by Donnie (Horn) (Author), Walter W Cole/Darcelle (Contributor), Kristen Minor (Contributor)

Walter W Cole was looking for another business opportunity when he took over the ownership of Demas Tavern in the "North End" of Portland, Oregon in 1967. The North End was part Chinatown, part skid row, and was not, what many thought of as a desirable part of town. A chance meeting, a song by Barbra Streisand, a dress from Goodwill, and a 4 x 8 tabletop became, over the next few years Darcelle XV Showplace. Since 1969 the storefront located at 208 NW Third has become one of the oldest drag cabaret venues in the United States.

The owner himself was named the Guinness Book of Records Worlds Oldest Performing Drag Queen, and in 2020 the club was placed on the National Register of Historic Places - the first LGBTQ business in Oregon and only the twenty-second one in the US!

This book includes a history of drag, searching for other drag venues that are close in the age of the club or older, the nomination to the National Register, with photos, press clippings, and memories. Take a peek...we hope you agree, Walter W Cole aka Darcelle XV along with his partner Roxy Neuhardt and many cast and crews over the year has built and has maintained a unique club/cabaret.

Demas to Darcelle is part of The Darcelle Project which was awarded the 2021 Oregon Heritage Excellence Award.

222 pages