Hello Dolly Production 1979 – ISCWR
This video was filmed at the Edmonton Inn Hotel in 1979 during the Coronation Ball held by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose. It featured volunteer members of The Court presenting a lip sync performance of Hello Dolly. Directed by John M. Kerr and starring Chatty Cathy (Duane Shave), Ron Byers, Daryl Broyles, John M. Kerr, Gerry Kasten and Bill Wallace.
This is the only recording of a performance by the late John M. Kerr that we know of. In 1985, a few months after he passed away the ISCWR named their Scholarship Award Program – that had been started a year earlier – in his memory. You can read more about this program now known as the John M. Kerr Memorial Bursary Award here: https://iscwryeg.ca/bursary/
You can read more abut John M. Kerr in Darrin Hagen‘s story “After the Pisces Bathhouse Raid: John Kerr – Dance for Gramma” on the Edmonton City As Museum Project website. https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2021/05/18/after-the-pisces-bathhouse-raid-john-kerr-dance-for-gramma/
The recording quality is not great and the video has some bad spots and is not clear but it is a copy of the original recording done that day.
This video contains some disturbing imagery related to race in North America. One of the characters is shown in “blackface” makeup portraying a well known African American personality in American musical history. At the time this video was recorded and the production presented the Edmonton gay community had little representation from the Black community. We can not change our history nor should we erase it. Injustices and inequities within our society continue to this day and we must examine even the most painful parts of our history in order to reflect on who we are today and who we want to become. We are therefore presenting the original video in its entirety.
Rainbow Story Hub
Rainbow Story Hub brings the history of Edmonton's 2SLGBTQ+ community to life from the perspective of those who lived it. Through stories, videos and other media we hope to capture and preserve these stories from the people who lived them. These stories can then be used to inform, educate and enlighten not only our own community through GSA’s and hopefully one day school curriculum but also the greater community we live in today.
Blazewing Photography
Terrence Adams
