Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret (Hardcover)

by Leila J. Rupp (Author), Verta Taylor (Author) "It's Saturday night in Key West and the "Girlie Show" is about to begin at the 801 Cabaret..." (more)
Key Phrases: drag queen meeting, young straight woman, local gay man, Key West, Bourbon Street, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

It's Saturday night in Key West and the Girlie Show is about to begin at the 801 Cabaret. The girls have been outside on the sidewalk all evening, seducing passersby into coming in for the show. The club itself is packed tonight and smoke has filled the room. When the lights finally go down, statuesque blonds and stunning brunettes sporting black leather miniskirts, stiletto heels, and see-through lingerie take the stage. En Vogue's "Free Your Mind" blares on the house stereo. The crowd roars in approval.

In this lively book, Leila J. Rupp and Verta Taylor take us on an entertaining tour through one of America's most overlooked subcultures: the world of the drag queen. They offer a penetrating glimpse into the lives of the 801 Girls, the troupe of queens who perform nightly at the 801 Cabaret for tourists and locals. Weaving together their fascinating life stories, their lavish costumes and eclectic music, their flamboyance and bitchiness, and their bawdy exchanges with one another and their audiences, the authors explore how drag queens smash the boundaries between gay and straight, man and woman, to make people think more deeply and realistically about sex and gender in America today. They also consider how the queens create a space that encourages camaraderie and acceptance among everyday people, no matter what their sexual preferences might be.

Based on countless interviews with more than a dozen drag queens, more than three years of attendance at their outrageous performances, and even the authors' participation in the shows themselves, Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret is a witty and poignant portrait of gay life and culture. When they said life is a cabaret, they clearly meant the 801.

From the Inside Flap

It's Saturday night in Key West and the Girlie Show is about to begin at the 801 Cabaret. The girls have been outside on the sidewalk all evening, seducing passersby into coming in for the show. The club itself is packed tonight and smoke has filled the room. When the lights finally go down, statuesque blonds and stunning brunettes sporting black leather miniskirts, stiletto heels, and see-through lingerie take the stage. En Vogue's "Free Your Mind" blares on the house stereo. The crowd roars in approval.

In this lively book, Leila J. Rupp and Verta Taylor take us on an entertaining tour through one of America's most overlooked subcultures: the world of the drag queen. They offer a penetrating glimpse into the lives of the 801 Girls, the troupe of queens who perform nightly at the 801 Cabaret for tourists and locals. Weaving together their fascinating life stories, their lavish costumes and eclectic music, their flamboyance and bitchiness, and their bawdy exchanges with one another and their audiences, the authors explore how drag queens smash the boundaries between gay and straight, man and woman, to make people think more deeply and realistically about sex and gender in America today. They also consider how the queens create a space that encourages camaraderie and acceptance among everyday people, no matter what their sexual preferences might be.

Based on countless interviews with more than a dozen drag queens, more than three years of attendance at their outrageous performances, and even the authors' participation in the shows themselves, Drag Queens at the 801 Cabaret is a witty and poignant portrait of gay life and culture. When they said life is a cabaret, they clearly meant the 801.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (May 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226731588
• ISBN-13: 978-0226731582
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #639,929 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for All, January 9, 2007

By	PhillyMike "Mike" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

I just finished reading this book and was very impressed with how well the authors bring you into the lives of the draq queens at the 801. I have been to Key West many times and have been to several of the drag shows at the 801. While reading the book I felt like I was there sharing in the experiences and lives of the 'girls' who do so much good for their community and for the gay community. This book is a must read for all people...gay, straight bi etc. (especially if you don't know much about this facet of the LGBT community). You will get a kick out of all the antics, gain a better understanding of drag queens, and will grow to appreciate & love all of the girls covered in this book. Also...If you love Key West then you will love this book. The authors really express the mood and spirit on this island that makes so many tourists wish they were locals.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great story, December 7, 2008

By	Lee E. Couchman "He who shops" (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I met Susi at the 801 cabaret. Her show "Hush" was the best drag I've seen in years! And I'm from Louisville Kentucky, home of the Connection, and I'm told one of the best drag bars known to gay man. I told her how much I loved the show and she told me about the book.
When I returned from Key West I ordered 2 copies from Amazon. The book tells the stories of the drag queens at the 801 Cabaret. Not always glamorous but fun to read and oddly insightful. When I returned to Key West I took the books and had her Autograph them. I gave one to my brother for his birthday.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining but needed more complex insight, February 27, 2007

By	J. Perez "JP of SD" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Two profs write 211 pages describing the details including the antics of this fabulous Key West club at the 801 Cabaret. The narratives are descriptive of the relationships between the drag queens, the personal histories of each of them, and vivid descriptions of their performances. You'll be entertained, however, I personally wish they went into more complex detail as to their repeated reiterrations at the end of each chapter that drag queens are questioning gender, femininity, masculinity, etc. We already know this. How about breaking down what all this means instead of quickly glossing over it in the last chapter?