1 00:00:05,921 --> 00:00:07,281 Speaker 1: Appoche production. 2 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,321 Speaker 2: Welcome to Secrets of the Underworld. I am Neil the 3 00:00:13,401 --> 00:00:17,481 Speaker 2: Muscle Commons, and in this episode I speak with Penny Clifford, 4 00:00:17,721 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 2: a pioneering trans show girl who became a Queen of 5 00:00:20,681 --> 00:00:21,441 Speaker 2: Oxford Street. 6 00:00:21,801 --> 00:00:23,961 Speaker 3: I was born in nineteen sixty one and then seeing 7 00:00:23,961 --> 00:00:26,281 Speaker 3: my first drag show with trans women and I was like, 8 00:00:26,321 --> 00:00:28,041 Speaker 3: it was like a light bulb went off for me, 9 00:00:28,121 --> 00:00:28,481 Speaker 3: and I was. 10 00:00:28,441 --> 00:00:29,761 Speaker 1: Like, that's who I am. 11 00:00:30,281 --> 00:00:33,321 Speaker 3: There are very few men that are happy to say 12 00:00:33,801 --> 00:00:36,361 Speaker 3: I like a trans woman, and I didn't want to 13 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 3: be someone's secret lasking the cross. 14 00:00:39,001 --> 00:00:40,321 Speaker 4: You've got a character that plays you. 15 00:00:40,441 --> 00:00:42,921 Speaker 1: Yeah, okay, apparently can did anyone else. 16 00:00:42,721 --> 00:00:45,041 Speaker 3: With a dramatic well, no, there's no other six foot 17 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,321 Speaker 3: two dance. I remember at one point she was like, 18 00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:50,641 Speaker 3: I need climb that ladder and pour hot wax on 19 00:00:50,681 --> 00:00:53,201 Speaker 3: that lesbian snipples And I was like, okay. It was 20 00:00:53,241 --> 00:00:55,681 Speaker 3: written up in the Daily Telegraph or something. My mum 21 00:00:55,721 --> 00:00:57,761 Speaker 3: read it and she was like, what is that. You 22 00:00:57,801 --> 00:01:00,401 Speaker 3: know Penny was seen at the Madonna thing and I 23 00:01:00,441 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 3: was like, Lord have mercy. 24 00:01:06,081 --> 00:01:09,361 Speaker 4: Penny, thank you for coming on. I appreciate this. I've 25 00:01:09,401 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 4: been trying to get you on here. Probably over a 26 00:01:12,081 --> 00:01:12,481 Speaker 4: year now. 27 00:01:13,121 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: I know, I know I shy away from it, but 28 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:17,161 Speaker 1: you know, I'm here. 29 00:01:17,401 --> 00:01:18,881 Speaker 4: I'm grateful for your coming in. 30 00:01:18,961 --> 00:01:20,121 Speaker 1: I'm happy to see your face. 31 00:01:20,321 --> 00:01:23,001 Speaker 4: Thank you. It's been a long time, sure. 32 00:01:22,961 --> 00:01:25,081 Speaker 1: Has way too many decades. 33 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 4: All right, let's get this on the way. 34 00:01:27,321 --> 00:01:30,521 Speaker 2: So before we get into all our exciting, dizzy grizzy stuff, 35 00:01:30,681 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: let's talk about you growing up, and let's get to 36 00:01:33,761 --> 00:01:35,081 Speaker 2: know you first as a person. 37 00:01:35,521 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 3: Okay, I grew up out at Auburn. I was a 38 00:01:39,441 --> 00:01:42,321 Speaker 3: Western suburbs kid. I grew up there. I had a 39 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:47,481 Speaker 3: relatively normal childhood and went to school and went to 40 00:01:47,561 --> 00:01:52,001 Speaker 3: high school and just yeah, fluffed around for a little while. 41 00:01:52,041 --> 00:01:55,321 Speaker 3: And it was around that time that I started to question, 42 00:01:56,321 --> 00:01:59,921 Speaker 3: you know, and we're talking, you know, was early seventies, 43 00:02:00,441 --> 00:02:03,841 Speaker 3: early seventies. By then I started questioning my gender and 44 00:02:04,441 --> 00:02:06,721 Speaker 3: who I was and all of that kind of thing. 45 00:02:07,041 --> 00:02:10,841 Speaker 3: And I think around about, you know, because it wasn't, 46 00:02:10,961 --> 00:02:14,321 Speaker 3: you know, transness was I really wasn't a thing like 47 00:02:14,361 --> 00:02:16,761 Speaker 3: it is now, you know, And to it was. 48 00:02:16,761 --> 00:02:19,281 Speaker 4: More of the radar back then when they told quite much. 49 00:02:19,321 --> 00:02:20,881 Speaker 3: And you know, I mean I was born in nineteen 50 00:02:20,921 --> 00:02:23,921 Speaker 3: sixty one, so you know, to learn about transits was 51 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 3: an accident in the library you know where I grew up, 52 00:02:27,921 --> 00:02:31,361 Speaker 3: so you know, it was a really I remember being 53 00:02:31,441 --> 00:02:33,721 Speaker 3: very confused for a while, and I never felt right 54 00:02:33,721 --> 00:02:38,481 Speaker 3: in my body. And then I think around about fourteen 55 00:02:38,561 --> 00:02:42,441 Speaker 3: or fifteen, I remember learning some more information about it 56 00:02:42,481 --> 00:02:46,441 Speaker 3: and understanding it and then realizing obviously that's what I was. 57 00:02:46,481 --> 00:02:49,721 Speaker 3: But I don't even remember the word transnist coming around, 58 00:02:49,761 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 3: but I remember reading. I remember reading books like Conundrum 59 00:02:53,481 --> 00:02:58,001 Speaker 3: by Jen Morris or Second Serve by Renee Richards, the 60 00:02:58,081 --> 00:03:01,561 Speaker 3: very famous tennis player back in those days that had 61 00:03:01,641 --> 00:03:04,481 Speaker 3: a sex change, and so that made a lot of 62 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,601 Speaker 3: sense to me. So I started going out as early 63 00:03:07,641 --> 00:03:11,041 Speaker 3: as I could, you know, fifteen or sixteen, catching the 64 00:03:11,081 --> 00:03:13,601 Speaker 3: train in and going around Oxford Street, and you know, 65 00:03:13,641 --> 00:03:15,841 Speaker 3: it was much easy to get into clubs, and because 66 00:03:15,841 --> 00:03:18,601 Speaker 3: I was taller, it was easy for me to get 67 00:03:18,601 --> 00:03:21,401 Speaker 3: in and figuring out from there. And then seeing my 68 00:03:21,481 --> 00:03:23,641 Speaker 3: first drag show with trans women and I was like, 69 00:03:23,641 --> 00:03:25,401 Speaker 3: it was like a light bulb went off for me, 70 00:03:25,441 --> 00:03:27,081 Speaker 3: and I was like, that's who I am. 71 00:03:27,361 --> 00:03:29,561 Speaker 4: You know, what about your parents, they like. 72 00:03:30,921 --> 00:03:34,081 Speaker 3: They didn't really understand it, and it was hard for 73 00:03:34,121 --> 00:03:37,481 Speaker 3: them at the start, but they obviously knew. I mean, look, 74 00:03:37,561 --> 00:03:39,201 Speaker 3: you know, when I was young, I went to the 75 00:03:39,241 --> 00:03:42,641 Speaker 3: Debi Graham Dance School in Grand Ball, you know, so 76 00:03:42,761 --> 00:03:45,801 Speaker 3: they obviously knew there was a very feminine side to me. 77 00:03:46,441 --> 00:03:49,921 Speaker 3: And I would often I remember pulling the curtains off 78 00:03:49,961 --> 00:03:52,281 Speaker 3: the curtain rod and wrapping them around and dancing around 79 00:03:52,321 --> 00:03:55,041 Speaker 3: the house for mom and dad, and you know, so 80 00:03:55,121 --> 00:03:58,201 Speaker 3: they probably were eye rolling. And my two eldest brothers 81 00:03:58,241 --> 00:04:02,441 Speaker 3: would always turn my previous name into some kind of 82 00:04:02,601 --> 00:04:05,241 Speaker 3: feminine name, and you know, like I grew up like that, 83 00:04:05,441 --> 00:04:07,721 Speaker 3: so it was kind of like everyone just put up 84 00:04:07,761 --> 00:04:09,561 Speaker 3: with my silliness and. 85 00:04:09,161 --> 00:04:10,961 Speaker 4: How a schooler for that feature. 86 00:04:10,961 --> 00:04:14,601 Speaker 3: You know, school was something I got through, but I 87 00:04:14,681 --> 00:04:18,481 Speaker 3: never it wasn't something where I don't ever remember being 88 00:04:18,521 --> 00:04:19,921 Speaker 3: abused or bashed or. 89 00:04:20,081 --> 00:04:22,521 Speaker 4: Picked on to more female friends than male. 90 00:04:22,961 --> 00:04:24,681 Speaker 1: I went to an old boys high school. 91 00:04:24,681 --> 00:04:26,921 Speaker 4: Oh fuck, really that was fun? 92 00:04:27,161 --> 00:04:29,201 Speaker 3: And do you know there was another star of lay 93 00:04:29,281 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 3: girls that went to the same high school as me. 94 00:04:31,521 --> 00:04:33,121 Speaker 3: I don't know what was in the world or at 95 00:04:33,121 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 3: beer On Boys High School. 96 00:04:34,481 --> 00:04:34,721 Speaker 4: Wow? 97 00:04:34,961 --> 00:04:38,521 Speaker 2: Yeah, all right, So how early did you know, like 98 00:04:38,601 --> 00:04:40,281 Speaker 2: besides fourteen and all like that, But did you. 99 00:04:40,241 --> 00:04:42,721 Speaker 1: Know there was something. See, the problem was, it wasn't it. 100 00:04:42,921 --> 00:04:46,481 Speaker 3: Nowadays people can read about transness at eight or nine 101 00:04:46,561 --> 00:04:49,121 Speaker 3: and understand it. There wasn't anything, So it took me 102 00:04:49,161 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 3: a little bit longer to figure it out. But by 103 00:04:51,401 --> 00:04:54,561 Speaker 3: twelve or thirteen, I think everyone just presumed I was 104 00:04:55,041 --> 00:04:58,121 Speaker 3: effeminate and gay, and you know, it just took me 105 00:04:58,161 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 3: a little bit longer to figure out my journey. But 106 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,281 Speaker 3: by seventeen, I kind of sixteen and seventeen, and I 107 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,121 Speaker 3: really knew that I wanted to be what you want 108 00:05:07,161 --> 00:05:09,801 Speaker 3: to do well, that I felt that I was trans 109 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 3: and that this is what I needed to do. It 110 00:05:12,561 --> 00:05:14,801 Speaker 3: took me a year or two, and I had to 111 00:05:14,801 --> 00:05:17,921 Speaker 3: move out of home, and you know, like to settle 112 00:05:17,961 --> 00:05:22,681 Speaker 3: myself because I mean we're talking seventy something, you know, 113 00:05:22,801 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 3: seventy five, seventy six, and you know, Mum and Dad 114 00:05:25,561 --> 00:05:28,721 Speaker 3: were okay but not great and didn't really understand it. 115 00:05:29,001 --> 00:05:32,361 Speaker 3: And I felt like I needed to figure myself out 116 00:05:32,401 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 3: and then present them with a package of where I 117 00:05:35,481 --> 00:05:39,121 Speaker 3: looked more presentable. And so during that what you would 118 00:05:39,121 --> 00:05:42,641 Speaker 3: call an androgynous period, I suppose, you know, I rang 119 00:05:43,161 --> 00:05:46,561 Speaker 3: I would call them but not see them too often. 120 00:05:46,641 --> 00:05:47,521 Speaker 1: And then once I. 121 00:05:47,521 --> 00:05:51,081 Speaker 3: Started to look a little bit more presentable, then I 122 00:05:51,161 --> 00:05:52,561 Speaker 3: started to get to go home and. 123 00:05:52,481 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 4: See who did you go and see for this change? 124 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: Well, you do, just go to the doctors and NAT, 125 00:05:57,921 --> 00:05:58,561 Speaker 1: you went nervous. 126 00:05:58,641 --> 00:06:01,841 Speaker 2: You went nervous rather course, yeah, because as you said, 127 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: back in the seventies and eighties, early eighties, it was 128 00:06:04,121 --> 00:06:05,881 Speaker 2: like wow, you know, bring that out to what you 129 00:06:05,921 --> 00:06:06,481 Speaker 2: wanted to do. 130 00:06:07,161 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 4: Like now you could just do it every Yeah, there's. 131 00:06:09,281 --> 00:06:12,241 Speaker 3: There's so much information out there for young trans kids. 132 00:06:12,281 --> 00:06:15,121 Speaker 3: But it wasn't until I went to a club called 133 00:06:15,161 --> 00:06:19,561 Speaker 3: Capricios on Oxford Street, which is where Stonewall Hotel is now, 134 00:06:19,601 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 3: and upstairs they had a show and it was called 135 00:06:21,561 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 3: International Vanities, and it was just all trans women, beautiful 136 00:06:25,681 --> 00:06:28,281 Speaker 3: trans women, and I met all of them and they explained, 137 00:06:29,161 --> 00:06:31,201 Speaker 3: go on hormones, go and see this doctor. 138 00:06:31,241 --> 00:06:32,361 Speaker 1: They took me under their wing. 139 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,161 Speaker 3: I went to the doctor, I got on hormones, and 140 00:06:35,161 --> 00:06:37,801 Speaker 3: I started my transwoman journey. 