(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #126, March 24, 2000)
PHOTO: Left, Mr. Olympus Leather 2000 David Coral; right, Ms. Olympus Leather 2000 Joni.
It happened in New Orleans: Minnesota became home to yet another major leather titleholder. On Saturday, Feb. 26 Minneapolis resident David Coral (aka Jazz Thomas) won the men’s sash in the Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather 2000 contest. At the same time Cori Ander, Ms. Olympus Leather 1999 and also a Minneapolis resident, ended her title year and awarded a sash to her successor: Joni, the new Ms. Olympus Leather 2000 and a well-known member of the Atlanta fetish community. The Olympus Leather contest and titles differentiate themselves by representing and celebrating pansexual SM play.
Saturday night’s contest featured seven contestants (four for the Mr. title and three for the Ms.) and some very impressive and entertaining fantasy presentations. Ms. Minnesota Olympus Leather Hannah Miyamoto presented the first fantasy of the evening, a vampire-leatherdyke seduction scene based on a Mexican legend. Ms. Florida Olympus Leather Lady Cat’s fantasy took place on a plantation, and Joni’s breathtakingly sizzling and steamy fantasy started with corsetry and climaxed with flogging and fireplay.
The funniest fantasy of the evening belonged to Mr. Louisiana Olympus Leather Mark Anthony, who presented a boot-camp scene in which he turned the tables on his drill sergeant (who didn’t resist all that much). Mr. Georgia Olympus Leather boy kyle’s fantasy was a humorous portrayal of an office worker whose sole knowledge of SM practices came from surfing the internet after business hours.
Mr. Florida Olympus Leather Allen Grim’s paint-by-flogger fantasy held the crowd spellbound. After warming up Maryland Mr. Drummer Paul Bohli’s bare backside with a flogger, Grim covered Bohli’s back with black paint and pressed a blank canvas to it. Then he dipped three floggers in blue, white and red paint and flogged the paint onto Bohli, pressing the canvas to Bohli’s back after each color. (The four colors are the colors of the leather-pride flag.) The canvas was later auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charity. Grim will be at this year’s International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago and will be happy to make the same kind of painting of your backside.
David Coral’s fantasy was a 1940’s-era Havana nightclub dream sequence (choreographed to Santana’s “Smooth”) that featured rip-away clothing, hot-wax play and clothespin “zippers” for a finale. In addition to playing the main character Coral also directed a relatively large cast, all of whom performed exceptionally; the fantasy’s movement, staging, lighting and sound work were impeccable. This should come as no surprise: Coral is a professional actor who was last seen as Guildenstern in Theatre in the Round’s recent production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.
The Olympus Leather contest was part of the tenth annual Pantheon of Leather weekend held at Le Petit Theatre, located in the French Quarter in the heart of New Orleans. Each year Pantheon of Leather presents awards to leatherfolk around the world for distinguished community service and contributions to the leather/SM/fetish community and culture. This year 30 awards were handed out at the awards ceremony on Friday, Feb. 25—and, unlike last year, many of the award recipients were there in person to receive them. (Attendance in general for this year’s Pantheon/Olympus weekend was up 33% compared to last year’s event.)
Todd Leek is new Mr. Mpls. Eagle 2000
On Sunday, Feb. 27 (the same weekend that Pantheon/Olympus was happening in New Orleans) the Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2000 contest was held in Minneapolis. The evening’s emcee was Minneapolis Eagle co-owner Greg Norton; judging the contest were International Mr. Leather 1997 Kevin Cwayna, Mr. Minnesota Olympus Leather 1998 B.D. Chambers, and Minneapolis Eagle co-owner Ed Hopkins. From a field of five contestants the judges selected Lonnell Callum as second runner-up, Robert Chatlos as first runner-up, and Todd Leek as the new Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 2000. Mr. Minneapolis Eagle 1999 Tim Forte was on hand to make a stepdown speech and present the sash to his successor.
The contest was structured along the lines of the International Mr. Leather contest. Contestants were interviewed privately by the judges before the contest; onstage judging events included a “keg walk” (the contestants traveled from one end of the bar to the other and back with an empty keg on their shoulder), an erotic reading, a 90-second speech on a leather topic, and answering a question on ageism.
Leek will go on to compete in the International Mr. Leather contest, taking place Memorial Day weekend in Chicago.
Mark Your Calendar: The Bizarre Bazaar
Discover all things erotic and exotic at the Bizarre Bazaar, presented in Minneapolis April 15 by Minnesota Stocks Debentures and Bonds (MSDB), a local pansexual BDSM/fetish group. Buy or sell clothing, adornments, collectibles, toys, furniture . . . anything related to BDSM, fetish, leather, kink, and similar lifestyles. There will be vendor displays and a silent auction benefiting a local charity (donations of auction items welcomed). For more details visit the MDSB website: www.mdsb-mn.org.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, April 8
Atons Leather/Levi Night
Location and time to be determined
Call the Atons HotLine for more information and to make reservations. Information is also available at the club’s website: www.atons.com.
Friday, March 24, 2000
Friday, March 10, 2000
“When Pigs Fly” Soars
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #125, March 10, 2000)
PHOTO: P1010046
PHOTO CAPTION: In a scene from When Pigs Fly, Ursus Torrente (with Richard Tscholl) asks the musical question “Why do they say I’m not all man?”
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010052, 053
PHOTO CAPTION: Ralph Schmidt, in a number from The Black Guard’s production of When Pigs Fly, shows why “Bigger is Better.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010058
PHOTO CAPTION: Some outrageous costumes from the When Pigs Fly finale: center, Carl Gscheidmeier wears a costume made of giftwrap; left, Bruce Gohr wears a gown made of black plastic trash bags; just behind Carl you can see part of the costume made of plastic soda bottles and disposable picnicware.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010059, 060, 061
PHOTO CAPTION: The closing tableau from The Black Guard’s production of When Pigs Fly.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010036, 037
PHOTO CAPTION: The “Wear Your Vanity With Pride” number from When Pigs Fly. Left to right: Mike Delorme, Carl Gscheidmeier, Richard Tscholl.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTO: P1010033
PHOTO CAPTION: From The Black Guard production of When Pigs Fly: Four playing cards sing “If You Want To Win At Love, You’ve Got To Stay In The Game.” Left to right: Mike Delorme, Colin Spriestersbach, Ursus Torrente, Bruce Gohr.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTO: P1010032
PHOTO CAPTION: Howard Crabtree (George Jones) listens to Miss Roundhole (Richard Tscholl) explain why he should forget the theater and take up “watch repair, plumbing, garden supplies or chicken farming” instead.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTO: P1010030
PHOTO CAPTION: Carl Gscheidmeier, left, and George Jones in a patriotic moment from The Black Guard’s production of When Pigs Fly.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
Howard Crabtree, one of the most flamboyant and outrageous theatrical costume designers ever, was brought back to spectacular life in the person of George Jones during The Black Guard’s recent production of When Pigs Fly. The high point of this year’s Black Frost run, the show was a good-natured, campy, over-the-top romp that was a triumphant follow-up to last year’s Black Frost Wizard of Oz show. Crabtree succumbed to AIDS complications shortly before When Pigs Fly opened in New York several years ago, but I’m sure he was right there with the rest of us on Feb. 19 at the Mall of America’s Camp Snoopy Playhouse enjoying The Black Guard’s production of his show.
The Black Guard actually presented a melding of two shows by Howard Crabtree, When Pigs Fly and Whoop-Dee-Doo. Since Crabtree was first and foremost a costume designer, the most distinctive feature of his shows is the huge number of truly amazing costumes. Unfortunately, there aren’t many theater companies that will tackle one of Crabtree’s shows for that very reason—they don’t have the resources to create all those costumes. For this production, The Black Guard tracked down and borrowed some of Crabtree’s original costumes that haven’t been seen on stage since the New York productions; they also obtained costumes from Normandale Community College and The Guthrie Theater. Many costumes were made by Black Guard members themselves, working from drawings or photographs of the New York productions, and some of the costumes were made in Florida.
The costumes were amazing enough that they could have carried the show, but fortunately they didn’t have to. I saw When Pigs Fly in New York, so I already knew the script and songs were good. (The show was conceived by Crabtree and Mark Waldrop; sketches and lyrics are by Waldrop with music by Dick Gallagher.) Costumes, script, songs, choreography, and great performances by every cast member combined to make a very entertaining evening.
