Chinese costume w/head piece – Robert Yale—MCA
hand made gown by Brooks – Rainbo -- a hand made gown by Brooks (an
entertainer) floor length,rainbow sequins and beads each one hand sewn, [If
you remember the old exile downtown, or outlaws on richmond. The dress
was made in the mid 80's] Mother Brooks dress--Brooks was a member of
the Royal Court system…she performed at the EXILE downtown, at the
Pink Elephant, Outlaws and at Cousins--she kind of made the rounds.
RainbodeKlown jacket – Rainbo -- bought at Al's Formal in the mid 80's
…inspired to decorate it after seeing Brooks sequin her dress--so Rainbo
beaded and sequined it -- while watching daytime soaps and worked on it in
the wee hours of the night in 1988 while Bruce, Buddy, Jimmy and Judy
were talking on After Hours [KPFT radio program]. Each bead and sequin is
hand done with puffy mylar balloons on the back. It also has a 1 1/2 inch
collar which is beaded and sequined. Rainbo used to wear it almost daily as
is obvious by the tattered look of it…almost the 'hobo' clown look is what I
see when I look at it.
Barbie Dress – Wend Bennett—Krewe of Olympus -- worn in Masque Ball
1998
White Linen Tails—in 3 parts – Patrick Vachon—Krewe of Apollo – [ have
8x10 glossy photo -- Patrick Vachon, Neuman "Naomi Sims" Braud – 1980
King/Queen Mystic Krewe of Apollo-Houston]
White Linen Tails -Coat aurora rhinestone edging [a few missing] coat cuffs and hem
aurora bugle beads & rhinestones covering lapels
aurora rhinestones [smaller] covering coat buttons, front, back and
right cuff button [1missing], cover of left cuff button missing
red stain damage to inside & outside both tails
damage to left side of upper collar [black streaks]
Pants outside seam pants--aurora rhinestones
Vest satin vest front with aurora rhinestones on edging, small aurora
bugle beads between stones
Shirt
white, long sleeved, french cuffs--alternating [no pattern] aurora
bugle beads and rhinestones down pleats on shirt front
Fur
5 pieces faux fur on rawhide strips; 2 longer pieces connected with
gold Braid
Later…the magician outfit from Patrick, part of white linen tux
Silver dress hand rhinestoned by Mother Brooks – Bill O’Rourke -- The
silver dress was hand rhinestoned by Mother Brooks (aka Percy Brooks).
She was the first Queen Mother for Life of RSICSS.
After using it herself for a while, she gave or sold it to Mother John (aka
John Brezeal). John was a reign Queen Mother or at least one reign of the
RSICSS sometime around reigns three to five.
After using it for a while, she sold it to Lisa Lawrence (aka Lester Pace),
with Mother Brooks permission. I[Bill O’Rourke] believe that the two of
them said that she was the only one they thought deserved to have it.
At her[Lisa] death, this dress was the only part of her estate over which
Lisa left particularly explicit directions. No one (including the executrix of
the estate, Fancy Pace-Lawrence (aka Bill O'Rourke)) was ever to wear it
again. Fancy was to take care of it until such time as RSICSS had a worthy
place to display it. RSICSS has never had an interest in starting their own
museum. Their only display place has been their trophy case. Their Minster
of Protocol, Crystal Rae Nyland Lee Love (Nyland being the Court family
started by Lawrence and O'Rourke) agreed with Ms. Pace-Lawrence that
that was not a proper place to display a gown. Thankfully, GCAM opened,
and Ms. Pace-Lawrence deemed that it was a fit place to display such an
historic piece and sent it to GCAM on permanent loan from RSICSS. Should
GCAM need to return it, however, it should be returned to Fancy as RSICSS
still does not have a place of their own to display it other than at GCAM and
therefore, according to the wishes of the estate, would be ineligible to be in
possession of it.
Red bead/feathers – Jackie Thorne -- …has been transgendered since the age of 4 or 5
when he started getting into his mother's stuff. He graduated from Valley Forge Military
Academy in Pennsylvania, entered the ROTC program in college and was commissioned a
Second Lieutenant in Military Intelligence, rising to the rank of Major, from which he retired.
