Box 1, Folder 1
Series 1
Correspondence,
1974-2003, undated
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
Arrangement
Chronological order.
Scope and Contents
The series contains a few pieces of correspondence sent to Ritz. Of note is an undated letter from Harvey Milk to Lee regarding
an election campaign, and an email from Roger Webster with his memories of the Cockettes after seeing the documentary.
Harvey Milk to Lee,
undated
Martin Worman, Les Plush, Lee Mentley,
1974
Sebastian,
February 14, 1994
David Weissman and Bill Weber,
September 4, 1998
Webster, Roger "Kitty Kat,"
2002
Halloween Movie Night invitation/flyer,
2003
Series 2
Subject Files,
[1960s]-2005
Bulk, 1970-1974
Physical Description:
33.0 folders
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
The series contains clippings and ephemera about The Cockettes and the members of the troupe after it disbanded. Of special
note are the Cockettes history and the Diary of a Cockette. The materials about Sylvester include concert tickets, posters
and flyers, bumper stickers, and biographical information.
Box 1, Folder 2
Address list (email),
2000
Box 1, Folder 3
Cardboard martini glass [prop?] with lyrics to
Alone by Arthur Freed,
undated
Box 1, Folder 4
Cockettes. Checkbooks,
1970-1972, undated
Box 1, Folder 5
Cockettes. "Diary of a Cockette In and Around New York City,"
October 29-November 23, 1971
Box 1, Folders 6-7, Box 2, Oversize-folder 2
The Cockettes documentary by David Weissman,
2002
Box 1, Folder 8
Cockettes history / biography,
[1979?]-2005
General note
Includes notes on The Cockettes history by Kreemah Ritz [1979?], obituary for Sylvester (1988), Cassandra Waverley[?] biography
(2002), John Flowers and Daryl Simmonds (Kreemah Ritz) memorial service programs (2005).
Box 1, Folders 9-13, Box 2, Oversize-folder 3-5
Cockettes. Newspapers and clippings,
[1960s]-2003, undated
General note
Includes clippings on the Cockettes and their shows. Also includes clippings on Cockettes members and their activities after
the troupe disbanded. Of note from 1999 are Scrumbly Koldewyn's theatrical work
Untamed Stage, and clippings and articles from 1999-2002 on the Cockettes documentary.
Box 1, Folder 14
Condition, Pristine,
1994
Box 1, Folder 16
Dunigan, Anton "Reggie,"
2001
Box 1, Folder 20
Mintun, Peter,
1989, 1995
Box 1, Folder 21
Moon, Ocean Michael,
2003
Box 1, Folder 23
The Ritz Honeymoon Hotel guestbook,
1971-1974, undated
Box 1, Folder 24
Ritz Video Archives business card,
undated
Box 1, Folder 26
Sebastian. Materials from Sebastian's archives collected November 1996,
1970-1974, undated
General note
Includes: recollections of The Cockettes by Sebastian, their producer, promoter and manager; photocopies of flyers; photocopies
of newspaper and magazine clippings with mentions of The Cockettes and/or Sebastian.
Box 2, Oversize-folder 6
The Staff (Los Angeles). Part 2,
October 22, 1971
General note
Includes: "The Cockettes of Tinsel Town" by Clay Geerdes (cover, page 27).
Box 2, Oversize-folder 6
"Memories of the Loved and Lost" (in
The Voice of the Gay Students Coalition, vol. 1, no. 2 (San Francisco),
May 16, 1974
Box 1, Folder 27
Sylvester. Biographical information,
1979-1988
Box 2, Oversize-folder 7
Sylvester. Bumper stickers: "Sylvester" and "I Found Sylvester,"
undated
Physical Description:
3.0 items
Box 1, Folder 28
Sylvester. Concert tickets,
1974, 1979
Box 1, Folder 29
Sylvester. Documentary film project (Tim Smyth, Broken Glass Productions),
1998-2000
General note
Regarding documentary: "Do You Wanna Funk: The Life and Times of Sylvester" also known as "Sylvester: Mighty Real."
Box 1, Folder 30, Box 2, Oversize-folder 8
Sylvester. Flyers, announcements, cd inserts, posters,
1971-1989
box 1, folder 31, box 2, oversize-folder 9, box 4, oversize-folder 1
Sylvester. Newspapers and clippings,
[1972?]-1998
General note
Includes clippings about Sylvester, his concerts, and his life. Also includes articles about Sylvester after his death and
about exhibitions on his life and work.
