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Misty for Me
Misty
Valdez and the grand tradition of Galveston drag entertainment
By
Angela S. Hoover
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“If
you don’t know Misty, you don’t know Galveston,”
says Galvestonian Joe Rios. That would be Misty
Valdez, (pictured left), also known as the Island
Diva, and one of Galveston’s several beloved
drag performers. Indeed, Misty is such an infamous
icon in town that many locals vow that someday a
statue will be erected in her honor. |
The
drag scene on Galveston Island is a long-standing part
of the island’s culture. It’s almost hard
to call it “drag” because that just doesn’t
do it justice. In Galveston, the word is entertainment.
The shows are like burlesque, except cleaner. “If
you want someone who feels what they are doing, believes
in it, and keeps it real, you can find it in Galveston,”
says Misty, after performing her extravaganza of a show
at the Kon Tiki. “It’s about feelings.”
Every Friday and Saturday night you can catch a show
at Robert’s Lafitte (2501 Q Avenue) or the Kon
Tiki (315 23rd Street) or most any of the other of Galveston’s
gay bars. Galveston has 10 regular local entertainers,
and many Houston performers such as Naomi Warwick and
Black Velvet who travel so frequently, they are a confirmed
part of the scene. Most Houston impersonators enjoy
performing in Galveston because of its less competitive
atmosphere; many describe the Galveston scene as unified,
fun, and rewarding.
The Fat Tuesday of Galveston drag may be Misty Valdez’
annual benefit for AIDS, which has become a well-known
and much talked-of event on the island with a huge turnout.
Now in its 13th year, the benefit has raised over $30,000
through the years, and become such a significant part
of the community, that on June 2, the date it was held
this year, the mayor issued a proclamation declaring
it Misty Valdez Day. There just aren’t many small
Texas towns where city hall issues proclamations honoring
their citizens using their drag names.
About nine years ago Rolando “Rolly” Suniga—a.k.a.
Misty Valdez—was working at a Greek restaurant
next door to Lafitte, where there was a drag show and
free hot dogs every Sunday. Rolly would attend—mainly
for the hot dogs, he admits—and started enjoying
the shows. “Everyone kept asking when I was going
to get on stage, so eventually, I did.”
Not long after she started performing at Lafitte she
heard a Houston-area AIDS hospital was closing, so she
came up with the idea of making the shows a fundraiser.
That became the first annual AIDS benefit show, which
brought in $361. Afterward Galvestonians became upset
that the show was not for Galveston, so every year thereafter,
the proceeds from the shows have gone to the Galveston-area
AIDS Coalition. Every year, the amount raised has increased,
with this year’s totaling more than $5,000.
The mayor’s proclamation was due in part to the
efforts of Joe Rios, who is a longtime friend of Misty’s,
and works at Galveston’s AIDS Coalition. Rios wrote
a letter to Mayor Quiroga summarizing the tireless and
selfless career of charity Valdez has provided all these
years. “The city council commencement was overdue
and Misty is well deserving of it,” says Rios.
“I had to make sure the mayor was aware of how
much one individual has given back to the community.
It really shows how one person can really make a difference.”
With charming modesty, Misty shies away from glorying
in her local fame. “The people who work at the
AIDS Coalition are really the ones who deserve a pat
on the back,” she says, “because they are
the ones that have to deal with it every day. I just
do it once a year.”
When he’s not on stage, you can find Rolly in front
of the grill at Charlie’s Burgers and Mexican Food
at 110 23rd Street, where he has been working for 20
years. You can also read up on gossip and happenings
in The Galveston GaZette in Misty’s new column,
“Getting Dirty With Misty.”
Another permanent facet on the island is Robert, an
owner at Robert’s Lafitte. Robert doesn’t
believe in serious drag and enjoys comedy and skits.
He has been entertaining for over 30 years and although
he suffered a recent heart attack, that hasn’t
kept his stunning gams out of stockings. He was on hand
to perform at Valdez’ AIDS benefit—all red,
sparkle, feathers, jewels, and “Whatever Happened
to Baby Jane” makeup. He criticizes the current
drag scene for being too serious, obsessed with anatomical
changes and competitiveness. He feels there needs to
be more comedy in the acts, and to do his part, he creates
Lady Bird Johnson, Dolly Parton, and Nancy Sinatra.
Warwick agrees that drag is not what it once was, although
he doesn’t knock its current incarnation.
This nostalgic atmosphere of “getting back to the
roots of drag” is what draws so many Houston talents
down to Galveston. “The audiences are more responsive
here—especially to comedy and characters,”
Houston’s Black Velvet says.
Not only are Galveston audiences more responsive, they
are loving and supportive to the talent. Compared to
Houston, the Galveston clubs are a mixed bag with equal
portions of men and women. The women enjoy the shows
just as much as the men and are prone to entice the
performers to dive down their shirts for five-dollar
bills. There’s also a huge freedom that Houston
clubs don’t always allow, making Galveston an ideal
grooming ground for green entertainers. Everybody—quirks,
defects, and oddities included—is accepted and
appreciated. A local barfly as skinny as a number-two
pencil and as pliable as Silly Putty basks in his own
unique interpretive-style dance. He bends and croons
while strutting stork-like all around the dance floor.
The Kon Tiki clubbers rewarded him with appreciative
applause and beaming smiles.
In fact, Lafitte’s prides itself on offering stage
time to unpolished female impersonators. As Robert puts
it, “Lafitte likes newcomers. A place for someone
to get started and give everybody a chance. So many
places won’t give someone a chance.” Likewise
at the Kon Tiki, where owner Ron Burgess and emcee Walter
Flores are extremely accommodating. In addition, every
entertainer wanted to thank Jesse Garza for all his
emotional and financial support. Garza is responsible
for pulling all the talent together for benefits, advertising,
promoting, and sponsoring the performers—including
the purchase of their wardrobes.
So after a day of sun splashing at the beach or shopping
on the Strand, be sure to check out a show around 10
p.m. and tell ’em Misty sent you. You won’t
believe the treatment you get if you’re a “friend
of Misty’s.” As Valdez puts it: “I’m
very proud of Galveston. I was born and raised here.
I love it. I’ll be here for life. So when you think
of Galveston, think of Misty.”
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