Portland‘s Darcelle XV Showplace has been giving Portland’s queer community a place to perform for decades.

The club’s owner Walter Cole has performed at the bar as Darcelle XV since he founded the venue. At 92 years old, he holds the Guinness Book World Record as the oldest living drag performer. Darcelle’s is apparently one of only two drag clubs in the US to open before 1970.

Cole said to OPB in an interview,

I want to be remembered because I made somebody smile and care…

Before drag became mainstream and lucrative, performers in the past would sacrificed their careers, relationships, and lives to do what they loved, love who they loved and be themselves.

Cole retired his wig to isolate during the pandemic, but the hiatus fired up his reason for being,

What’s too much to handle is that I don’t have a purpose. It drives me crazy;

it’s why I would never retire.”

In 2018, Portland-based production company 360 Labs created Through Darcelle’s Eyes, a documentary about Darcelle’s life and career to date.

You can still catch Darcelle performing six days a week at every one of the club’s shows. Her presence continues to be an inspiration.

As someone posted to WOW‘s Facebook page,

Darcelle is a Portland LEGEND!”

Watch.

(Photos, Wikipedia, Walter Cole; via Gay Cities)