President/Founder of The Hollywood Museum, Donelle Dadigan, along with Council Member Mitch O’Farrell and Board President Esteban Montemayor of Christopher Street West, kicked off Pride weekend with the annual “Real to Reel” exhibit that shines the spotlight on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQ) community in television and film through the decades. This year’s event also feature a special recognition with The Future of Hollywood Award presented to actress Stephanie Beatriz and the Legacy Award to TONY Award winning actress, Julie Newmar.

“I was thrilled to attend The Hollywood Museum for the opening of the REAL TO REEL exhibit the other evening, to kick off Gay Pride here in L.A,” said Geri Jewell of Deadwood fame. “It was wonderful coming together with friends and colleagues in support of another part of the spectrum of diversity.”

Reminiscent of Mae West, Ms Julie Newmar was carried on stage in the arms of two bodybuilders, stating “This what happens when you’re a legacy. You don’t have to walk anywhere. You are carried.”

“Thank you all for this lovely tribute,” she added. “It’s so wonderful to receive it in this building, the old Max Factor salon, where for so many years so many of the greats found their external beauty and also discovered their internal beauty. Donelle Dadigan (Founder/President of the Hollywood Museum, formerly The Max Factor Studios) has given the world a priceless time capsule for generations to enjoy for years to come. Im particularly thrilled to get this recognition right now in the midst of the Me Too and Times Up moment of our history,” remarked Ms Newmar.

“I always had my own way of dealing with those situations. First of all, I was taller than most of the men. So right away, I had an advantage. And one of my early roles, on Broadway and on film, was a gal called Stupefyin Jones in LI’l ABNER. Men saw her and they turned to stone. And this was before Viagra. I think some of them thought I actually had that power. And perhaps I did. Im also delighted to receive this acknowledgment in conjunction with all the LGBT pride activities here at the Museum and around the country this month. Of course, there has always been a strong LGBT presence in my life … even BEFORE Catwoman. But to be reminded of it at this critical time, and to know that it is indeed part of my legacy, and that my legacy is not only an artistic one, but one of feminine strength, power and, lets never forget, fun thats a very, very good thing and it fills me with overwhelming gratitude.”

Honoree, Ms Stephanie Beatriz, commented on similarities of her Brooklyn Nine-Nine character, Rosa Diaz’s sexual identity struggles and her own experiences since she came out to family and friends about her own life. “Just like Rosa, I found support from my friends and colleagues, but less so from my family and the Latin community.”

The Hollywood Museum’s REAL to REEL: Portrayals and Perceptions of LGBTQs in Hollywood exhibition opened to the public on Friday, June 8th, to coincide with the annual Christopher Street West Pride activities. Spanning 100 years, the 2018 exhibit is a salute to the LGBTQ community’s contributions to the entertainment industry. Now, in its fifth successful year, the REAL to REEL: Portrayals and Perceptions of LGBTQ in Hollywood exhibit, is offered in partnership with Los Angeles City Council member Mitch O’Farrell (CD-13) and LA Pride, as an educational, entertaining and informative retrospective of LGBTQ images in film, TV, new digital platforms featuring costumes, props, photos, and iconic imagery all telling the story of the milestones and influence that LGBTQ characters and plot lines have had in Hollywood from early stereotypes in silent films to modern-day representations. Additionally, REAL to REEL celebrates LGBTQ Icons by paying homage to those individuals who support the LGBTQ community.

“We are both honored and humbled by the response to last nights program for the 5th annual REAL to REEL exhibit opening. The outpouring of love and positiveness was shared by both the entertainment and LGBTQ communities. The words of inspiration from actress Stephanie Beatriz, the Future of Hollywood Award recipient, blessed all that were in attendance and the overwhelming applause and response to comments from our Legacy Award honoree, TONY Award winning actress Julie Newmar, was worthy of her iconic stature. We are grateful to Council member Mitch O’Farrell and LAPD Assistant Chief Beatrice Girmala, LA City Controller Ron Galperin and Board President Esteban Montemayor of Christopher Street West for their trust in us. Without their integrity and support, all this effort would mean nothing.”- Donelle Dadigan (President/Founder of The Hollywood Museum)

