#agnes is called agnes because she wears a tuxedo (old time lady)

[hsslilly-blog]

sebastian's cats (all girls):

black cat: Siouxsie; calico cat: Junebug (but she's just June); tuxedo cat: Agnes

[princessgracekelly1956]

Philadelphia Daily News, 29 May 1981 

By Larry Fields

Gracing the wedding

The first team was there last night when they married 54-year-old former City Councilman Jack Kelly off at the swank Wharton Sinkler Estate in Wynd-moor. There was his sister. Princess Grace of Monaco; her husband. Prince Rainier and two of their Serene Highnesses' three children Princess Caroline and Prince Albert, who graduates Sunday from Amherst College in Massachusetts. Princess Stephanie, who just turned 16, remained at home. 'Someone had to stay behind and protect the throne in case the new French Socialist government decides to go crazy and take over the smaller-than-Fairmount Park principality that Rainier and Grace rule, courtesy of the benevolent former French government. 

There were four of the groom's six children from his former marriage. There was Eagles' owner Leonard Tose and his wife, Caroline; former Secretary of the Treasury William Simon; Mayor William Green and his wife, Pat; City Representative Dick Doran; Rolls-Royce dealer Marty Keenan and his gorgeous wife, Joanne; champion skier Suzy "Chapstick" Chaffee a doll Kell used to date; John Lehman, U.S. secretary of the Navy and Kell's cousin; and of course, Stanley Green and his wife, Agnes - because what party would be complete without them? 

OH, YES, THERE WAS ALSO THE BRIDE - Sandra Lee Worley, 34 years old and a vision in white for her first time at the altar. The wedding was performed officially by Common Pleas Court Judge James J. McDermott, a candidate for justice of the Supreme Court. McDermott, who officiated in his usual magnificent manner, was perfect for the part he's sent many a man to his doom. 

Although it must be acknowledged that life with Sandi Worley can only be considered a delight and the groom was convicted of nothing more than good taste.

McDermott, a widower - and this columnist's candidate for any office he seeks, including emperor of the United States - did not seem too lonely for lovely female companionship himself. His date at the affair was a wonderful-looking woman named Deirdre Mecke, a divorcee whose former brother-in-law was Theodore H. Mecke Jr., a Philadelphia native who served as a vice president of the Ford Motor Co. before his death. 

Prince Albert, heir to the Monaco throne, was handsome and charming and one of the few men at the wedding not wearing a tuxedo. 

"I hope you'll be getting married soon," I said to Albert, who recently was linked romantically to TV actress Kathy Lee Crosby. 

"Why do you say that?" he asked me. 

"I love your country," I explained. "But it's too expensive for me. The only way I’ll be able to visit it again is if you get married and my paper pays for me to go to Monaco and report on the event" 

"Well" he said. “I would not plan on visiting Monaco then for at least three years - minimum, I’m not planning to marry soon." 

PRINCE ALBERT SAID that after his Sunday graduation from Amherst he intended to spend a few days in New York, then some time in Paris, and then in Monaco. "Marriage for me is quite a long way off," he said. 

His older sister, Princess Caroline, wearing a short black dress, cut low enough to almost see Heaven, did not appear to be recuperating too well from her recent divorce from Parisian playboy Philippe Junot She was there at the wedding, but the expression on her pretty face was sad and sullen. She resembled, slightly, a spoiled doll from Bustleton who was trying to get over a broken heart. 

Her dad. Prince Rainier, just seemed bored. He was there at the wedding, it seemed, because his wife dragged him there. It appeared that he was in the United States to attend the graduation ceremonies for his son and there just was no way to avoid mingling with his in-laws. 

Basking in the spotlight was nothing new to the groom, of course, and he as usual was cordial and friendly to the pushy press and photographers. The bride was another story. She seemed genuinely upset by an the commotion. 

BUT SHE LOOKED lovely dressed in virginal white, wearing a veil, and seemingly proud to be the second Mrs. John B. Kelly. Jr. 

The bride, who had announced that her parents would be at the wedding, caused a minor stir when they did not appear and she was “given away" by the groom's brother-in-law, Donald LeVine, a horse trainer. 

Pleasant Colony - winner of this year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness - should look so good. 

Princess Grace, no stranger to public and press attention, seemed to be the most composed at the affair. After Judge McDermott pronounced Jack and Sandra "husband and wife," she directed the line of traffic waiting to wish them well. 

"You're in the wrong line," she snapped at me.��

"It's the story of my life, your Serene Highness," I admitted. "Please don’t have my head cut off." 

HER SERENE HIGHNESS did not seem amused. 

Because I do not discuss my wife Andrea, I will state that the prettiest lady present, in my opinion, was Caroline Tose, a vision in gold and diamonds and emeralds. 

Mrs. Tose was not too kind to me. 

