History of Milwaukee Drag

For more than a century, drag has been an unstoppable force in Milwaukee nightlife. On June 7, 1884, “The Only Leon” brought the fine art of female impersonation to the Grand Opera Hall, launching a proud local legacy that continues today at This Is It, La Cage, Hamburger Mary’s, D.I.X. and innumerable other venues.

Historians Michail Takach and B.J. Daniels recognize that today’s LGBTQ liberties were born from the strength, resilience and resistance of yesterday’s gender-nonconforming pioneers. This is a long-overdue celebration of those stories, including high-rolling hustler of the Fourth Ward “Badlands” Frank Blunt, over-the-top dinner theater drag superstar of the 1950s Adrian Ames and “It Kid” Jamie Gays, first-ever Miss Gay Milwaukee and Latin community hero. And many, many more.