The Hollywood Museum’s presentation places the exhibit in the historical context of Hollywood, which is home to a large LGBTQ entertainment industry population. The exhibit revisits monumental LGBTQ moments in history with Rev. Troy Perry, including the Black Cat riots (1967), and the infamous sign that once hung at the entrance of West Hollywood’s Barney’s Beanery. Exhibit highlights include costumes from Transparent, How to Get Away with Murder, Brokeback Mountain, Superstore, The Walking Dead, Empire, Trans America, Sordid Lives, Cruising, Orange is the New Black, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ray Donovan, Mad Men, Arrested Development, Cabaret, K-11, After Forever, Orphan Black, Roseanne, Will & Grace, To Wong Fu Julie Newmar, etc. Additional exhibit items include famous costumes from Hollywood’s leading designers; Mr. Blackwell, Bob Mackie, Ret Turner, Nolan Miller, Zac Posen, Rudolf Nureyev and Edith Head to Project Runway with Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum, as well as Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, Scandal, Two in a Half Men, True Blood, The Good Wife, much more. This year’s exhibit also includes, LGBTQ Icons including Judy Garland, Betty Davis, Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Rock Hudson, Liza Minnelli, James Dean, Bette Midler, Ramon Navarro, Rudolf Valentino, Charles Laughton, Sam Harris, Bruce Vilanch, Sherman Hemsley, Geri Jewell, Jerry Herman, Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner and many more.

Recording artist Roslyn Kind exclaimed, “What a GREAT Evening at The Hollywood Museum and the perfect way to kick off PRIDE month 2018, by celebrating all the wonderful contributions of the LGBTQ community to Hollywood’s rich history in the Arts and Culture with the “Real To Reel” Exhibit. Donelle Dadigan does a fantastic job.”

The museum houses more than 10,000 Authentic Show Business Treasures spotlighting more than 100 years of Hollywood history – from the Silents to Talkies, to Hollywood’s Golden Era, Film Noir, Television and its Pioneer Years, through the rebellious 60s, special effects 70s, evolving 80s, involved 90s, technological 2000s, and beyond to current day heartthrobs! The Hollywood Museum’s exhibits showcase the best in film, network and cable television, and new digital platforms featuring iconic and fan favorites! Named one of the top tourist attractions by LA Weekly, voted one of the Top 10 Museums in LA by the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and annually receives the Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. Located in the heart of Hollywood, at the corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland Ave – The Hollywood Museum in the historic Max Factor Building is the “Official Museum of Hollywood” and offers visitors the most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia in the world featuring the glamour of Hollywood legends and stars – past, present and in the making…. See one-of-a-kind costumes, props, photographs, scripts, stars’ car collections, personal artifacts, posters, and memorabilia from favorite stars, films and TV shows. The Hollywood Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

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Time: Event starts at 7:00pm on June 7th

Ticket Price: $10–$50 / show

The Observatory – North Park
2891 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

7:30pm  MEN’S CENTERPIECE

Saturday, June 9th, 2018 

Still Waiting in the Wings

Year: 2018 | Country: USA | Run Time: 109 min | Director: Q. Allan Brocka

Still Waiting In The Wings follows the trials and triumphs of of actors waiting tables in Times Square. While dreaming of the Broadway stage, the reality of slinging hash under florescent lights mixes sweet aspirations with bitter drama. There’s no people like show people and there’s no telling what can happen when they’re pitted against each other. Nick Adams, Ed Asner, Carole Cook, Lee Meriwether, Patricia Richardson, Chita Rivera, Seth Rudetsky, Sally Struthers, Bruce Vilanch, and Cindy Williams round out this heartwarming homage to Broadway with some delightful cameos.

TRAILER: Click Here

Ticket Price: $10.00

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The post Saturday, June 9th, 2018 – LGBT Film Festival San Diego – Still Waiting in the Wings – 7:30pm first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Date: June 7th–10th, 2018

Time: Event starts at 7:00pm on June 7th

Ticket Price: $10–$50 / show

The Observatory – North Park
2891 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

5:30pm  

Saturday, June 9th, 2018

The Fabulous Allan Carr

Year: 2017 | Country: USA | Run Time: 90 min | Director: Jeffrey Schwarz

Armed with a limitless Rolodex and a Benedict Canyon enclave with its own disco, this documentary shows how Allan Carr threw the Hollywood parties that defined the 1970s. A producer, manager, and marketing genius, Carr built his bombastic reputation amid a series of successes including the mega hit musical film GREASE and the Broadway sensation LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, (and then Can’t Stop The Music, Grease 2 and Where The Boys Are ’84) until it all came crashing down after he produced the notorious debacle of the 1989 Academy Awards. Interviewees include: Patricia Birch, Maxwell Caulfield, Steve Guttenberg, Nikki Haskell, Randy Jones, Randal Kleiser, Sherry Lansing, Lorna Luft, Michael Musto, Robert Osborne, Brett Ratner, Connie Stevens, Alana Stewart, Marlo Thomas & Bruce Vilanch.

