In this podcast Dana talks about her friendship with Carmen, working at The Balcony and sex work in the 1970s. Dana has also done another interview about growing up in the 1950s. Dana passed away on 12 February 2018.
Dana semi-quotes from an article written by Robert Jones. The exact quote is "Carmen cut a grotesque figure, as might be expected of a 136-kilogram King Country Maori bloke wearing a dress and flaunting massive breasts thanks to implant surgery." (Dominion Post, 30 June 2007)
Summary
This summary relates to an audio recording featuring Dana de Milo discussing their experiences and personal connection with the late Carmen Rupe, a prominent figure within the LGBTQ+ community in New Zealand, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. Dana vividly shares memories of the early encounters with Carmen, their subsequent friendship, and working together at "The Balcony," a popular nightclub of the era.
The narrative unfolds with Dana recalling the first time meeting Carmen at the age of 13 or 14, at the Kado Coffee Lounge in Auckland. Carmen stood out with elegance, dressed in a Cheong Sam, and left a lasting impression on Dana, who followed them to a nightclub to watch them perform. This marked Dana's first introduction to nightclubs and the beginning of their interest in such spaces.
Dana details working at various establishments, including the Sorrento and the Sunset Strip, before reconnecting with Carmen, who had by then leased a building on Vivian Street. Carmen's entrepreneurial spirit led to the opening of their own club and coffee lounge around the years 1968-1969, where Dana eventually joined as a waitress and, for a brief period, as a performer, adopting the stage name "Dana de Milo" on Carmen's suggestion. This stage name came about from a blend of a preferred perfume brand and the last name of Dana's ex-partner.
Dana offers an insider's view of Carmen's club, The Balcony, which was known for its Egyptian-themed decoration, opulent atmosphere, and diverse acts ranging from live music to burlesque. The club attracted a cosmopolitan clientele, including theatergoers and members of the LGBTQ+ community, offering a space where creativity and entertainment thrived.
Moreover, Dana delves into Carmen's generosity and kindness, serving as an empathetic and understanding boss who faced challenges, including being stolen from by some of the workers. Despite these difficulties, Carmen remained warm-hearted and approachable. Dana also touches on the sex work scene in the 1970s, explaining how it was intertwined with nightly entertainment, yet was carried out discreetly.
The recording provides insights into Carmen's struggles with the legal system over gender reassignment treatment and the impact of discriminatory practices that obstructed many transgender individuals' paths to desired medical procedures. Despite these systemic obstacles, Carmen is remembered for their groundbreaking advocacy for transgender rights and social causes.
Dana's reflections paint a portrait of Carmen as an iconic figure, known for their extravagant personality, resilience, and trailblazing contributions to the LGBTQ+ scene in New Zealand. The club and coffee lounge Carmen established offered a sanctuary and job opportunities for those who may have otherwise struggled to find employment due to societal prejudices at the time.
Dana's account is both an intimate remembrance and a historical document, preserving the legacy of Carmen Rupe as someone who made significant contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and left an indelible mark on social history in New Zealand. Through this dialogue, Carmen's spirit is celebrated, highlighting their profound influence on those who knew them and the broader societal progress toward acceptance and equality.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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1960s, 1970s, aotearoa new zealand, art-a-rama, auckland, australia, belinda lee borlase, black magic, brothels, burlesque, ca d'oro (auckland), carmen rupe, carmen's international coffee lounge, carol de winter, chrissy witoko, church, community, dana de milo, drag, education, el matador, emmanuel papadopoulos snr, exotic dancer, family, friends, gender identity, gender reassignment surgery, icons, identity, law, les girls (sydney), linda koolmann, media, melbourne, melbourne gender dysphoria clinic, motueka, māori, niccole duval, parliament buildings, play girls (hong kong), police, powder puff (referred to as the powder poof, wellington), prison, rainton hastie, relationships, robert jones, safe sex, sayonara, sex work, showgirl, snake dancing, sorrento coffee lounge, striptease, sunset strip, sydney, sydney mardi gras, tete a tete, the balcony / le balcon, transexual, transgender, trick, trudy kennedy, volunteer, wally martin, wellington, whānau
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