LOCATION
GLBT Historical Society Museum, 4127 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94114
ADMISSION
RSVP and purchase tickets here
Phillip R. Ford, director of the cult film classic Vegas in Space (1991), served most of the 1980s as "honorary straight man" in the legendary San Francisco drag troupe Sluts A-Go-Go. Collaborating with his mentor and friend, the legendary drag queen Doris Fish, along with Miss X and “Tippi”, he created and co-starred in some celebrated drag theater, both on nightclub and legitimate stages, which are still lovingly remembered today by those who were there.
Doris Fish hailed from Sydney but relocated mostly full time to San Francisco in the late 70s. Ford was a young filmmaker of 21 when he met Fish, who soon recruited him to direct her feature film obsession Vegas in Space. Little did they know the next decade of their lives would be given over to the toils and triumphs that awaited. Driving under the influence of glamour, film theory and an addictive love of vivid colors and bad acting, they devoted all of their time, money and youth to the completion of Doris and Phillip’s cinematic fantasy. Vegas in Space famously took nine years to complete and created a sensation at the 1992 Sundance Film Festival, appeared at festivals worldwide, and was broadcast on USA Network’s Up All Night. The film today is a greater cult phenomenon than when it was released, having inspired generations of young queens the world over to dedicate themselves to follow their own artistic dreams.
In Hi Spots in a Low Dive: The Home Movies of Doris Fish, Ford presents a selection of greatest hits from his extensive “home movie” collection of videos from stage and TV performances together with many glimpses behind-the-scenes. Live onstage he shares his stories and reminiscences, along with a fabulous assortment of video hits from San Francisco in the 1980s, a rather forgotten period of drag theater history. Among the high spots are clips from Nightclub of the Living Dead, The Happy Hour Show, Bad Seed, Gay Cable Network and The Sluts A-Go-Go All Star Gang Bang and Who Does That Bitch Think She Is?.
This event is co-sponsored by the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive and DorisFish.com.
Speakers
Phillip R. Ford is an erstwhile producer, director and entertainer, best known as the director of the classic cult film Vegas in Space starring the legendary Doris Fish. He spent most of the 1980s serving onstage as the "honorary straight man" in numerous low dives in San Francisco with the fabulous and notorious Sluts A-Go-Go drag ensemble.
Location
GLBT Historical Society Museum, 4127 18th St., San Francisco, CA 94114
Admission
Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. This event will likely sell out, so guests are encouraged to reserve their tickets early. Tickets are available here.
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