Doris Fish was an Australian drag pioneer who became an ICON in San Francisco during the golden age of the queer liberation movement in the 1970s until her untimely death as a victim of the AIDS epidemic on June 22, 1991. RELENTLESS in her pursuit of a life devoted to making art and being as fabulously famous as possible, she willed herself to movie stardom as the creative force behind the Sluts A Go-Go drag trio and their groundbreaking sci-fi comedy movie Vegas In Space.

Established in 2024, Doris Fish Forever is a comprehensive archive of Doris Fish and the Sluts A GoGo (1979-1991) showcasing photographs, video, Doris’ artwork and memorabilia. Contributors include director Phillip R Ford, photographer Dan Nicoletta, best friend and co-star Miss X, Bobbie Davis, curator of Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive and Greg Foss (Ginger Quest) and many more!

Our goal is to preserve the legacy of Doris and the Sluts, to elevate her profile as an ICON of the Art of Drag, and make some fun, fabulous licensed merchandise that benefits queer artists. For more information, please see the About This Site page.

Vegas In Space Digital Archive

Vegas in Space is the greatest All Drag Queen movie of all time. Created by the drag legends Doris Fish, Miss X and Tippi (the infamous Sluts a Go-Go), directed by Phillip R Ford, photographed by Robin Clark, and featuring an all-star cast of San Francisco artists and performers from the 1980s queer underground! FIlmed in 1983-85 and released in 1991, it predated the drag explosion of the 1990s and influenced a generation of LGBT fans, including Ru Paul, Heklina, Peaches Christ, Sasha Velour, D’Arcy Drollinger and many more.

Learn the behind the scenes story of the MOVIE THAT SAVED THE UNIVERSE!

Who's Who in the Doris Fish Story?

Doris Fish

Doris Fish as Captain Tracy Daniels in "Vegas In Space". Photo by Robin Clark.

Tippi

Miss X

Phil Ford

See All Bios

Timeline for Doris Fish and the Sluts A Go-Go

Below, you will find our articles about shows and important events in the story of Doris Fish and the Sluts A Go-Go. It is a work in progress.

Click here for a complete list of shows.

Doris Fish in Australia with Sylvia & Synthetics (1974-1976)

Doris Fish began her drag career with the Australian drag collective Sylvia and the Synthetics,.

 

We whipped and kicked each other and removed our frocks. The whole hall was soon filled with naked bodies. The police later arrived and arrested some rowdy people who were living in the gutter.

Doris Fish, Carmel Strelein, Danny Abood, Natasha Dennerstein. Photo by William Yang

Doris Fish Wins the Tubes Talent Hunt

Doris competes in a talent competition to join the proto-punk rock band The Tubes which was looking for oddball acts to compliment their bizarre shows. She won the contest and join Pearl E. Gates and Leila and the Snakes’ Jane Dornacker

Doris Fish performs at a Tubes show, 1976. Photo © Daniel Nicoletta. All rights reserved. Not for distribution.

Doris Fish and the Magazine Movie Era 1977-78

Doris Fish began to make her name in San Francisco with the help of James Moss, a filmmaker and publisher. She was the star of his film Magazine Movie and a contributor to his magazine San Francisco Gay Life: Where Its At. She formed her own fan club and wrote a semi-autobiographical article in Kalender magazine.

Magazine Movie Promotion: Doris Fish with two men wearing Doris Fish t-shirts photographed in 1977 by James Moss
Doris Fish photographed with James Moss (I believe), possibly for a publicity still for Magazine Movie. 1977.

Tippi Wins the Anita Bryant Look-A-Like Contest 1977

James Moss, organizes a fundraiser to combat the Dade County Anti-Gay Ordinance championed by the notorious homophobe Anita Bryant. The look-alike contest judged by Harvey Milk and other notables crown Miss Leading (Tippi) as the clear winner, naturally.

Miss Leading (Tippi of the Sluts A Go-Go) as Anita Bryant in the 1977 San Francisco Pride Gay Freedom Day Parade and Anita Bryant Look-A-Like Contest

Sluts a Go-Go Debut at SF Gay Community Center Oct-79

Doris Fish, and Tippi recruit newcomer Miss X put on a trashy, chaotic, riot of a drag show, the very first performance of the Sluts A Go-Go and the dawn of a new era in San Francisco drag. Dan Nicoletta was there to capture it all!

Doris Fish et al, (first Sluts A go go full show in SF at 330 Grove), Oct. 28, 1979
Photograph © by Daniel Nicoletta
All rights reserved

Sluts A Go-Go South Pacific Nightclub Tour 1980

After their October 1979 debut San Francisco Drag show the Sluts A Go-Go travel to Doris Fish’s homeland of Australia for a wild tour of the Sydney gay nightclub scene. Never before published photos of drag queen Doris Fish, Tippi and Miss X performing at The Stranded nightclub and Syd’s bar. With guest star Jacqueline (Jackie) Hyde.

Miss X, Tippi (Miss Leading), and Doris Fish performing "You Only Live Twice" in their mermaid dresses at Syd's in Sydney, Australia, spring 1980. Photo courtesy of Miss X

Calling All Girls

The mysterious BRAND X heiress Miss X fronts for the band Calling All Girls, playing September 4, 18, 26 1981 at the Sound of Music 162 Turk Street. Illustration and Design by Doris Fish. Limited Edition T-Shirt!