Box 1, Folder 32
Sylvester. Tributes and exhibits,
[1998, 2002]
Box 1, Folder 33
Theater programs,
[1999], 2002
General note
Includes:
The Untamed Stage, or, Die Wilde Buhne, created by Scrumbly Koldewyn (7th Note Showclub, San Francisco); and,
Damn Yankees (Santa Rosa Players at The Merlo Theater).
Box 1, Folder 34
Ware, Daniel Lawrence,
1979
Series 3
Shows,
[1970?]-1974
Physical Description:
9.0 folders
Scope and Contents
The series contains scripts, songs, cast lists, and notes for Cockettes shows. Some of the scripts have Dusty Dawn's name
written on them. There are also two items for shows featuring or produced by former Cockettes members.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 1, Folder 35
The Amazing Nancy Drew,
1973
Box 1, Folder 36
[Circus of Life], pages 3 and 4 describing Acts 9-18, finale,
[July 1971]
Box 1, Folder 37
Cockettes in Clapland,
[May 1971]
Box 1, Folder 39
Journey to the Center of Uranus,
[February 1972]
Box 1, Folder 40
Pearls Over Shanghai,
[1970?-1972?]
Box 1, Folder 41
Rickets: A Day in the Life of the Counter Culture,
[1974]
Box 1, Folder 42
Smacky and Our Gang,
[April 1972]
Box 1, Folder 43
Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma,
1971
Series 4
Posters and artwork,
1969-2002
Bulk, 1970-1972
Physical Description:
5.0 folders
+ 1 oversized box
Arrangement
Arranged by size, and then by date.
Scope and Contents
The series contains posters and announcement cards for Cockettes shows, Nocturnal Dream Shows presentations, and various performances
and events by troupe members after the group disbanded. Early posters are often hand-drawn and reproduced on acidic paper.
The posters include artwork by Todd Trexler, Steven Arnold, John Flowers, and Pristine Condition.
Box 1, Folder 44
Announcement cards,
1970-2002
Box 1, Folder 45
Small (legal-sized) posters,
1969-2002
Box 1, Folder 46
At the Palace, Nocturnal Dream Shows presents the Cockettes as "Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma," (Dani Gray, artist),
March 1971
Physical Description:
1.0 item
General note
Signed: "For Darlena from Nancy Nice, March 1971."
Box 1, Folder 47
College flyer (original artwork): San Francisco's Original Underground Sensation The Cockettes Are Now Available,
undated
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
The Cockettes in the Winter Wonderland New Year's Eve Anniversary Extravaganza, Bimbo's 365 Club,
December 31, 1970
Physical Description:
1.0 item
General note
Includes photos of 18 members, most identified in ink. Back of poster: "This we love most."
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents the Midnight Movies at...the Fantastic Palace Theatre (Todd Trexler, artist),
June 1971
Physical Description:
1.0 item
General note
Folded poster featuring drawing of Peter Mintun.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents The Fabulous Cockettes in Les Etoiles du Minuit at The Palace Theatre at midnight (J. Flowers,
artist),
December 1971-January 1972
Physical Description:
2.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents the Cockettes in a Science-Fiction Musical "The Journey to the Center of Uranus," Midnite at
the Palace (Pristine Condition, artist),
February [1972]
Physical Description:
4.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
The Cockettes go to college in the swing musical of the year "Hot Greeks," ...Midnight at the Palace Theatre (Pristine Condition,
artist),
March-April 1972
Physical Description:
2.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents the Fabulous John Rothermel in the spotlight of Das Kabarett Black Moonlight, Palace Theatre
(Todd Trexler, artist),
April 21 & 22, 1972
Physical Description:
3.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents the all-singing, all-dancing, all cardboard, all San Francisco Cockettes in "Pearls Over Shanghai,"
Midnite, Paris Theater, [Los Angeles] (Pristine Condition, artist),
May 26-28, 1972
Physical Description:
4.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents Marilyn Monroe...films...on stage. Midnight, Palace Theatre...Kreemah Ritz as Marilyn with
Scrumbly at the piano,
June 2 and 3, 1972
Physical Description:
1.0 item
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents...at Midnight at The Palace Theatre proudly...John Rothermel in the spotlight of Das Kabarett
Das Black Moonlight with Peter Arden,
June 10, 1972
Physical Description:
2.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
The Fabulous Cockettes host a private benefit Soiree Featuring The First Annual Miss de Meanor Beauty Pagent, House of Good,
(W.R.S., artist),
July 15, 1972
Physical Description:
1.0 item
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
The Pristine Condition Bi-Centennial Calendar Celebration, Orphanage, 507 Montgomery, San Francisco (Photo: Melanie Mathias),
December 3, 1975
Physical Description:
