Arts and Culture: Drag

Sydney has a long history of female impersonators. It was through the camp night spots in the early 60s, that a new wave of drag performers first emerged. Entry to the job market often entailed a talent quest, and Ayesha tells how she got a job at Dawn O’Donnell’s “Karen’s Castle”. There was a divide between the professionally produced drag show seen at the Jewel Box, Les Girls, Kandy’s Garden of Eden, the Purple Onion, Ivy’s Birdcage etc and the fun shows put on at the social group dances and balls. Ian McLean describes what he saw when he was a DJ at the Chameleons. Trevor Parkin recalls his performances at the Purple Onion. Colin Wiseman recalls Boomerangs shows and Sue-Ellen talks generally about Pollynesian productions.