Eighteen Perform For Newbern Testimonial

BY TRACEY MARTIN

Eighteen metro area gay entertainers performed gratis on Friday, May 29 at the Paradiso Cafe, donating the proceeds derived from their talents to Newbern Productions.

Organized by Rene Michaels, Miss Gay Great Lakes, and featuring such local stars as Jennifer Foxx, Elaine St. Jacques and Tony Brown, the event, billed quite legitimately enough as an Extravanganza, was produced for the purpose of generating revenue for Newbern Productions. Initiated by the artists themselves, it was their way of saying thanks to John Newell and Robbie Bernstein, Newbern co-owners, for so often in the past personally subsidizing gay entertainment.

While the disappointing paying audience did not, as was hoped, prove the vitality of gay entertainment enterprise in Detroit, the enthusiasm and dedicated competence of the performers themselves, and the renewed commitment of Newbern to gay entertainment in our area, at least demonstrated that any funeral dirge

The Extravaganza at the Paradiso (June 28th) for Newbern Prod. Just a few of the performers with Robbie and John. Photo Tracey Martin

is quite premature. Another such event is already being planned.

Those participating were Jennifer Foxx, Elaine Ste. Jacques, Tony Brown, Duane Bradley, Samantha Stewart, Bree Simms, Aubrey Lord, Vicky Lee, Tempest, Colette, Eunice Alexander, Keeley Rivarde, Dana, Melba Moore, Emoree Hunt, Fantasia, Rene Michaels and special thanks to Bill and Betty Simms of Paradiso, Keith the D.J., waiters and bartenders and Fran Jeffries.

Gay Bowling Banquet 1981

On Sunday, May 31st at the upper deck of the Roostertail the gay bowling team held their Bowling Banquet. Lots of cash money and trophies were given to the very well deserved bowlers.

The gay leagues play (in season) every Sunday at The State Fair

Alleys on Woodward from noon to 3 p.m.

There are 68 teams, but here are the top 10 teams for this year.

"Pure Entertainment" Featured At The New Paradiso Cafe

DETROIT "Just pure entertainment," is the way Larry Walker describes the production he is mounting at the Paradiso Cafe on the evenings of June 17, 18 and 19..

The Hollywood-inspired collage of sets and scenery, costumes, lighting, special effects, music, dancing and dynamic energy can barely be contained on the modest stage at the Paradiso Cafe. But it is certain to enchant the dinner theater audience. Reservations required.

"This is unique, different entertainmentfor Detroit," says Walker as he describes the way he has shaped the dozen or so dancers and production members into a disciplined troop, dedicated to first-class entertainment.

From his early dance training at near-by Cranbrook Institute, through his first productions mounted at night clubs in Lansing and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and culminating at the Playboy Club in Los Angeles Walker brings a decade of experience and imagination to bear on "making people smile and feel good."

Created entirely out of Walker's own genius for choreography and storytelling, the two-part Paradiso production features a trip back in time in a number that saw its premiere in Los Angeles over a year ago. Playing the part of a time-traveler, Walker takes his audience by time-machine back to one million B.C.

The voyager then moves through one fantasy adventure after another from Roman times and Camelot, to the Wild West, a '20s Speakeasy, a '50s Sock-Hop, to a modern disco and beyond.

"It something like piecing together snatches of old MGM period movies," Walker says. "There's something exciting for an audience to revisit those times like looking through a doorway and seeing what a timetraveler would see, and relating it to today's music and dancing. Sure, it's an escape," he says, "for the audience and the performers."

But there is a message: "No matter what 'time' you're in," according to Walker, "as long as you understand what's going on around you, you can survive and get the best out of your experience."O

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TEAM # BAR

GAMES WO

#31A

Menjo's #2

#33A

Gold Coast #1

.95

#10A

Interchange #6

#14B

Gas Station #5

.90

#20B

The Deck #8

#6A

The Woodward #1

#5B

Cafe Gigi's #5

#3B

Amigas #1

842

#26A

The Outlaw #1

832

#1A

The Underground#1

822

TEAM HIGH GAME DIVISION A

# 6

Woodward #1

1029

#33

Gold Coast #1

972

#22

Socio's #1

961

TEAM HIGH GAME DIVISION B

# 3

Amigas #1

965

#28

Socio's #2

939

#20

Deck #8

933

TEAM HIGH SERIES DIVISION A

# 6

Woodward #1

2768

#33

Gold Coast #1

2650

# 1

Underground #1

3635

TEAM HIGH SERIES DIVISION B

Bill (from The Woodward) last year's Bowling Winner with Joe LaRosa (Menjo's), this year's top tam. The league trophy will remain at Menjo's throughout the year. Photo Jon Gabriel

#20

The Deck #8

2702

# 3

Amigas #1

2623

#18

Outlaw #4

2596

Good luck to all of this year's winners, and check with your favorite bar to play on one of their teams next year.☐

Shiela secretary of the bowling team with a happy trophy winner (from Menjo's). Photo Jon Gabriel