The Black Guard spent six months creating this production, and it was obvious as I was watching it that a lot of time and love had gone into it. (The production was dedicated to the memories of both Crabtree and Scott Darst.) Even though most of the songs were lip-synched, cast members still had to learn the songs to be able to lip-synch them; they also had to learn the dialogue, choreography (from the original shows via videotape), and the sheer backstage logistics of entrances, exits and costume changes.
The show’s basic premise is that Howard (played by George Jones) is trying to put on a show and meets obstacle after obstacle—a temperamental star (played by co-director Carl Gscheidmeier), props not working, bills not paid, and the ever-present spectre of his high-school teacher Miss Roundhole (Richard Tscholl) telling him that show business is not a suitable career and that he should instead take up “a) watch repair, b) plumbing, c) selling garden supplies or d) chicken farming.”
In spite of these threatened setbacks, Howard and the rest of the company managed to present over 25 witty song-and-dance numbers touching on gay issues relating from relationships to politics. “(If You Want To Win At Love) You’ve Got To Stay In The Game” features four chorusboys dressed as playing cards, while “Stuck On You” has three chorusboys dressed as bees buzzing around a giant No-Pest Strip. “Wear Your Vanity With Pride” contrasts the eighteenth-century European ideal of beauty, and the torments of powdered wigs and arsenic-whitened skin, with today’s gym-body ideal of gay male beauty (which includes its own torments). Politics were the subject of “You Can’t Take The Color Out of Colorado” and tongue-in-cheek torch song tributes by Colin Spriestersbach to Newt Gingrich, Strom Thurmond and Rush Limbaugh.
“You Are My Idol” paid homage to show-biz divas, starting with Mike Delorme playing a jungle savage impersonating Carol Channing, and continuing with Steve Burroughs as Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (shades of last year’s show!); producer and co-director Steve Katz as Barbra Streisand; George Jones as Mae West; Steve Bame as Bette Davis; special guest star Ava Monet as Marilyn Monroe; and finally with Gscheidmeier as an older Judy Garland singing “The Magic of Me.”
Rounding out the high-energy cast were Ursus Torrente, Ralph Schmidt and Bruce Gohr. According to co-director Gscheidmeier, “None of us are professional actors—it’s all for fun.” And what fun it was! True, there were a few rough edges present, such as the occasional forgotten line or late entrance, but they were handled with such grace and good humor that they only made the production more endearing.
Take a bow, everyone, and see you next year.
College Students Flock to “Radical Sex” Seminar
Also on Feb. 19, your humble columnist was one of four panelists presenting a “Coming to Terms with Radical Sex” seminar at the Midwestern Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender College Conference 2000. College students from throughout the midwest came to the campus of St. Cloud State College in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for a weekend of workshops, discussions, and keynote speakers dealing with GLBT movement activism on campus and how it relates to other social-justice movements.
The “Radical Sex” seminar dealt with leather/SM and also with polyamory. The other panelists were Ms. Minnesota Leather Mario, transsexual-polyamorous activity Aaron Lichtov, and Dennis, a St. Cloud-area leatherman. (The seminar’s moderator was Jeff Ringer.) I am proud to say that this was the best-attended break-out seminar of its time period, and maybe of the whole conference—the room was packed to capacity. Each panel member spoke for five to ten minutes, and then it was question-and-answer time. When it was over, a lot of good information had been exchanged, and hopefully many young minds had been opened to some interesting possibilities. If this is a representative sampling of the interest in “radical sex” among the younger generation, the future is looking very bright indeed.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, March 11
Atons Leather/Levi Night
Location and time to be determined
Call the Atons HotLine for more information and to make reservations. Information is also available at the club’s website: www.atons.com.
Friday, March 17
Atons Club Colors Wearing of the Green Party
7:30-10:30 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
PHOTO: P1010046
PHOTO CAPTION: In a scene from When Pigs Fly, Ursus Torrente (with Richard Tscholl) asks the musical question “Why do they say I’m not all man?”
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010052, 053
PHOTO CAPTION: Ralph Schmidt, in a number from The Black Guard’s production of When Pigs Fly, shows why “Bigger is Better.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010058
PHOTO CAPTION: Some outrageous costumes from the When Pigs Fly finale: center, Carl Gscheidmeier wears a costume made of giftwrap; left, Bruce Gohr wears a gown made of black plastic trash bags; just behind Carl you can see part of the costume made of plastic soda bottles and disposable picnicware.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010059, 060, 061
PHOTO CAPTION: The closing tableau from The Black Guard’s production of When Pigs Fly.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTOS: P1010036, 037
PHOTO CAPTION: The “Wear Your Vanity With Pride” number from When Pigs Fly. Left to right: Mike Delorme, Carl Gscheidmeier, Richard Tscholl.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTO: P1010033
PHOTO CAPTION: From The Black Guard production of When Pigs Fly: Four playing cards sing “If You Want To Win At Love, You’ve Got To Stay In The Game.” Left to right: Mike Delorme, Colin Spriestersbach, Ursus Torrente, Bruce Gohr.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTO: P1010032
PHOTO CAPTION: Howard Crabtree (George Jones) listens to Miss Roundhole (Richard Tscholl) explain why he should forget the theater and take up “watch repair, plumbing, garden supplies or chicken farming” instead.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
PHOTO: P1010030
PHOTO CAPTION: Carl Gscheidmeier, left, and George Jones in a patriotic moment from The Black Guard’s production of When Pigs Fly.
PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilson
Howard Crabtree, one of the most flamboyant and outrageous theatrical costume designers ever, was brought back to spectacular life in the person of George Jones during The Black Guard’s recent production of When Pigs Fly. The high point of this year’s Black Frost run, the show was a good-natured, campy, over-the-top romp that was a triumphant follow-up to last year’s Black Frost Wizard of Oz show. Crabtree succumbed to AIDS complications shortly before When Pigs Fly opened in New York several years ago, but I’m sure he was right there with the rest of us on Feb. 19 at the Mall of America’s Camp Snoopy Playhouse enjoying The Black Guard’s production of his show.
The Black Guard actually presented a melding of two shows by Howard Crabtree, When Pigs Fly and Whoop-Dee-Doo. Since Crabtree was first and foremost a costume designer, the most distinctive feature of his shows is the huge number of truly amazing costumes. Unfortunately, there aren’t many theater companies that will tackle one of Crabtree’s shows for that very reason—they don’t have the resources to create all those costumes. For this production, The Black Guard tracked down and borrowed some of Crabtree’s original costumes that haven’t been seen on stage since the New York productions; they also obtained costumes from Normandale Community College and The Guthrie Theater. Many costumes were made by Black Guard members themselves, working from drawings or photographs of the New York productions, and some of the costumes were made in Florida.
The costumes were amazing enough that they could have carried the show, but fortunately they didn’t have to. I saw When Pigs Fly in New York, so I already knew the script and songs were good. (The show was conceived by Crabtree and Mark Waldrop; sketches and lyrics are by Waldrop with music by Dick Gallagher.) Costumes, script, songs, choreography, and great performances by every cast member combined to make a very entertaining evening.
The Black Guard spent six months creating this production, and it was obvious as I was watching it that a lot of time and love had gone into it. (The production was dedicated to the memories of both Crabtree and Scott Darst.) Even though most of the songs were lip-synched, cast members still had to learn the songs to be able to lip-synch them; they also had to learn the dialogue, choreography (from the original shows via videotape), and the sheer backstage logistics of entrances, exits and costume changes.
The show’s basic premise is that Howard (played by George Jones) is trying to put on a show and meets obstacle after obstacle—a temperamental star (played by co-director Carl Gscheidmeier), props not working, bills not paid, and the ever-present spectre of his high-school teacher Miss Roundhole (Richard Tscholl) telling him that show business is not a suitable career and that he should instead take up “a) watch repair, b) plumbing, c) selling garden supplies or d) chicken farming.”
In spite of these threatened setbacks, Howard and the rest of the company managed to present over 25 witty song-and-dance numbers touching on gay issues relating from relationships to politics. “(If You Want To Win At Love) You’ve Got To Stay In The Game” features four chorusboys dressed as playing cards, while “Stuck On You” has three chorusboys dressed as bees buzzing around a giant No-Pest Strip. “Wear Your Vanity With Pride” contrasts the eighteenth-century European ideal of beauty, and the torments of powdered wigs and arsenic-whitened skin, with today’s gym-body ideal of gay male beauty (which includes its own torments). Politics were the subject of “You Can’t Take The Color Out of Colorado” and tongue-in-cheek torch song tributes by Colin Spriestersbach to Newt Gingrich, Strom Thurmond and Rush Limbaugh.
