Sepia Gloria Swanson & Sepia Mae West (original) (raw)
Sepia Gloria Swanson & Sepia Mae West There was a practice in the 1930s that I thought interesting, of several female impersonators taking their names from celebrities. And the ones that caught on took their names from Gloria Swanson and Mae West. They were quite successful, especially in Harlem, often sharing bills with top entertainers.
Sepia Gloria Swanson was prominent enough to be mentioned in reference books, like "Gay New York," by George Chauncey
And James Wilson's "Bulldaggers, Pansies and Chocolate Babies"
and a number of times in Chad Heap's "Slumming" and in "Chicago Whispers" by St Sukie De La Croix
Clippings
Harry Winston
...dies in train wreck
Walter Winston
Sepia Mae West
a name used by several entertainers... must have been confusing, especially as the clippings did not always give the real name
Dick Barrow (or, Barrows)
Norma
(note above: sharing a bill with Bessie Smith )
San Fouche
and they even confuse the photos...
Note: also on the above bill was gay performer Rubberlegs Williams
Sam Fouche
Richard Barrow
Richard Barrow
Peggy Joyce
Dick Barrows
Sam Fouche, aka Peggy Joyce
Dick Barrows
Mae Johnson
Mae Johnson
Ida Cox
Octavia Ward
More Dick Barrow
1939
1950