Merna Turner from Smyrna, TN

There she is, in all her glory. Performing at The Other Side in Nashville in the summer of 1974. First time out on stage was at the July 4th Employee's Show and the number was Gloria Gaynor's Honey Bee. In a vintage black bodice and floor length yellow skirt with a huge bumble bee brooch--Lisa Lame yelled from back stage, 'Smile bitch!' After a failed attempt at a serious number, something by Gladys Knight that flopped horribly, she stuck to a comedy routine of Bette Midler, Leslie Gore and other hits from the 60s. She continued to wear only vintage finds and when it got cooler topped them off with a knee length fox coat with bell sleeves that matched her hair color.

While continuing to sling food and cocktails at The Other Side she did every drag show that year, making $200-$300 every show. Not bad considering her rent was $45 and was living in a townhouse with three other queens, Lisa Lame, Peppermint Patty and Bobbye Rye aka Stopper Woman. The total rent was $180. There was minimal furniture, but hey, they only slept there and had the occasional after hours party. There were occasional other roommates. Robert E Lee was one, but he was kicked out after stealing the rent money and being found by the Navy and hauled away for being AWOL. Another was Jeff, the bar's cook's boyfriend, who was invited to find other quarters after locking himself in Merna's closet and attempting to cut his wrists with an electric razor.

Life revolved around the bar, shopping and hanging out with her boyfriend, Jimbo. She was introduced to Jimbo by his wife, Vicki, the spitting image of Bianca Jagger. Vicki was a tiny thing and would dress in vintage too, sometimes wearing a party skirt tucked under her arm pits as a whole dress. She had a boyfriend too, and his name was also Jimbo. They, the first Jimbo and Vicki, had a son, Kassian. The four or five of them slept in the king size bed often.

I had the time of my life that summer of '74. Not a care in the world. I have fond memories of being on stage and commanding a packed audience to their feet. It's hard to believe I even had the nerve to get up there the first time, but damn it was fun and I made good money. I left Merna and Nashville behind in the late fall of that year.