“You Are My Idol” paid homage to show-biz divas, starting with Mike Delorme playing a jungle savage impersonating Carol Channing, and continuing with Steve Burroughs as Judy Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (shades of last year’s show!); producer and co-director Steve Katz as Barbra Streisand; George Jones as Mae West; Steve Bame as Bette Davis; special guest star Ava Monet as Marilyn Monroe; and finally with Gscheidmeier as an older Judy Garland singing “The Magic of Me.”
Rounding out the high-energy cast were Ursus Torrente, Ralph Schmidt and Bruce Gohr. According to co-director Gscheidmeier, “None of us are professional actors—it’s all for fun.” And what fun it was! True, there were a few rough edges present, such as the occasional forgotten line or late entrance, but they were handled with such grace and good humor that they only made the production more endearing.
Take a bow, everyone, and see you next year.
College Students Flock to “Radical Sex” Seminar
Also on Feb. 19, your humble columnist was one of four panelists presenting a “Coming to Terms with Radical Sex” seminar at the Midwestern Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender College Conference 2000. College students from throughout the midwest came to the campus of St. Cloud State College in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for a weekend of workshops, discussions, and keynote speakers dealing with GLBT movement activism on campus and how it relates to other social-justice movements.
The “Radical Sex” seminar dealt with leather/SM and also with polyamory. The other panelists were Ms. Minnesota Leather Mario, transsexual-polyamorous activity Aaron Lichtov, and Dennis, a St. Cloud-area leatherman. (The seminar’s moderator was Jeff Ringer.) I am proud to say that this was the best-attended break-out seminar of its time period, and maybe of the whole conference—the room was packed to capacity. Each panel member spoke for five to ten minutes, and then it was question-and-answer time. When it was over, a lot of good information had been exchanged, and hopefully many young minds had been opened to some interesting possibilities. If this is a representative sampling of the interest in “radical sex” among the younger generation, the future is looking very bright indeed.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, March 11
Atons Leather/Levi Night
Location and time to be determined
Call the Atons HotLine for more information and to make reservations. Information is also available at the club’s website: www.atons.com.
Friday, March 17
Atons Club Colors Wearing of the Green Party
7:30-10:30 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
Tuesday, March 7, 2000
Speechless No More
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #203, March 7, 2003)
This year’s Pantheon of Leather Community Service Awards were presented Feb. 15 in the auditorium of the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago. Your humble columnist was surprised (to the point of speechlessness) to be the recipient of one of this year’s President’s Awards.
I should, I suppose, first explain why I was so surprised. Every year Pantheon of Leather presents awards in a number of categories (this year it was 28) for which nominations are sought: Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Couple/Club/Club Event/Business of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, etc. as well as several regional award categories. The recipients of the awards are then chosen either by a selection panel of the previous year’s award winners, or (for the Community Choice awards) by write-in voting from the entire community, or (for the Lifetime Achievement award) by consensus of the members of the Pantheon of Leather Board. I was one of twelve nominees for this year’s Midwest Regional Award (which went to Larry Manion, who is very active both locally in St. Louis and on the national scene as well).
Recipients of the President’s Awards, however, are chosen by the president of the Pantheon of Leather board; generally, three awards are presented each year. Since no nominations are involved, there is no advance notice of the possibility of receiving the award. Dave Rhodes, publisher of The Leather Journal and current Pantheon of Leather board president, explained that the President’s Award might be given to people who are overlooked in the nomination process, people who are nominated year after year but miss winning the award by a few voting points, or “sometimes we just feel it’s the right time for them to get [the award]. It’s kind of a wild card.”
I didn’t know Rhodes was referring to me when he said, “Some of the overlooked people in the [Pantheon] awards are journalists . . . . This man has been important for many years out there. There has not been any scandal in his reporting. He’s there in his region and has done some things nationally. He’s also held one of the Drummer titles, I believe in 1994-95.” When he mentioned the Drummer title it suddenly dawned on me that he might be talking about me, but I was still stunned when he announced my name as the recipient of the third President’s Award.
I walked up to the stage and was handed the award, made of very nice (and very heavy) crystal. Then I was handed the microphone. I’m sure my face looked about as blank as a TV test pattern as I so eloquently said, after a long pause during which I could think of absolutely nothing to say: “I’m speechless. Thank you!”
Well, hindsight is always 20/20, and all that. If I had not been so completely surprised, here’s what I would have said on the stage at Pantheon (and I’m absolutely sure there wouldn’t have been a dry eye in the house by the time I finished):
“I have many people to thank. First of all: The only reason I’m able to write what I write is because of the efforts of all those who have gone before me—many of whom are in this auditorium right now, and many more of whom are represented in the museum’s galleries downstairs. Among these people would be, of course, Dave Rhodes.
“Secondly, the only reason anyone gets to read what I’ve written is because of the efforts of the publisher, editor and staff of Lavender Magazine, which has been my literary home for eight years now, and because of Joe Gallagher’s commitment to Leatherpage.com, which steers readers to my column on Lavender’s web page.
“Finally, thank you to all of you, the members of this vibrant community, who keep supplying me with events and ideas to write about.”
Mr./Ms Olympus Leather Contest 2003
Also part of the Pantheon weekend was the 2003 Mr./Ms. Olympus Leather Contest—Sunday evening, Feb. 16, in the auditorium at the Chicago Eagle. Five female contestants and four male contestants competed. Highlights of the evening:
• During her fantasy performance Ms. Illinois Olympus Leather 2003 Miss Charlotte did an actual real-life onstage piercing of contestant Daddy Carl’s nipple. During his subsequent onstage question-and-answer session Daddy Carl noted that he had to make a change to his contest application: “I DO have a piercing.”
• The two Las Vegas contestants, Ms. Nevada Leather 2002 Debbie Fox and Mr. Nevada Leather 2002 Sir Kenneth Griffin Morgan, appeared in each other’s entertaining but startlingly similar fantasies, both to musical accompaniment by Tom Lehrer. Fox’s fantasy was a nicely choreographed “Masochism Tango,” while Morgan’s was the equally perverse “Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.” And both finished the evening as runners-up in their contest.
• Ms. Gulf States Olympus Leather Angel Melly (from Birmingham, Ala.) spent the weekend wearing a halo that appeared to be made out of a white feather boa. One of her onstage questions: Suppose she was traveling on business and the airline lost her luggage, leaving her with only a polo shirt, khakis and loafers. Would she still go to the local leather bar? Her instant response: “You’re damn skippy I would, because somebody would be cutting ’em off with a knife!”
• At the conclusion of the evening the new Olympus Leather titleholders were announced: Mr. Olympus Leather 2003, from Daphne, Ala., is Mr. Gulf States Olympus Leather 2003 Robert. Ms. Olympus Leather 2003, from Tempe, Ariz., is Bootpig. Earlier in the evening Bootpig had been asked if she would tell her family and coworkers if she won; she replied, “I would tell everybody except my mother, who still thinks I’m a virgin.”
Full details of the Olympus Leather contest, as well as photos and a complete list of this year’s Pantheon of Leather award winners, will be in an upcoming edition of The Leather Journal and will also be available at www.theleatherjournal.com.
Friday, February 25, 2000
Two Passings
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #124, February 25, 2000)
PHOTO: Scott Darst
PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Yort
PHOTO: Morrie Bender
PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Hinton
It saddens me to report that the Twin Cities leather community recently suffered the loss of two members, Scott Darst and Morrie Bender. (While Bender had lived in Chicago for the last several years, he was for many years an active member of the Twin Cities leather community and still maintained many friendships here.) Both will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by many, including your humble columnist.
Scott Allan Darst
Scott Darst, a long-time member of the Twin Cities leather community, was born on April 5, 1964 and passed away January 29, 2000. He is survived by his mother, Zona Paine; his brothers, Tom and Dan; and his sisters, Sheri and Therisa.
A memorial service held in Cannon Falls, Minnesota on Friday, February 4 was attended by a large and diverse group of relatives, co-workers (Scott was an employee of Hennepin County) and friends, including many in leather. Scott was remembered as kind and caring, creative, funny, hard-working and good with people. As a co-worker stated, Scott found happiness in “sharing himself with the universe.” Special music was provided by Scott’s roommate Richard, who played guitar and sang a song that Scott had always loved and had asked him to sing at his funeral—“except,” as Richard put it, “it wasn’t supposed to be so soon.”