During his 28 years of commissioned service he was stationed at various times at Fort Benning,
GA, Fort Holabird, MD, Fort Meade, MD, and spent nearly 6 months TDY in Ankara, Turkey,
teaching Military Intelligence at the Turkish Istihbarat Okulu. He completed his service in the
Army Reserve and Texas National Guard.
His duties included: Intelligence Staff Officer, Censorship Detachment Officer, Order of Battle,
OPFOR Commanding Officer, and an ADT stint at Fort Huachuca, AZ preparing the post budget
to submit to Department of the Army for the next fiscal year.
Jackie Thorne arrived in Houston in 1982, courtesy of 3 friends who were entertainers. Having
been involved in Drama and Theater in high school and college, this was a natural. Jackie joined
the Royal, Sovereign, and Imperial Court of the Single Star of Houston during Reign 3. She has
performed over the years at The Exile, Pink Elephant, Venture-N, Brazos River Bottom, Farmer's
Daughter, the Old Plantation, The Galleon, Gentry's, E.J.'s, Briar Patch, Keys West, Chances,
Mary's (Naturally), Club Rainbow, the Rainbow Room, Boulevard Saloon, Tramp's, Kon Tiki,
Robert's LaFitte, Evolution, Ranch Hill Saloon, Diamond Jimm's, and several others, the names
of which she has forgotten.
Over the years, although not having kept track exactly, she would estimate that she has raised, or
given, about $2,000 per year, average, over the last 20 years. She is a tireless volunteer for
GCAM in that she does weekly fundraisers at the blackjack table in Keys West.
Jackie is currently EMPRESS! and Ambassador to Galveston and the Transgender Community
for the Court, as well as Miss HoneyBee 2002 and Miss Cinco de Mayo 2003. She wasTreasurer
of the PWA Holiday Charities, Secretary to the Court, a member of the Houston Area Bears, past
President of GCTC (Gulf Coast Transgender Community), and a member of the Gulf Coast
Archives and Museum.
Her philosophy is, "To be able to raise money for the GLBT community, doing something I
would do anyway, is very satisfying" and "A great lifestyle is the best revenge".
Shiva costume – Bruce Reeves—Krewe of Olympus
Statue of Liberty – Judy Reeves—Krewe of Olympus
Unicorn head – Bill O’Rourke—Krewe of Olympus
Red pants dress— ?
New Age Religion—Judy Reeves—Krewe of Olympus
[part] 2000 Space Odyssey—Bill Henry—Krewe of Olympus
Just Marion & Lynn’s jacket and bow tie—Joan Ann Sullivan
Team Houston 1990 jacket—Jazz Pazz Esperanza
Various caps from bars, etc…..
Lion head backpiece—Troy Vuillemot—Krewe of Olympus--5x5 lion head
…maybe as backdrop on stage…could literally come out on stage from
behind it??
Boy Scout Uniform—Bruce Reeves
W/Eagle pin and ribbon—Jessica Wicks
Red tit dress—Wend Bennett—Krewe of Olympus
Tiger pants/shirt—
Polka dot w/red feet, ears—
White decorated overalls—
Green sequin with gold trim—
Orange gauze shirt w/green pants—Brian Keever—
Red shirt/jacket—Brian Keever—
Green parrot shirt—Brian Keever—
‘Keeley’ t-shirt dress—Brian Keever—
[promised but not yet received] Jessica Wicks ‘wedding’ dress
Possible loans:
Red dress – Rosy Cheeks—MOM contest [from On Stage exhibit]
Green dress – Bill O’Rourke—Royal court [from On Stage exhibit]
Other:
Leather jacket—Boots
Vest—“Buzz” Davis—NLA Houston co-founder, Texas Riders, etc.
Mr Prime Choice 1985 vest—Cal Moran
Mr Prime Choice 2001 vest—Creath Robinson
Misfits shirt—Creath Robinson
Mr Grin’N’Bear It Houston, Tx 1998—Loyd Powell
Texas Leather Man 2003—‘Daddy Caspian’ (Edward Russell McGraw)
Vest Vest back [rwb triangles/road signs]
Vest Houston Nomads,
Kilt, pic of him in Ponyboy gear w/Master Jim [Babin] at Folsom Fair in
San Fransisco
Vest from Doug Decker—blue shield?
Vest from Doug Decker—boot in chain?
Vest from Doug Decker—brotherhood of pain
POSSIBLY—Vest in Lady Victoria Lust display case
Military Uniform—Jack Adams