEEL THAT
I AM THAT PERSON.

I JUST DON’T HAVE THE ENERGY
THAT I HAD THEN,

BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE THAT.

AND I FEEL THAT THE WORLD
FOR THE MOST PART,

IS SHIT, YOU KNOW,

WITH THE WARS AND THE BANKS
AND THE CORRUPTION

\h\h\h\hAND THE LIES AND
THE MALLS AND, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h JUST GIVE ME
A TORN DRESS, A HIT OF ACID

AND LET’S GO TO THE BEACH,
YOU KNOW.

AND THAT’S ENOUGH,
YOU KNOW, THAT’S A LOT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h ( Pam )
THERE’S SOMETHING IN ME THAT
ALWAYS WILL BE A COCKETTE.

I-- YOU KNOW, I COME FROM
\h\h\h\h MY STRAIGHT JOB

\h\h\h\hAND I’M IN A SUIT
AND I’M DRIVING HOME

AND I’M SINGING AT THE TOP
OF MY VOICE,

\h\h\h\h"FISH GOTTA SWIM,
BIRDS GOTTA FLY !"

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hYOU KNOW,
JUST LIKE HIBISCUS.

♪ FISH GOTTA SWIM
BIRDS GOTTA FLY ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ I GOTTA LOVE
ONE MAN ’TIL I DIE ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ CAN’T HELP
LOVIN’ DAT MAN OF MINE ♪

\h\h\h\h ( chorus )
♪ HE CAN COME HOME
AS LATE AS CAN BE ♪

♪ HOME WITHOUT HIM
AIN’T NO HOME TO ME ♪

♪ CAN’T HELP
LOVIN’ DAT MAN ♪

♪ OF MINE ♪

\h\h\h\h ( man )
♪ JADED LADY ♪

♪ I’LL FILL YOUR
NIGHT’S DESIRE ♪

♪ JADED LADY ♪

♪ LOOK DEEP
INTO MY FIRE ♪

♪ ’CAUSE I’M THE
HOTTEST, BABY ♪

♪ IN THIS TOWN ♪

♪ JADED LADY ♪

♪ NOW THERE’S
A NASTY RUMOR ♪

♪ THAT I’M A FADED LADY ♪

♪ WITHOUT A SENSE
OF HUMOR ♪

\h\h\h\h♪ BUT...
( laughs ) ♪

♪ A JADED LADY TAKES IT ♪

♪ LYING DOWN ♪

♪ SPEAK RUSSIAN ♪

♪ AND MY LIPS DRIP
\h\h\h\h WITH PASSION ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ IT’S JUST MY FASHION
I’M DOING MY BEST TO CASH IN ♪

♪ BEFORE I’M CAST ASIDE ♪

♪ TO DRIFT OUT WITH THE TIDE
NOW, HONEY ♪

\h\h\h\h ♪ DON’T GET NERVOUS
SHOULD YOU REQUIRE MY SERVICE ♪

♪ JUST TAKE AFFECTION ♪

♪ AND MAKE A GOOD
CONNECTION ♪

( gargle voice )
THAT’S ALL, FOLKS.

BYE.