The Cuban Legend, David de Alba, made his name in the female impersonation world when he performed at the legendary San Francisco nightclub Finocchio’s. David is the last of the Finocchio’s stars to still be performing. Last month he did a show in Las Vegas, where he resides, and there was a video camera recording […]
In May of 2000 David de Alba went to see Steven Wayne in the La Cage Revue in Las Vegas and was mesmerized by his perfectionism performing as Cher and Celine Dion. David was also impressed with Wayne’s appearance, from the styling of the wigs he wore to his make-up, and of course his costuming. That’s why David conducted this interview that he has kindly allowed us to re-publish today on TGF.
On November 8 The Cuban Legend, David de Alba, brought his Judy Garland impersonation back to the stage in Las Vegas with his David de Alba’s LIVE Tribute to Judy Garland — Judy Forever In My Heart. He appeared in an afternoon one man show at the Jewel Box Theatre, located in the Erotic Heritage […]
David de Alba graciously allows us to re-publish his celebrity interviews. In October of 2000 David conducted the following interview with Carmen. Carmen became gravely ill early in 2003 and passed away on in March of 2003 at the early age of 52. David’s interview ensures that the name of this talented performer will live on.
The writer who has been with TGForum longer than anyone, Pamela DeGroff, has another of her in depth musical columns for us today. First up is a review of the latest CD release from eccentric trans artist Baby Dee. Then Pamela has music news from David de Alba and Georgie Jessup, and mini reviews of new albums by Duran Duran, Leona Lewis and The Young Professionals.
Step back in time and see a video of Rene de Carlo, the International Dancing Star, performing onstage at the legendary Finocchio’s in San Francisco in 1980. No, we don’t have a hot tub time machine. The video was recorded by David de Alba’s long-time partner Paul Ryner and it presents a clip out of the heyday of female impersonation in the City by The Bay.
David de Alba graciously allows us to re-publish his celebrity interviews. Today we bring you his interview with Joan Rivers favorite Joan Rivers impersonator, Gary Dee. The interview was conducted in the early 2000s while Gary Dee was living and performing in Aruba. Imagine we are transported to the beautiful Island of Aruba in the […]
Today Pamela DeGroff has an interview with the eccentric, hard to categorize musical artist Baby Dee. Baby Dee talks about old and new CDs, the types of venues that they have played on their last tour and what musical influences shaped their music. Then Pamela gives you music news, and does mini reviews of some new CDs by three women artists.
On July 24, fresh from his triumphant appearance at The Onyx Theatre in Las Vegas, Nevade David de Albs appeared on stage at the Badlands club. The host and MC for the evening, Jimmy Emerson, brought David on as a special guest to present him with the “Ultimate Award” that we announced here a few weeks ago. […]
David de Alba sold out The Onyx Theatre on June 21 in Las Vegas. All the seats were filled for his Judy Garland Tribute Show. David was surprised during the show to receive and award for his portrayal on stages across the country of Garland. After the show he got another award from his inspiration from Cuba. See a slideshow of the performance.
This is a story of synchronicity, or perhaps coincidence. Our friend-of-TGForum, David de Alba, was a performer at Finocchio’s nightclub in San Francisco up until the 1980s. He also owned a hair salon in the Potrero Hill District of that city by the bay. Being a female impersonator, Finocchio’s only Cuban F.I. at that, brought […]
Pamela DeGroff interviews TGForum Contributor Meggan Sommerville about her life, her faith and her contributions to an essay project called Listen to Your Mother. Then Pamela has music news about Georgie Jessup, and David de Alba as well as advance word on some Perpetual Change friends releasing new music. There’s all that and a mini review of the electronic music duo Mackintosh Braun.
In 1980 David de Alba, the Cuban Legend, stepped outside the walls of the famous female impersonation club Finocchio’s to do a special performance at the popular Cuban club Circulo Cubano in San Francisco. He had no dressing room or help so he wore the Judy Garland hobo costume from his Judy show, and a Pierot costume. And then — he sang.
