Did you know some of Edmonton’s most beautiful and iconic buildings were designed by lesbians? Aldynne Belmont takes a look at the life and times of Wallbridge and Imrie.
The post Let’s Hear It For The Girls: A Lesbian Architecture Romance first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
In 1984 the Edmonton gay community changed forever when the HIV virus found its first victim. Here from the Director of the Alberta STD Program at that time on how life changed, the impacts it had on the medical community and the challenges faced by her and others in educating the public and gay community on HIV/AIDS.
The post A conversation with Dr. Barbara Romanowski first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
2024 brings a new level of awareness and celebration of Edmonton Queer History Month. Over the month of October we will bring 9 different stories, perspectives or presentations.
The post 2024 Edmonton Queer History Month first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
A collection of promo posters from 1984-1991 All artwork by Gloria, Twiggy, with occasional help from Iris. Archives digitized by Kevin Hendricks & Jim Bilodeau. Spread the word! Share this story now
The post THE FLASHBACK FILES: Posters, Calendars and Billboards Part Two first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
A collection of promo posters from 1984-1991 All artwork by Gloria, Twiggy, with occasional help from Iris. Archives digitized by Kevin Hendricks & Jim Bilodeau. Spread the word! Share this story now
The post THE FLASHBACK FILES: Posters, Calendars and Billboards Part One first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
A collection of promo posters from 1984-1991 All artwork by Gloria, Twiggy, with occasional help from Iris. Archives digitized by Kevin Hendricks & Jim Bilodeau. Spread the word! Share this story now
The post THE FLASHBACK FILES: Posters, Calendars and Billboards first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
A tribute to the many friends who lit up the Flashback stage. We miss you all. Emperor 10 of the ISCCA – Cardinal Sin Mr. Flashback 13 – Zola Sadie Yoda Empress 12 of the ISCWR – Ora Fice Tinoir Reena Sabrina Empress 9 of the ISCCA – Flora Tron Emperor 7 of the ISCWR – Sam Empress 1 of the ISCWR – Millie Joolz Prince 12 of the ISCWR – Perry Karen K. Empress 11 of the ISCWR – Beverly Crest Mz . Flashback 12 – Kim Burley Mz Flashback 4 – Bianca Bang Bang/Janie Marie/Lee Denning Mz.…
The post The Flashback Files: Gone But Not Forgotten first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
One of the most memorable and enduring Flashback personalities – larger than life!
Edmonton’s only Divine Approved Divine Impersonator – Sister Neon (Terrie Grieve)
Footage captured by John Reid or whoever was free to run camera.
VHS videos digitized by Jim Bilodeau.
The post The Flashback Files: Sister Neon first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
Archival footage from the legendary Flashback nightclub. Video from 1981-1983 recorded by Patrick Monaghan. All other footage 1983-1992 recorded by John Reid or whoever else was available to run the camera. VHS Files digitized by Jim Bilodeau. Thanks to Darrin Hagen and Chris Fassbender with the support of the Edmonton Arts Council and the City of Edmonton – Local Government here is a video that captures a few moments of the fun. Spread the word! Share this story now
The post The Flashback Files: Dance Marathon! first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
Drag Legend Twiggy: Mz. Flashback 11, Entertainer of the Year VI, And Empress more times than one can count!
The post The Flashback Files: Twiggy first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
Flashback opened in November of 1974 and over the next few years quickly became the hottest space for the LGBTQ+ community with lineups regularly forming to get in every weekend. That began a search for a new place where it could expand significantly. At that time John Reid – one of the original owners – had lost almost all his partners and needed a new source of money to build a new club. He reached out to a friend of his named Brent Earl who had made the decision to buy an acreage just north of Lindbrook, Alberta and…
The post Loading Dock to Farm Pasture: The Annual Flashback to Tofield Migration first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
The second location of Flashback on 104 street closed in late 1990 before opening a while latter on 105 Street.
This is the final show performed at the iconic Flashback 2 location was on December 1, 1990.
Starring Twiggy, Mandy Kamp, Dorky and Gloria Hole (Darrin Hagen).
Footage from the vaults of Darrin Hagen.