141 00:06:37,921 --> 00:06:39,241 Speaker 1: And that's how it happened for me. 142 00:06:39,561 --> 00:06:42,201 Speaker 3: You know, I knew, but I just needed that catalyst 143 00:06:42,241 --> 00:06:45,281 Speaker 3: of meeting a group of beautiful trans women. And some 144 00:06:45,361 --> 00:06:47,921 Speaker 3: of those are still my friends today, Those women that 145 00:06:47,961 --> 00:06:50,481 Speaker 3: I met are still friends. I don't get to see 146 00:06:50,521 --> 00:06:52,361 Speaker 3: them that often. They're a bit older than me, but 147 00:06:52,961 --> 00:06:55,801 Speaker 3: you know, they're around and I still look at them 148 00:06:55,801 --> 00:06:59,841 Speaker 3: all as superstars. And that show was very legendary on 149 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:00,601 Speaker 3: Oxford Street. 150 00:07:01,121 --> 00:07:02,561 Speaker 2: So so when you got to the age, I think 151 00:07:02,561 --> 00:07:04,241 Speaker 2: it was because I looked up as well. It was 152 00:07:04,241 --> 00:07:08,161 Speaker 2: the seventeen you actually you decided that's when you were 153 00:07:08,161 --> 00:07:09,961 Speaker 2: going to kind of get into the showgirls. 154 00:07:10,441 --> 00:07:10,681 Speaker 4: Yes. 155 00:07:10,761 --> 00:07:14,881 Speaker 3: Yeah, I started experimenting and talent shows and tragedy, and 156 00:07:15,001 --> 00:07:17,121 Speaker 3: you know, I look back at some of the things 157 00:07:17,121 --> 00:07:18,921 Speaker 3: I did then, and I remember going There was a 158 00:07:18,961 --> 00:07:21,561 Speaker 3: club on Oxford Street, I don't know, it would be 159 00:07:21,601 --> 00:07:24,441 Speaker 3: Flow's Palace, and they had a drag contest and I 160 00:07:24,481 --> 00:07:27,521 Speaker 3: went into that and won. From there, I went down 161 00:07:27,561 --> 00:07:31,681 Speaker 3: to Patches, Yes, and Tricksy Lamont, the star of Patches, 162 00:07:31,721 --> 00:07:35,841 Speaker 3: gave me a job helping backstage and I would get 163 00:07:35,841 --> 00:07:38,201 Speaker 3: to do a song in the show. And I think 164 00:07:38,241 --> 00:07:41,881 Speaker 3: that would have been maybe nineteen eighty. I got into 165 00:07:41,921 --> 00:07:43,441 Speaker 3: Patches from doing. 166 00:07:43,281 --> 00:07:45,601 Speaker 4: That's what I read up. It was nineteen eighty got 167 00:07:45,641 --> 00:07:46,081 Speaker 4: in there. 168 00:07:45,961 --> 00:07:48,321 Speaker 3: But I also was working out at There was a 169 00:07:48,321 --> 00:07:51,521 Speaker 3: pub at Balmain, a really early gay pub called the 170 00:07:51,521 --> 00:07:54,441 Speaker 3: Balmain town Hall, owned by two friends who I loved, 171 00:07:54,481 --> 00:07:57,921 Speaker 3: Dealian called Mom and Dad, David and Brian, and so 172 00:07:58,001 --> 00:08:00,481 Speaker 3: a lot of us were working out there three or 173 00:08:00,521 --> 00:08:02,241 Speaker 3: four nights a week. And there's a little pub in 174 00:08:02,721 --> 00:08:06,001 Speaker 3: Balmain that just was so popular. And so there was 175 00:08:06,081 --> 00:08:09,201 Speaker 3: Balmain and there was Patches for me and down O'Donnell, 176 00:08:09,721 --> 00:08:13,441 Speaker 3: you know, the very famous lesbian mafia lady, and that 177 00:08:13,641 --> 00:08:16,561 Speaker 3: was you know, King of Oxford Street as we like 178 00:08:16,641 --> 00:08:20,161 Speaker 3: to call with, you know, Rogia Claude. And I got 179 00:08:20,201 --> 00:08:23,401 Speaker 3: into Patches and got into the show and was helping 180 00:08:23,481 --> 00:08:26,681 Speaker 3: backstage and doing my song and learning my craft and 181 00:08:26,721 --> 00:08:28,721 Speaker 3: being told, you know, how. 182 00:08:28,601 --> 00:08:29,561 Speaker 1: To be a show girl. 183 00:08:29,921 --> 00:08:32,081 Speaker 3: And I learned from all the kids in the show 184 00:08:32,161 --> 00:08:36,361 Speaker 3: with Trixie and three D and Cindy Pastel and Sarah 185 00:08:36,401 --> 00:08:39,921 Speaker 3: Pax and Maggie Burns and Paul and Egrey and all 186 00:08:39,961 --> 00:08:43,921 Speaker 3: of those, and slowly, months and months and months, it just. 187 00:08:44,081 --> 00:08:47,321 Speaker 1: Kind of seven years. Yeah, sorry, you were there a 188 00:08:47,401 --> 00:08:48,161 Speaker 1: very long time. 189 00:08:48,681 --> 00:08:52,081 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I didn't leave Patches until nineteen eighty five, 190 00:08:53,161 --> 00:08:54,841 Speaker 3: so I stayed there for a very long time. And 191 00:08:54,881 --> 00:08:56,641 Speaker 3: it was a real I got into the main show 192 00:08:56,681 --> 00:08:59,321 Speaker 3: cast from that and became and you know, you were 193 00:08:59,401 --> 00:09:01,121 Speaker 3: if you were in the main show cast at Patches, 194 00:09:01,161 --> 00:09:03,121 Speaker 3: you were sort of like Hollywood, you know, like you 195 00:09:03,161 --> 00:09:06,201 Speaker 3: were the you know, so it from me back on 196 00:09:06,241 --> 00:09:09,921 Speaker 3: Oxford strength. Then that became really Hollywood for me, and 197 00:09:10,001 --> 00:09:11,921 Speaker 3: I felt like I achieved something. 198 00:09:12,081 --> 00:09:13,681 Speaker 4: Did your parents ever come and see you do a show? 199 00:09:14,081 --> 00:09:16,921 Speaker 3: Not until not then? No, not to a gay club. 200 00:09:16,961 --> 00:09:19,681 Speaker 3: They were a bit because nowadays it would be yeah, 201 00:09:19,921 --> 00:09:23,081 Speaker 3: it's okay. But it wasn't till I joined Simona Monique's 202 00:09:23,161 --> 00:09:27,481 Speaker 3: Playgirls and Carlotta's show when I left Patches and became 203 00:09:27,561 --> 00:09:30,921 Speaker 3: more of a tits and feather kind of showgirl touring 204 00:09:31,201 --> 00:09:34,561 Speaker 3: RSL clubs that mum and dad kind of felt like, okay, 205 00:09:34,761 --> 00:09:38,761 Speaker 3: let's take the bingo friends and come and see the show, 206 00:09:38,801 --> 00:09:42,001 Speaker 3: because to them that was more mainstream or something that 207 00:09:42,201 --> 00:09:44,921 Speaker 3: they could a substance they could be proud of, rather 208 00:09:45,001 --> 00:09:46,481 Speaker 3: than a little gay club in Oxford. 209 00:09:46,521 --> 00:09:48,241 Speaker 2: So when was the first time they actually seen you 210 00:09:48,881 --> 00:09:50,281 Speaker 2: being transformed down into a woman? 211 00:09:50,881 --> 00:09:54,681 Speaker 3: Oh look, I went home eighty two eighty three. You know, 212 00:09:54,841 --> 00:09:57,401 Speaker 3: there was a gap, but they'd seen photos and stuff 213 00:09:57,441 --> 00:09:59,441 Speaker 3: and they were great. I've got photos from that first 214 00:09:59,481 --> 00:10:02,121 Speaker 3: time I went back home and you know, everything was fine, 215 00:10:02,241 --> 00:10:05,081 Speaker 3: and we just settled into our routine and then I 216 00:10:05,041 --> 00:10:07,761 Speaker 3: I think they came to see I think Mum came about. 217 00:10:07,961 --> 00:10:11,001 Speaker 3: We were at South Sydney Juniors and Mum came to that, 218 00:10:11,081 --> 00:10:13,321 Speaker 3: and I think it was nineteen eighty five or eighty six, 219 00:10:13,441 --> 00:10:15,681 Speaker 3: So there was a little gap, but I think it 220 00:10:15,761 --> 00:10:18,561 Speaker 3: was a good gap because it just came around and 221 00:10:18,761 --> 00:10:20,601 Speaker 3: you know, I was a bit more polished and pretty 222 00:10:20,601 --> 00:10:22,481 Speaker 3: and I had, you know, a little bit of surgery 223 00:10:22,521 --> 00:10:25,401 Speaker 3: by then, and so they could appreciate it. 224 00:10:25,841 --> 00:10:29,401 Speaker 4: Ever been married, No, never, never a long relationship. 225 00:10:29,921 --> 00:10:31,121 Speaker 1: I there, Yeah, there. 226 00:10:31,121 --> 00:10:34,321 Speaker 3: Were there were two along the way, but I don't know, 227 00:10:34,601 --> 00:10:37,481 Speaker 3: you know, there was one very special one and he 228 00:10:37,521 --> 00:10:41,281 Speaker 3: would always, you know, wherever we went, people would always 229 00:10:41,281 --> 00:10:44,281 Speaker 3: come over to say hello. And he was Italian and 230 00:10:44,601 --> 00:10:46,641 Speaker 3: get really upset and he said, I feel like I'm 231 00:10:46,641 --> 00:10:49,241 Speaker 3: mister Clifford and I you know, we'd go home and 232 00:10:49,281 --> 00:10:51,561 Speaker 3: there'd be a huge fight about it. I'm like, well, 233 00:10:51,561 --> 00:10:53,961 Speaker 3: I can't stop people coming up to say hello, because 234 00:10:54,361 --> 00:10:56,681 Speaker 3: if they see me sitting somewhere on Oxford Street, they 235 00:10:56,681 --> 00:10:58,241 Speaker 3: want to say high penny, you know what I mean. 236 00:10:58,281 --> 00:11:01,121 Speaker 3: And it caused a lot of issues and along the 237 00:11:01,121 --> 00:11:03,361 Speaker 3: way there's been one or two and some of them 238 00:11:03,401 --> 00:11:07,961 Speaker 3: are still great friends. But no, I've never really I 239 00:11:08,041 --> 00:11:11,561 Speaker 3: think I've had more successful relationships with dogs and coffee 240 00:11:12,441 --> 00:11:15,081 Speaker 3: and you know, apple pies and custards or something. 241 00:11:15,121 --> 00:11:15,521 Speaker 1: I don't know. 242 00:11:15,801 --> 00:11:17,641 Speaker 2: Was it difficult you at the start? Was it difficult 243 00:11:17,641 --> 00:11:19,681 Speaker 2: for you at the start when you transform yourself into 244 00:11:19,681 --> 00:11:20,001 Speaker 2: a woman? 245 00:11:20,241 --> 00:11:23,281 Speaker 3: Look, you know, over the years, I had some great 246 00:11:23,881 --> 00:11:27,441 Speaker 3: fun times, you know what I would call office romances, 247 00:11:27,561 --> 00:11:31,281 Speaker 3: especially in the DCM office. There was some wonderful office 248 00:11:31,361 --> 00:11:35,161 Speaker 3: romances with you know, many of the man Power boys, 249 00:11:35,201 --> 00:11:39,281 Speaker 3: and you know that was always fueled by them coming 250 00:11:39,281 --> 00:11:42,521 Speaker 3: into d CM, and you know, fueled by all kinds 251 00:11:42,561 --> 00:11:45,121 Speaker 3: of things, and you know, suddenly I'm having a romance 252 00:11:45,161 --> 00:11:47,721 Speaker 3: with one of them. And so I won't say I 253 00:11:47,761 --> 00:11:50,841 Speaker 3: didn't have a lot of fun. Yeah, yeah, But I 254 00:11:50,881 --> 00:11:53,481 Speaker 3: think one of the things about being a trans woman, 255 00:11:53,521 --> 00:11:55,881 Speaker 3: and I think it might be less now, but there 256 00:11:55,921 --> 00:11:59,881 Speaker 3: are very few men that are happy to say I 257 00:12:00,001 --> 00:12:02,841 Speaker 3: like a trans woman publicly, you know what I mean, Like, 258 00:12:02,921 --> 00:12:05,761 Speaker 3: that's what I found and I didn't want to be 259 00:12:05,841 --> 00:12:09,201 Speaker 3: someone's secret, you know, And there's a lot of men 260 00:12:09,241 --> 00:12:13,441 Speaker 3: that would want us that find it appealing, but don't 261 00:12:13,441 --> 00:12:15,001 Speaker 3: ever want to come out and say to their friends 262 00:12:15,081 --> 00:12:17,761 Speaker 3: or their family, you know, this is my girlfriend and 263 00:12:17,841 --> 00:12:21,121 Speaker 3: I love her. And the few relationships I did have, 264 00:12:21,281 --> 00:12:22,481 Speaker 3: that's how they treated me. 265 00:12:22,641 --> 00:12:23,921 Speaker 1: And that's what I love the most. 266 00:12:23,961 --> 00:12:26,441 Speaker 3: That they introduced me to their family and they introduced 267 00:12:26,441 --> 00:12:28,881 Speaker 3: me to you know, their friends, and it was a 268 00:12:28,921 --> 00:12:31,561 Speaker 3: public thing, and I didn't want to be a secret 269 00:12:31,641 --> 00:12:32,241 Speaker 3: or a fetish. 270 00:12:32,321 --> 00:12:34,441 Speaker 1: And I think that's why I've just you know. 271 00:12:34,881 --> 00:12:36,161 Speaker 4: From your alone or yourself phone. 272 00:12:36,281 --> 00:12:39,121 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you know, the many, many things I've done 273 00:12:39,201 --> 00:12:43,241 Speaker 3: of touring with shows and going overseas and running what 274 00:12:43,361 --> 00:12:47,241 Speaker 3: I think is three of the better nightclubs on Oxford Street, 275 00:12:47,401 --> 00:12:50,761 Speaker 3: like ann Erskineville, you know, like DCM for ten years 276 00:12:50,801 --> 00:12:53,361 Speaker 3: and the Imperial Hotel at Erskineville which was the home 277 00:12:53,401 --> 00:12:56,601 Speaker 3: of Priscilla and then the midnight Shift. I've been very 278 00:12:56,681 --> 00:12:59,401 Speaker 3: lucky in a career as well as being a successful 279 00:12:59,441 --> 00:13:03,521 Speaker 3: show girl, that sometimes you can't just have everything. And 280 00:13:03,721 --> 00:13:06,441 Speaker 3: I've always looked at it like I've had a great life. 281 00:13:06,441 --> 00:13:08,721 Speaker 3: And now I live in Byron Bay and I'm super 282 00:13:08,761 --> 00:13:11,641 Speaker 3: happy up there, and I think, well, maybe that's the 283 00:13:11,641 --> 00:13:14,001 Speaker 3: one thing that's eluded me is just having a partner, 284 00:13:14,041 --> 00:13:16,201 Speaker 3: and it's never really you know. I think when I 285 00:13:16,241 --> 00:13:19,161 Speaker 3: was younger, maybe it bothered me, but now I'm like, nah, 286 00:13:19,721 --> 00:13:21,481 Speaker 3: I think i'd go the other way. 287 00:13:21,761 --> 00:13:23,601 Speaker 4: Let's talk about because you just brought it up and 288 00:13:23,641 --> 00:13:24,401 Speaker 4: you've got the hats. 289 00:13:24,241 --> 00:13:28,281 Speaker 2: On too, Let's talk Yeah, DCM's okay, So what made 290 00:13:28,321 --> 00:13:29,561 Speaker 2: you go to DCMS. 291 00:13:29,641 --> 00:13:34,161 Speaker 3: Well, Patches that I did the shows that and got 292 00:13:34,161 --> 00:13:38,521 Speaker 3: into from working backstage and developing my craft is thirty 293 00:13:38,521 --> 00:13:41,681 Speaker 3: three Oxford Street and DCM is thirty three Oxford Street. 