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New Orleans LegendAlice Brady Passes

Alice Lee Brady, 84, longtime gay bar owner passedaway February 25, 2012.

She was surrounded by family andfriends and held court right up to theend; she was having it no other way.Alice was a truly remarkable person,born July 31, 1927 in Birmingham, AL,weighing just over 2 pounds and firstkept in a shoebox, she would becomebigger than life to her friends.

Alice arrived in New Orleans fromher childhood home, Alexandria LA, by

bus in 1946 carrying a single suitcase.She was befriended by Torchy Wildewho saw Alice getting off the bus. Trochytold Alice that she should get back on

obituary

[continued on 15]

Maggie’s frazzled life; though, to someextent, certainly the fault of the book, amore emotionally communicativeMaggie might bring out more of hercharacter. To some extent, this wasalso held true for Celia Guillory’s Gusbut, in her case, such reticence seemedpart of her character.

Joshua W. Brewer, as Maggie’sson Aric, was adolescently sweet, surlyand believable as a troubled teen whostraightens himself out in a much moreengaging performance than his one inEarnest. As his sister Missouri (where’dshe get that name?), Tate Robertsonhad her own sugar’n’spice qualities butseemed to have inherited her singingability from her “Dad”.

Perhaps the stand-out in the castwas Katie Lynn Cotaya as the hair-dresser Maya, Gus’s squeeze. Themost polished of the performers com-bined with the most well-defined rolelet her bring sizzle to the stage when-ever the spotlight was on her. Alsoquite talented was Kaitlin Griffin asPriscilla; I just wish she had more to do.In a small but vital role as Maggie’sDad’s paramour, Teresa Wilson Au-gustine was adorably girlish but nicely

strong-willed. With her strong voicethat lit up the finale, one wishes she toohad a larger role.

Mention must be made of TroyHedrick as Mark. A member of theSaint Tammany Association for Re-tarded Citizens, he performed flaw-lessly and brought a wonderful bit ofverisimilitude to the production. This isa noble bit of casting but one wishes hischaracter was better integrated intothe plot and/or given more to do. Oth-erwise, it can seem to be a somewhatunnecessary device albeit a most wor-thy one.

Widow Bride is clearly a heartfelt,well-meaning work. If it sounds like I’vebeen a bit harsh on it, so be it (mycompanion for the evening was morefavorably inclined). At this stage in themusical’s development such criticismcan only aid in enabling it to fulfill itspotential. Nothing would be more won-derful than if Slidell Little Theater wasto become an incubator of new musicaltheater works that went on to conquerthe world!

Coming Soon to NOLA

A hernia operation causedme to miss Boylesk!’s lastvisit here in December.

The ashes have been spent,the weather is warm andperfect, and the seafood

platters are selling like crazy all in thename of Lenten discipline. Things arebeing given up like desserts or smok-ing and the Irish and Italians are meet-ing in smoke filled rooms plotting thebest parades ever. St. Joseph altarswith a bounty of breads, guava beans,baked goods are being planned; thetarantella was danced just a week or soago; and lots of paper flowers are be-ing made by little ladies in “Metry” and“da Parish.” Cutter’s hosted the EasterParade fundraiser and bonnets arebeing set, glitter accumulating, anddivine drapes are being laid out for theEaster Parade.

Yea, this is a time of austerity andreflection in New Orleans – right! Wemust suffer through stuffed crab, boiledcrawfish, and the decision to get thelarge or extra large seafood platter. It’sin the air, new life, and especially rightnow outdoor doing … whatever thatmay be. Yea, it’s Lent in New Orleans.

Lent in New Orleans is as much acultural phenomena as it is a religiousresponse. At least at St. Anna’s it is thetime when the brass is polished while itis hidden away. It is a time to clean whathas grown tarnished and soot riddenfrom a year of veneration, funerals,baptisms, and worship. It is the timethat we worship in austerity with maybea little less glitz. In that austerity at thistime of year, every year, light poursthrough three small windows highabove the altar. These rays of sunlight

a community within communities

by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal ChurchEmail: fr.bill@stannanola.org

dance on the earthen ware chalice andfair linen that drapes the altar as ifstaged for a film. Wooden candle hold-ers speak of nature and earthinesswith deep rich tones. It is a time to takea breath.

We never seem to slow down inNew Orleans. Or, maybe we are al-ways on slow and the party never stops.Hard to tell isn’t it. Lent in New Orleansis different, but then again, what aboutNew Orleans isn’t different? How aboutthis! Take some time off during Lent,take time to simply watch, observe,and experience where you are in life,where in you live, and what you aredoing.