For many years Scott was a member of the Black Guard of Minneapolis, so it was fitting that on Sunday, February 6, the Guard held their own memorial gathering at The Brass Rail in downtown Minneapolis. The evening included the showing of a videotape of Scott’s performances in various Black Frost run shows through the years, and the gathering concluded with a Black Guard tradition: an emotional singing of ABBA’s “The Way Old Friends Do.”
Morrie Bender
(The following was written by Morrie’s partner, Kevin Hinton.)
Morrie Bender was born in Minneapolis on February 18, 1947 and died peacefully in his sleep on January 3, 2000 at his home in Oak Park, IL. Born and “reared” in Minneapolis, MN, Morrie’s early career was in law enforcement where he specialized in Polygraph exam techniques, leading to many years as director of security and stop-loss management for Rainbow Food Stores. Morrie became best known as bartender and bouncer for the Gay 90’s in Minneapolis where he suggested, planned, opened, promoted, and tended bar for the Men’s Room leather bar. He spent many years lovingly caring for both of his parents through long illnesses. The last eight years of his life were spent in Oak Park with his partner, Kevin Hinton, who remains eternally grateful for the opportunity to share Morrie’s path and learn first-hand his lessons of unconditional love and giving of yourself. Morrie always believed “What goes around, comes around,” so he shared his good fortune and kind spirit with the world every day. Morrie served on the Board of Directors for Community Response, Inc., an Oak Park-based AIDS service organization serving the west side of Chicago and 22 suburbs. He served a two-year term as President of M.A.F.I.A. (Mid-America Fists In Action) where his leadership is still recognized as a turning point in the club’s 25-year history. He touched many lives and will be remembered for his humor, caring, and his love for animals. (OK, OK. He was also a big, handsome, sexy man with a charming smile and a playful spirit!)
He is survived and is missed by Kevin and his family who “adopted” Morrie as another son, brother, and uncle; sister Sandra Taylor and brother Jerry of Los Angeles, brother Michael of Minneapolis; and all of his club brothers across the country who are also his family. A moving memorial service for Morrie was held on January 8, attended by 175. A gathering to celebrate Morrie’s life in the gay/leather/fetish community was held on Saturday, February 5 at Touché, a leather bar in Chicago.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, February 26
Leather/Levi Night in Duluth/Superior
9 pm-closing, The Main Club, Superior WI
Part of The Main Club’s old anniversary weekend. Wear your spurs and get 25 cents off your drinks.
Saturday, March 11
Atons Leather/Levi Night
Location and time to be determined
Call the Atons HotLine for more information and to make reservations. Information is also available at the club’s website: www.atons.com.
PHOTO: Scott Darst
PHOTO CREDIT: Ed Yort
PHOTO: Morrie Bender
PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Hinton
It saddens me to report that the Twin Cities leather community recently suffered the loss of two members, Scott Darst and Morrie Bender. (While Bender had lived in Chicago for the last several years, he was for many years an active member of the Twin Cities leather community and still maintained many friendships here.) Both will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by many, including your humble columnist.
Scott Allan Darst
Scott Darst, a long-time member of the Twin Cities leather community, was born on April 5, 1964 and passed away January 29, 2000. He is survived by his mother, Zona Paine; his brothers, Tom and Dan; and his sisters, Sheri and Therisa.
A memorial service held in Cannon Falls, Minnesota on Friday, February 4 was attended by a large and diverse group of relatives, co-workers (Scott was an employee of Hennepin County) and friends, including many in leather. Scott was remembered as kind and caring, creative, funny, hard-working and good with people. As a co-worker stated, Scott found happiness in “sharing himself with the universe.” Special music was provided by Scott’s roommate Richard, who played guitar and sang a song that Scott had always loved and had asked him to sing at his funeral—“except,” as Richard put it, “it wasn’t supposed to be so soon.”
For many years Scott was a member of the Black Guard of Minneapolis, so it was fitting that on Sunday, February 6, the Guard held their own memorial gathering at The Brass Rail in downtown Minneapolis. The evening included the showing of a videotape of Scott’s performances in various Black Frost run shows through the years, and the gathering concluded with a Black Guard tradition: an emotional singing of ABBA’s “The Way Old Friends Do.”
Morrie Bender
(The following was written by Morrie’s partner, Kevin Hinton.)
Morrie Bender was born in Minneapolis on February 18, 1947 and died peacefully in his sleep on January 3, 2000 at his home in Oak Park, IL. Born and “reared” in Minneapolis, MN, Morrie’s early career was in law enforcement where he specialized in Polygraph exam techniques, leading to many years as director of security and stop-loss management for Rainbow Food Stores. Morrie became best known as bartender and bouncer for the Gay 90’s in Minneapolis where he suggested, planned, opened, promoted, and tended bar for the Men’s Room leather bar. He spent many years lovingly caring for both of his parents through long illnesses. The last eight years of his life were spent in Oak Park with his partner, Kevin Hinton, who remains eternally grateful for the opportunity to share Morrie’s path and learn first-hand his lessons of unconditional love and giving of yourself. Morrie always believed “What goes around, comes around,” so he shared his good fortune and kind spirit with the world every day. Morrie served on the Board of Directors for Community Response, Inc., an Oak Park-based AIDS service organization serving the west side of Chicago and 22 suburbs. He served a two-year term as President of M.A.F.I.A. (Mid-America Fists In Action) where his leadership is still recognized as a turning point in the club’s 25-year history. He touched many lives and will be remembered for his humor, caring, and his love for animals. (OK, OK. He was also a big, handsome, sexy man with a charming smile and a playful spirit!)
He is survived and is missed by Kevin and his family who “adopted” Morrie as another son, brother, and uncle; sister Sandra Taylor and brother Jerry of Los Angeles, brother Michael of Minneapolis; and all of his club brothers across the country who are also his family. A moving memorial service for Morrie was held on January 8, attended by 175. A gathering to celebrate Morrie’s life in the gay/leather/fetish community was held on Saturday, February 5 at Touché, a leather bar in Chicago.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, February 26
Leather/Levi Night in Duluth/Superior
9 pm-closing, The Main Club, Superior WI
Part of The Main Club’s old anniversary weekend. Wear your spurs and get 25 cents off your drinks.
Saturday, March 11
Atons Leather/Levi Night
Location and time to be determined
Call the Atons HotLine for more information and to make reservations. Information is also available at the club’s website: www.atons.com.
Friday, February 11, 2000
Notable Locals Nominated for Pantheon of Leather Awards
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #123, February 11, 2000)
Welcome Black Frost Attendees
A special welcome to folks from out of town visiting for Black Frost 23/”When Pigs Fly,” which happens Feb. 18-20 (see details below and in the Calendar). Have a safe, enjoyable weekend!
PHOTO: P.J. Knight, nominated for Woman of the Year
GRAPHIC: T.I.E.S. (Tremendously Intense Erotic Sensations), nominated for Club of the Year
GRAPHIC: The Minneapolis Eagle, nominated for Business of the Year
PHOTO: Joshua and Thomas Smith, nominated for Couple of the Year (formerly of the Twin Cities, now of Palm Springs, CA)
PHOTO: Cori Ander, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
PHOTO: Sam Carlisle, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
PHOTO: Gary O’Neill, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
PHOTO: Joshua Smith, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
Representing Minnesota in the 2000 Olympus Leather Contest:
PHOTO: David Coral, Mr. Minnesota Olympus Leather 2000
PHOTO: Mistress Hannah, Ms. Minnesota Olympus Leather 2000
The Twin Cities leather community received a record number of nominations for this year’s Pantheon of Leather community service awards. There were a total of eight local nominations: P.J. Knight for Woman of the Year; T.I.E.S. for Club of the Year; The Minneapolis Eagle for Business of the Year; Thomas and Joshua Smith for Couple of the Year; and Cori Ander, Sam Carlisle, Gary O’Neill and Joshua Smith for the Midwest Regional Award. The award winners will be announced at this year’s tenth-anniversary Pantheon of Leather award ceremonies on the evening of Friday, Feb. 25 in New Orleans. Awards will be presented this year in 22 categories.
Then, on Saturday evening, Feb. 26, David Coral and Mistress Hannah will represent Minnesota in the Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather contest. Cori Ander, who brought the national Ms.Olympus Leather title home to Minnesota last year, will be on the judging panel to help select her successor; also on the judging panel will be Mr. International Rubber 1999 Thomas Smith, a former Twin Cities resident currently living in Palm Springs, CA.
Pantheon of Leather is a non-profit organization; the president is Dave Rhodes, who is also editor and publisher of The Leather Journal and theleatherjournal.com, “a news magazine reporting news as it relates to all aspects of the Leather community.” For more information, including updated announcements of Pantheon award and Olympus Leather contest winners, visit www.theleatherjournal.com.
