The Featherette's 8

Rodger pushed me and Alton onto the stage whispering, “Remember you are stars!” With those words came a slow motion movie in my mind. I remember every moment as if it is happening before my eyes right now. I remember staring into the spot light and temporarily blinding my sight so I could not see faces. The intro to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” started and Rodger whispered, “Smile girls!” My lips just started to move and I have no idea what words I was thinking of I turned to look at Rodger and he was singing along, Alton was learning into me trying to hide the fact that he didn’t know the words. He positions his lips behind the fake radio logo. Rodger whispered “Stay close.”
Where were we going to go? There really wasn’t anywhere to go but in front of the mike. The place was packed! The dance floor was flooded with people. Hank had roped off an area for us that got smaller and smaller- they were roaring and applauding from the moment we stepped on stage! We couldn’t even hear the music they were so loud, so much for rehearsing and dance steps. I was giving a “solo” part because I couldn’t dance and Rodger felt it would take the attention off my feet. Well my solo that I rehearsed so feverishly came and this idiot starts to tip us.
In drag tipping the customer comes up to you and slip a dollar into your bra, where the tradition came from I have no idea, but it really does interfere with your performance and this guy was about to ruin my solo! I don’t think so.
My first time in front of people, in a dress, and a wig, I push Mr. Tipper aside and grab the mike stand and do a “Tina Turner” as my “He was some boogie woogie bugle boy from company B. …I played that solo like I was a superstar. I could see Rodger out of the corner of my eye, smiling and giggling as I went off on my three line solo. I returned back to my spot in time for us to continue the song. We finished the song in sync and they ate it up! The place went nuts! They would not let us leave the stage. They stomped their feet and cheered! Oe came up to us and asked Rodger if we had another song. Now mind you the show was just a “fill-in”. According to Hank all they want is to party and he didn’t want the “queens” to get in the way, but if he didn’t have a show the ones that came out on Tuesday for a show would be upset. We were to do one song and have Sammy come out to do “God Bless America”. We were actually told we were the “filler’s”.
Rodger told Oe to have the Dee-Jay play “Bei Mir Bistu Shein”. Me and Alton were lipping, “My Dear Mr. Shane.” They never knew. The crowd continued and again wanted more. I could see the skid row gang giving me the thumbs up. Johnny and Casper were smiling and applauding like crazy. That moment is frozen in my head. It was the best! It was the moment to live for. Rodger had us leave and Sammy went out and lip-synced to Kate Smith’s “God Bless America.” I didn’t think anyone could top us, but he did. This heavy female voice coming out of lil Sammy- hysterical! He also handed out little flags and lit sparklers! The crowds went crazy again. Oe and Hank begged Rodger and Kenny Alton and me to do another number…We really didn’t know any other songs. Rodger had an idea. He had them play the “Beer Barrel Polka” and insisted that I, Sammy and Alton grab customers and polka with them as he lip-synced the song. Who was going to argue? They wouldn’t let us leave the stage and we didn’t know the numbers. I went to take Johnny onto the stage to polka with me and a drunken Dominick popped out of nowhere and started polkaing with me. Rodger invited everyone to polka. Casper grabbed Johnny and they polkaed. I didn’t really care. Tonight I was a star, we were all stars. What a warm memory that was to remember. Oe and Hank were smiling like proud parents and we were their babies. The night was young and we did not want it to end…
Till tomorrow, be kind.