Drag Queen Doris Fish and the Sluts A-Go-Go

When Doris met Sylvester…! 1977. As far as we know, the only documented meeting of the two San Francisco drag legends, these photos were taken by James Moss during an interview with the disco star for “San Francisco Gay Life: Where It’s At”. This would have been around the time of his first self-titled disco…

This feature was in the James Moss magazine “San Francisco Gay Life–Where It’s At” number 3 in 1977. Jane Dornaker, Pearly Gates, Eddie Troia, and Doris Fish met up while performing with the Tubes at Bimbo’s in 1976. Dornaker and Gates formed the rock band Leila and the Snakes. This all led to great things,…

Doris Fish and Freda Lay at the corner of 18th and Castro sometime between 1979-1983. I think this is an extraordinary photograph. The vanguard of early San Francisco Drag in the Castro in its heyday. Its unconventional with the shadows from the telephone poles breaking it up and adding weird depth in the afternoon light.…

City Hall Sluts! This fabulous photo from Greg Foss’ collection was taken in 81-82 during the Martin Ryter era. The story is that Doris and Martin released a press release announcing that a wealthy Arabian sheik was coming to town to meet with Doris and the Mayor of San Francisco. The sheik was played by…

Another treat from the Ginger Quest collection: There is something so special and precious about a Polaroid. They are magic objects—Doris probably handled this exact photograph after it was taken. This is Greg Foss (Ginger Quest) and Doris Fish (There’s that sixties hippie drag again) out and about in the early 80s. It always strikes…

Exciting news from the Australian Queer Archives, we thank them for sharing these digital images with us! “AQuA recently received a very significant donation of artworks, objects and archival material relating to Doris Fish from Johnny Allen, Ron Smith and the Danny Abood Estate (Johnny Allen). These works significantly extent our existing holdings relating to…

These photos of Tippi and Doris Fish were taken at a party between 1980-82. Doris is in hippie drag and Tippi is looking very sixties in a delightfully colorful dress. Doris’ 1982 self-portrait in hippie drag was clearly referencing these photos.   See also: Haight Street Fair 1980

Doris Fish by Doris Fish Kalendar Magazine, 1977 My first memory of myself as a performer is my father’s office Xmas party. I recited “Nellie Bly.” I was 4 years old. My childhood was quite uneventful but very pleasant. I have two brothers and two sisters-all delightful, pretty people. The are all in Australia living…

Sluts Slumber Party Held at Previews performance space at Polk and Geary September 21, 1980, during the hiatus between Sluts A Go-Go: A Play with Music and the premiere of Blonde Sin. We are short on details, this was likely a revue of their most popular numbers, possibly with new comedy and certainly some improvisation.

The Tubes Doris visited San Francisco for the first time in March 1975, and returned for an extended stay in the summer of 1976. That year she entered a talent competition to join the proto-punk rock band The Tubes which was looking for oddball acts to compliment their bizarre shows. Doris auditioned in trashy glamour…

Halloween Harlots Revue Doris Fish’s first performance in San Francisco was a revue organized by Ambi Sextrous at the SIR Center in San Francisco, Halloween 1976. Doris designed the poster for the show, but not much else is remembered about it or their co-star Mary Anne Drogynous.

Doris Fish at the Mr. Drummer Competition. I-Beam, San Francisco, 1982 The incredible picture on the left was published in In Touch magazine in October 1982, photographer as yet unknown. It was submitted by a follower on our Instagram and shows Doris having maniacal, riotous fun with hunky leather men in the San Francisco nightclub…