Black Guard’s Black Frost 23 features production of “When Pigs Fly”
The Black Guard has made a name for themselves over the years by producing raucous run shows. How to follow last year’s Wizard of Oz? This year they’re doing something new in the history of leather club run shows: they’re doing a production of an actual show, direct from the New York stage.
When Pigs Fly, the show the Black Guard is staging in conjunction with their 23rd annual Black Frost run, is “a gleefully over-the-top musical revue with catchy, upbeat music” (Variety) and a “hog heaven of silliness” (Associated Press). When Pigs Fly features 20 musical numbers and over 150 costume changes. (The Black Guard has been in rehearsal for the show since the beginning of October.) The show’s creator, Howard Crabtree, was a legendary theatrical costume designer and “out” gay man who unfortunately died just days before the show’s New York opening—but what a legacy he left!
The Black Guard’s charitable organization of Because We Care will perform the show Saturday night, Feb. 19 at the Mall of America’s Camp Snoopy Playhouse Theater. Doors open at 6:45 PM, dinner is at 7 PM and the show follows at 8 PM. Dinner/show price is $40; proceeds will be going to AIDS charities. Call to make your reservation.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, February 12
Atons Leather/Levi Night and Officer Installation
7 PM, Backstage@Bravo, 900 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.
Drinks and 28th Annual Club Officers’ Installation at 7 PM in the Blue Room (upstairs). Dinner following installation, about 8:15 PM, on the first floor. Please call the Atons HotLine to make reservations.
Friday, February 18
Atons Club Colors Night
7:30-10:30 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
The saga of Paul Bunyan continues in anticipation of the Atons’ Bunyan-themed Gopher XIV run happening in July. Drink specials and door prizes. $3 at the door.
Saturday, February 19
The Black Guard presents When Pigs Fly
Doors open 6:45 PM, dinner at 7 PM, show at 8 PM, Camp Snoopy Playhouse Theater, Mall of America
Part of Black Frost 23 run events, this dinner and show is open to everyone, not just run participants. Proceeds to AIDS charities. $40 includes dinner and show.
Saturday, February 26
Leather/Levi Night in Duluth/Superior
9 pm-closing, The Main Club, Superior WI
Part of The Main Club’s old anniversary weekend. Wear your spurs and get 25 cents off your drinks.
Welcome Black Frost Attendees
A special welcome to folks from out of town visiting for Black Frost 23/”When Pigs Fly,” which happens Feb. 18-20 (see details below and in the Calendar). Have a safe, enjoyable weekend!
PHOTO: P.J. Knight, nominated for Woman of the Year
GRAPHIC: T.I.E.S. (Tremendously Intense Erotic Sensations), nominated for Club of the Year
GRAPHIC: The Minneapolis Eagle, nominated for Business of the Year
PHOTO: Joshua and Thomas Smith, nominated for Couple of the Year (formerly of the Twin Cities, now of Palm Springs, CA)
PHOTO: Cori Ander, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
PHOTO: Sam Carlisle, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
PHOTO: Gary O’Neill, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
PHOTO: Joshua Smith, nominated for Midwest Regional Award
Representing Minnesota in the 2000 Olympus Leather Contest:
PHOTO: David Coral, Mr. Minnesota Olympus Leather 2000
PHOTO: Mistress Hannah, Ms. Minnesota Olympus Leather 2000
The Twin Cities leather community received a record number of nominations for this year’s Pantheon of Leather community service awards. There were a total of eight local nominations: P.J. Knight for Woman of the Year; T.I.E.S. for Club of the Year; The Minneapolis Eagle for Business of the Year; Thomas and Joshua Smith for Couple of the Year; and Cori Ander, Sam Carlisle, Gary O’Neill and Joshua Smith for the Midwest Regional Award. The award winners will be announced at this year’s tenth-anniversary Pantheon of Leather award ceremonies on the evening of Friday, Feb. 25 in New Orleans. Awards will be presented this year in 22 categories.
Then, on Saturday evening, Feb. 26, David Coral and Mistress Hannah will represent Minnesota in the Mr. and Ms. Olympus Leather contest. Cori Ander, who brought the national Ms.Olympus Leather title home to Minnesota last year, will be on the judging panel to help select her successor; also on the judging panel will be Mr. International Rubber 1999 Thomas Smith, a former Twin Cities resident currently living in Palm Springs, CA.
Pantheon of Leather is a non-profit organization; the president is Dave Rhodes, who is also editor and publisher of The Leather Journal and theleatherjournal.com, “a news magazine reporting news as it relates to all aspects of the Leather community.” For more information, including updated announcements of Pantheon award and Olympus Leather contest winners, visit www.theleatherjournal.com.
Black Guard’s Black Frost 23 features production of “When Pigs Fly”
The Black Guard has made a name for themselves over the years by producing raucous run shows. How to follow last year’s Wizard of Oz? This year they’re doing something new in the history of leather club run shows: they’re doing a production of an actual show, direct from the New York stage.
When Pigs Fly, the show the Black Guard is staging in conjunction with their 23rd annual Black Frost run, is “a gleefully over-the-top musical revue with catchy, upbeat music” (Variety) and a “hog heaven of silliness” (Associated Press). When Pigs Fly features 20 musical numbers and over 150 costume changes. (The Black Guard has been in rehearsal for the show since the beginning of October.) The show’s creator, Howard Crabtree, was a legendary theatrical costume designer and “out” gay man who unfortunately died just days before the show’s New York opening—but what a legacy he left!
The Black Guard’s charitable organization of Because We Care will perform the show Saturday night, Feb. 19 at the Mall of America’s Camp Snoopy Playhouse Theater. Doors open at 6:45 PM, dinner is at 7 PM and the show follows at 8 PM. Dinner/show price is $40; proceeds will be going to AIDS charities. Call to make your reservation.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Saturday, February 12
Atons Leather/Levi Night and Officer Installation
7 PM, Backstage@Bravo, 900 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.
Drinks and 28th Annual Club Officers’ Installation at 7 PM in the Blue Room (upstairs). Dinner following installation, about 8:15 PM, on the first floor. Please call the Atons HotLine to make reservations.
Friday, February 18
Atons Club Colors Night
7:30-10:30 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
The saga of Paul Bunyan continues in anticipation of the Atons’ Bunyan-themed Gopher XIV run happening in July. Drink specials and door prizes. $3 at the door.
Saturday, February 19
The Black Guard presents When Pigs Fly
Doors open 6:45 PM, dinner at 7 PM, show at 8 PM, Camp Snoopy Playhouse Theater, Mall of America
Part of Black Frost 23 run events, this dinner and show is open to everyone, not just run participants. Proceeds to AIDS charities. $40 includes dinner and show.
Saturday, February 26
Leather/Levi Night in Duluth/Superior
9 pm-closing, The Main Club, Superior WI
Part of The Main Club’s old anniversary weekend. Wear your spurs and get 25 cents off your drinks.
Friday, January 28, 2000
Winter Hibernation? No Way
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #122, January 28, 2000)
PHOTO: The new Leather Archives & Museum home
PHOTO CREDIT: The Leather Archives & Museum
PHOTO: Two guys in uniform
PHOTO CREDIT: IN UNIFORM The Magazine
PHOTO CAPTION for both photos: Uniform aficionados will gather in Portland, Oregon Feb. 11-13; The Leather Archives & Museum will celebrate the grand opening of their new home February 17-20.
Up here in the northland, even a mild winter gets tedious. You don’t have to just sleep through it, though. You could travel to Portland, Oregon for Uniform Weekend 2000; Chicago for the grand opening of the Leather Archives & Museum’s new home and the Leatherfest Weekend; New Orleans for Pantheon of Leather and the Olympus Leather Contest; or stay right here for the Black Guard’s Black Frost 23 run. Why hibernate when you could be doing something much more interesting?
Portland Uniform Weekend 2000
Roll Call! Portland, Oregon will be full of cops, soldiers, firefighters and other men and women in uniform during Portland Uniform Weekend VIII, Feb. 11-13. That’s Valentine’s Day weekend, the perfect time for making some romantic connections in Portland, the City of Roses.
Friday starts with a meet & greet followed by a men-only “Clippers” haircutting, shaving and play party. Spend Saturday uniform shopping (various uniform stores will be offering discounts to attendees) before attending the Officer’s Dress Mess Uniform Dinner and the Uniform Party Saturday evening. Sunday, after the Uniform Buffet Brunch, take a tour of the U.S.S. Blueback, the Navy submarine used in the movie The Hunt For Red October. The weekend’s finale is an “At Ease” Dinner Sunday evening.