The post THE FLASHBACK FILES: B-52’s Beach Party 1990 first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
Every once in a while, a queen is born. Whether through osmosis or immaculate misconception is still mostly a mystery, but they appear. Suddenly and without warning, a new pretender to the throne stands in front of you. Under the terms of the Sisterhood of Unrecognized Royalty, they all get their grab at the tiara at some point in their career. Darrin HagenThe Edmonton Queen: The Final Voyage – 2007 July 1982 a young man ventured out on his own with a few clothes, a love letter from an older (33) man and his accordion strapped to his back…
The post The Flashback Files: Gloria Hole first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
From the stage of the legendary Flashback nightclub we present a montage of various live unscripted moments of hilarity and confusion from some of the outstanding Flashback event hosts ever to grace the stages. From Gloria Hole (Darrin Hagen) to Rhoda B. (Ron Byers) then the icon and face of Flashback John Reid. There is even Millie (Paul Chisholm), Neon (Terrie Grieve), Trash (Terry Robison) plus many more that you will be sure to remember. Thankfully this video is not rated NSFW!! Patrick Monaghan – a consulting producer on the Flashback Documentary Film – decided to start filming drag…
The post Flashback Files – Masters of Ceremonies first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
One of the most fun events put on by Flashback was held on the May Long Weekend. Annually the Mz Flashback Contest was held and part of the weekend fun was the Drag Races – invented long before RuPaul came along. In fact it was Mz. Flashback 4 Bianca Bang Bang (Lee Denning) and Mr. Flashback 4 Mr. Vera (Daryl Broyles) that came up with the idea after they saw a video from the US. way back in 1979. According to Mr. Vera “it was an actual drag race on like wild world of sports and some old drag…
The post Flashback Drag Races Video first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
Most foundational LGBTQ+ organizations in our city were influenced by Liz Massiah, Edmonton’s lesbian community leader extraordinaire. From GALA to Womonspace, the AIDS Network of Edmonton, and the Liaison Committee, Liz was there for it all. Her steady head has worn many hats as a community leader, civil rights activist, social worker, and psychologist. Liz was an out lesbian when she moved to Alberta from Ontario in 1983 after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with her MSW. Like many lesbians of her time, she married a man before coming out later in life. Years earlier, she and her husband…
The post Liz Massiah – Edmonton’s Lesbian Community Leader Extraordinaire first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
Sonya Moyer is a 70+ year old Deaf queer woman from Medicine Hat. She discovered she was a lesbian while attending Gallaudet College in Washington D.C. Like many queer people in the 70s and 80s, she married a man to hide her sexual identity but the marriage did not last long and she moved back to Canada… “where her roots are.” After she returned, she found the love of her life, started to come out and found out something new about herself. She was kinky. As a Deaf person… connecting to the kink and queer communities has been difficult. When she was active in queer and kink community, finding other Deaf people in those communities was rare and most of the hearing people she met did not know sign language.
The post Deaf, Kink, Lesbian first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
In the mid-seventies, Big Joey – who was born Janet Wilkeson – was a character slightly larger than life. Though she was a founding member of Club 70 as well as a huge supporter of Flashback, she is primarily remembered for her no-nonsense behaviour and the power of her physical presence. It may surprise you to know she was also a dog loving softie.
For some reason Joey and I were ‘roommates’ for a short time sharing a house with John Reid – a founding partner of Flashback. I think it was his house, located in a totally cute, blue-collar working-class neighbourhood in Edmonton.
The post Big Joey – Another Look first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
May Long Weekend has been the home of a drag marathon for many years and at many venues: Boots, Junction and Evolution. Started originally by Rob Browatzke as a way of celebrating his birthday. Typically, these shows have been linked to a charity which in recent years has been mental health causes. This is a video montage of short clips of the performances and is from the Baker Park collection. Spread the word! Share this story now
The post May Long Drag Marathon (2011) first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
We have another Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose Production Show from the Baker-Park archives. This February 2014 production wasn’t the only time the ISCWR brought Grease to the stage; a 2002 production starring Miss Bianca and Rob Browatzke ran at The Roost, Boots, and Secrets. This 2014 version ran at Evolution Wonderlounge and in partnership with Womonspace at Bellevue Hall in a dinner theatre style and starring Tequila Mockingbird as Sandy and Stiffy Steele as Danny Spread the word! Share this story now
The post ISCWR Grease (2014) first appeared on Rainbow Story Hub.