TRAILER: Click Here

Ticket Price: $10.00

BUY TICKETS

The post Saturday, June 9th, 2018 – 2018 LGBT Film Festival San Diego – The Fabulous Allan Carr – 5:30 PM first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Stoli Vodka kicked off the fifth annual Key West Cocktail Classic last night, hosting the first of 14 stops in Dallas. The world’s largest LGBT bartending competition brings together the most inventive LGBT and LGBT-ally bartenders to compete to win $20,000 for their chosen charity and to be Crowned 2018 Stoli Key West Cocktail Champion.

February 27, 2018 04:58 PM Eastern Standard Time

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Stoli® Group USA, LLC, in partnership with the Key West Business Guild, kicked off the return of the world’s largest annual LGBT bartender competition, the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic, last night. Now in its fifth year, this is not a typical cocktail competition, as bartenders are judged on much more than the taste of their Stoli-based drinks with creativity, authenticity, knowledge and presentation factoring heavily into the equation, determined by a panel of judges and consumers, who can apply to cast votes on-site at www.out.com/keywestcocktailclassic. Fourteen cities across the USA and Canada will play host to regional competitions with the theme “Raising the Bar,” beginning tonight in Dallas and culminating in New York City on May 16^th.

@Stoli kicked off world’s largest LGBT bartending competition last night #stolipride #raisingthebar #stolikeywest

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Finalists will win a seven-day, all-inclusive trip to represent their city at the Finale, which will be held June 5-11^th in Key West and is scheduled to include celebrity guests: actor and musician Jai Rodriguez, writer and Emmy Award-winner Bruce Vilanch, American Idol’s Latoya London, star of the annual CNN-televised New Year’s Eve “High Heel Drop” Sushi, dance diva Debby Holiday, and Real Housewives of Dallas star LeeAnne Locken. The 2018 Stoli Key West Cocktail Champion will serve as the 2018 Key West Pride Parade Honorary Grand Marshall and receives $15,000 for charity, a celebration and check presentation at their home bar, and a trip for two to either Vancouver or San Diego Pride 2018. The first runner-up wins $5,000 for charity plus a weeklong Grand Canyon Water Rafting Adventure, courtesy of HE Travel, North America’s oldest LGBT travel agency. The charity donations are split between winners’ chosen non-profits and Key West non-profits each bartender is paired with in advance. Last year’s Champion, Kayla Hasbrook, won $7,500 for Planned Parenthood of New York and $5,000 for the Key West Firehouse Museum.

“This year, we are proud to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Key West Business Guild, as well as the 40^th anniversary of Harvey Milk being sworn into office; 1978 was indeed an important year,” said Patrik Gallineaux, Stoli’s National LGBT Ambassador and Brand Manager. “The Key West Cocktail Classic recognizes the most innovative bartenders in the country, whose spirit – personally and inside the glass – are reflective of Key West, an island that has been a safe space for so long, and of Harvey Milk, a man whose life opened closet doors for so many.”

Alan Beaubien, President of the Board of the Key West Business Guild, added, “As the oldest LBGT marketing organization in the country, the Key West Business Guild is extremely proud to be able to partner with Stoli for the Cocktail Classic and our June 3^rd-11^th Pride Week Celebration. For five years, Stoli has shown its support to the LBGT community and to the KWBG through this spectacular event series that this year will give back $20,000 to charity while building awareness and support for the importance of the LGBT culture and community. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Stoli and all participants, friends, and fans of the 5th annual Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic to Key West, where we are truly and forever, as our motto reads, ‘One Human Family’.”

