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Kreemah Ritz Papers, [1960s]-2005 GLC 79
GLC 79  
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Table of contents What's This?

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

 

David Baker, Jr.

 

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 2, Oversize-folder 1

Arnold, Steven, 1994

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 15

Divine, 1981, 1988

Box 1, Folder 16

Dunigan, Anton "Reggie," 2001

Box 1, Folder 17

Fogel, Peter, 2000

Box 1, Folder 18

Grey, Joel, 1972

Box 1, Folder 19

Kalman, Michael J., 2003

Box 1, Folder 20

Mintun, Peter, 1989, 1995

Box 1, Folder 21

Moon, Ocean Michael, 2003

Box 1, Folder 22

Olds, Marshall, IV, 2002

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 25

Rothermel, John, 1994

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 38

Hot Greeks, [March 1972]

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

 

Mid-sized posters

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
 

Large posters

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 2

1970

Box 5, Folder 3

1971

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 5

1972

Box 5, Folder 6

1970s

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 13

Mintun, Peter, 1982

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).
Box 5, Folder 16

Wally, 1990