294 00:13:42,001 --> 00:13:46,121 Speaker 3: So I was already working at Patches for doorn O'Donnell 295 00:13:46,201 --> 00:13:49,041 Speaker 3: and working out at the Bow Main Pub and working 296 00:13:49,081 --> 00:13:51,201 Speaker 3: down at the Unicorn Pub as a show girl. So 297 00:13:51,321 --> 00:13:54,441 Speaker 3: Tim Berry and Brook Beeves came in and they bought 298 00:13:54,641 --> 00:13:57,241 Speaker 3: I remember them. They ran the Unicorn Hotels, so I 299 00:13:57,321 --> 00:13:59,681 Speaker 3: was working for them there, and then they took over 300 00:13:59,721 --> 00:14:02,001 Speaker 3: the Bow Main Pub and I was working for them there, 301 00:14:02,081 --> 00:14:05,041 Speaker 3: and then they came in and they were like, maybe 302 00:14:05,121 --> 00:14:08,681 Speaker 3: you know the gay John Abrahams who knows and very 303 00:14:08,721 --> 00:14:11,081 Speaker 3: sweet men and really loved me, and we got along 304 00:14:11,161 --> 00:14:15,281 Speaker 3: very well, and they bought Patches off Dawn and so 305 00:14:15,641 --> 00:14:19,241 Speaker 3: for I think that was nineteen ninety, but DCM didn't 306 00:14:19,241 --> 00:14:22,521 Speaker 3: officially open till July nineteen ninety one. But in that 307 00:14:22,721 --> 00:14:25,801 Speaker 3: period there was, like I suppose, a transition, just like 308 00:14:25,881 --> 00:14:29,841 Speaker 3: being transgender, of you know, moving because Patches had a 309 00:14:29,921 --> 00:14:33,281 Speaker 3: lighter dance floor like Saturday Night Fever on the other 310 00:14:33,321 --> 00:14:35,401 Speaker 3: side of the room, and then they moved that into 311 00:14:35,441 --> 00:14:38,601 Speaker 3: the middle where DCM was, and they moved bars around, 312 00:14:38,681 --> 00:14:42,041 Speaker 3: and they changed a lot of things. And that period 313 00:14:42,121 --> 00:14:44,401 Speaker 3: from nineteen ninety when they brought it to nineteen ninety 314 00:14:44,441 --> 00:14:49,041 Speaker 3: one was a slow process, yeah, of transforming the club 315 00:14:49,081 --> 00:14:51,401 Speaker 3: and then coming up with the name. And then suddenly, 316 00:14:51,921 --> 00:14:54,801 Speaker 3: you know, Tim had gone to a New Zealand. So 317 00:14:54,921 --> 00:14:57,921 Speaker 3: during that time I'd started, I think i'd started in 318 00:14:57,961 --> 00:15:01,081 Speaker 3: the changeover two days a week in the office, and 319 00:15:01,121 --> 00:15:03,881 Speaker 3: I remember there was no computers back then. Even the 320 00:15:03,921 --> 00:15:05,481 Speaker 3: deliveries were handed. 321 00:15:05,201 --> 00:15:07,761 Speaker 4: In a book, you know, like the unvogular. 322 00:15:07,841 --> 00:15:09,521 Speaker 1: Like hand written in this book. 323 00:15:09,521 --> 00:15:12,281 Speaker 3: Everything was so old fashioned and there was no such 324 00:15:12,321 --> 00:15:15,201 Speaker 3: thing as the worldwide where I don't think it was 325 00:15:15,841 --> 00:15:19,481 Speaker 3: super interesting. And so Tim went to New Zealand and 326 00:15:19,481 --> 00:15:22,961 Speaker 3: there was a club in New Zealand called DTMs Don't 327 00:15:23,001 --> 00:15:25,601 Speaker 3: Tell Mama, and it was Don't tell Mama that I'm gay. 328 00:15:26,081 --> 00:15:26,801 Speaker 4: Oh okay. 329 00:15:27,361 --> 00:15:31,321 Speaker 3: So he came back from New Zealand with that and 330 00:15:31,801 --> 00:15:35,241 Speaker 3: was toying around with it. And there were two drag 331 00:15:35,321 --> 00:15:38,081 Speaker 3: queens at the time, and they fought over who came 332 00:15:38,201 --> 00:15:40,681 Speaker 3: up with the real idea. There was when s Mungle 333 00:15:40,761 --> 00:15:44,241 Speaker 3: Bitch and Talula Bright and when Essa's still around and 334 00:15:44,281 --> 00:15:46,961 Speaker 3: Ta Lula's passed away sadly, but she was our door 335 00:15:47,001 --> 00:15:49,561 Speaker 3: bitch at DC for a very long time. And they 336 00:15:49,641 --> 00:15:53,201 Speaker 3: came up toying with Tim over a champagne or something 337 00:15:53,761 --> 00:15:56,961 Speaker 3: to try and have that same kind of initial thing going. 338 00:15:57,481 --> 00:16:01,161 Speaker 3: And DCM came up and that was don't cry Mama 339 00:16:01,521 --> 00:16:03,121 Speaker 3: rather than don't tell Mama. 340 00:16:03,361 --> 00:16:05,001 Speaker 1: And you know, I mean I've. 341 00:16:04,761 --> 00:16:08,321 Speaker 3: Seen in the DCM there is like three DCM online groups. 342 00:16:08,361 --> 00:16:11,441 Speaker 3: One I run and then one that Georgie J runs, 343 00:16:11,521 --> 00:16:14,361 Speaker 3: and there's a whole pile of things of arguments. It's 344 00:16:14,401 --> 00:16:18,201 Speaker 3: called don't come Monday, you know, which as it went 345 00:16:18,241 --> 00:16:20,361 Speaker 3: from a gay club because over the ten years I 346 00:16:20,481 --> 00:16:22,681 Speaker 3: was at d CM, it was very gay at the start, 347 00:16:22,721 --> 00:16:24,921 Speaker 3: and around ninety four to ninety five, of course everyone 348 00:16:24,961 --> 00:16:27,881 Speaker 3: came in because it became the hottest night club and 349 00:16:27,961 --> 00:16:31,201 Speaker 3: so that's when I think, don't come Monday. Had that happened, 350 00:16:31,521 --> 00:16:33,761 Speaker 3: But until then it was DCM and it stood for 351 00:16:33,841 --> 00:16:36,001 Speaker 3: don't crime Mama, I don't cry, mamma. 352 00:16:36,081 --> 00:16:38,201 Speaker 1: I'm gay and I'm having a great time at a club. 353 00:16:38,321 --> 00:16:38,761 Speaker 4: Wow. 354 00:16:39,081 --> 00:16:41,001 Speaker 1: And it officially opened in nineteen ninety one. 355 00:16:42,401 --> 00:16:45,201 Speaker 2: Was the setup was exactly like DCMS like we like, 356 00:16:45,241 --> 00:16:46,361 Speaker 2: we like as it is now. 357 00:16:46,561 --> 00:16:49,441 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, Originally the setup was like because. 358 00:16:49,201 --> 00:16:52,921 Speaker 3: The lighter dance floor where the rear bar was in 359 00:16:53,001 --> 00:16:55,641 Speaker 3: the main dance room. That's where the lighter dance floor 360 00:16:55,721 --> 00:16:58,801 Speaker 3: was at Patricks and I'm talking like full on Saturday 361 00:16:58,881 --> 00:17:04,600 Speaker 3: night fever. Glass lighter dance floor raised different colors, big 362 00:17:04,681 --> 00:17:07,721 Speaker 3: huge speaker's fog machine that would spew oil over the 363 00:17:07,761 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 3: glass dance floor. So sometimes you'd see people dancing and 364 00:17:10,481 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 3: slipping over in the oil of the fog or a 365 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 3: show girl falling over. I saw lots of that. And 366 00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 3: then there were just rows of like RSL club tables 367 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 3: and chairs that would sit because at Patches there was 368 00:17:21,281 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 3: a show cast every night was you know, a huge 369 00:17:23,681 --> 00:17:26,521 Speaker 3: show that was put on, and then little bars everywhere. 370 00:17:26,840 --> 00:17:30,241 Speaker 3: They really moved that around the front bar stayed pretty 371 00:17:30,321 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 3: much the same and the entrance stayed pretty much the same. 372 00:17:32,921 --> 00:17:35,241 Speaker 3: I mean they sure they slept a coat of paint 373 00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:39,400 Speaker 3: on it and put on some funny, you know, bead ceilings, 374 00:17:39,481 --> 00:17:42,400 Speaker 3: but the front bar and the entrance pretty much dates. 375 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,521 Speaker 4: What do you think made that club so so good? 376 00:17:45,561 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 1: Do you know? 377 00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:50,360 Speaker 3: Especially it was the first super club on Oxford Street. 378 00:17:50,681 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 3: There wasn't another superclub. There was the midnight shift, but 379 00:17:54,001 --> 00:17:56,561 Speaker 3: at that time, early on the midnight shift wouldn't allow 380 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:59,681 Speaker 3: women in. The first woman that was ever allowed into 381 00:17:59,681 --> 00:18:02,640 Speaker 3: the midnight shift was Marsha Heines. And I remember reading 382 00:18:02,681 --> 00:18:05,041 Speaker 3: about it in the paper because it was a men's 383 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 3: gay club and it was very underground and Flow's Palace 384 00:18:09,281 --> 00:18:12,081 Speaker 3: was like more of an Asian bar then, and there 385 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 3: wasn't there wasn't any arc and there wasn't there was 386 00:18:15,120 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 3: very few clubs. People would go to Capri Sios to 387 00:18:17,921 --> 00:18:21,041 Speaker 3: see a show, which was where Stonewall is, and then 388 00:18:21,120 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 3: they would you know, I remember most people would go 389 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 3: to Caprice shows and then you know, if you're Asian 390 00:18:25,721 --> 00:18:28,120 Speaker 3: or Asian lover, you'd stop at Flow's Palace on the 391 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,400 Speaker 3: way down because don't forget, it was unsafe to walk 392 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 3: streets then, and it was kind of illegal to still be, 393 00:18:34,001 --> 00:18:36,961 Speaker 3: you know, nearly wearing women's clothing a little bit, and 394 00:18:37,001 --> 00:18:40,281 Speaker 3: so it was all very underground still and then everyone 395 00:18:40,281 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 3: would end up at Patches, all go up to lay 396 00:18:42,640 --> 00:18:45,760 Speaker 3: Girls to see Carlotta in La Cross. So that was 397 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 3: you know, people went there. And so DCM became the 398 00:18:48,721 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 3: first super club. And even though we aimed at the 399 00:18:52,281 --> 00:18:55,801 Speaker 3: gay people, you know, once people hear about a club, 400 00:18:55,921 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 3: slowly it started. Other people would come in, but they 401 00:18:58,801 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 3: were allies what we now use the word allies, you know, 402 00:19:01,761 --> 00:19:04,521 Speaker 3: the straight people that love gay people. And you know, 403 00:19:04,721 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 3: there was any of the Tongue and SAMs in the 404 00:19:06,761 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 3: early days coming in and we needed, you know, we 405 00:19:09,681 --> 00:19:12,281 Speaker 3: needed to install metal detectors to keep you know, that 406 00:19:12,441 --> 00:19:15,481 Speaker 3: was ninety six ninety seven that the metal detectors came 407 00:19:15,561 --> 00:19:18,801 Speaker 3: in and I'd sit on Tongue and Sam's lap having 408 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,641 Speaker 3: a chat to him, not really realizing the background of that, 409 00:19:21,801 --> 00:19:25,161 Speaker 3: you know. And so early days it was very gay 410 00:19:25,321 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 3: the first few years, and then mixed, and I think 411 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 3: that mixture people felt safe and happy, and so then 412 00:19:32,961 --> 00:19:34,480 Speaker 3: they would tell their straight prints. You got to come 413 00:19:34,521 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 3: and see these drag shows, and the gays are fabulous 414 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:39,881 Speaker 3: and just slowly over time, it just changed in the. 415 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 2: I remember when I was rooming the door at d 416 00:19:42,281 --> 00:19:47,400 Speaker 2: CMS and I knew the gay community was so anti DCMS. 417 00:19:46,721 --> 00:19:48,081 Speaker 4: When I was there, you know what I mean. 418 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,440 Speaker 3: I remember because it had changed from very much. Because 419 00:19:52,001 --> 00:19:54,761 Speaker 3: I've got to say when John bought it from Tim 420 00:19:54,801 --> 00:19:58,441 Speaker 3: and Brook in two thousand, I went back a couple 421 00:19:58,481 --> 00:20:01,561 Speaker 3: of times and ran a couple of DCMI parties. Margaret 422 00:20:01,561 --> 00:20:04,201 Speaker 3: and David Freeman would call me up and say could 423 00:20:04,241 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 3: you come back? And do you know, I think we 424 00:20:06,681 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 3: did the eighteenth year of it, and there was another 425 00:20:09,241 --> 00:20:11,681 Speaker 3: one that I did and put on, But by then 426 00:20:11,761 --> 00:20:14,361 Speaker 3: it had changed, you know, it had really become there 427 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 3: was no gaze going and it became a bit rough. 