Good Heavens.....

...has it really been over a month since I've GAM-O-RAMA'd?? I even missed my annual PRIDE POST, which breaks my heart! Good thing my archives are filled to bursting with a good five years worth of fun! Every blogger needs a break now and then. For now, I'll try to get you up to speed.

As usual, I've been up to no good in my bad wig! First, I skipped out on the last month of my lease so I could immediately move into my dream apartment (dreams can come true!) Seriously, I basically sneaked out on a Sunday, dropped the keys in the rent box, left my mattress behind the dumpster and called it a day...a good day! Trashy, I know, but at least now I'm happy as a clam...if a clam can be happy, that is.

The following weekend I hosted a "Wine Toss" game at a local Arts Auction Gala! Three rings for 10 bucks and if you ring a bottle, you get to keep it. I was drinking a little of that wine, too, and giving everybody shit, not realizing that these were the city bigwigs and I shouldn't have said that to the Mayor...but how was I to know the Mayor was a young lady?? (Well, not exactly YOUNG young! Younger than me...but who isn't these days?) In any case, we sold a couple cases worth of wine and I got a great big round of applause at the fabulous dinner party that followed. In typical fashion, I stood and blew Hollywood kisses...Thank you all! (especially you, Mayor) Mwahhhhh! MWAHHHH!

The next bee I got in my bonnet was inspired by RuPaul's Drag Race and I thought, if Mama Ru can be an ordained minister and throw impromptu weddings, why can't I? So, friends and sinners, I am now, officially, an Ordained Minister! You may now call me REVEREND GAMS GALORE!

In the State of Washington I can marry ya or bury ya...your choice. Remember, I put the 'fun' in 'Funeral'!

My plan is to buy an old bus and put together a traveling show...THE REVEREND GAMS GALORE and HER TRAVELING MENSTRUAL SHOW! (That's a play on words, folks...and a good one!)

Can I get a 'Hallelujah'?

Who I'd Like To Meet in 2013

The kinky, the kitschy, the cornballs and clowns...

Pagans, performers and peers...

The oddballs, the outcasts, the out-of-the-ordinary...

Colorful crazies and queers...

The fetishists, faghags, the fearless, the fools...

Artists and anarchists, too...

People whose one rule is breaking the rules...

Oh, you know...people just like me and you!

HAPPY PRIDE!!
most photos via Robert Wade

Rock-A-Raise!

We Seattle-ites may be all the way across the country (2852 miles from here to NY as the bird flies) but that doesn't stop us from caring about our friends on the East Coast, many of whom are still struggling after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy!

So I'm proud to announce that this Sunday night I'll be performing at ROCK-A-RAISE...a dance party and burlesque show dedicated to raising money for this worthy cause! In fact, 100% of the proceeds will be going to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Hurricane Sandy Relief and Rebuild Fund!

This event is going to be held at CHOP SUEY on Seattle's Capitol Hill...aaaand...I'm very excited to be sharing the stage with that Hot Hot Mess of Seattle Burlesque, the fabulous Mitzy Sixx!

Check out the TUMBLR link! My thanks to the producers for making me feel like a big-time celebrity! What a thrill!!

Host Post

Hello my darling darlings! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with food, fun and friends! As for me, I enjoyed my own annual tradition of going out for a couple pints of the strongest (around 9% alcohol!) seasonal ale around town, Maritime's Jolly Roger... and some good ol' fashioned fish and chips!

So while I was noshing away on my untraditional fishy feast, it occured to me that I never told y'all about my latest gig! For the last few months I've been the 'official' show host, aka Mistress of Ceremonies,  for Chameleon Productions...a fabulous troupe of burlesque and bellydance performers who put together a show every month at a local bar known as Dante's... a favorite U of W frat hangout since the 60's!

I just so happen to have a video from September's themed show, 'Mix It Up!' ...why don't you 'check it out'?


Next month is an Xmas theme, of course...entitled 'Tis The Season... and guess who got to design the poster??

Belltown Betty, Baby!

Yes! It's true, my darlings! The coveted Belltown Betty jacket and crown are mine, all mine!

What an exciting night! What an unforgettable victory...what I can remember of it, anyway! The competition...fueled on alcohol and crack...was fierce, but I managed to squeak by on the popular vote, just edging out the oh-so-attractive "Snatch Crackaa" (my kooky pal Ruby Rouge) who immediately fell to her knees before me and pledged her allegiance, as you can almost see in this snippet of video...

And here's a victory photo of this year's Belltown Pageant royalty...Mr.Belltown ~ Kaleb Kerr and Belltown Betty ~ Gams Galore! As you can see, we are both thrilled beyond belief!

After spreading love around to all my loyal subjects, I managed to find some time to gather with friends at a local Belltown watering hole and celebrate, along with one of my very favorite people, my beautiful daughter, Teela!

Dotty Betty

It's that time of year again, darlings...time for the 6th Annual Belltown Pageant!! This will be my third try competing for the title of Belltown Betty...an honor in itself, made even more appealing with an astounding array of cash and prizes, including the coveted Belltown Betty hand-painted jacket!

Between you and me, kidz, I gave it my all last year...what an act! And lately I've been clueless how to top that act...running dangerously high on stress and low on inspiration. So, I told myself....just relax! Don't try too hard this year...the whole production is shamelessly fixed anyway...the judges are too easily swayed by alcoholic favors and over the course of the pageant become too drunk to think logically or get a correct count on the ballots. Just be happy you've taken home 2nd Place trophies the last 2 years...the whole thing is just one big drunk joke!