Once observed list your five favor-ite things about that life, where you live,those around you, and where you are.Then, list five things that disappointyou about your life, where you live, andthose around you. Now you are doingLent. That’s it get started. Once youhave the lists do something aboutit…now it’s about time for Easter. Dur-ing this time of observing and listingsoak it all up: the good and the bad.Now you are doing Lent. Toward theend of Lent take your list, oh yes I meanreally write these things down, andplace them gently in a box – a simple orpretty box. Let them abide by them-selves and give them no thought. Holyweek begins with Palm Sunday, we doa Second Line on that morning and youare invited, and runs through until Eas-ter Sunday which is April 8. I want youto take that box out during Holy Weekand focus on it. Your best and worst arethere. You are standing outside of yourexperience and looking at it. Make thisYOUR Holy Week a time to be Holyand to become whole! Open the box, ina special place offer a prayer, maybeyour home, maybe your bar, maybe onthe levee. Light both lists and offerthem up. . . Remember the things thatdisappoint you? Change them healthem reconcile them . . . they are onlyfive things, only five, not the world notyour entire life five things, relation-ships, places, or behaviors that disap-point. Change it first by naming it; thenby offering it; then by acting on it. Re-member those five things that are yourfavorite. Are they still? If so, hold themin your heart, embrace them cherishthem, they are five things that are somuch more than the five things disap-point because they will always be withyou. You are now doing Lent…

Then order the big platter becauseit has the stuffed shrimp and crab balls– no further comments needed.

St. Patrick’s, St. Joseph, AND Lent

trodding the boards...from 10

pride: beyond the rainbowPride Grand MarshalAnnouncement Party

On April 7, New OrleansPride will announce their2012 Grand Marshals at

an announcement party and gala heldat The Hotel Monteleone. The eventwill be from 8-11pm. Enjoy food, drinks,and music while supporting a greatcause.

Hosted by Persana Shoulders ofOz New Orleans and PrincesseStephaney, all former grand marshalswill be honored, special achievementawards will be given, and 2012 Grand

Marshals announced prior to a concertby Louisiana’s own, Amanda Shaw.

New Orleans Pride is proud to an-nounce Tpot from B97’s The AfternoonSwirl as our Honorary Grand Marshal2012.

Tickets for this event can be pur-chased at www.prideneworleans.org.Advance tickets are $20 each or $150for a VIP Table for 6 people. Ticketscan also be purchased at the door for$35.

For more information about NewOrleans Pride or the Grand MarshalGala, email nolapride@gmail.com.

Well, I’m all healed now and lookingforward to seeing this all-male bur-lesque show that will be at the House ofBlues for two shows on Saturday, March17. Boylesk! features award-winningburlesque stars delivering pure primebeef, emphasizing the masculine sideof the tease with their sizzling surprisereveals and tongue-in-cheek exploits.

Headlining from Chicago will bethe Stage Door Johnnies! (Ray Gunn,Jett Adore, and Bazuka Joe) whowon the 2011 Best Burlesque Troupeat the Burlesque Hall of Fame in LasVegas. Also on the bill will be HotToddy (Best Boylesque–2009 Bur-lesque Hall of Fame), The Evil HateMonkey (Best Boylesque–2010 Bur-lesque Hall of Fame), the magic ofNathan Kepner and Morgan Tsu-Raun, and Mistress of CeremoniesCora Vette. Can’t wait!

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14 • 14 • 14 • 14 • 14 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar• Mar• Mar• Mar• March 13-27, 2012 • Ofch 13-27, 2012 • Ofch 13-27, 2012 • Ofch 13-27, 2012 • Ofch 13-27, 2012 • Official Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COMficial Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COMficial Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COMficial Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COMficial Gay Easter Parade Guide • GayEasterParade.COM

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nsGold Sponsors Stuart Nettles &EGM IX Safonda Peters flank EGM

XIII Darwin Reed

Gold Sponsors Kajun’s Pub’s Lisa& Joann flank Bronze SponsorMichael & Silver Sponsor Deja

Venue Sponsor Cutter’s fab 3:Mac, Jimmy & Dudley

Bronze Sponsors Rudy & JosieMae, Silver Sponsor Al, BronzeSponsor Bebe & Silver Sponsor

Dwain

Cutter’s Mac takes top bid @ $225for Painted Pony retired

“Woodland Hunter” with EGMsRhonda & Darwin, GEP’s Tony

Bronze Sponsor Freddie takestop bid @ $200 for Easter Basket

auction from GEP’s Tony

Cutter’s Mac takes top bid @ $35for Easter Plush Duck

Silver Sponsors Jerry & Kenny

Silver Sponsor Queen Amon-RaBarry with EGMs XIII

Rhonda & Darwin

EGM XII Gary presents EGM XIIIpins to Rhonda & Darwin

Bronze Sponsor Satyricon’sJared, Silver Sponsor

Queen Amon-Ra Barry & Robert

Gold Sponsors & EGMs XIIIDarwin & Rhonda flank Silver

Sponsor John

Bronze Sponsors Starr & Justinflank EGM XIII Rhonda

EGM XIII Darwin & BronzeSponsor Michael

Bronze Sponsor Society Page’sOrlando with EGM XIII Rhonda

Gold Sponsor Opal (r) rubsBronze Sponsors Frankie’sbuddha belly then BronzeSponsor Dusty appears