428 00:20:17,721 --> 00:20:21,360 Speaker 3: And I think that started not because of John. It 429 00:20:21,481 --> 00:20:24,761 Speaker 3: started happening, like I said, at ninety seven when we 430 00:20:24,801 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 3: had to put in metal detectors. 431 00:20:26,481 --> 00:20:27,721 Speaker 1: You know, there was the girl that. 432 00:20:27,721 --> 00:20:30,160 Speaker 3: Got shot famous got shot in the boo at the 433 00:20:30,201 --> 00:20:33,321 Speaker 3: bar when we're all standing there because two security men, 434 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 3: one of them had a gun and they were just 435 00:20:35,120 --> 00:20:37,321 Speaker 3: mucking around at the bar and the gun went off 436 00:20:37,360 --> 00:20:41,761 Speaker 3: and she's standing there with brand new perky surgical tits 437 00:20:42,321 --> 00:20:45,121 Speaker 3: and the gun went straight through there and into the wall, 438 00:20:45,481 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 3: and it was a cop killer bullet, you know, one 439 00:20:47,281 --> 00:20:51,241 Speaker 3: of those bullets that's straight through and ground through the wall. 440 00:20:51,321 --> 00:20:54,281 Speaker 3: And later on when the police came, they said, that's 441 00:20:54,360 --> 00:20:57,801 Speaker 3: lucky that bullet didn't even keep straight through that wall 442 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,801 Speaker 3: and across the dance floor. So, you know, there were 443 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:03,801 Speaker 3: all those kind of things that slowly changed. I remember 444 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,041 Speaker 3: when that because that was a TV the girl got 445 00:21:06,041 --> 00:21:07,041 Speaker 3: shot in the bullet at DC. 446 00:21:07,201 --> 00:21:09,001 Speaker 1: My mum rang me and was like, dada that. 447 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:12,161 Speaker 3: And you know that was the last you know, because 448 00:21:12,160 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 3: I was already leaning towards Okay, I've been here a 449 00:21:14,921 --> 00:21:17,321 Speaker 3: long time, but you know I stayed till you know, 450 00:21:17,441 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 3: six months before it got sold. But yeah, there was 451 00:21:20,201 --> 00:21:21,801 Speaker 3: a lot of things that made it change over. 452 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:24,281 Speaker 2: But did that bring problems to the street because X 453 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 2: Street's always been known as the game lesbian. 454 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:28,561 Speaker 3: Yeah, it did, And so that's when the hate for 455 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:32,161 Speaker 3: d CN came in. Things like the girl got shot 456 00:21:32,201 --> 00:21:34,480 Speaker 3: at the bar, and you know, we put in metal 457 00:21:34,481 --> 00:21:37,561 Speaker 3: detectors and so we would notice because gay nights were 458 00:21:37,801 --> 00:21:40,521 Speaker 3: Thursday night was what we'd call the blue Card night, 459 00:21:40,961 --> 00:21:44,721 Speaker 3: and Saturday was sweat night. And Sunday was the tea 460 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:46,801 Speaker 3: dance where it would start early and you would come 461 00:21:46,801 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 3: in for the tea dance and see the drag show 462 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,400 Speaker 3: and all those nights, some of the more gay nights. 463 00:21:51,561 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 3: As DC progressed through ninety seven and ninety eight, seemed 464 00:21:55,001 --> 00:21:58,480 Speaker 3: to wean off a little bit, and you know, we 465 00:21:58,561 --> 00:22:00,761 Speaker 3: dropped some of the shows because we could see that 466 00:22:00,801 --> 00:22:01,761 Speaker 3: the crowd was changed. 467 00:22:01,961 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 2: Was that when like when John came in and his 468 00:22:04,681 --> 00:22:07,160 Speaker 2: promotion just kind of wind you out and pushed you 469 00:22:07,241 --> 00:22:08,961 Speaker 2: out a bit because they were a straight club. 470 00:22:08,961 --> 00:22:11,481 Speaker 3: When he bought it. Yeah, it definitely, but by then 471 00:22:11,561 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 3: I'd left. None of the management stuff stayed with John. Okay, 472 00:22:15,561 --> 00:22:18,001 Speaker 3: we all left. Sue went up to the shift him 473 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,361 Speaker 3: bought the midnight shift by then, and I went back 474 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:23,881 Speaker 3: to being a show girl for a while in Carlotta 475 00:22:23,961 --> 00:22:26,801 Speaker 3: Show and just flopping about trying to figure out who 476 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 3: I was because after ten years running DCM and and 477 00:22:30,521 --> 00:22:32,521 Speaker 3: the ego that came with that, because it was the 478 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:35,041 Speaker 3: number one night club, you believe your own publicity. It 479 00:22:35,041 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 3: took me a couple of years of just going, wow, 480 00:22:37,561 --> 00:22:40,160 Speaker 3: I'm not so special anymore. I don't I don't have 481 00:22:40,281 --> 00:22:43,041 Speaker 3: thirty people calling me every hour on the hour to 482 00:22:43,041 --> 00:22:46,001 Speaker 3: get into the number one club in Sydney. So yeah, 483 00:22:46,120 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 3: I wallowed a little bit after DCM, but you know, 484 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:49,721 Speaker 3: found my way back. 485 00:22:49,801 --> 00:22:51,001 Speaker 4: And what about. 486 00:22:50,761 --> 00:22:52,361 Speaker 2: When you when you run it was it was it 487 00:22:52,441 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 2: still corrupt like on the doors like as it got 488 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:56,161 Speaker 2: was it very well? 489 00:22:56,201 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: Do you mean by well? 490 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:00,441 Speaker 2: You know when you've got you had the times when 491 00:23:00,441 --> 00:23:02,481 Speaker 2: you have in the cross and you had the corruption 492 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 2: of the police and all like that, comments to the 493 00:23:04,481 --> 00:23:06,321 Speaker 2: doors to make sure who's in there or to run 494 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 2: the doors. 495 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,200 Speaker 3: Or that didn't start didn't start later on, so early 496 00:23:10,321 --> 00:23:12,961 Speaker 3: on we were left alone. Like honestly, you could get 497 00:23:13,001 --> 00:23:16,521 Speaker 3: away with so much at DCM, like I remember, just 498 00:23:17,001 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 3: people were just it was like Studio fifty four. You know, 499 00:23:20,241 --> 00:23:23,041 Speaker 3: our birthday parties were legendary and you know you just 500 00:23:23,120 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 3: turn away if someone was racking up on a table 501 00:23:25,561 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 3: and let them go because that's what we. 502 00:23:28,321 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 2: Do you think that was do you think that was? 503 00:23:30,001 --> 00:23:32,401 Speaker 2: It was left alone because back then when you had it. 504 00:23:32,201 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 3: Because it was more gay, yes, correct, and there were 505 00:23:34,241 --> 00:23:36,720 Speaker 3: none of the RSA laws and what they were, but 506 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,120 Speaker 3: you know, no one paid attention to them, and you 507 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:41,321 Speaker 3: know there was no one being bashed around Oxford Street 508 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:44,360 Speaker 3: early on, unless it was a gay bashing, and that 509 00:23:44,921 --> 00:23:47,921 Speaker 3: then we were a safety club. As we went through 510 00:23:47,961 --> 00:23:51,761 Speaker 3: the years again around ninety seven and you know, metal 511 00:23:51,801 --> 00:23:54,561 Speaker 3: detectors come in and the gays were leaving us a 512 00:23:54,561 --> 00:23:56,801 Speaker 3: little bit and moving to you know, I think ARC 513 00:23:56,921 --> 00:23:59,681 Speaker 3: opened up around this time. I'm not sure what year 514 00:23:59,880 --> 00:24:03,561 Speaker 3: ARC opened, but I remember going to the opening and thinking, Okay, 515 00:24:03,561 --> 00:24:05,961 Speaker 3: this is really going to affect our up. And it 516 00:24:06,041 --> 00:24:08,321 Speaker 3: did a little bit. We lost a lot of gays. 517 00:24:08,041 --> 00:24:10,721 Speaker 3: But but that's when the club. I think John bought 518 00:24:10,721 --> 00:24:14,281 Speaker 3: it in two thousands, so that's when it really changed. 519 00:24:14,481 --> 00:24:16,801 Speaker 3: But I'd already left by then, but I had gone back, 520 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:18,441 Speaker 3: like I said, and did a couple of things. 521 00:24:18,801 --> 00:24:21,441 Speaker 4: I think when yeah, yeah, around that time. 522 00:24:21,761 --> 00:24:24,641 Speaker 2: That time, well, because I've never experienced that. I think 523 00:24:24,801 --> 00:24:27,681 Speaker 2: I went once in two thousand or maybe ninety eight 524 00:24:27,801 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 2: DCMS before I was doing anything. I'm on the doors, 525 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:33,281 Speaker 2: But do you think that was the best era for 526 00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 2: DCMS when you had it? 527 00:24:34,481 --> 00:24:36,761 Speaker 3: Look, you know, that's a conversation and I saw I'm 528 00:24:36,801 --> 00:24:39,001 Speaker 3: sure you see it in all the DCM groups and 529 00:24:39,041 --> 00:24:41,961 Speaker 3: you know, even the group I run as specifically what 530 00:24:42,001 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 3: we call the og group. It's from nineteen ninety to 531 00:24:44,921 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 3: two thousand and and you know, someone comes in there 532 00:24:47,801 --> 00:24:50,521 Speaker 3: and says something nice about John Ibraham. He gets blocked, 533 00:24:50,681 --> 00:24:54,400 Speaker 3: you know, not really, but he should because that's that era, 534 00:24:54,801 --> 00:24:57,041 Speaker 3: you know. And then I see other groups that are 535 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:01,281 Speaker 3: the Sunset Brothers and u N Sydney, which is United 536 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:05,881 Speaker 3: Nations John Ibraham's United Nations. And yes, I'm gonna eye 537 00:25:06,001 --> 00:25:10,721 Speaker 3: roll there because that was just a wang. And sorry, John, 538 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,321 Speaker 3: You're very sweet, but what a wang. And you know 539 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,920 Speaker 3: it's just funny, you know. And so it definitely it changed. 540 00:25:20,041 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 3: And you know d c M from two thousand John's 541 00:25:23,001 --> 00:25:26,120 Speaker 3: d CM. People argue all the time, what's better, but 542 00:25:26,201 --> 00:25:28,281 Speaker 3: you see it, and there's so the groups are so 543 00:25:28,441 --> 00:25:29,321 Speaker 3: passionate about it. 544 00:25:29,441 --> 00:25:31,001 Speaker 2: I get all the time because when I do the 545 00:25:31,001 --> 00:25:32,241 Speaker 2: walks and talk about d CMS. 546 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:34,721 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I mean I've even come in. I mean, like, no, 547 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,681 Speaker 3: our group was better. It's hard not to say something. 