Still, how could I stop myself from making a statement...and a costume...and trying too hard?

I composed an appropriately delightful ditty and dance for the occasion, set to a jazzy little rendition of that old favorite, Blue Moon. And as for the evening's costume, I designed a sexy dress out of what was supposed to be a top (McCall's M6078)...

I couldn't resist this stretchy black polyester with stunning silver polka-dots! This design has a cowl neck with silver leather loops...how great does it look with my silver leather trench?? Heigh-ho!

Add a pair of black spike heels with silver linings. Now all that's needed is a fedora with a silver band! Wish me luck at this year's Pageant, darlings...keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed and VOTE FOR GAMS!

IN GAMS WE TRUST

Rapture-Ready!

Flowing White Robe: check! Doc Martens: check! If you need me after tonite, I'll be hangin' up here with Joey, Kurt and Sid! Simply heavenly, darlings!




Strange Fruit

Leave it to Paula the Swedish Housewife to bring legendary Joey Arias to our little corner of the world! Joey, along with accompanist Eliot Douglass, will be channelling Billie Holiday in Strange Fruit this Tuesday night at Seattle's Triple Door...and if I have my way, I'll be seated in the front row with a perfect view and a Wild Ginger Martini close at hand!

Here's one of the numbers from last year's Strange Fruit, produced by none other than Deirdre Timmons, creator of A Wink and A Smile!

Prowling for PAWS!

Leopards and Cougars and Boobies...oh, my! Lock up your cubs! This weekend, sexy Iva Handfull has gathered a pack o' cougarettes together for two nights of burlesque, comedy and variety...all to benefit homeless kitties and other fuzzy friends at PAWS! Needless to say, when she asked if I'd like to perform, I didn't pussyfoot around...I pounced at the opportunity!

I don't want to tell you too much about my performance yet...except that I'll be talking about my Pussy and singing about my Tits...now doesn't that sound interesting?? I'll also be revealing an eyeful! Inspired by my fish-eyes, I created a pair of glittery cats-eye pasties...


...meeeee-ow!

Joints, Jah and Jeremy

Well, friends...things were really happenin' at Hempfest this weekend! Surprise Surprise! I was invited to be one of the backup singers for reggae star Selassie I Soldier! Good thing I donned my favorite sunny wig and brought the sunshine out on what was supposed to be a typically rainy Seattle summer Sunday!


Here's me and my pals Tamara and Lindsey glamourizing the Mainstage!






Wasn't Selassie gracious to pose for pictures when he would have much rather been eating his sandwich? By the way, has anyone seen my missing arm? I could have sworn I had it earlier that day...


Of course, the topper of the day for me was getting a peek at a Famous Penis...that of adult film legend, Ron Jeremy! Ron was introducing acts and so I was able to get up close......and personal! How personal, you ask? Well, not only was Ron cuddly...



...but candid, as well! Take a peek at the Famous Penis!!! Awesome!

Downtown In Belltown!

Get ready for Gams in action!! Thanks to Mr. Belltown contestant The Great Brendinni, I can now share a special clip from the Pageant with you! Here I am performing my version of Petula Clark's 'Downtown', which I rewrote as a tribute to one of my favorite places to drink in the world...a place that's been near and dear to my heart and my hangovers for over 30 years now...Seattle's fabulous Belltown!



Don't forget to check Brendinni's related Belltown Pageant videos!

Blonde Ambition

They say blondes have more fun. I'm not sure that's always the case (look at Martha Stewart)..but, I do know that I always have more fun when I'm having fun in my big bad blonde wig! Take for instance this last Sunday night at the 5th Annual Belltown Pageant! Gettaloada me, your pal Gams, posing with contestants Anita Goodmann, Lana Lure and oh! so perfectly perfect Missss California! Now there's some blonde ambition for ya!


Looks like there was a run on peroxide...


And nothing says "ambition" like volunteering to be a fluffer...here's a snap of me and contestant, Charlie Savage Monroe, doing some pre-pageant preparations. Isn't this a great pic? Actually, we did some mutual fluffing that night...he did my hair and I did his merkins...front and rear!


I'm proud to say, my friends, that I walked away with the Second Prize Trophy again this year! Along with last year's silver stunner, they make quite a statement on the back of my royal throne.


I'm sure you're just dying to see all the pageant excitement, so I've put together a little slideshow of the contestants and their performances. Unfortunately, the camera ran outta juice halfway through the show, so you won't see the outcome here...but I understand that this night of music, merkins and madness was filmed, so I promise to post it as soon as I can. Meanwhile, please enjoy these highlights and see if you can guess who won the coveted First Place titles of Mr. Belltown and Belltown Betty 2010!

slideshow | Viewer

Photos by Jackie Kingsbury & Anita Goodmann...slideshow pics by Johnny...trophy pics by moi

Fierce Floral Fantasy!

Speaking of Pride, Seattle's Burlesque Community had their own fantastic floral flotilla at this year's Parade...and photographer Paul O'Connell was on hand to capture
the magic!! Perhaps you'll recognize some of these colorful characters that I've featured right here on Gam-o-Rama!

Waxie Moon and Miss Indigo Blue


The Shanghai Pearl


Honey D.Luxe


Inga Ingenue


Fuchsia Foxxx


EmpeROAR Fabulous


Anita Goodmann


Glamour hits the streets! Yay!