2.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
The Fabulous Cockettes Silver Anniversary Reunion at the Hula Palace (J. Flowers, artist),
April 3, 1994
Physical Description:
22.0 items
Box 3, Oversize-folder 1
Sylvester Metamorphosis! From Cockette to Disco Diva (Gay & Lesbian Historical Society of Northern California exhibition),
October 1998
Physical Description:
6.0 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Midnight Films. Nocturnal Dream Shows (Steven Arnold, artist),
February 1970
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Midnight Films. Nocturnal Dream Shows (Todd Trexler, artist),
April 1970
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Midnight Movies. Nocturnal Dream Shows (Todd Trexler, artist),
June 1970
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Midnight Films. Nocturnal Dream Shows (Todd Trexler, artist),
July 1970
Physical Description:
3 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Midnight Movies at the Palace (Todd Trexler, artist),
July 31-August 1970
Physical Description:
4 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Midnight Films. Nocturnal Dream Shows (Todd Trexler, artist),
September 1970
Physical Description:
4 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents at the Palace Theatre (Todd Trexler, artist),
October 1970
Physical Description:
1 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
The Cockettes on stage in Les Ghouls at the Palace Theatre (Todd Trexler, artist),
October 29-31, 1970
Physical Description:
3 items
box 4, oversize-folder 2
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents Midnight Movies at the Palace Theatre (Todd Trexler, artist),
November 1970
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Nocturnal Dream Shows. Midnight Movies at the Palace Theatre [Todd Trexler?, artist],
January 1971
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Nocturnal Dream Shows. Palace Theatre (Todd Trexler, artist),
March 1971
Physical Description:
1 item
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Bimbo's...presents A Curious Evening with Kenneth Marlowe...starring the author of
Mr. Madam
, Sylvester, John Rothermel, Perry, Michael Daley, Daryl Simmonds, Bobby Cameron,
February 7, 1971
Physical Description:
1 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Goodbye V.D.,
May 5, [1971]
Physical Description:
2 items
General note
"The Bay Area Venereal Disease Association decides to give Edwin Heaven a 'Ding-A-Ling'...Eric Burdon and War, Stoneground,
The Cockettes in Clapland, Full Moon, Plus a Lenny Bruce Cartoon, at the Fillmore."
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Nocturnal Dream Shows...at the Palace Theatre (Todd Trexler, artist),
May [1971]
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Nocturnal Dream Shows. Jean Renoir's Picnic on the Grass, Louis Malle's Zazie dans le Metro (Todd Trexler),
June 10-14, [1971]
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
"Alice Cooper Bows--and How!" by Robin Adams Sloan,
[July 1971]
Physical Description:
1 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Nocturnal Dream Shows presents The Cockettes in Pearls Over Shanghai plus Marlene Dietrich...The Palace (Todd Trexler, artist),
August 13-14, 1971
Physical Description:
1 items
General note
Square poster printed on clear plastic, mounted on foamcore.
box 4, oversize-folder 3
The Cockettes
[John Flowers portrait] by Bud Lee, Neikrug Galleries, 224 East 68th Street, [New York],
September 9-26, [1971]
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Nocturnal Dream Shows in Association with Dennis Lopez presents two shows at the Palace Theatre: Finchley Boys; Sylvester
and His Hot Band...(Todd Trexler, artist),
October 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 1971
Physical Description:
1 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Johnny, Cockettes trademark, last gasp (Clay Geerdes, photographer),
1971
Physical Description:
6 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Nocturnal Dream Shows Presents...Miss Carol Doda in The Rise and Fall of the World as Seen from a Sexual Position! (Todd Trexler,
artist),
January 14, [1972]
Physical Description:
2 items
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Todd Trexler & Michael Miller Productions proudly presents the Prestigeous Pristine Condition and introducing Paula Pucker
abd the Pioneers...at the Upper Market Street Gallery, 2323 Market, San Francisco (Photo by Miller),
September 1 & 2, [1972]
Physical Description:
1 items
General note
Signed by Todd Trexler and Pristine Condition.
box 4, oversize-folder 3
John Rothermel, Peter Arden [Mintun], Sunday Nights at the Paino, 56 Gold Street, Opening September 17, 1972 (Photo: Miller;
Todd Trexler),
1972
Physical Description:
2 items
General note
Includes photograph of John Rothermel and Peter Arden [Mintun].