548 00:25:38,481 --> 00:25:40,561 Speaker 2: Because I look at it from when I looked of 549 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:44,120 Speaker 2: the door and two thousand and two to close. That 550 00:25:44,321 --> 00:25:46,561 Speaker 2: was massive. You're back back then. But as I said, 551 00:25:46,561 --> 00:25:49,001 Speaker 2: I never seen what happened when you had it, you 552 00:25:49,001 --> 00:25:50,761 Speaker 2: know what I mean. But that's why I've just got wow. 553 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:52,241 Speaker 1: I mean, that's what I mean. 554 00:25:52,241 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 3: You can watch season two of Last King of the 555 00:25:53,961 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 3: Cross to see the transition, you know. 556 00:25:55,921 --> 00:25:58,641 Speaker 1: Okay, all right, dramatic license in there. 557 00:25:58,761 --> 00:26:00,521 Speaker 4: Now you're bringing up this. Now this is I wasn't 558 00:26:00,521 --> 00:26:03,360 Speaker 4: gonna bring this up yet. Okay, but now jump around. 559 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 1: I'm waiting to it off. 560 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:08,281 Speaker 4: Now, Lasking of the Cross. You've got a character that 561 00:26:08,321 --> 00:26:11,281 Speaker 4: plays you. Yeah, okay, apparently, well apparently. 562 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,281 Speaker 3: With anyone else with a dramatic Well, no, there's no 563 00:26:14,360 --> 00:26:19,761 Speaker 3: other six foot two that ever ever worked at Patches 564 00:26:19,961 --> 00:26:22,441 Speaker 3: to d C days, So yes, I suppose. 565 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,321 Speaker 2: So how how much of that is true? On your 566 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 2: behalf of what you've seen of your character? 567 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:29,321 Speaker 1: There were quite a lot of things. 568 00:26:30,241 --> 00:26:32,521 Speaker 3: I mean, but Tim and Brook weren't Indian, I think 569 00:26:32,561 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 3: in the in the show they're Indian, So you know, 570 00:26:35,521 --> 00:26:38,481 Speaker 3: there was that which cracked me out. But there were 571 00:26:38,521 --> 00:26:40,801 Speaker 3: certain things of John coming to the club as a 572 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,801 Speaker 3: kid and and everyone thinking it was just hot stuff, 573 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 3: and you know, all of us going sexy man, and 574 00:26:47,041 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 3: you know that's what our show girls were like back then, and. 575 00:26:50,481 --> 00:26:51,240 Speaker 1: There was a lot of it. 576 00:26:51,281 --> 00:26:51,961 Speaker 4: Did you try? 577 00:26:52,281 --> 00:26:55,161 Speaker 1: No, I don't remember. Look, I would sure. 578 00:26:57,880 --> 00:26:58,521 Speaker 4: I didn't. 579 00:26:59,001 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 3: And if I don't remember, see that's I like short 580 00:27:04,761 --> 00:27:05,321 Speaker 3: really man. 581 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, the. 582 00:27:07,801 --> 00:27:11,321 Speaker 3: Two relationships I've had, I've always been with short ethnic guys. 583 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:13,960 Speaker 3: You know, give me a Lebanese or an Italian and 584 00:27:14,001 --> 00:27:19,441 Speaker 3: I'm happy. But no, wonder I've never kept one. Yeah, 585 00:27:19,761 --> 00:27:22,801 Speaker 3: but I don't remember. But look, everyone thought he was 586 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:25,640 Speaker 3: fabulous and he would hang around and stuff. But a 587 00:27:25,681 --> 00:27:29,480 Speaker 3: lot of there was definitely the early parts in the 588 00:27:29,481 --> 00:27:33,961 Speaker 3: first few episodes of Me and Stuff very close. You know, 589 00:27:34,281 --> 00:27:37,561 Speaker 3: there's an episode where my character kills herself and John 590 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:42,281 Speaker 3: saves her. I don't remember that. I think that might 591 00:27:42,281 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 3: be a dramatic license in there somewhere. 592 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,481 Speaker 1: It wasn't me. But you know, it is a TV 593 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:49,480 Speaker 1: show too, so I mean, you're not in it. 594 00:27:49,561 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 4: You should be in it. 595 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:56,120 Speaker 3: Where's David and Margaret well right hand people, and they're 596 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 3: just not in the show. So obviously John's version of 597 00:27:59,681 --> 00:28:04,681 Speaker 3: it is either clouded by substance or by ego. 598 00:28:04,761 --> 00:28:08,961 Speaker 1: Who And that's just from me. Sorry. I know you 599 00:28:09,001 --> 00:28:09,481 Speaker 1: love him. 600 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:11,761 Speaker 3: I love him too, but you know, and I see 601 00:28:11,801 --> 00:28:14,041 Speaker 3: him because I live in Byron Bay. I see him 602 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,001 Speaker 3: occasionally come into Byron Bay and we say hello. 603 00:28:17,681 --> 00:28:20,561 Speaker 1: At a distance, like, hey, you. 604 00:28:20,521 --> 00:28:22,801 Speaker 4: Going when you have DCMS? 605 00:28:22,921 --> 00:28:25,720 Speaker 2: What clients hell would come into DCMS for you, like 606 00:28:25,761 --> 00:28:27,441 Speaker 2: you're saying, because it was a well known. 607 00:28:27,441 --> 00:28:30,360 Speaker 3: Super cool, A lot of a lot of the show 608 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,281 Speaker 3: girls would come in because we had a rule. You know, 609 00:28:32,441 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 3: show girls got in for free, drag queens got in 610 00:28:34,681 --> 00:28:36,801 Speaker 3: for free. And you know we had different types of 611 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,641 Speaker 3: memberships as well. You know, Thursday Night was a gay membership. 612 00:28:39,681 --> 00:28:41,161 Speaker 3: It was a blue card. If you were lucky to 613 00:28:41,201 --> 00:28:43,561 Speaker 3: get one of those, you'd have to apply. You'd get 614 00:28:43,601 --> 00:28:46,761 Speaker 3: in for free. And Saturday Night was a sweat membership 615 00:28:46,841 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 3: that people wanted and they had to I think the 616 00:28:49,521 --> 00:28:52,881 Speaker 3: sweat one was one hundred dollars, which was a lot 617 00:28:52,881 --> 00:28:55,281 Speaker 3: of money back then, but that got you you could 618 00:28:55,401 --> 00:28:58,401 Speaker 3: Q jump and you could get in for free and 619 00:28:58,481 --> 00:29:01,041 Speaker 3: bring one another with you. I'm sure one of the 620 00:29:01,081 --> 00:29:03,681 Speaker 3: managers will message me when they see this and go, Nah, 621 00:29:03,721 --> 00:29:07,881 Speaker 3: you're wrong. I obviously was drinking way too much back then. 622 00:29:08,841 --> 00:29:11,601 Speaker 3: That's what I remember about the sweat membership. And then 623 00:29:11,641 --> 00:29:15,240 Speaker 3: there was an industry membership that you couldn't buy and 624 00:29:15,281 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 3: you would be given which was a barter system for 625 00:29:18,081 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 3: US managers to give to VIPs and that industry card 626 00:29:22,481 --> 00:29:24,801 Speaker 3: would get two or three people in for free and 627 00:29:24,841 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 3: you would be treated a little better every night. And 628 00:29:28,241 --> 00:29:30,200 Speaker 3: then there was a gold card, and there were I 629 00:29:30,201 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 3: think in general there was probably a gold card that 630 00:29:33,641 --> 00:29:36,921 Speaker 3: just got your free drinks and any amount of people 631 00:29:36,961 --> 00:29:38,881 Speaker 3: through the door. And I think there was only ever 632 00:29:39,081 --> 00:29:40,881 Speaker 3: less than fifty gold cards ever. 633 00:29:40,761 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: Given out during the entire range. They were special how 634 00:29:44,001 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 1: many could hold when you are, oh, you're really pushing 635 00:29:46,481 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 1: me there, but I think it was I think at 636 00:29:49,241 --> 00:29:51,081 Speaker 1: the time it was like five hundred. 637 00:29:51,521 --> 00:29:52,480 Speaker 4: How many would you get in? 638 00:29:52,641 --> 00:29:55,721 Speaker 2: Like like what we used to say the same for us, 639 00:29:55,761 --> 00:29:57,281 Speaker 2: like it was like I think we had a license 640 00:29:57,281 --> 00:29:59,561 Speaker 2: for three hundred and forty three sixty something like that, 641 00:29:59,601 --> 00:30:01,241 Speaker 2: but there was always like twelve hundred in there. 642 00:30:01,241 --> 00:30:03,281 Speaker 4: Like yeah, it was crampy. 643 00:30:02,921 --> 00:30:06,281 Speaker 3: Peeps more especially, and we would do hearty long weekends, 644 00:30:06,601 --> 00:30:08,641 Speaker 3: like even though we had a twenty four hour license 645 00:30:08,721 --> 00:30:11,241 Speaker 3: back then before all the apartments were built out of DC, 646 00:30:11,361 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 3: and we would like on a good long weekend like 647 00:30:14,241 --> 00:30:17,841 Speaker 3: an October long weekend or an Easter Sunday weekend, we 648 00:30:17,881 --> 00:30:21,481 Speaker 3: would open on a Friday at ten and not shut 649 00:30:21,721 --> 00:30:23,401 Speaker 3: until Monday morning. 650 00:30:23,881 --> 00:30:25,201 Speaker 4: Like we would just go all the way through. 651 00:30:25,321 --> 00:30:26,561 Speaker 1: We would be twenty four hours. 652 00:30:26,641 --> 00:30:29,361 Speaker 3: So as managers, we would all go home, get some sleep, 653 00:30:29,361 --> 00:30:31,641 Speaker 3: and go back the next day to do the next shift. 654 00:30:31,641 --> 00:30:34,561 Speaker 3: And the cleaners would come through while people are still dancing. Wow, 655 00:30:34,961 --> 00:30:37,921 Speaker 3: you know, and go all day. They were crazy days. 656 00:30:37,961 --> 00:30:39,401 Speaker 2: Who were some of the famous people that have gone 657 00:30:39,401 --> 00:30:40,401 Speaker 2: through that door that you've seen? 658 00:30:40,521 --> 00:30:45,561 Speaker 1: Oh god, so many names. I'm in the minogues. 659 00:30:45,761 --> 00:30:46,761 Speaker 4: Do any of them misbehave? 660 00:30:48,001 --> 00:30:49,401 Speaker 1: No, they didn't, you know. 661 00:30:49,601 --> 00:30:52,561 Speaker 3: And even down to real housewives sitting in. Melissa cout 662 00:30:52,681 --> 00:30:56,241 Speaker 3: she was a regular Marsha heines. You know. A couple 663 00:30:56,281 --> 00:30:59,041 Speaker 3: of times with Melissa, I drag her into the office, 664 00:30:59,081 --> 00:31:01,001 Speaker 3: Go okay, you make up some mess, let me fix 665 00:31:01,041 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 3: that for you. 666 00:31:01,561 --> 00:31:03,681 Speaker 4: Oh so you only went there for some effection makeup 667 00:31:03,721 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 4: in the office. Yeah. When I used to go. 668 00:31:07,441 --> 00:31:08,961 Speaker 1: To the office, it wasn't well. 669 00:31:09,361 --> 00:31:14,241 Speaker 3: The office was used for many many things, mixing up maker, 670 00:31:15,681 --> 00:31:20,321 Speaker 3: heating up things in the microwave. I had a few 671 00:31:20,441 --> 00:31:24,521 Speaker 3: office romances with some of the manpower boys in there, well, 672 00:31:24,801 --> 00:31:29,361 Speaker 3: I must say, And yeah, the office was the playground, 673 00:31:29,881 --> 00:31:32,281 Speaker 3: the playground for all of us. But in general, you know, 674 00:31:32,401 --> 00:31:35,121 Speaker 3: people would just sit up there like the VIPs like, 675 00:31:35,201 --> 00:31:37,321 Speaker 3: you know, it was nothing to open the office door 676 00:31:37,321 --> 00:31:40,281 Speaker 3: to go and do something work wise and see Marsha 677 00:31:40,321 --> 00:31:43,001 Speaker 3: heines having a chat and looking at all the security 678 00:31:43,041 --> 00:31:45,761 Speaker 3: wall because we had security cameras. And then there'd be 679 00:31:45,761 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 3: a buzzer downstairs, more champagne for Marsha and up it 680 00:31:48,521 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 3: ad come or or whoever it was. I remember, you know, 681 00:31:51,881 --> 00:31:54,041 Speaker 3: some of the biggest stars, like the Pet Shop Boys 682 00:31:54,121 --> 00:31:56,601 Speaker 3: came in and they hired the club for the an 683 00:31:56,641 --> 00:32:00,521 Speaker 3: album launch and they walked in downstairs and we greeted 684 00:32:00,561 --> 00:32:04,161 Speaker 3: them and they didn't want to know about the event 685 00:32:04,281 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 3: downstairs for the launched. They said, is there's somewhere private 686 00:32:06,801 --> 00:32:09,761 Speaker 3: we can go? And we took them upstairs to the office. 