All this fun could be surprisingly affordable. There is no “run fee” for Portland Uniform Weekend VIII; all events will have a set price, payable at the doors, but the organizers are requesting an RSVP so dinner counts can be arranged. Host hotel is the Cypress Inn in downtown Portland, with rooms for 1-4 people for only $39 a night plus tax. Official travel agent is Darryl Ballini (A Ticket To Travel). For a full schedule and registration information visit the websites of the two producers of this event, IN UNIFORM The Magazine (www.teleport.com/~uniform) and The American Uniform Association (www.a-u-a.org) or send an e-mail to UniformMag@aol.com. Note that the International Bear Rendezvous takes place in San Francisco the weekend after Portland Uniform Weekend VIII (these bears aren’t hibernating for the winter); since you’re already on the West Coast, why not do both?
Leather Archives & Museum Grand Opening (and Chicago Leatherfest)
The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M), dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the leather community, started life in Chicago in a 2,400-square-foot storefront, which it quickly outgrew. They are now moved into their new home, a beautiful building of 12,500 square feet that has all the space needed for collections and exhibits for years to come and even includes a small theater/meeting space. Thursday evening, Feb. 17, is the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening, followed by a building tour and a reception provided by The Chicago Eagle. The festivities continue all weekend in conjunction with the Cell Block’s Leatherfest Weekend and the leather-star-studded Mr. Cell Block contest (there will be shuttle-bus service between the the LA&M and the Cell Block). Sunday afternoon, from 2 to 4 PM the LA&M will host the Centurion Awards Program, honoring those who “defined, developed, created and cared for” the leather community and leathersex in the twentieth century, as well as highlighting up-and-coming community members and organizations of the 21st century.
This is leather history in the making, folks, and you can be there and be part of it. All these grand-opening events at the LA&M are FREE, but seats for the Sunday-afternoon program must be reserved, are limited and are going fast. For more information write to the Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626; call (773) 761-9200; or e-mail jwbean@ix.netcom.com. And visit the Cell Block’s website at www.cellblock-chicago.com, where you’ll find their splashy bi-monthly newsletter with details on both the LA&M opening events and the Leatherfest Weekend and Mr. Cell Block contest.
Twin Cities: Black Frost 23
If you’d rather stay in the Twin Cities the weekend of Feb. 18-20, you still have time to register for The Black Guard’s Black Frost 23. Here’s a new twist: This run’s show will be a production of an actual show, Howard Crabtree’s “When Pigs Fly” (direct from off-Broadway). I saw it in New York and loved it—I bet you will, too. There will also be great food, games, cocktail parties, bar runs, and an indoor pool and hot tub. Registration deadline is Feb. 7, so hurry. All the details are on the registration form; get one by writing to Run Registration, The Black Guard of Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN.
New Orleans: Pantheon of Leather/Olympus Leather Contest
This weekend features both a men’s and women’s leather contest and what has become known as the “Academy Awards®” of leather, and it all takes place in New Orleans, where the weather is warm and sunny and Mardi Gras is just gettin’ goin’. There will be more about this event next issue, but it’s not too early to make your reservations. For more information visit www.theleatherjournal.com/pantheon.htm.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Sunday, January 30
Atons Super Bowl XXXIV Party
5-10 PM, TheTank @ The Saloon
In honor of all those athletes on the playing field, enter the Jock Strap Contest and win $50. Free food, 75-cent tap beer, bootblack on duty, games and door prizes. The heat will be turned way up so be sure to dress down . . . way down. $5 at the door. For more info, call the Atons HotLine.
Saturday, February 12
Atons Leather/Levi Night and Officer Installation
7 PM, Backstage@Bravo, 900 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.
Drinks and 28th Annual Club Officers’ Installation at 7 PM in the Blue Room (upstairs). Dinner following installation, about 7:45 PM, on the first floor. Please call the Atons HotLine to make reservations.
PHOTO: The new Leather Archives & Museum home
PHOTO CREDIT: The Leather Archives & Museum
PHOTO: Two guys in uniform
PHOTO CREDIT: IN UNIFORM The Magazine
PHOTO CAPTION for both photos: Uniform aficionados will gather in Portland, Oregon Feb. 11-13; The Leather Archives & Museum will celebrate the grand opening of their new home February 17-20.
Up here in the northland, even a mild winter gets tedious. You don’t have to just sleep through it, though. You could travel to Portland, Oregon for Uniform Weekend 2000; Chicago for the grand opening of the Leather Archives & Museum’s new home and the Leatherfest Weekend; New Orleans for Pantheon of Leather and the Olympus Leather Contest; or stay right here for the Black Guard’s Black Frost 23 run. Why hibernate when you could be doing something much more interesting?
Portland Uniform Weekend 2000
Roll Call! Portland, Oregon will be full of cops, soldiers, firefighters and other men and women in uniform during Portland Uniform Weekend VIII, Feb. 11-13. That’s Valentine’s Day weekend, the perfect time for making some romantic connections in Portland, the City of Roses.
Friday starts with a meet & greet followed by a men-only “Clippers” haircutting, shaving and play party. Spend Saturday uniform shopping (various uniform stores will be offering discounts to attendees) before attending the Officer’s Dress Mess Uniform Dinner and the Uniform Party Saturday evening. Sunday, after the Uniform Buffet Brunch, take a tour of the U.S.S. Blueback, the Navy submarine used in the movie The Hunt For Red October. The weekend’s finale is an “At Ease” Dinner Sunday evening.
All this fun could be surprisingly affordable. There is no “run fee” for Portland Uniform Weekend VIII; all events will have a set price, payable at the doors, but the organizers are requesting an RSVP so dinner counts can be arranged. Host hotel is the Cypress Inn in downtown Portland, with rooms for 1-4 people for only $39 a night plus tax. Official travel agent is Darryl Ballini (A Ticket To Travel). For a full schedule and registration information visit the websites of the two producers of this event, IN UNIFORM The Magazine (www.teleport.com/~uniform) and The American Uniform Association (www.a-u-a.org) or send an e-mail to UniformMag@aol.com. Note that the International Bear Rendezvous takes place in San Francisco the weekend after Portland Uniform Weekend VIII (these bears aren’t hibernating for the winter); since you’re already on the West Coast, why not do both?
Leather Archives & Museum Grand Opening (and Chicago Leatherfest)
The Leather Archives & Museum (LA&M), dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the leather community, started life in Chicago in a 2,400-square-foot storefront, which it quickly outgrew. They are now moved into their new home, a beautiful building of 12,500 square feet that has all the space needed for collections and exhibits for years to come and even includes a small theater/meeting space. Thursday evening, Feb. 17, is the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening, followed by a building tour and a reception provided by The Chicago Eagle. The festivities continue all weekend in conjunction with the Cell Block’s Leatherfest Weekend and the leather-star-studded Mr. Cell Block contest (there will be shuttle-bus service between the the LA&M and the Cell Block). Sunday afternoon, from 2 to 4 PM the LA&M will host the Centurion Awards Program, honoring those who “defined, developed, created and cared for” the leather community and leathersex in the twentieth century, as well as highlighting up-and-coming community members and organizations of the 21st century.
This is leather history in the making, folks, and you can be there and be part of it. All these grand-opening events at the LA&M are FREE, but seats for the Sunday-afternoon program must be reserved, are limited and are going fast. For more information write to the Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626; call (773) 761-9200; or e-mail jwbean@ix.netcom.com. And visit the Cell Block’s website at www.cellblock-chicago.com, where you’ll find their splashy bi-monthly newsletter with details on both the LA&M opening events and the Leatherfest Weekend and Mr. Cell Block contest.
Twin Cities: Black Frost 23
If you’d rather stay in the Twin Cities the weekend of Feb. 18-20, you still have time to register for The Black Guard’s Black Frost 23. Here’s a new twist: This run’s show will be a production of an actual show, Howard Crabtree’s “When Pigs Fly” (direct from off-Broadway). I saw it in New York and loved it—I bet you will, too. There will also be great food, games, cocktail parties, bar runs, and an indoor pool and hot tub. Registration deadline is Feb. 7, so hurry. All the details are on the registration form; get one by writing to Run Registration, The Black Guard of Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN.