"You," she said, "are a louse. Where is Andrea?" I have written in the past that Leonard had given Caroline a $1 ring from Woolworth at their wedding a few months ago. Now she waved a wedding ring in front of me made up of the Eagles colors green and white. Three separate rings, one of emeralds surrounded by two strands of diamonds. "I want to show Andrea this because I know how much she likes emeralds and diamonds," Caroline said

"I want to show her this and ask her what kind of dum-dum she married that didn't buy her a ring like this," Caroline said. 

"SHE MARRIED A DUM DUM who cant afford doo-dads like you've got on your finger," I told Caroline. "But" I made up for it - sort of. I bought her Saudi Arabia."

Jack Kelly and Sandra Worley got married last night. It was a lovely wedding, and I must confess that I didn't notice the bride's ring because scotch got in my eyes. I only hope that they are as happy as Andrea and I - and Leonard and Caroline Tose. 

What do they say about misery loving company?

Click! Paparazzi Put Philadelphia on the Map

By FRANK DOUGHERTY 

You cannot have a social event without some social outcasts. And the social outcasts roles last night at the wedding of Philadelphia man-about-town Jack Kelly were filled by the paparazzi. 

In New York or Los Angeles, it would have been just another media event. But Philadelphia last night got into the Big Leagues with a visit from Europe's legendary and colorful media photographers.

THE PHILADELPHIA PRESS photographers covering the wedding last night were augmented with teams of lensmen from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, along with a couple of European free-lancers who operate out of New York. 

A photographic session was arranged after last night's nuptials by bridegroom Kelly and his top security chief, a guy named Mike Carroll, who said he used to be a Philadelphia cop. 

Carroll's real job began when the photographers were admitted to the grounds of the Wharton Sinkler Estate in Wyndmoor, about 15 minutes after Kelly and his bride, Sandra Worley, tied the knot. 

The Kelly family posed in the foyer of the gorgeous English Tudor mansion while photographers stood in the rain atop a cobblestone driveway and made their photographs as guests watched the show from the 100-year-old hand-leaded windows on the second floor. 

AS SOON AS KELLY and his wife appeared, strobe lights began going off like shore batteries and the pushing and shoving quickly followed. 

Carroll kept control until Princess Grace arrived in the foyer to pose with brother Jack. The photographers, festooned in Nikons and looking like a pack of lemmings about to plunge over a Norwegian cliff, immediately surged ahead. 

"The rain is good for your complexion," Her Serene Highness told the photographers. "It will make your complexions beautiful." 

At this point, Prince Rainier appeared in the foyer. And the photographers, with the Frenchmen in the lead, all pressed forward. 

The French and American photographers began calling each other names as two United Kingdom free lancers had taken positions standing atop potted chrysanthemums. 

The press crowd broke up as the Kelly family ducked out of the foyer back into the reception area. The photographers packed their gear and left - leaving behind small mounds of empty film boxes and canisters, a few broken umbrellas and six destroyed potted chrysanthemums.

[fashiontrendin-blog]

Meet James Haake: The Oldest Working Drag Queen

http://fashion-trendin.com/meet-james-haake-the-oldest-working-drag-queen/

Meet James Haake: The Oldest Working Drag Queen

Dancer and actor James “Gypsy” Haake is, according to his Twitter bio, the world’s oldest working drag queen. After a career in show business, he came out of retirement in his 50s to try on his first gown and now, at 86 years old, he still commands the stage with his unique brand of drag-meets-comedy and has no plans to stop anytime soon. Below, Gypsy tells me about his long-standing career, celebrity encounters and what it’s like to live separately from his onstage persona.

W

hen the curtain opens and I come onstage at Oscar’s Café & Bar in Palm Springs, California, the audience gasps. I parade around in my cobalt blue makeup and beautiful Bob Mackie gown. Then I open my mouth and usually start with, “Ay, how you doin’?” or one of those New York hollers. The audience just goes nuts. They expect me to have an artificial girl’s voice, so when they hear mine, they just don’t know what to do. My gowns are beautiful, but my face will kill you.

I created this character that talks like a man but dresses in really gorgeous outfits with big hats and jewelry. In my mind, I’m not wearing a dress — I’m wearing a costume. The show is a structured theatrical production where I, as Mastress of Ceremonies, introduce actors who impersonate celebrities. That’s what makes our show a bit different from other drag shows.

I never studied comedy, and I was never interested in doing stand-up, but it just came naturally to me with what I do. I’m off the cuff, off the top of my head. Audiences carry me a lot. I can look at the audience and see the history of some of these people because I��ve been around that long. I was in New York for Stonewall and in L.A. for all the AIDS horror in the ’80s. I’ve been around and around. This year, I’m celebrating 67 years in show business, from the stage to films to TV.

I grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, outside of New York City. My family was rather dysfunctional. I was adopted. My mother had two children after I was two years old, and my father put me back in the orphanage each time she got pregnant because she didn’t really want me there. When I was going into high school, I had to live with some neighbors because my father beat me up so much. I do have an adopted niece who is a wonderful woman, so she is my family. I’m not bitter about anything. I wasn’t bitter when I was 14, so I’m not bitter at 86. After all, I’m very lucky.

In those days, in high school in the ’40s, that just wasn’t done

Beginning my freshman year, I would spend my summers at the Paper Mill Playhouse in the town next to mine. I took dance classes as well — tap, jazz, ballet. In those days, in high school in the ’40s, that just wasn’t done. I think there was only one other guy in classes with me.

After I graduated from high school in 1950, I went to an open call in New York for a group of dancers. The company hired chorus boys and girls called “gypsies” — which is how I got my name, Gypsy — to go on tour with famous people and on Broadway. I danced for Broadway musicals and on tours all over the country and in Europe until the early ’60s. Then in the mid-’60s, I got the chance to headline and open my own cabaret, called Gypsy’s, in Manhattan. It became very famous, but when disco and Studio 54 came in around 1978, nobody was going to cabarets anymore. So I retired at a young age, at almost 50. I came to L.A., never thinking anything else would happen.

24 PHOTOS click for more

In 1980, a nightclub and showroom opened in West Hollywood called La Cage aux Folles, named after the movie that had just come out and won best foreign film. The club opened to rave reviews, and I came out of retirement to headline it. I had never really done drag. I had never even worn a dress before; in my club in New York, I had just worn tuxedos. I decided to never wear wigs or boobs, but I’d wear fabulous gowns and six-inch high heels. During the run of La Cage aux Folles, my legs were insured for a million bucks. I still have great legs for 86, if I do say so myself. I modeled my makeup on Agnes Moorehead in Bewitched. I have all this cobalt blue stuff on the eyes and false eyelashes. I’ve been doing that all these years.

By 1983, famous stars like Lucille Ball and Lana Turner had already had their own tables at our club. On Christmas Eve that year, Mel Brooks and his (now ex-) wife Anne Bancroft came to see the show. Mel said, “How old are you, Gypsy?” I joked, “Oh, I’m a baby. I’m 51 years old.” He said, “You’re never too old to become a movie star, and I’m going to make you one.”

And he did. Mel Brooks signed me to co-star with him and Anne in the movie To Be or Not to Be. I played Anne’s dresser, and she coached me every single day for six months during filming. They could’ve hired a coach, but instead she did it personally. We were in lots of scenes together, and I had a big dance number in drag with Mel. My name was submitted by the head of the studio to the Academy for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. I didn’t get it, of course; I didn’t even get the nomination. But my name was submitted. Since that movie, I have done 20-something films and about 100-some television episodes.

The biggest stir in my career was last summer when Miley Cyrus decided to hire a group of older people for her music video “Younger Now.” I was the second oldest person cast, and I learned an awful lot from that 24-year-old superstar. I also danced with her in her performance at the VMAs. I wore this red beaded dress and leather jacket with an older woman’s face makeup and played Miley’s sidekick. The director made sure I was right next to Miley the whole time. I really got to know her. She would come on the set for the rehearsals and say, “Where’s my Gypsy?” We would joke and I’d say, “I know why you always ask for me — you want to see if I lived through the night!” Even if I wasn’t in a certain take, she would want me to stick around and watch her. I got something that very few people get with these superstars: a true look at what she’s like as a human being. Also, she doesn’t lip sync! She has a very interesting, rich voice, not quite like anyone else’s.

The only serious thing about me is my clothes

For the last several years, I’ve been headlining shows. When I was 68, my current manager and producer, Dan Gore, asked me to headline a show in Lake Tahoe, and I said yes. He asked, “Do you have gowns?” I said, “I have 200.” We became the longest-running show in history there. Then we came to Palm Springs and opened various shows. The last four years, we’ve been at Oscar’s Café & Bar.

The only serious thing about me is my clothes. Every time I come out onstage in a new dress, the crowd doesn’t applaud me; they applaud the gown. When audiences see me, it’s always, “Gypsy, that outfit!” not “Gypsy, god, you look just like an old lady.” It releases me to be myself in a dress. I never lose myself when I’m in costume — I’m always myself, in costume or not. I am who I am.

The Guinness Book of World Records named me the world’s oldest … they called me “impersonator,” but I’m not really. I don’t impersonate celebrities — I’m my own persona dressed up in these costumes. I never put on the costumes or makeup during the daytime unless it’s for a photo shoot or special performance. If you saw me out of context, it wouldn’t really make sense.

Dan, besides being my producer, is also my family. I live in his condo with a dog we got from the shelter. Very few people at 86 have people who care enough for them to help them to keep working, especially in this business. I want to keep working as long as I can. I had an artificial heart valve surgery two years ago, but I’m perfectly fine. I’m always prepared to do whatever I need to do.

Photos by Maggie Shannon.

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