687 00:32:09,761 --> 00:32:12,041 Speaker 3: And the office was really basic back then. I know 688 00:32:12,281 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 3: that you know the un and John had put lounges in. 689 00:32:15,801 --> 00:32:16,681 Speaker 1: There was none of that. 690 00:32:16,841 --> 00:32:19,241 Speaker 3: We had office chairs and tables and it was quite 691 00:32:19,281 --> 00:32:23,361 Speaker 3: sparse and fluo lights and you know, it wasn't glamorous, 692 00:32:23,481 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 3: but everyone loved it. 693 00:32:24,561 --> 00:32:26,321 Speaker 1: It wasn't the place to go and have a chat. 694 00:32:26,481 --> 00:32:29,961 Speaker 3: Yeah, and so the Pet Shop boys came up there 695 00:32:29,961 --> 00:32:32,881 Speaker 3: with me and you know, they stayed for a long time, 696 00:32:32,961 --> 00:32:35,521 Speaker 3: and you know, their management would come up and go, 697 00:32:35,841 --> 00:32:37,601 Speaker 3: you really need to come down and do some photos 698 00:32:37,601 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 3: with the VIPs in the front bar because that was 699 00:32:40,001 --> 00:32:42,201 Speaker 3: secluded off for their album launch. 700 00:32:42,561 --> 00:32:44,281 Speaker 1: And they were like in a minute. They were busy 701 00:32:44,641 --> 00:32:52,041 Speaker 1: doing things with the microwave. They used the microwave a lot. 702 00:32:52,401 --> 00:32:54,841 Speaker 3: But the funniest thing I remember from the Pet Shop 703 00:32:54,881 --> 00:32:57,801 Speaker 3: boys because of the fluo lights, is that I kept 704 00:32:57,841 --> 00:33:01,321 Speaker 3: looking at them going, they're so fucking old, like they 705 00:33:01,321 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 3: were old, old man, and you know we're talking in 706 00:33:03,961 --> 00:33:07,201 Speaker 3: the nineties. Go figure. I was so shocked at how 707 00:33:07,201 --> 00:33:11,521 Speaker 3: old they looked. And so the week after we installed 708 00:33:11,521 --> 00:33:14,401 Speaker 3: dimmers in the office because I was like that we 709 00:33:14,481 --> 00:33:16,281 Speaker 3: kind of have those Feroh lights if we all looked 710 00:33:16,281 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 3: that over. So we had nice dimmer lights put in 711 00:33:20,001 --> 00:33:24,561 Speaker 3: to soften when VIPs came in, and you know things 712 00:33:24,601 --> 00:33:24,961 Speaker 3: like that. 713 00:33:25,401 --> 00:33:29,121 Speaker 4: So dcms like when I'd say, anyone brings. 714 00:33:28,961 --> 00:33:30,601 Speaker 3: Up Decease and there was a lot more stars. So look, 715 00:33:30,641 --> 00:33:34,121 Speaker 3: Mary Kiani, the high energy singer from Scotland, came over 716 00:33:34,161 --> 00:33:36,761 Speaker 3: and became part of our family, and she was a 717 00:33:36,841 --> 00:33:39,881 Speaker 3: DCM family and there was we did the launch of 718 00:33:39,921 --> 00:33:43,041 Speaker 3: the Romeo and Juliets soundtrack. I can't remember her name 719 00:33:43,041 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 3: I've gone blank now, but she came in and she 720 00:33:45,561 --> 00:33:47,681 Speaker 3: was part of that, and there was just always Madonna 721 00:33:47,721 --> 00:33:51,401 Speaker 3: came in at some point in Madonna, she was in town. 722 00:33:52,041 --> 00:33:52,881 Speaker 4: She came a disease. 723 00:33:53,241 --> 00:33:56,361 Speaker 3: Yeah, and this is early, and she came in and 724 00:33:56,401 --> 00:33:58,481 Speaker 3: she had a She popped in for a second because 725 00:33:58,521 --> 00:34:00,801 Speaker 3: it was like phone calls and popped in, stayed for 726 00:34:00,841 --> 00:34:04,961 Speaker 3: five minutes, fled, and then she had a birthday because 727 00:34:04,961 --> 00:34:07,200 Speaker 3: she was on tour with the Girly Tour. So whatever, 728 00:34:07,321 --> 00:34:09,521 Speaker 3: it'll be the year the Girly Tour hit Sydney, so 729 00:34:09,561 --> 00:34:11,521 Speaker 3: I think could have been ninety eight something like that. 730 00:34:12,161 --> 00:34:14,401 Speaker 3: And she had a party down at you know, under 731 00:34:14,401 --> 00:34:16,761 Speaker 3: the Harbor Bridge. What's that restaurant that used to be 732 00:34:16,841 --> 00:34:19,441 Speaker 3: down there where the Harbor viewers, like Pier. 733 00:34:19,281 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 4: One or something like that. 734 00:34:20,521 --> 00:34:23,001 Speaker 3: She had a birthday party down for her brother who 735 00:34:23,041 --> 00:34:27,241 Speaker 3: she no longer talks to, Christopher, and it was just drag, 736 00:34:27,321 --> 00:34:30,321 Speaker 3: queens galore, And we all went to the party and 737 00:34:30,361 --> 00:34:33,641 Speaker 3: we were sitting with her and there was a up high. 738 00:34:33,761 --> 00:34:37,041 Speaker 3: She had lesbians on stocks, and you know, it was 739 00:34:37,281 --> 00:34:40,161 Speaker 3: very bizarre, and you know, people pouring hot wax on 740 00:34:40,241 --> 00:34:44,441 Speaker 3: lesbian snipples and people whipping gay boys on these you know, 741 00:34:44,481 --> 00:34:46,960 Speaker 3: the things that turn around like that and whipping them 742 00:34:47,001 --> 00:34:50,361 Speaker 3: and she just was like this S and M party 743 00:34:50,401 --> 00:34:50,961 Speaker 3: for a brother. 744 00:34:51,041 --> 00:34:52,001 Speaker 1: It was very bizarre. 745 00:34:52,001 --> 00:34:55,761 Speaker 3: And I remember at one point she was like, ID 746 00:34:55,921 --> 00:34:57,801 Speaker 3: to climb that ladder and pour hot wax on that 747 00:34:57,881 --> 00:34:59,121 Speaker 3: lesbian snipples And I was. 748 00:34:59,041 --> 00:34:59,601 Speaker 4: Like, okay. 749 00:35:00,921 --> 00:35:02,881 Speaker 1: I was like, all, let's do this. And you know 750 00:35:02,961 --> 00:35:05,401 Speaker 1: the next day I got up and did it. You know, 751 00:35:05,481 --> 00:35:07,561 Speaker 1: there was a pause, and you know it was all. 752 00:35:07,401 --> 00:35:10,681 Speaker 3: Fun, and that's the bravado of you know, being a 753 00:35:10,761 --> 00:35:13,721 Speaker 3: DCM manager. We would do crazy things like that. And 754 00:35:13,801 --> 00:35:16,481 Speaker 3: so it was written up in the Daily I think 755 00:35:16,521 --> 00:35:18,761 Speaker 3: it was a Daily Telegraph or something. My mum read 756 00:35:18,801 --> 00:35:20,841 Speaker 3: it and she was like, what is that. You know, 757 00:35:21,081 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 3: Penny was seen at the Madonna thing, you know, pouring. 758 00:35:23,641 --> 00:35:25,561 Speaker 1: Hot wax, you know on it. 759 00:35:25,601 --> 00:35:27,721 Speaker 3: There was a whole rider, not just about me, but 760 00:35:27,761 --> 00:35:30,521 Speaker 3: the whole thing and Penny one of the managers at DCM, 761 00:35:30,561 --> 00:35:33,041 Speaker 3: and I was like, Lord, have mercy. Those are the 762 00:35:33,121 --> 00:35:35,681 Speaker 3: kind of weird things. I wish I had that clip. 763 00:35:35,801 --> 00:35:38,241 Speaker 3: I wish I had that little Daily Telegraph clip because 764 00:35:38,281 --> 00:35:41,521 Speaker 3: couldn't I frame that? That's like acclaim to fame. So 765 00:35:41,841 --> 00:35:44,521 Speaker 3: there's so many of those little things over the years. 766 00:35:44,601 --> 00:35:47,960 Speaker 2: You know, as I said before, like I think DCMS 767 00:35:48,241 --> 00:35:49,561 Speaker 2: was it the first club we you should go in 768 00:35:49,601 --> 00:35:52,521 Speaker 2: there and all members of their tops off, like is that? 769 00:35:52,601 --> 00:35:52,801 Speaker 1: Yes? 770 00:35:52,881 --> 00:35:54,841 Speaker 3: It was, yeah, And it wasn't just gay man, it 771 00:35:54,841 --> 00:35:57,121 Speaker 3: was straight man like. It was a ride of passage 772 00:35:57,121 --> 00:35:59,121 Speaker 3: for you know, a straight man to come in in 773 00:35:59,201 --> 00:36:02,201 Speaker 3: his leather pants and take his shirt off and get 774 00:36:02,281 --> 00:36:05,481 Speaker 3: up on that podium and sweat and go off, and 775 00:36:06,161 --> 00:36:06,721 Speaker 3: that's that's. 776 00:36:06,881 --> 00:36:08,241 Speaker 4: There's no rules, really no. 777 00:36:08,401 --> 00:36:10,561 Speaker 3: And it was the uniform you know, every gay man 778 00:36:10,601 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 3: and every straight man that came in there. And as 779 00:36:12,481 --> 00:36:14,601 Speaker 3: we as the years progressed, it was always more straight 780 00:36:14,681 --> 00:36:17,321 Speaker 3: man leather pants. And you know they'd get up to 781 00:36:17,361 --> 00:36:21,201 Speaker 3: the front step and you know, already chewing and echy 782 00:36:21,401 --> 00:36:24,921 Speaker 3: jaw and off eki off they'd go. And they'd be 783 00:36:25,281 --> 00:36:27,601 Speaker 3: they'd been somewhere and they'd come up and whoever the 784 00:36:27,641 --> 00:36:30,201 Speaker 3: door bitch was or something, they'd stand there with their 785 00:36:30,241 --> 00:36:32,921 Speaker 3: dollars would be folded up and it'd take them five 786 00:36:32,961 --> 00:36:35,121 Speaker 3: minutes to unfold the dollars. And you know, we were 787 00:36:35,161 --> 00:36:38,000 Speaker 3: really tough. You know, if you can't have your money ready, 788 00:36:38,041 --> 00:36:40,481 Speaker 3: go back downstairs. And line up again, you know, like 789 00:36:41,081 --> 00:36:44,520 Speaker 3: there was fashion police. It was all kinds. Oh yeah, 790 00:36:44,681 --> 00:36:47,681 Speaker 3: we had people would walk along. I remember to LULAA. Bright, 791 00:36:47,761 --> 00:36:50,801 Speaker 3: she was one of about favorite drags at the door. 792 00:36:51,041 --> 00:36:52,881 Speaker 3: She would walk down and she goes, you know, they'd 793 00:36:52,881 --> 00:36:55,841 Speaker 3: get up the stairs past security and she'd go, you're 794 00:36:55,881 --> 00:36:57,801 Speaker 3: not coming in with those shoes. I don't care if 795 00:36:57,841 --> 00:37:00,481 Speaker 3: you've got past security, go you're not coming in tonight. 796 00:37:00,761 --> 00:37:01,681 Speaker 3: Your shoes are ugly. 797 00:37:01,921 --> 00:37:03,441 Speaker 4: So I wasn't the only one who didn't know. 798 00:37:03,721 --> 00:37:06,321 Speaker 3: And then no, we started the fashion police early, like 799 00:37:06,401 --> 00:37:08,321 Speaker 3: at some point, you know, there were there were even 800 00:37:08,321 --> 00:37:11,201 Speaker 3: shifts like I would just be downstairs and I would 801 00:37:11,241 --> 00:37:13,201 Speaker 3: just walk along because the lineup would go all the 802 00:37:13,201 --> 00:37:16,041 Speaker 3: way up the end, and I just walk along and go, No, 803 00:37:16,161 --> 00:37:19,561 Speaker 3: you're not coming in tonight. Sorry that outfit. No, not 804 00:37:19,641 --> 00:37:20,281 Speaker 3: with that hair. 805 00:37:20,801 --> 00:37:23,361 Speaker 1: You know, like we were. You can't do that now, 806 00:37:23,401 --> 00:37:25,401 Speaker 1: but you know that's what we did. 807 00:37:25,721 --> 00:37:27,321 Speaker 4: Were you start to leave DC's. 808 00:37:27,801 --> 00:37:31,081 Speaker 3: Look at the time when I left, just I think 809 00:37:31,081 --> 00:37:33,201 Speaker 3: it was six or seven months before it got sold. 810 00:37:33,561 --> 00:37:36,121 Speaker 3: I think it got to the point where it was 811 00:37:36,441 --> 00:37:39,281 Speaker 3: healthier for me to leave because it really had become like, 812 00:37:39,441 --> 00:37:41,841 Speaker 3: you know, we were living in a bubble as the 813 00:37:41,881 --> 00:37:42,801 Speaker 3: managers of the club. 814 00:37:44,361 --> 00:37:46,440 Speaker 1: No, I never had a chat with him about that. 815 00:37:46,481 --> 00:37:49,961 Speaker 4: Oh wow, so no, yeah. 816 00:37:49,881 --> 00:37:51,601 Speaker 1: No, I never had a chat with him about so 817 00:37:51,601 --> 00:37:53,521 Speaker 1: he just came in and brought his new people, know 818 00:37:53,681 --> 00:37:54,521 Speaker 1: these new people in you. 819 00:37:54,921 --> 00:37:57,881 Speaker 2: Wow, I didn't know that. I thought you actually mst 820 00:37:57,881 --> 00:37:58,761 Speaker 2: have got the officer to stay. 821 00:37:58,921 --> 00:38:00,081 Speaker 1: No, no, no, I didn't. 822 00:38:00,281 --> 00:38:03,161 Speaker 3: So then calling you back to come back and run 823 00:38:03,201 --> 00:38:05,641 Speaker 3: the DCM parties was very nice, you know, it was 824 00:38:05,681 --> 00:38:08,241 Speaker 3: lovely and I and you know, David and Margaret and 825 00:38:08,321 --> 00:38:11,001 Speaker 3: I got along and you know, John would come in 826 00:38:11,041 --> 00:38:13,881 Speaker 3: and I would run the I did two or three 827 00:38:14,081 --> 00:38:16,521 Speaker 3: what I classified as you in Sydney, and you. 828 00:38:16,481 --> 00:38:18,761 Speaker 2: Know, because I think we started to do some gay 829 00:38:18,801 --> 00:38:21,081 Speaker 2: and lesbian nights on Sunday nights too. Yeah, but they 830 00:38:21,081 --> 00:38:23,001 Speaker 2: didn't actually work because I think it got to the 831 00:38:23,001 --> 00:38:25,561 Speaker 2: point there where the Gay and Lesbian's or Oxtra Street 832 00:38:25,601 --> 00:38:26,921 Speaker 2: were two anti dcms. 833 00:38:27,081 --> 00:38:29,881 Speaker 3: It just yes, no, they just never came back because 834 00:38:29,881 --> 00:38:32,361 Speaker 3: there was just too much. It was, you know, they 835 00:38:32,361 --> 00:38:35,161 Speaker 3: didn't feel comfortable inside because it had gotten it had 836 00:38:35,201 --> 00:38:38,361 Speaker 3: gone from a few scrapes when we were owning it 837 00:38:38,441 --> 00:38:42,881 Speaker 3: to much more when John and had become very tessaone Field, 838 00:38:43,321 --> 00:38:44,321 Speaker 3: I suppose it's the word. 839 00:38:44,321 --> 00:38:47,241 Speaker 4: Do you think it? Like, like credibly if I'm wrong? 