The Featherette's

The Featherette’s
While I was sleeping on dryers down the shore swearing there was a future for me, Hank was putting together a Chinese night at the bar. Randy the Star Dee-Jay, at the time, was dying to perform in drag as a Chinese girl. Hank wasn’t sure it would go over so he had two other drag performers placed in the audience. Now a key note here, Hank hated guys who dressed in woman’s clothes. He never allowed transvestites in the bar. He wanted Feathers to be a man’s bar and had no time for freaks that would bring Feathers reputation down. .. His views, not mine. Anyway, Hank had these two club performers Rodger and Gary come as Ma-ma and Eunice Characters from “The Carol Burnett Show”. The two of them were “B” performers and were regulars in other clubs, but never had the chance to break onto the Feathers stage. The opportunity Hank gave them that night was like getting the golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and they knew it. So while Randy Lu performed his Chinese act it was interrupted by Ma-ma and Eunice. From what I hear they stole the show and Hank’s little show biz brain started to turn.
Rodger was a performer who lived for an audience. He was a hair dresser who had a voice like a cartoon character, very high and nasal…I should talk about voices…Anyway; Feathers had a policy of only allowing their performers to perform in the club. The shows were exclusive and the performers could only perform at Feathers in Jersey. I think Kevin performed in others, but he was the exception.
Gary Dee, who performed Ma-Ma to Rodgers Eunice, was a Joan Rivers impersonator and a Bette Midler. He was too close to Jimmy Lane so Hank kept Gary away from his stage. Gary, meanwhile, performed successfully at the other clubs in the area. Rodger and Gary were room-mates, then when Gary moved out Chris, John’s Best Friend, moved in with Rodger. Obviously I had to become friends with Rodger so I could visit and see Chris and have Chris invite Johnny over so that Johnny could see me out-side the bar and fall in love. Oh, I used to get so exhausted thinking back in those days. I always forgot to get depressed because I was always thinking of the next plan to trap Johnny.
I found this all out from Gerry who used to collect the money at the door, remember I stamped hands. We laughed at Randy in drag and could not believe he would risk his reputation. Back then if you dressed as a girl you were looked down on and you knew it. No one wanted to know guys who wore dresses.
All the drag queens had the same stories for being alone. They were too busy to have a boyfriend, they liked being alone, they haven’t met the right person. I felt bad for them, they were confused and lonely. I didn’t understand them, and they weren’t a part of my life. John-Johnny was and that was the best part of my night. I had to meet this Rodger person.
Kenny Alton was the waiter that Saturday night and we were doing our shot for shot. Rodger had come in and asked to see Hank. Kenny Alton went to get him. Gerry introduced me to Rodger and my mind went to work. I was charming and told Rodger how I heard he was a hit and congrats! “It must be wonderful to be a star!” I ended our conversation as Hank had come to talk to Rodger. It seems Hank had approached Rodger about doing a third of July show. It was a special Tuesday and Jimmy Lane was going to be out of town. Rodger was explaining to Hank how Gary was not available to co-star with him in the show and everyone he knew was booked. I went to excuse myself so I could do shots with Kenny Alton. I didn’t get very far before Hank grabbed me and told Rodger that I could co-star with him. ME!!!!
Kenny Alton spit his shot laughing when I grabbed him and said I could never do it with out him.
Till Tomorrow Be Kind
And try forgetting to be depressed