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.
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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
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Drag Legend Twiggy: Mz. Flashback 11, Entertainer of the Year VI, And Empress more times than one can count!
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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This 2014 drag production show and fundraiser was put on by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, starring Rob Browatzke as Jack Skellington and Mel Trixx as Sally.It was presented at Evolution Wonderlounge on November 8, 2014 Spread the word! Share this story now
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The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose is known for production work. This version of Rocky Horror Picture Show happened on October 28, 2011 2011 at the Junction Bar & Eatery There are 3 parts to this:Part 1Part 2Photo Montage Spread the word! Share this story now
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The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose is known for their big production shows. At Coronation 37 in 2012, they even included one in the entertainment line-up for the evening: The Lion King. Cast included Jim McBride as Mufasa, Marni Gras as Sarabi, Stefan “Stiffy” Steele and Prince Charmin as Simba, Leah Way as Rafiki, Ivanna Diamonds as Zazu, Rob Browatzke as Scar, Clara T and Vanity Fair as Nala, Big Daddy Pump as Poomba, Yeust Bobb as Timon, as well as ensemble actors Spread the word! Share this story now
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From 1994 on, Edmonton’s own Village People Revue featured prominently in many shows, at bars all over Edmonton, and indeed, western Canada. The group started off as an ISCWR fundraiser but soon took on a life of its own. Below, find a link to a December 2000 article originally published in Times.10 Magazine that tells the origin story of this group of characters. Just like with the real troupe, non-Indigenous persons wearing a headdress was never appropriate. Pictures are included for the sake of historical accuracy, not to further perpetuate insensitivity. The last official show of Edmonton’s Impersonation Revue…
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Showing what goes into an Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose production show. This is a slide show montage video of rehearsals, costumes, backstage and from the actual production of 2016’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” who’s audience members got to enjoy a dinner as well as the show. Admission also allowed one to stay for a dance put on by Womonspace. The event took place at Bellevue Community League in Edmonton on January 23, 2016 Spread the word! Share this story now
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From May 19 to May 21, 2011 the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose presented their production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Junction Bar & Eatery. This is a montage of the performances featuring cuts from the many songs performed. Cast Seymour – JeffyLube XXXPressAudrey – Marni GrasAudrey II – RobMr. Mushnik – Yeust BobbOrin Scrivello, DDS – Randy QuiverRonette, Crystal and Chiffon – Dayzi Chayne, Debi, Clara TSupporting Cast: Anelle, Bead, Otto Matic-Quiver, Victoria Park, Jugsy Malone Director – Leah WaySet Design: Lj Steele, Stiffy SteeleSpotlight – Dee Luv Our thanks to the Baker Park…
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Vernon’s Podcast Episode 16 Edmonton’s Queer History is now streaming on all major platforms! For easy access go to vernonspodcast.com Rainbow Story Hub Foundation and Edmonton Queer History Project‘s ROB BROWATZKE stops by to share a few things! Author of Through the Mirrorball and owner of Evolution Wonderlounge. His knowledge of Queer history in Edmonton Alberta is immense. Too much for just one session, but listen to us try. We talk about the #gaybars, #gayrights, #pride, #devision, #unity, #comingout, #sobriety and so much more. Spread the word! Share this story now
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