840 00:38:47,521 --> 00:38:50,481 Speaker 2: Ox Street, No for for what it is, Okay, So 841 00:38:50,561 --> 00:38:53,441 Speaker 2: when a straight people come into your clubs, do you 842 00:38:53,481 --> 00:38:55,881 Speaker 2: just get a bit like shitty with them coming in? 843 00:38:56,161 --> 00:38:59,641 Speaker 2: Because look they talk over DCMS. Okay it was. 844 00:38:59,281 --> 00:39:02,041 Speaker 1: See, I personally didn't. I loved that the club. 845 00:39:02,201 --> 00:39:05,721 Speaker 3: I was always proud that our club, our version of DCM, 846 00:39:06,041 --> 00:39:10,241 Speaker 3: was really happy and mixed. And I was always proud 847 00:39:10,281 --> 00:39:12,321 Speaker 3: that all kinds of people could come to the club 848 00:39:12,361 --> 00:39:14,321 Speaker 3: because to me, that's what all clubs should be. 849 00:39:14,361 --> 00:39:15,601 Speaker 4: But I feel like it. 850 00:39:15,641 --> 00:39:17,001 Speaker 1: But then it got really bad. 851 00:39:17,081 --> 00:39:21,441 Speaker 3: Ye like look at Ark now arcs Now Laura, But 852 00:39:22,281 --> 00:39:24,201 Speaker 3: the same thing happened at Ark. I saw that that 853 00:39:24,361 --> 00:39:27,681 Speaker 3: was specifically a gay club, and then slowly. 854 00:39:27,401 --> 00:39:29,561 Speaker 4: You let them in, Yeah, and it becomes a straight club. 855 00:39:29,841 --> 00:39:31,801 Speaker 3: And now I see the hate for you know, I 856 00:39:31,841 --> 00:39:34,401 Speaker 3: live in Barrons, so I've been I've lived there eight 857 00:39:34,521 --> 00:39:37,921 Speaker 3: nine years now, so I follow things what's going on. 858 00:39:38,401 --> 00:39:40,281 Speaker 3: But you know, I see a lot of hate towards 859 00:39:40,321 --> 00:39:43,561 Speaker 3: Noir is it? You know? I am now and I 860 00:39:43,601 --> 00:39:45,960 Speaker 3: see a lot of hate because a lot of from 861 00:39:45,961 --> 00:39:50,001 Speaker 3: the gay community because they so close to Stonewalls. So 862 00:39:50,561 --> 00:39:54,361 Speaker 3: two clubs so close together with two different demographics and 863 00:39:54,481 --> 00:39:57,561 Speaker 3: people is causing some issues between that. 864 00:39:57,681 --> 00:40:00,481 Speaker 2: Well, that's when DCMS moved up to Havana and the 865 00:40:00,521 --> 00:40:02,761 Speaker 2: same thing happened when stone Wall didn't. 866 00:40:02,601 --> 00:40:06,401 Speaker 3: Like it Bibloss and you know, at some point the 867 00:40:06,481 --> 00:40:10,761 Speaker 3: gays were then saying DCM has now turned Oxford Street straight, 868 00:40:10,841 --> 00:40:13,561 Speaker 3: because then we had bib Loss and then we had DCM, 869 00:40:13,721 --> 00:40:17,521 Speaker 3: and you know, and then ARC started going straight, and 870 00:40:17,681 --> 00:40:21,321 Speaker 3: you know, it became a different Oxford Street From me, it's. 871 00:40:21,201 --> 00:40:24,121 Speaker 1: A little bit more gay now. But now, I mean, 872 00:40:24,161 --> 00:40:24,481 Speaker 1: I don't know. 873 00:40:24,481 --> 00:40:26,241 Speaker 3: I haven't been out on Oxford Street for a while, 874 00:40:26,321 --> 00:40:30,001 Speaker 3: but with Noir there now and Aura has taken over, 875 00:40:30,401 --> 00:40:32,041 Speaker 3: I don't know, has it changed much? 876 00:40:32,321 --> 00:40:33,001 Speaker 1: Have you been there? 877 00:40:33,401 --> 00:40:35,440 Speaker 4: You go out, I don't go out, but I've seen 878 00:40:35,481 --> 00:40:36,001 Speaker 4: the streets and. 879 00:40:36,161 --> 00:40:39,321 Speaker 3: You get invited to the opening night of Aura. I 880 00:40:39,361 --> 00:40:42,601 Speaker 3: got invited Dave Old, who owns it. It was one 881 00:40:42,641 --> 00:40:45,881 Speaker 3: of the main manager of DCM back in my DCM days. 882 00:40:46,041 --> 00:40:48,841 Speaker 3: He's a lovely, lovely man. And you know, I was 883 00:40:48,881 --> 00:40:51,681 Speaker 3: in Byron and I had a rough week and I 884 00:40:51,721 --> 00:40:54,721 Speaker 3: was like, I can't come down, But I got invited still, 885 00:40:54,721 --> 00:40:56,641 Speaker 3: so it was nice to still be invited by him, 886 00:40:57,121 --> 00:40:59,161 Speaker 3: and I would like to go and see the club 887 00:41:00,161 --> 00:41:03,721 Speaker 3: and it looks beautiful, and I hope that people mix 888 00:41:03,801 --> 00:41:05,841 Speaker 3: in there a bit because so I know that Dave's 889 00:41:05,881 --> 00:41:08,561 Speaker 3: so gay friendly and such an ally and has always 890 00:41:08,601 --> 00:41:09,961 Speaker 3: been a wonderful supporter of me. 891 00:41:10,161 --> 00:41:13,001 Speaker 4: But he can be gay friendly, but it's their clients. 892 00:41:13,521 --> 00:41:16,001 Speaker 3: It's the crowd that come, and he can't control that 893 00:41:16,161 --> 00:41:18,321 Speaker 3: black at Noir. So it's not always his fault, and 894 00:41:18,321 --> 00:41:21,561 Speaker 3: it wasn't always our fault at the end of DCM either, 895 00:41:21,601 --> 00:41:22,121 Speaker 3: I don't think. 896 00:41:22,921 --> 00:41:25,001 Speaker 2: So when you left DCMS, where did you go? 897 00:41:26,081 --> 00:41:28,401 Speaker 3: I fluffed around, Like I said, I fluffed around for 898 00:41:28,401 --> 00:41:30,921 Speaker 3: a little while. You know, it was a real like 899 00:41:31,081 --> 00:41:34,881 Speaker 3: I suppose, coming off drugs nearly to leave a venue 900 00:41:35,001 --> 00:41:39,041 Speaker 3: where you are so high profile and so well loved 901 00:41:39,601 --> 00:41:43,761 Speaker 3: to nothing for a minute. But I was lucky because 902 00:41:43,761 --> 00:41:46,921 Speaker 3: I still had my showgirl. Because all through DCM, I 903 00:41:46,961 --> 00:41:49,361 Speaker 3: still kept you know, I was hosting at it an 904 00:41:49,401 --> 00:41:52,440 Speaker 3: extreme nightclub at Parramatta, which was a huge strip club 905 00:41:52,481 --> 00:41:54,841 Speaker 3: at the time, and Fridays and Saturdays I would host 906 00:41:54,841 --> 00:41:58,001 Speaker 3: out there and I love that, and I was still 907 00:41:58,121 --> 00:42:01,361 Speaker 3: keeping up show Girls, so I went back into Carlotta 908 00:42:01,481 --> 00:42:03,361 Speaker 3: was touring again, so I joined that. 909 00:42:03,881 --> 00:42:06,321 Speaker 1: I ended up managing show for a little while. 910 00:42:06,641 --> 00:42:09,321 Speaker 3: I worked for a music company for a while and 911 00:42:09,601 --> 00:42:12,841 Speaker 3: that was God. I did that from JRB Music and 912 00:42:12,881 --> 00:42:17,561 Speaker 3: we released Mary Mary Keianni album I became friends with 913 00:42:17,641 --> 00:42:20,801 Speaker 3: from DCM and a Melissa Kutz album. I did that 914 00:42:20,881 --> 00:42:23,681 Speaker 3: for a couple of years, and yeah, I stayed around there, 915 00:42:23,761 --> 00:42:26,961 Speaker 3: and then I ended up a friend was having a 916 00:42:27,041 --> 00:42:28,601 Speaker 3: rough time, and I moved to the Gold Coast for 917 00:42:28,601 --> 00:42:32,561 Speaker 3: a minute and then came back and started as one 918 00:42:32,561 --> 00:42:34,961 Speaker 3: of the managers at the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville. 919 00:42:35,121 --> 00:42:35,841 Speaker 4: How was that? 920 00:42:35,841 --> 00:42:37,561 Speaker 3: That was fantastic? It was nice to be back in 921 00:42:37,601 --> 00:42:40,921 Speaker 3: hospitality again. It was nice to be back running a 922 00:42:40,961 --> 00:42:43,001 Speaker 3: gay club that hadn't been. 923 00:42:43,281 --> 00:42:44,561 Speaker 4: What year was that that you came back to time? 924 00:42:44,761 --> 00:42:45,440 Speaker 1: I don't know. 925 00:42:46,321 --> 00:42:47,681 Speaker 2: Do you think do you think the crowd had changed 926 00:42:47,721 --> 00:42:48,921 Speaker 2: when when you come back? Do you think it was 927 00:42:48,921 --> 00:42:49,441 Speaker 2: a lot different? 928 00:42:49,521 --> 00:42:53,161 Speaker 3: Yeah? The stray here was out of decline from a 929 00:42:53,201 --> 00:42:56,241 Speaker 3: little bit, and so we brought it back up and 930 00:42:56,321 --> 00:42:57,961 Speaker 3: now it's a wonderful venue. 931 00:42:57,961 --> 00:43:00,801 Speaker 1: But it's mixed again, you know. So I got a 932 00:43:00,801 --> 00:43:01,441 Speaker 1: lot of hate too. 933 00:43:01,521 --> 00:43:05,201 Speaker 3: It's like wherever Penny goes, a mixed club happened. So 934 00:43:05,241 --> 00:43:07,321 Speaker 3: I stayed there for a few years, but was very 935 00:43:07,321 --> 00:43:10,161 Speaker 3: happy to be back in hospitality. And from there I 936 00:43:10,241 --> 00:43:13,401 Speaker 3: went to By this stage, Tim had left the midnight 937 00:43:13,481 --> 00:43:17,041 Speaker 3: shift and the owners were running it, and after the 938 00:43:17,081 --> 00:43:19,041 Speaker 3: Imperial they asked me to go to the shift and 939 00:43:19,081 --> 00:43:22,481 Speaker 3: I ran that for a few years, and then finally 940 00:43:22,521 --> 00:43:25,321 Speaker 3: at an older ladies age, I moved to Byron Bay. 941 00:43:25,641 --> 00:43:28,401 Speaker 4: So are you officially retired from the life for what? 942 00:43:28,921 --> 00:43:29,921 Speaker 1: Yes, from nightlife? 943 00:43:30,001 --> 00:43:32,081 Speaker 3: Yeah, I still work, but I worked for the Department 944 00:43:32,121 --> 00:43:35,721 Speaker 3: of Education now, so I will what a what a 945 00:43:35,881 --> 00:43:38,441 Speaker 3: change in job. But I wouldn't I love it and 946 00:43:38,481 --> 00:43:39,201 Speaker 3: wouldn't change. 947 00:43:39,321 --> 00:43:40,561 Speaker 4: I think, what's your best memories? 948 00:43:41,001 --> 00:43:43,681 Speaker 2: Like, out of all of it, what what what sticks 949 00:43:43,681 --> 00:43:45,721 Speaker 2: out the most in your head about Wow. 950 00:43:46,241 --> 00:43:48,481 Speaker 3: Just the family, the family at DC and what I 951 00:43:48,561 --> 00:43:50,401 Speaker 3: like to call the family, the people that would come 952 00:43:50,441 --> 00:43:52,921 Speaker 3: in we were even though it was like a huge 953 00:43:52,961 --> 00:43:55,961 Speaker 3: family of a thousand people. I mean, you know, there 954 00:43:56,041 --> 00:43:58,921 Speaker 3: was very many computers back then. So I remember every 955 00:43:58,921 --> 00:44:02,521 Speaker 3: month we would do a four printed newsletter and sit 956 00:44:02,601 --> 00:44:05,161 Speaker 3: there and fold them and put them in envelopes and 957 00:44:05,201 --> 00:44:09,641 Speaker 3: send that out to our database to promote next month's events, 958 00:44:09,641 --> 00:44:11,601 Speaker 3: and we would advertise in three D world. It was 959 00:44:11,641 --> 00:44:14,601 Speaker 3: print media, so there was no social media. So those 960 00:44:14,721 --> 00:44:17,841 Speaker 3: kind of things and the rapport of just being with 961 00:44:17,881 --> 00:44:20,921 Speaker 3: the managers of DCM and we became a family and 962 00:44:20,921 --> 00:44:23,201 Speaker 3: we were you know, and I'm still friends with most 963 00:44:23,241 --> 00:44:23,921 Speaker 3: of them today. 964 00:44:24,041 --> 00:44:27,041 Speaker 2: You know, Well, when you had DMS, do you think 965 00:44:27,081 --> 00:44:28,761 Speaker 2: it was what was it? Do you think it was 966 00:44:28,801 --> 00:44:31,681 Speaker 2: the venue, the DJ's, the crowd, what was it that 967 00:44:31,801 --> 00:44:33,441 Speaker 2: brought them to DCS when you had it? 968 00:44:34,521 --> 00:44:37,161 Speaker 3: I think people. I think the gays came because it 969 00:44:37,201 --> 00:44:39,721 Speaker 3: was a changeover from Patches and they stayed with us. 970 00:44:39,841 --> 00:44:42,521 Speaker 3: The drag shows kept them and a safe place for 971 00:44:42,601 --> 00:44:44,801 Speaker 3: them to come. The straight people when they started coming 972 00:44:44,841 --> 00:44:47,761 Speaker 3: in were all they didn't know the word allies back then, 973 00:44:47,841 --> 00:44:51,561 Speaker 3: but were supportive and friendly and wanted to be included 974 00:44:51,601 --> 00:44:54,440 Speaker 3: in it, and somehow stumbled in slowly in it and 975 00:44:54,481 --> 00:44:58,081 Speaker 3: it infiltrated slowly. I think people loved the drag shows. 