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Warped Floors presents Rickets' A Day in the Life of the Counter Culture: an original musical, the Village Club, 901 Columbus
Ave., San Francisco (Morocco, artist),
July 19-21, 1974
Physical Description:
1 items
General note
Scrumbly and Martin Worman, past-Cockettes.
box 4, oversize-folder 3
Hibiscus and Angel Jack present Femme Fatale: The Shocking Life of Jayne Champagne. Featuring Hibiscus, Angel Jack, Java,
Sugar, Mr. Greece, Eloise, Chi Chi. Montgomery Playhouse, 622 Broadway (at Grant Ave.). Opens August 5, 1976. Original music
by Ann Harris
August 5, 1976
Series 5
Publications,
1970-2003
Physical Description:
20.0 items
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by title.
Scope and Contents
The series contains newspaper and magazine issues that published stories about The Cockettes and their performances. Some
contain photo essays. Coverage from the 2000s generally pertains to the documentary film on The Cockettes.
Box 1, Folder 48
Adam, vol. 16, no. 5,
June 1972
General note
"The Cockettes" article by Clay Geerdes.
Box 1, Folder 49
After Dark: the National Magazine of Entertainment, vol. 8, no. 2,
June 1975
Box 1, Folder 50
Bay Area Reporter, vol. 2, no. 21,
October 18, 1972
General note
Includes piece on John Rothermel's performance to benefit SIR.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 2
Changes (New York), vol. 3, no. 11,
December 15, 1971
General note
Includes article: "No, No, Cockettes!" by Ed McCormack.
Box 1, Folder 51
Coast, vol. 12, no. 12,
December 1971
General note
Includes article: "Tinsel Tarts Touring with Sylvester's Hot Band" by Clay Geerdes.
Box 1, Folder 52
Empire,
Spring 2002
General note
Includes article: "Show Girls: Peace, Love & The Cockettes" by Glen Helfand.
Box 1, Folder 53
Fashions of the Times "Guilty Pleasures" (New York Times Magazine),
Fall 2003
General note
Includes article on Hibiscus, pages 106-110.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 3
Gay Sunshine no. 5 (San Francisco),
January 1971
General note
Includes article: "Vatican Rags at Grace Cathedral" on The Cockettes.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 4
Interview (New York: Andy Warhol), vol. 18, no. 2,
February 1988
General note
Includes article (pages 40-44, 51-52): "Simply Divine" text by Hal Rubenstein.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 2
"Memories of the Loved and Lost" (in
The Voice of the Gay Students Coalition, vol. 1, no. 2 (San Francisco),
May 16, 1974
Box 1, Folder 54
National Queer Arts Festival (San Francisco). 5th anniversary catalog,
2002
General note
Includes listing for: "Catching Up with the Cockettes: Archival Photography Exhibition."
Box 1, Folder 55
The Official Cockettes Paper Doll Book. (San Francisco, Calif.: last gasp eco-funnies co., inc.),
1971
General note
Art: John Flowers; Photography: Clay Geerdes.
Box 4, Oversize-folder 4
The Only Real Picture Newspaper (New York), vol. 3, no. 1,
1971
General note
Large format newspaper photo essay: "New York: HOT. The Cockettes, Sylvester and His Hot Band." Photographs by Peter Hujar
and others.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 3
Paris Match no. 1143 (Paris),
April 3, 1971
General note
In French. Includes photographs and paragraph on The Cockettes, pages 52-53.
Box 1, Folder 56
Rags / 3 (San Francisco, Calif.),
August 1970
General note
Article on the Cockettes.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 5
Rolling Stone (New York), issue no. 93,
October 14, 1971
General note
Includes article: "Les Cockettes de San Francisco: Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma!" by Maitland Zane.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 4
San Francisco Spectrum (San Francisco), vol. 5, no. 11,
November 2002
General note
Includes article (page 21): "
Low Trash Equals High Art at The Center" by Kevin Lewis regarding an exhibition curated by Cockettes Rumi Missabu and Fayette Hauser.