Fish for Xmas 1981

Newly restored photographs from Daniel Nicoletta and Greg Foss of the 1981 Christmas show by San Francisco Drag Queens Doris Fish and the Sluts A Go-Go: Tippi, Miss X, Ginger Quest, Sara Cecchini, Lori Naslund, and pianist Paul Tortora at Previews.

Torn Tulle 1982

Newspaper photocopy from a review of Torn Tulle.

In September and October of 1982, Doris Fish had a small role as a drag queen in Chuck Solomon’s production of Charles Henrich’s Torn Tulle at Studio Rhino

Doris Fish Sluts A Go-Go West Graphics Greeting Cards 1982-1991

At one point in the 1980s Doris Fish was probably the most visible Drag Queen in the world, as the famous line of comedic greeting cards from West Graphics starring the Sluts A Go-Go were distributed across the country and snapped up by straight people who thought they were hilarious. For over a decade, Doris and the Sluts showcased their talents as drag artists. We are adding more cards to the gallery and hope to present a complete collection of this work.

 

VIEW GREETING CARD GALLERY

 

Doris Fish at San Francisco Pride

Doris Fish in the Gay and lesbian Freedom Day parade. © Dan Nicoletta, All Rights Reserved.
Newly restored by Doris Fish Forever, this Danny Nicoletta shot from the 1982 Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day parade. The Artists United contingent. Tippi, William Walsh, Doris, Ginger Quest and an unknown queen. © Dan Nicoletta, All Rights Reserved.

Blonde Sin (1980-1982)

Tippi, the manic dancer of the group. November 1980 Photograph © by Daniel Nicoletta

The Sin They Left Out of the Bible

Jane Dornacker and Timmy Spence join the cast of BLONDE SIN, the re-titled and expanded Sluts A Go-Go: Play with Music in November 1980. The hit show cemented the Sluts A Go-Go as San Francisco drag stars throughout the 1980s. Exclusive, newly restored photographs of Blonde Sin from Danny Nicoletta, as well as rare snapshots from Ginger Quest, and for the first time on the internet: Three complete shows recorded on Betamax video!

Doris Fish at her vanity in "Blonde Sin" November 1980 Photograph © by Daniel Nicoletta

Naked Brunch: Club 181: 1984

Miss Solar System Pageant
October 25, 1984
Trocadero Transfer

The epic space age beauty pageant that introduced Vegas In Space to the world!

Happy Hour Summer BBQ, Club181 June 1986

The Happy Hour X-Mas Special is an all-star event at Club181, with Freda Lay as Jane Mansfield, Tommy Pace as Betty Davis, and Ginger Quest as Charo joining Doris Fish, Phillip R Ford, Miss X, Tippi and Sandelle Kincaid. Featuring newly discovered photos and an interview with photographer and friend to the Sluts, Gwyn Waters. Plus: A freshly digitized version of the Betamax video!

Happy Hour X-Mas Special, Club181 December 1985

The Happy Hour X-Mas Special is an all-star event at Club181, with Freda Lay as Jane Mansfield, Tommy Pace as Betty Davis, and Ginger Quest as Charo joining Doris Fish, Phillip R Ford, Miss X, Tippi and Sandelle Kincaid. Featuring newly discovered photos and an interview with photographer and friend to the Sluts, Gwyn Waters. Plus: A freshly digitized version of the Betamax video!

Nightclub of the Living Dead: Club 181, 1986

The Bad Seed November 1987

Acme Famous Players Present Bad Seed
February 6, 1988
The Studio at Theater Rhinoceros, San Francisco

Produced and Directed by Phillip R. Ford

Starring Doris Fish, Miss X, “Tippi”, Sandelle Kincaid, Jack Rikess, Lori Naslund, Larry Wilson, Lurch, Philip Justin Smith, Phil Mangano, John Mason and Phillip R. Ford

Sluts A Go-Go Still Alive Januray 14, 1989

Sluts A-Go-Go STILL ALIVE! Vegas In Space fundraiser and Sluts 10 year anniversary greatest hits retrospective performed at the Victoria Theater January 14, 1989

Sluts A Go-Go All-Star Gang Bang, Jan. 25, 1990

The final public performance of Doris Fish and Sluts A Go-Go, the All-Star Gang Bang was indeed a star studded affair. Pearl E. Gates reunited onstage with Doris for the first time since their 1976 Tubes run.

Established June 1st, 2023: A comprehensive archive of Doris Fish and the Sluts A GoGo (1979-1991) showcasing photographs, video, Doris’ artwork and memorabilia. Contributors include director Phillip R Ford, photographer Dan Nicoletta, co-star Miss X, Bobbie Davis of the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive and more, under the creative direction of Robyn Adams, illustrator of the forthcoming Vegas In Space comic book. Our goal is to preserve the legacy of Doris and the Sluts, to elevate her profile as an ICON of the Art of Drag, and make some fun, fabulous merchandise! For more information, please see the About This Site page.

Follow @dorisfishforever on Instagram and Tic-Tok or join the Doris Fish Forever Facebook Group for updates and special offerings.

Celebrating the life and work of Doris Fish

(born Philip Clargo Mills; August 11, 1952 – June 22, 1991)

Doris Fish & Sluts A Go-Go Vegas In Space Merchandise

Vegas In Space Action Figure Dolls

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