976 00:44:58,521 --> 00:45:01,401 Speaker 3: I think they loved the girls loved going to a 977 00:45:01,441 --> 00:45:04,921 Speaker 3: place where boys wouldn't always harass them for sex because 978 00:45:05,041 --> 00:45:07,480 Speaker 3: there was more gay people there, and you know, that's 979 00:45:07,521 --> 00:45:09,841 Speaker 3: how it normally happens, you know, like a gay guy 980 00:45:09,881 --> 00:45:11,881 Speaker 3: will bring a straight girlfriend and well. 981 00:45:11,721 --> 00:45:14,001 Speaker 4: That's what I was like, Yeah. 982 00:45:13,441 --> 00:45:15,721 Speaker 3: So that's how it changes. And then the straight girlfriend 983 00:45:15,761 --> 00:45:18,601 Speaker 3: will invite three other girlfriends and then their boyfriends, and 984 00:45:18,641 --> 00:45:22,401 Speaker 3: then the boyfriends realize hey, this is a who and 985 00:45:22,441 --> 00:45:27,601 Speaker 3: then slowly over time it changes, and so yeah, I 986 00:45:27,641 --> 00:45:30,361 Speaker 3: think that's how it's happened. I mean, I have so 987 00:45:30,441 --> 00:45:34,241 Speaker 3: many great memories, the birthday parties, that Good Friday Harbor 988 00:45:34,321 --> 00:45:38,281 Speaker 3: Cruisers DCM's Good Friday Harbor Cruse with legendary for ten years. 989 00:45:38,321 --> 00:45:41,361 Speaker 3: We would hire a boat because no club could be 990 00:45:41,441 --> 00:45:44,721 Speaker 3: open Good Friday back then, and we would invite our 991 00:45:44,841 --> 00:45:48,361 Speaker 3: core VIP members and the staff and we would get 992 00:45:48,401 --> 00:45:50,841 Speaker 3: on the boat and go out. I mean, look, I 993 00:45:50,881 --> 00:45:53,041 Speaker 3: don't There were a couple of cruises where, you know, 994 00:45:53,081 --> 00:45:55,001 Speaker 3: I'd walk on the boat, get a scotch and go 995 00:45:55,081 --> 00:45:58,361 Speaker 3: downstairs to the toilet and I would be chatting down 996 00:45:58,361 --> 00:46:01,361 Speaker 3: in the toilet of the boat, and then someone would 997 00:46:01,401 --> 00:46:03,641 Speaker 3: come down and go the cruise is finished, and I'm 998 00:46:03,681 --> 00:46:07,681 Speaker 3: still in the toilet talking and I'm like, it can't be. 999 00:46:08,121 --> 00:46:11,721 Speaker 1: It's a six hour cruise and they're like down there for. 1000 00:46:14,561 --> 00:46:20,001 Speaker 3: Six hours and I'm sitting up on the little lens 1001 00:46:20,121 --> 00:46:23,361 Speaker 3: chatting to people like holding court. You know. Those are 1002 00:46:23,361 --> 00:46:26,041 Speaker 3: the funny times where I'm like, oh, I just missed 1003 00:46:26,081 --> 00:46:26,761 Speaker 3: a whole cruise. 1004 00:46:26,801 --> 00:46:27,201 Speaker 4: How did that? 1005 00:46:28,321 --> 00:46:31,001 Speaker 3: You know? And then we'd go and all go to DCM, 1006 00:46:31,081 --> 00:46:33,401 Speaker 3: but it wasn't open, so we would just go in 1007 00:46:33,441 --> 00:46:35,201 Speaker 3: and have a few quiet staffy drinks. 1008 00:46:35,201 --> 00:46:37,401 Speaker 1: That turned into all kinds of crazies. 1009 00:46:37,881 --> 00:46:40,161 Speaker 3: I think I like the family aspect of it too, 1010 00:46:40,281 --> 00:46:43,361 Speaker 3: Like you know now, I even at the reunion parties 1011 00:46:43,361 --> 00:46:46,801 Speaker 3: that kind of started from John and Margaret and David 1012 00:46:46,841 --> 00:46:50,001 Speaker 3: inviting me back to start long We've now started doing 1013 00:46:50,001 --> 00:46:52,241 Speaker 3: them at the Imperial and I started running the Imperial. 1014 00:46:52,281 --> 00:46:54,401 Speaker 3: The first one, I think the major one we did 1015 00:46:54,401 --> 00:46:57,801 Speaker 3: after that was twenty thirteen and they were jam packed. 1016 00:46:57,841 --> 00:47:00,841 Speaker 3: People flew in for everywhere for that, and you would 1017 00:47:01,081 --> 00:47:03,201 Speaker 3: people would come up and go just my wife and 1018 00:47:03,241 --> 00:47:05,801 Speaker 3: I met her at DCM. And now the last one 1019 00:47:05,841 --> 00:47:10,041 Speaker 3: we did was last Marti Gras at the original d CM, 1020 00:47:10,721 --> 00:47:13,561 Speaker 3: and people are coming up, going, this is my daughter 1021 00:47:13,641 --> 00:47:15,801 Speaker 3: and I get to dance on a podium with us 1022 00:47:15,841 --> 00:47:19,561 Speaker 3: because I met her at your club. And then the 1023 00:47:19,641 --> 00:47:22,081 Speaker 3: daughter's like, oh look, and I heard mom and Dad 1024 00:47:22,121 --> 00:47:25,401 Speaker 3: had sex in the phone party, you know, because they 1025 00:47:25,441 --> 00:47:28,001 Speaker 3: were people. The phone parties were huge where we'd fill 1026 00:47:28,081 --> 00:47:31,121 Speaker 3: up the dance floor from foam, like turn it into 1027 00:47:31,121 --> 00:47:33,201 Speaker 3: a pool and fill it up and everyone would get 1028 00:47:33,241 --> 00:47:35,921 Speaker 3: in and dance, and apparently there was sex under the foam, 1029 00:47:35,961 --> 00:47:38,921 Speaker 3: and we'd had a few complaints underneath. I was talking 1030 00:47:38,921 --> 00:47:41,721 Speaker 3: to Ben Morris, the lighting manager who became one of 1031 00:47:41,721 --> 00:47:44,481 Speaker 3: the full managers at DCM, the other day and do 1032 00:47:44,561 --> 00:47:46,841 Speaker 3: you remember what was the name of the record store, 1033 00:47:46,841 --> 00:47:50,841 Speaker 3: Fish Records, was downstairs and the foam would leak and 1034 00:47:51,241 --> 00:47:54,480 Speaker 3: run in and there was thousands of CDs ruined from 1035 00:47:54,481 --> 00:47:57,641 Speaker 3: the phone running through the floorboards, and you know, things 1036 00:47:57,681 --> 00:47:59,841 Speaker 3: like that, I mean the great things too. Tim and 1037 00:47:59,881 --> 00:48:03,321 Speaker 3: Brook were even Ben reminded me that, you know, when 1038 00:48:03,321 --> 00:48:06,121 Speaker 3: we needed we were the first club in the Southern 1039 00:48:06,121 --> 00:48:09,001 Speaker 3: Hemisphere to have a lighting rig that moved on motors. 1040 00:48:09,201 --> 00:48:11,681 Speaker 3: You know, it was unheard of back then, but Tim 1041 00:48:11,761 --> 00:48:15,521 Speaker 3: and Brooke would want to get those kind of things in, 1042 00:48:15,681 --> 00:48:18,241 Speaker 3: you know, and new lighting desks that could be at 1043 00:48:18,241 --> 00:48:20,921 Speaker 3: the time were high tech and fifteen thousand dollars worth. 1044 00:48:20,921 --> 00:48:23,121 Speaker 3: And it was definitely the DJs too. There seemed to 1045 00:48:23,121 --> 00:48:25,761 Speaker 3: be a real change from just the essence of the 1046 00:48:25,801 --> 00:48:29,601 Speaker 3: club to the drags to then the DJs became the start. 1047 00:48:29,681 --> 00:48:33,321 Speaker 3: Originally it was the show good, but the DJs definitely 1048 00:48:33,361 --> 00:48:35,761 Speaker 3: became the name then and people would go for them, 1049 00:48:36,001 --> 00:48:38,241 Speaker 3: go for them, and it's still now. Look you know 1050 00:48:38,521 --> 00:48:42,281 Speaker 3: some of the DJs now, you know, iconic and legendary 1051 00:48:42,361 --> 00:48:43,201 Speaker 3: and any. 1052 00:48:43,001 --> 00:48:45,321 Speaker 4: Regrets, No, no regrets at all. 1053 00:48:45,881 --> 00:48:52,041 Speaker 2: No, I don't often you change, but what happened like 1054 00:48:52,201 --> 00:48:55,081 Speaker 2: going from your life to where you've worked, what you've done, 1055 00:48:56,161 --> 00:48:56,441 Speaker 2: happy with? 1056 00:48:56,601 --> 00:48:58,801 Speaker 3: Oh, look, you know I'd always say I wish I 1057 00:48:58,801 --> 00:49:01,401 Speaker 3: hadn't bought that car, or I wish and hadn't dated 1058 00:49:01,441 --> 00:49:03,961 Speaker 3: that man. Or I mean I'm a bit of a 1059 00:49:04,041 --> 00:49:06,801 Speaker 3: teetotal and now and sometimes I think I wish I 1060 00:49:06,841 --> 00:49:09,801 Speaker 3: had not drink as much maybe back then, but it 1061 00:49:09,841 --> 00:49:15,480 Speaker 3: was the lifestyle and you know, nothing huge, No, No, 1062 00:49:15,561 --> 00:49:18,001 Speaker 3: I think I think as a trans woman that was 1063 00:49:18,041 --> 00:49:21,081 Speaker 3: a showgirl, d CM was a perfect you know, I 1064 00:49:21,121 --> 00:49:24,041 Speaker 3: went to TAFE. Well, I did a promotions a marketing 1065 00:49:24,081 --> 00:49:26,241 Speaker 3: course at TAFE while I was at d CM and 1066 00:49:26,721 --> 00:49:29,641 Speaker 3: sharpened my skills. I just wasn't relying on going from 1067 00:49:29,641 --> 00:49:33,401 Speaker 3: a showgirl and writing deliveries in a book and learning 1068 00:49:33,441 --> 00:49:35,641 Speaker 3: a computer system because it was in the house. I 1069 00:49:35,681 --> 00:49:39,641 Speaker 3: went and studied and it helped me to better myself. 1070 00:49:39,681 --> 00:49:42,601 Speaker 2: So I think in general, no, well, before we go, 1071 00:49:43,041 --> 00:49:45,681 Speaker 2: describe yourself in one word for me, Penny. 1072 00:49:45,761 --> 00:49:53,081 Speaker 1: In one word, Wow, that's difficult. A few words, well, 1073 00:49:53,121 --> 00:49:53,721 Speaker 1: give me two works. 1074 00:49:53,761 --> 00:49:58,001 Speaker 3: It depends on I'm oil. I can be difficult, but 1075 00:49:58,081 --> 00:49:58,961 Speaker 3: I can be lovable. 1076 00:49:59,761 --> 00:50:03,081 Speaker 2: Okay. Before yeah, I'll ask you another question. Where did 1077 00:50:03,121 --> 00:50:05,041 Speaker 2: you get the name Penny Clifford? Where'd you get that from? 1078 00:50:05,801 --> 00:50:06,241 Speaker 1: Do you know? 1079 00:50:07,001 --> 00:50:10,601 Speaker 3: Back in the day, Well, Clifford was my family name, 1080 00:50:11,481 --> 00:50:15,441 Speaker 3: and drags and show girls had weird names. 1081 00:50:15,481 --> 00:50:16,041 Speaker 1: Back in the day. 1082 00:50:16,081 --> 00:50:19,801 Speaker 3: There was Tricksy low Mount and trees are green like 1083 00:50:19,881 --> 00:50:23,601 Speaker 3: trees are green, but Teresa Green Sarah Pax, which was 1084 00:50:23,641 --> 00:50:27,841 Speaker 3: a medication that everyone took. And so when I first 1085 00:50:27,921 --> 00:50:31,281 Speaker 3: started my first talent show, I was obsessed with the 1086 00:50:31,321 --> 00:50:33,721 Speaker 3: living Newton John. So I didn't even my first drag 1087 00:50:33,841 --> 00:50:37,361 Speaker 3: name was Olivia Neutron Bomb because all I would, and 1088 00:50:37,521 --> 00:50:40,241 Speaker 3: you know, I was tragic back then. Let me do 1089 00:50:40,401 --> 00:50:42,921 Speaker 3: blond Wig, blue eyes, shadow you. I've got a photo 1090 00:50:42,921 --> 00:50:46,281 Speaker 3: of it, and I laugh at it now, but and 1091 00:50:46,361 --> 00:50:49,081 Speaker 3: I would and at Balmaintown Hall Hotel. I would just 1092 00:50:49,121 --> 00:50:52,441 Speaker 3: do you know Alvy Newton John Songs and think I 1093 00:50:52,521 --> 00:50:55,321 Speaker 3: was fabulous. It was very funny. And I met Tricksy 1094 00:50:55,441 --> 00:50:57,521 Speaker 3: and she said that's a stupid name. You can't have that. 1095 00:50:57,761 --> 00:51:02,161 Speaker 3: And everyone had weird names, and so she went, I 1096 00:51:02,201 --> 00:51:06,281 Speaker 3: think you should have Penny Trait and I was like okay, 1097 00:51:06,961 --> 00:51:12,081 Speaker 3: and she would introduce me is miss Penetrate and then 1098 00:51:12,121 --> 00:51:14,801 Speaker 3: if she was drunk, you know, Tricksy on a microphone 1099 00:51:14,841 --> 00:51:16,921 Speaker 3: to go and here's miss Pennytrate. 1100 00:51:16,481 --> 00:51:20,520 Speaker 1: My bowly area coming after you. I always remember that thinking, 1101 00:51:20,601 --> 00:51:23,041 Speaker 1: oh God, what are we going to know? But Pete. 1102 00:51:23,401 --> 00:51:25,721 Speaker 3: But during that was at the early started patches, so 1103 00:51:25,801 --> 00:51:28,601 Speaker 3: people just knew me as Penny, and suddenly people were 1104 00:51:28,601 --> 00:51:31,441 Speaker 3: calling me Penny and and I was like, okay, well 1105 00:51:31,641 --> 00:51:32,481 Speaker 3: that name stuck. 1106 00:51:32,601 --> 00:51:34,201 Speaker 1: I mean obviously I dropped the trade. 1107 00:51:34,441 --> 00:51:38,521 Speaker 3: Yeah, and so it just became a natural progression to 1108 00:51:38,561 --> 00:51:41,001 Speaker 3: add a family name with it. When I changed my 1109 00:51:41,121 --> 00:51:43,721 Speaker 3: name by deep Hole in nineteen eighty one or something, 1110 00:51:43,761 --> 00:51:45,601 Speaker 3: it became Penny Clifford. 1111 00:51:45,601 --> 00:51:50,361 Speaker 1: And it's still wow, man, still with me. Maybe I 1112 00:51:50,441 --> 00:51:52,121 Speaker 1: should have been Amanda. I don't know. 1113 00:51:53,561 --> 00:51:54,121 Speaker 4: I like Penny. 1114 00:51:54,121 --> 00:51:56,441 Speaker 1: I like it's worked for me all these years. 1115 00:51:56,801 --> 00:51:58,081 Speaker 4: Well, thank you Penny for coming on. 1116 00:51:58,201 --> 00:52:00,521 Speaker 1: Thank you Neil. It's been lovely chatting love this. 1117 00:52:00,641 --> 00:52:01,960 Speaker 4: It's been worth the wait. 1118 00:52:02,681 --> 00:52:03,121 Speaker 1: Thank you. 1119 00:52:03,321 --> 00:52:05,681 Speaker 3: Well, it's lovely to see your face and guns and 1120 00:52:06,561 --> 00:52:08,201 Speaker 3: all of that so I can take you back to 1121 00:52:08,241 --> 00:52:09,801 Speaker 3: twenty years ago and flirt with you. 1122 00:52:09,801 --> 00:52:10,641 Speaker 1: All over again. 1123 00:52:12,041 --> 00:52:13,241 Speaker 4: Thanks paid, Thanks now,