The Rev. Yolanda is starring in a film about her musical drag ministry Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour. The film takes you to one of her shows and gets you into the gospel frenzy. The filmmaker decided that there should be a book about the film that took you behind the scenes. So he put together a coffee table book called Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour Behind The Scenes. Pamela DeGroff reviews the book and brings us some other music news in today’s Perpetual Change.
David de Alba graciously allows us to republish his interviews with entertainers that he features on his website. This interview with Stephanie Williams a well known entertainer who worked all across the country and spent a number of years producing shows in New Orlean was conducted in 2000. Ms. Williams is now living full time as a woman and living in Las Vegas.
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! Jazz Jennings was on television. Rene Richards talks about her coming out in the ’70s. The TG community is miffed with Zoey Tur. A trans man teen takes his own life. More photos of Eddie Redmayne as The Danish Girl. Trans hirstory in L.A. A video interview with David de Alba. Trans books for kids. Legislation. Restrooms. We’ve got it all in TWIT!
David de Alba is preparing to take the stage this coming June for a show at The Onyx Theatre in Las Vegas. David sent us this assessment of his female impersonation and vocal skills that was written by his friend, former concert pianist and FI historian Linda La Blanche. David invites all readers of TGForum to […]
All the TG news we could find! It’s The Week In Transgenderism. Andreja Pejic walks the runway for the first time after her surgery. Do goats flirt with their long eyelashes? One trans woman writes about how transition changed her exercise program. The first photo of Eddie Redmayne in character as Lili Elbe is released. Is it wrong for cis actors to portray trans characters? A drag icon in Washington, D.C. has passed away. David de Alba returns to the stage in June. Joey Arias plays Lincoln Center. All that and more plus a few TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
David de Alba has spoken with many stars of the female impersonation world and his interviews with them help us to learn what it was like in the golden age of female impersonation. Today we turn things around and present an interview conducted by Linda La Blanche with David de Alba. Ms. La Blanche is a […]
David de Alba has done many interviews with female impersonators and other celebrities. He has kindly given consent to reproduce his interviews on TGF. Today we bring you his interview with Brian Keith. (Not the actor in The Parent Trap.) Brian Keith was the last emcee of the show at Finocchio’s famous impersonation club in San Francisco. We also have a video of Keith filling in for Frank Marino in the Divas Las Vegas show.
Legendary female impersonator David de Alba has done interviews with many of the stars of female impersonation. He has kindly consented to allow TGForum to publish some of his interviews. Today we feature de Alba’s interview with another legendary impersonator of days gone by, Laurie Knight. If you like to hear about what it was like in the “good old days” Laurie Knight has a wealth of stories to share. There was the time Knight worked in Bugsy Siegel’s place, and stories from Finocchio’s in San Francisco. Enjoy!
David de Alba kindly allows us to share some of his vast collection of interviews and tributes to the stars of female impersonation. Today we bring you his pictorial tribute to the late, great Craig Russell. Recently we featured a link to an article about Russell in our TWIT column and David let us know about the feature he had compiled.
David de Alba is not only the Cuban Legend of female impersonation but is also a documenter of the other practitioners of the female impersonation art. He has done scads of interviews with those who trod the stage in gowns and high heels. He has published his FI celebrity interviews on his website but has given TGF permission to bring you select interviews. Today we present David’s 2001 interview with Wynnie La Freak, a British performer who is still going strong in 2014.
Fortunately for posterity home video cameras were around in 1980 and David de Alba’s partner Paul Ryner had one. He shot this video in 1980 which documents one of the finale productions featuring The Eve-ettes at Finocchio’s in San Francisco called, A Tribute to Cabaret Night 1980. There is a production number followed by David de Alba […]
David de Alba was kind enough to send us some images from his show at The Onyx Theatre in Las Vegas on June 22.
The stars of female impersonation in the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s were all about glamor and beauty. Only an act devoted to comedy would over-do things and exaggerate feminine characteristics in search of a laugh from the audience. The exotic and beautiful female impersonators worked to be indistinguishable from the actresses and singers they portrayed. Thanks […]