New Orleans: Pantheon of Leather/Olympus Leather Contest
This weekend features both a men’s and women’s leather contest and what has become known as the “Academy Awards®” of leather, and it all takes place in New Orleans, where the weather is warm and sunny and Mardi Gras is just gettin’ goin’. There will be more about this event next issue, but it’s not too early to make your reservations. For more information visit www.theleatherjournal.com/pantheon.htm.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Sunday, January 30
Atons Super Bowl XXXIV Party
5-10 PM, TheTank @ The Saloon
In honor of all those athletes on the playing field, enter the Jock Strap Contest and win $50. Free food, 75-cent tap beer, bootblack on duty, games and door prizes. The heat will be turned way up so be sure to dress down . . . way down. $5 at the door. For more info, call the Atons HotLine.
Saturday, February 12
Atons Leather/Levi Night and Officer Installation
7 PM, Backstage@Bravo, 900 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.
Drinks and 28th Annual Club Officers’ Installation at 7 PM in the Blue Room (upstairs). Dinner following installation, about 7:45 PM, on the first floor. Please call the Atons HotLine to make reservations.
Friday, January 14, 2000
New Millennium, Clean Leather
(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #121, January 14, 2000)
PHOTO: Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 David Page, shown here shining boots at last year’s Minnesota Leather Pride celebration, is just one of the experts consulted for this column on leather care.
PHOTO CREDIT: Chrys Zaglifa
To be truthful, I don’t count leather cleaning and boot polishing among my areas of strength. So when a reader wrote recently to ask me how best to maintain his leather gear, I did what Ann and Abby always do: I consulted a panel of experts. They gave me good (if somewhat conflicting) advice, and one of them even suggested a novel way to take the drudgery out of leather maintenance chores.
There are many leather care products available and many contradictory schools of thought on leather care. Here’s one that’s pretty orthodox: In Leather and Latex Care: How to Keep Your Leather And Latex Looking Great, author Kelly J. Thibault recommends plain old saddle soap for cleaning leather, and 70% rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol for disinfecting it if necessary. (Read the book or visit www.bannon.com/leatherquest/21.htm for the complete procedure.)
Saddle soap has its detractors. The makers of Lexol, one of the most widely available families of leather care products, accuse saddle soap of being too alkaline and actually de-tanning leather over time. But among my experts Lexol was not universally admired, either. Let’s ask our panel, one by one, for their leather cleaning tips and preferences.
Interior designer and leatherman Ken Binder knows leather both from a garment and an upholstery standpoint, and his care recommendations are the same for both: “If it’s good quality leather you shouldn’t need anything more than a damp cloth. If it’s not good quality leather, shame on you for buying it in the first place.”
Troy DaRonco is Minnesota Drummerboy 1994 and Great Lakes Drummerboy 1995—and is also the guy who cleans your humble columnist’s house. He uses a product called The Tannery for leather upholstery, but he doesn’t like it for apparel. And he’s not a fan of Lexol either—he doesn’t like the smell, and he doesn’t like what he considers its overly strong (he uses the words “almost toxic”) nature. His product of choice, for boots and apparel as well, is Huberd’s Boot Grease—“The smell is incredible!” It can be hard to find, but Mr. S/Fetters in San Francisco has it in their catalog.
Scott Kelley, of Fit to a T Leathers, says it makes sense to keep your leathers clean to begin with—if you keep them out of the dirt, you won’t have to clean them as often. Another way to keep your leather in shape: Wear it. The more you wear your leather, the better it gets.
Store your leathers properly. Use a sturdy hanger (or put several hangers together if necessary), especially for heavy items like chaps and jackets. Items should hang without creases. Store thinner, lighter items like leather tank tops by folding them and placing them on a shelf or in a drawer; to avoid creases, don’t place them at the bottom of a stack with heavier items on top of them. Don’t store any kind of leather in a plastic bag—let it breathe.
For simple cleaning, use a damp cloth or terry towel. Lightly buff the leather dry with terrycloth. If an item is dusty, wipe the dust off with a dry cloth (a wet cloth will only make the problem worse by creating mud). For scrapes on black leather, buff the area with terrycloth to remove dirt and grit, then use a good black leather polish to hide the scratches (wax polishes are better than liquids). To finish, buff with a buffing brush or cotton towel.
Airing out smoky leathers will get rid of the worst of the smoke odor. But Jennifer Langlund, also of Fit to a T Leather, notes that the leather hanging in their store in Club Metro can become smoky. They use Lexol cleaner and conditioner to remove the smoke film and restore the leather smell. “I just wipe it on with a paper towel,” Langlund says, “and the amount of dirt that comes off is unreal. And you don’t need to use very much, so it lasts forever.” A last resort is to send your leather to a specialized leather cleaner, like Don’s Leather Cleaning (3717 E. Lake St., Minneapolis); when you get it back, remove it from the plastic dry-cleaning bag and let it air for up to a week to get rid of the dry-cleaning smell. (Incidentally, the leather care advice from Don’s Leather Cleaning: If it needs more than a damp cloth, send it to us.)
Max at The Leather Man Inc. in New York City (111 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village) says don’t overdo it. “Good leather doesn’t need a lot of care. Conditioners are okay, but if you over-clean it you’ll strip out a lot of the essential oils.” Never dry clean leathers—Max is hesitant to recommend even specialized leather cleaning processes. For black leather they recommend a product called Black Dubbin, which covers up scratches, conditions, waterproofs, and keeps the leather supple. They also like Pecard Leather Dressing and Lexol. For salt stains on the inside of pants and harnesses, they recommend cleaning with lukewarm water and a mild hand soap. Let dry (slowly, away from heat sources), then apply a leather conditioner to soften. (All the products they recommend are available at their store.)
Todd Nelson of Seattle, Wash. is International Bootblack 1996 and Seattle Mr. Leather 1992. He uses Lexol for cleaning and conditioning both garment leather and boots. On garment-leather items like chaps, pants, jackets and vests, he follows the Lexol by applying a very small amount of a product called Wesco Bee Oil. He simply pours it into the cup of his hand and works it into the leather. Nelson likes the way it “snaps up the sheen and makes it shiny black.” (He doesn’t use Bee Oil on boots or harnesses.)
Want to make doing your leathers fun and sensual instead of drudgery? Make a scene out of it—wear your leather while someone else applies the Bee Oil, then do the same for them. According to Nelson, it can be very erotic and very tactile—especially on chaps or pants, but it can also be nice with a jacket or vest. Who knew leather care could be so much fun? (Like many other leather care products, Bee Oil can be hard to find; contact Wesco at 1-800-326-2711.)
Now, About Those Boots . . .
Nelson leads workshops on bootblacking and has written a book on the subject. Here’s what he says is the biggest mistake people make on their boots, especially military boots: “Never, never, NEVER use the spray-on instant shine lacquer. It creates a shell that looks shiny and pretty the first couple of times you spray it on, and then it cracks. Once that happens and it doesn’t look pretty anymore, there’s not much you can do to rescue the boot.”
Another big mistake: “People don’t read the instructions on a product. They try to clean suede, buck, colored or exotic leather with products not meant for these kinds of leathers and wind up ruining it. Suede cleaner is delicate enough to clean almost any kind of leather without staining—but you must still use care on colored, especially light-colored, leathers.”
Closer to home, here’s bootshine advice from David Page, Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 and a frequent bootblack at local events: “You don’t want winter salt to linger on your boots, so clean them with saddle soap and then put some kind of leather care on them. It’s also important to shine your boots often because the wax and polish helps protect against the elements. If the boot leather dries and cracks, use a conditioner to soften the leather or the cracks will get worse.” (Page likes Lexol). “Clean the boots before you polish them using saddle soap, then polish them with a paste wax and buff them with a brush.” Page names two good places in Minneapolis to buy boot brushes and other bootshine supplies: Shoe-A-New (2829 Hennepin Ave. S.) and Nokomis Shoe Shop (4950 34th Ave. S.).
Black Frost 23 Registration Deadline Approaches
The Black Guard of Minneapolis present their 23rd annual run, Black Frost 23, featuring a production of Howard Crabtree’s “When Pigs Fly” as well as great food, games, cocktail parties, bar runs, and an indoor pool and hot tub. It’s all happening Feb. 18-20, and the registration deadline is Feb. 7. All the details are on the registration form; if you haven’t already received one in the mail, ask for one by writing to Run Registration, The Black Guard of Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN. You might also try visiting their website at www.blackguardmpls.com.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, January 21
Atons Club Colors Night
7:30-10:30 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
Drink specials, door prizes. $3 at the door. For more info, call the Atons Hotline.