Bronze Sponsor New OrleansBears with EGMs XIII

Rhonda & Darwin

GEP Boards Electra & Tittie snagBronze Sponsor Frankie

GEP Boards Electra & Opal, GoldSponsors EGM XII Gary & EGMs

XIII Rhonda & Darwin, GEP BoardsTony & Tittie

Bronze Sponsors Satyricon’sJared & EGM X Tony

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the bus and go back where she camefrom; she was much too young to takeon the city, but take on the city was justwhat she did. She began working inlocal French Quarter bars and learnedthe trade and the workings of the city.Alice was gutsy and determined andeventually opened her own bar in 1952,The Mascarade Bar at 819 St. Louis St.Her goal was to have a place wheregay patrons could gather and have agood time. At that time one could bearrested for gathering in a known gaybar, but this did not detour Alice; hercustomers were going to be safe in herbar. Alice’s compassion and closewatch on her customers led to herbecoming a legend in the Gay Com-munity. Following the Mascarade sheopened Alice Brady’s at 514 UrsulinesSt. Her third location was Mr. D’s Hide-A-Way and finally Brady’s at 700 N.Rampart St.

She sold Brady’s in the late 1970’sand retired to Metairie with her firstNew Orleans friend Torchy. She soonfound that retirement was not for herand she bought into another local baronly to sell her interest and retire again.Several bar owners tried to get her toreturn to the business offering her nu-merous opportunities. She came out ofretirement and began tending bar againon Rampart Street, spending her shiftstelling stories of her life in New Or-leans, and pouring many drinks. Shecould fill a bar when she was workingbecause the old and the new wanted tohear her escapades. She eventuallymoved to the Friendly Bar on ChartresStreet and continued drawing in crowdsuntil standing for hours became anissue and in the early 1990’s she had togive up bartending. Alice spent herlater years visiting with her friends whowould stop by, talking on the phone andsending e-mails. When she did makethe occasional appearance in publicshe could still stop traffic, everyoneloved Alice.

Alice’s long and vast life experi-ences could not be learned in school,they had to be lived, and live she did.Alice was always available to offer ad-vice gathered from her life experiencesand knowledge. She was perhaps bestknown as the proprietor of lesbian barsbut her personality spilled over to in-clude the male gay community andmany in the straight community. Shehad a passion for music, if you liked acertain artist or a particular song andAlice knew it, you’d get a CD from her.During her years in the French Quartershe became friends with many of thegreat musicians and entertainers play-ing on Bourbon Street as well as musi-cians from around the world. Sheshared her vast collection of musicwith her friends and bar owners mak-ing tapes and eventually CD’s thatplayed throughout the city.

Although Alice never had childrenof her own, she raised hundreds. She

obituaries ...from 12

was a friend to many, whose lives werechanged and served as an inspirationto members of the gay community whowent on to become doctors, lawyers,nurses, businessmen and women.Alice would say that she was helped bymany when she arrived in New Or-leans and in turn she helped manythroughout her lifetime. Alice put fortha gruff demeanor but once you peeledaway this facade of the ‘tough broad”you found the real Alice the one with theheart of gold.

Alice was an original contributor inthe 1960s to the newly forming GayMardi Gras balls and in the 1970s shehelped sponsor local gay softball teams,bowling leagues and the Kitty KatKoctail Klub, giving our communityevents outside the bars to participate inand bringing gay women and men to-gether.

Alice was preceded in death by hermother, Alice Pickles Brady, her father

Wilson D. Brady, and her sister MaudeEddie Winn. She is survived by herloving nephew Raleigh Winn, his wifeLois, of Pineville LA, great nieces andnephews, and her “adopted” son Den-nis Sickles of Galveston, TX, his part-ner Randy Elwood, her very specialclose and dear friend Yanett, and manyloving friends from coast to coast. Spe-cial thanks to Raleigh and Lois for yourdevotion and late night computer fixes.Sam and Gloria, Pam and Ludie, Martyand Koo, and Jackie for your closewatch over Alice the past several years,she appreciated you all very much. ToMary Faucheaux, in Alice’s words “Youare an Angel,” and to Cindy you showedAlice that you are never too old to be avaluable and productive confidant.Above all, Alice’s life would not havebeen complete had she not been ableto share 21 years of her life with herdog, Colette. Colette was the love ofher life and her devoted companion

and friend.Alice received the Gay Apprecia-

tion Awards Lifetime AchievementAward in 1998 along with another leg-end, the late John Dodt, the highesthonor given each year by its board ofdirectors.

A memorial service is scheduledat St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, 1313Esplanade Avenue, at 2pm on March24th, followed by a reception at TheFriendly Bar, 2301 Chartres Street.Please join in the Celebration of Life toremember Alice Lee Brady.

Alice, you will be missed by yourfamily and loving friends all the days ofour lives. The legend of Alice Brady willbe there always to remind us about theAlice Brady we knew and loved. Fromthe 1940’s to 2012, Alice was and isrevered in the Gay and Straight Com-munity here and afar, and she will con-tinue to be revered. We truly have losta legend.