Box 3, Oversize-folder 2
The Staff (Los Angeles). Part 2,
October 22, 1971
General note
Includes: "The Cockettes of Tinsel Town" by Clay Geerdes (cover, page 27).
Box 3, Oversize-folder 5
The Staff (Los Angeles), pages 31-42 (article: "Cockettes Drag Out the Campus Queen of '48" on
Hot Greeks),
April 7, 1972
Box 3, Oversize-folder 5
Sunday News (New York),
November 14, 1971
General note
Includes article: "The Top of the Pop: Vulgarity or Vanguard?" by Lillian Roxon about the New York appearances of The Cockettes.
Series 6
Audiovisual Materials,
1971-1972, 1980
Physical Description:
2.0 folders
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
The series contains an audiocassette tape of a Cockettes performance and various songs. It also includes a videocassette tape
of a concert by Sylvester at Dreamland in 1980.
Box 1, Folder 57
Cockettes.
Pearls Over Shanghai; and, Cockette Stage Highlights of 1972,
November 26, 1971; 1972
Physical Description:
2.0 audiotapes
General note
Pearls Over Shanghai final New York City performance, Anderson Theatre. Cockette Stage Highlights of 1972 include: Jewels
of Paris (Scrumbly), The French Are So French (Kreemah Ritz), Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (Pristine Condition), Parisian Perolt
(John Rothermel), Lullaby of Broadway (entire cast), Can't Stop Caring For You (Sweet Pam and Scrumbly), Hot Twat of Tangiers
(Kreemah Ritz).
Box 1, Folder 58
Sylvester.
Sylvester In Concert at Dreamland,
June 20, 1980
Physical Description:
1.0 videotape
VHS
General note
Featuring Jeannie Tracy. Songs: Can't Stop Dancing, You and Me, Loverman, You, Blackbird, I Believe, Steamroller, Disco Heat,
(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real. Costumes by Pat Campano.
Series 7
Photographs,
1970-1999
Bulk, 1970-1972
Physical Description:
1.0 box
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Scope and Contents
The series contains photographs of Cockettes performances and of particular performers. The majority of the photos document
the shows from 1970 to 1972. The photographers include Scott Runyon, Fayette Hauser, David Wise, Rink, Clay Geerdes, Cheese
Dream, and Puck Perkins. One folder contains images taken by San Francisco Art Institute students in 1970. There are some
later photographs by Daniel Nicoletta.
Box 5, Folder 1, Box 3, Oversize-folder 6
Cockettes photos taken by San Francisco Art Institute students,
April 1970
General note
Includes: Tahara, Kreemah and Scrumbly (Journey From the Center of Uranus), Gary Cherry, Miss Bobby, Link, Sandy (Captain
Hook in drag).
Cockettes performance, publicity, and candid photos
Box 5, Folder 4
"The Trisha Nixon Wedding of 1971" [photo mounted on cardboard],
June 12, 1971
General note
Photo of the cast of Tricia's Wedding.
Box 5, Folder 7
Idols shots, 2nd set. [Color photocopies of photos taken by Gilles Larrain],
[1972?]
Box 5, Folder 8
Sylvester's Wedding,
undated
Box 5, Folder 9
Keychains with photos viewers (5), 2 photos mounted in key fob,
undated
Box 5, Folder 10
Cockettes. Color and black and white photocopies of photographs,
undated
Box 5, Folder 11
Cockettes documentary film photos by Daniel Nicoletta,
February 8, 1999
General note
Mounted publicity stills on set of David Weissman's documentary film of the Cockettes. Includes: Ocean Michael Moon, Dusty
Dawn, David Weissman, and Bill Weber.
Box 5, Folder 12
Flynn, Chris (pianist),
1973
Box 5, Folder 14
Pristine Condition taken by Daniel Nicoletta,
1994
Box 5, Folder 15
Sylvester,
1970-1986, undated
General note
Snapshots and promotional photographs. Includes photographs taken with: Two Tons o' Fun (Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes); Peter
Mintun (1972); Kathy McDonald (Awards show?), Dreamland concert (1984), I-Beam (1982), Jim McKenna (Cable Car Awards? 1984?),
Sister Hetra Sexual (Castro Street Dog Show, 1981).