In addition to recognizing the talents of the industry’s top LGBT bartenders, the Cocktail Classic celebrates the role that gay bars have played as original community centers and the LGBT and ally bar stars who continue to raise the bar for equality today. For more information about the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic including how to apply, rules, guidelines, and all the recipes from our 2017 champions visit www.out.com/keywestcocktailclassic and follow along on Facebook and Instagram @Stoli and using the hashtags: #stolipride #raisingthebar #stolikeywest.

About Key West Business Guild

The mission of the Key West Business Guild is to promote LGBT travel to Key West through marketing and the promotion of specialty events; to support gay-owned, gay-managed, and gay-friendly businesses; to strengthen the Gay community’s position within the local community by supporting relevant LGBT issues. The KWBG was founded in 1978 by 8 local gay business owners and has grown to approximately 400 members, which work together to continue efforts to brighten the rainbow over the island, an island now known as Gay Key West. Promotion of events, such as Key West Pride, Tropical Heat and Womenfest, has made Key West a year-round LGBT travel destination. For more information visit www.kwbgonline.org.

About Stoli^® Group USA, LLC

Stoli Group USA is the proud importer and marketer of the Stolichnaya^® brand of premium vodkas and Stoli^® Ginger Beer, ultra-premium elit^® Vodka, Louisiana-distilled Bayou^® Rum, Kentucky Owl^® Bourbon founded in 1879, “Tequila with a Soul” Cenote, super-premium Se Busca Mezcal, Achaval-Ferrer from Argentina, and Arinzano wines of Spain. Formed in 2013, Stoli Group USA is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of SPI Group in Luxembourg.

Contacts

Stoli Group
Patrik Gallineaux, +1-415-312-9492
LGBT Ambassador and Brand Manager
pgallineaux@stoli.com
or
Alison Walsh, +1-917-301-2962
Global Public Relations Lead
awalsh@stoli.com

The post Bruce Vilanch Will Be A Finale Guest At The Fifth Annual Key West Cocktail Classic June 5 – 11 in Key West first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

It’s a Golden Opportunity to support The Playhouse at the Judy Gold show! Donate your gold and silver rings, bracelets and necklaces to The Ridgefield Playhouse at the Gold and Silver Give Back Event before the Judy Gold and Bruce Vilanch show on January 27! Veteran jeweler Steve Delzio of The Mexican Shack will be in the lobby from 6:30-8pm to accept your jewelry as a fundraiser for The Ridgefield Playhouse, which is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit.

From 6:30 – 8pm, patrons will have the opportunity to donate real gold or silver jewelry that they no longer want and 100% of the donation will benefit The Ridgefield Playhouse. Mr. Delzio is unable to accept donations of diamonds, precious gems, or gold or silver-plated jewelry at this time. Patrons can bring their real gold or silver jewelry to his table for an appraisal. He’ll remove any precious gems and return them, and then weigh the precious metal and tell them the value of the piece. All donors will receive a tax donation letter for their records.

Mr. Delzio will also showcase some of his own jewelry, which will be available for purchase. Mr. Delzio has been in the jewelry and precious metals business for more than 43 years and sells both fine jewelry and Native-American inspired jewelry at The Mexican Shack in Somers, New York.

A full cash bar will be open in the lobby of The Playhouse during the Gold and Silver Give Back Event and donors are welcome to enjoy a cocktail hour in the lobby and stay for the comedy show, which begins at 8pm. For tickets ($39.50), call or visit the box office, 203-438-5795 or go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a non-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.

JUDY GOLD is an Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian, best known as the star of her two critically acclaimed, long-running Off-Broadway hit shows, including 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother. Judy recently appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” can be seen on the new Showtime series “I’m Dying Up Here” and Netflix’s “Friends From College.” She has recurring roles on Pop TV’s “NightCap!” and TBS’s “Search Party.” Judy is the host of the hit podcast “Kill Me Now” on CBS’ play.it and iTunes.

BRUCE VILANCH is a six-time Emmy Award-winning comic who’s best known for his four-year stint as a celebrity participant on “Hollywood Squares.” His stand-up routine draws on his years of being a Hollywood insider and earned him the role of head writer for the Oscars — writing for hosts Billy Crystal, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin and others. He’s also worked as a comedy writer for other award shows, television series and variety specials.

The post A Golden Opportunity to Support The Ridgefield Playhouse at The Judy Gold and Bruce Vilanch show on January 27 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.