Saturday, January 22
Black Guard “Pigs Fly” to Trikkx
8-11 PM, Trikkx (St. Paul)
A fundraiser for Because We Care. Enjoy carnival “Piggy” games, door prizes, and a sneak preview of numbers from Howard Crabtree’s “When Pigs Fly” (the show for the upcoming Black Frost 23 run). Come in costume as your favorite pig—prizes awarded 10 PM. Drink and appetizer specials 7-9 PM. For more info: www.blackguardmpls.com.
PHOTO: Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 David Page, shown here shining boots at last year’s Minnesota Leather Pride celebration, is just one of the experts consulted for this column on leather care.
PHOTO CREDIT: Chrys Zaglifa
To be truthful, I don’t count leather cleaning and boot polishing among my areas of strength. So when a reader wrote recently to ask me how best to maintain his leather gear, I did what Ann and Abby always do: I consulted a panel of experts. They gave me good (if somewhat conflicting) advice, and one of them even suggested a novel way to take the drudgery out of leather maintenance chores.
There are many leather care products available and many contradictory schools of thought on leather care. Here’s one that’s pretty orthodox: In Leather and Latex Care: How to Keep Your Leather And Latex Looking Great, author Kelly J. Thibault recommends plain old saddle soap for cleaning leather, and 70% rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol for disinfecting it if necessary. (Read the book or visit www.bannon.com/leatherquest/21.htm for the complete procedure.)
Saddle soap has its detractors. The makers of Lexol, one of the most widely available families of leather care products, accuse saddle soap of being too alkaline and actually de-tanning leather over time. But among my experts Lexol was not universally admired, either. Let’s ask our panel, one by one, for their leather cleaning tips and preferences.
Interior designer and leatherman Ken Binder knows leather both from a garment and an upholstery standpoint, and his care recommendations are the same for both: “If it’s good quality leather you shouldn’t need anything more than a damp cloth. If it’s not good quality leather, shame on you for buying it in the first place.”
Troy DaRonco is Minnesota Drummerboy 1994 and Great Lakes Drummerboy 1995—and is also the guy who cleans your humble columnist’s house. He uses a product called The Tannery for leather upholstery, but he doesn’t like it for apparel. And he’s not a fan of Lexol either—he doesn’t like the smell, and he doesn’t like what he considers its overly strong (he uses the words “almost toxic”) nature. His product of choice, for boots and apparel as well, is Huberd’s Boot Grease—“The smell is incredible!” It can be hard to find, but Mr. S/Fetters in San Francisco has it in their catalog.
Scott Kelley, of Fit to a T Leathers, says it makes sense to keep your leathers clean to begin with—if you keep them out of the dirt, you won’t have to clean them as often. Another way to keep your leather in shape: Wear it. The more you wear your leather, the better it gets.
Store your leathers properly. Use a sturdy hanger (or put several hangers together if necessary), especially for heavy items like chaps and jackets. Items should hang without creases. Store thinner, lighter items like leather tank tops by folding them and placing them on a shelf or in a drawer; to avoid creases, don’t place them at the bottom of a stack with heavier items on top of them. Don’t store any kind of leather in a plastic bag—let it breathe.
For simple cleaning, use a damp cloth or terry towel. Lightly buff the leather dry with terrycloth. If an item is dusty, wipe the dust off with a dry cloth (a wet cloth will only make the problem worse by creating mud). For scrapes on black leather, buff the area with terrycloth to remove dirt and grit, then use a good black leather polish to hide the scratches (wax polishes are better than liquids). To finish, buff with a buffing brush or cotton towel.
Airing out smoky leathers will get rid of the worst of the smoke odor. But Jennifer Langlund, also of Fit to a T Leather, notes that the leather hanging in their store in Club Metro can become smoky. They use Lexol cleaner and conditioner to remove the smoke film and restore the leather smell. “I just wipe it on with a paper towel,” Langlund says, “and the amount of dirt that comes off is unreal. And you don’t need to use very much, so it lasts forever.” A last resort is to send your leather to a specialized leather cleaner, like Don’s Leather Cleaning (3717 E. Lake St., Minneapolis); when you get it back, remove it from the plastic dry-cleaning bag and let it air for up to a week to get rid of the dry-cleaning smell. (Incidentally, the leather care advice from Don’s Leather Cleaning: If it needs more than a damp cloth, send it to us.)
Max at The Leather Man Inc. in New York City (111 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village) says don’t overdo it. “Good leather doesn’t need a lot of care. Conditioners are okay, but if you over-clean it you’ll strip out a lot of the essential oils.” Never dry clean leathers—Max is hesitant to recommend even specialized leather cleaning processes. For black leather they recommend a product called Black Dubbin, which covers up scratches, conditions, waterproofs, and keeps the leather supple. They also like Pecard Leather Dressing and Lexol. For salt stains on the inside of pants and harnesses, they recommend cleaning with lukewarm water and a mild hand soap. Let dry (slowly, away from heat sources), then apply a leather conditioner to soften. (All the products they recommend are available at their store.)
Todd Nelson of Seattle, Wash. is International Bootblack 1996 and Seattle Mr. Leather 1992. He uses Lexol for cleaning and conditioning both garment leather and boots. On garment-leather items like chaps, pants, jackets and vests, he follows the Lexol by applying a very small amount of a product called Wesco Bee Oil. He simply pours it into the cup of his hand and works it into the leather. Nelson likes the way it “snaps up the sheen and makes it shiny black.” (He doesn’t use Bee Oil on boots or harnesses.)
Want to make doing your leathers fun and sensual instead of drudgery? Make a scene out of it—wear your leather while someone else applies the Bee Oil, then do the same for them. According to Nelson, it can be very erotic and very tactile—especially on chaps or pants, but it can also be nice with a jacket or vest. Who knew leather care could be so much fun? (Like many other leather care products, Bee Oil can be hard to find; contact Wesco at 1-800-326-2711.)
Now, About Those Boots . . .
Nelson leads workshops on bootblacking and has written a book on the subject. Here’s what he says is the biggest mistake people make on their boots, especially military boots: “Never, never, NEVER use the spray-on instant shine lacquer. It creates a shell that looks shiny and pretty the first couple of times you spray it on, and then it cracks. Once that happens and it doesn’t look pretty anymore, there’s not much you can do to rescue the boot.”
Another big mistake: “People don’t read the instructions on a product. They try to clean suede, buck, colored or exotic leather with products not meant for these kinds of leathers and wind up ruining it. Suede cleaner is delicate enough to clean almost any kind of leather without staining—but you must still use care on colored, especially light-colored, leathers.”
Closer to home, here’s bootshine advice from David Page, Mr. Minnesota Fantasy 1999 and a frequent bootblack at local events: “You don’t want winter salt to linger on your boots, so clean them with saddle soap and then put some kind of leather care on them. It’s also important to shine your boots often because the wax and polish helps protect against the elements. If the boot leather dries and cracks, use a conditioner to soften the leather or the cracks will get worse.” (Page likes Lexol). “Clean the boots before you polish them using saddle soap, then polish them with a paste wax and buff them with a brush.” Page names two good places in Minneapolis to buy boot brushes and other bootshine supplies: Shoe-A-New (2829 Hennepin Ave. S.) and Nokomis Shoe Shop (4950 34th Ave. S.).
Black Frost 23 Registration Deadline Approaches
The Black Guard of Minneapolis present their 23rd annual run, Black Frost 23, featuring a production of Howard Crabtree’s “When Pigs Fly” as well as great food, games, cocktail parties, bar runs, and an indoor pool and hot tub. It’s all happening Feb. 18-20, and the registration deadline is Feb. 7. All the details are on the registration form; if you haven’t already received one in the mail, ask for one by writing to Run Registration, The Black Guard of Minneapolis, Minneapolis MN. You might also try visiting their website at www.blackguardmpls.com.
Upcoming Leather Events (for Calendar section)
Friday, January 21
Atons Club Colors Night
7:30-10:30 PM, The Minneapolis Eagle
Drink specials, door prizes. $3 at the door. For more info, call the Atons Hotline.
Saturday, January 22
Black Guard “Pigs Fly” to Trikkx
8-11 PM, Trikkx (St. Paul)
A fundraiser for Because We Care. Enjoy carnival “Piggy” games, door prizes, and a sneak preview of numbers from Howard Crabtree’s “When Pigs Fly” (the show for the upcoming Black Frost 23 run). Come in costume as your favorite pig—prizes awarded 10 PM. Drink and appetizer specials 7-9 PM. For more info: www.blackguardmpls.com.
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