It is with a proud humility and deepest thanks to the author that we finally present the first in a series of extracts from Superstar in a Housedress- the Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis.
It is very rare indeed to find a book that one loves so much that it starts to integrate into your DNA and become a part of you. Superstar in a Housedress- the Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis has become one of those books for me. The relative absence of mention here reflects a deep relationship that I have developed in my little fantasy world. Jackie Curtis has become a friend to me in a lonely and dark time. His story empowers me to keep surviving. What would Jackie Curtis do? has become a truly useful analytical position when I am stuck for answers.
My CSB [Curtis specific bibliophilia] has extended to carrying the book whereever I go as a talisman against the mundane and drab. I have found the confidence to start writing the play that I have always wanted to from Curtis's example. This outcome is absolutely related to 'the Chelsea effect' and everything I learned there. The distilled example set by Curtis has helped me to work out how to deploy those lessons.
Curtis was, very simply, no less than a genius.
That Curtis will always be remembered for the Morrisey made Warhol films and as a name in Walk on the Wildside is a mixed blessing. History will carry forth his name, we can rest certain of that.
It remains that Jackie Curtis was so very much more than a court jester in the Warhol circus. Thanks to the work of Craig Highberger we can now also rest certain that the depth of eccentric brilliance that was Curtis's life will remain intact and stored for those yet to come.
Coming face to face with Curtis's life over the past few months has given me so much insight into who I am, why I am- all those existential kinds of questions. I don't have an answer, I do have a lot of clues where to look next. It has been a long voyage from being a child in a car in suburban Sydney wondering what the hell Walk on the Wildside was about and why a girl would think she was Jimmy Dean to feeling that I know that 'girl' as a soul-sister.
Without further editorialising, from Craig Highberger's: Superstar in a Housedress- the Life and Legend of Jackie Curtis
How Warhol and Curtis Met
There are several versions of how Warhol and Curtis first met.
According to an interview that Jackie Curtis gave to Patrick Smith for the book Andy Warhol's Art and Films, Jackie first met Andy Warhol in 1965 on 42nd Street and 2nd Avenue when he was staying at the YMCA across the street from the silver Factory.The other version is Andy Warhol's recollection. He remembered first meeting Jackie Curtis and Candy Darling in 1966 while walking through Greenwich Village with Fred Hughes on his way to pick up a pair of leather pants at the Leather Man.
Jackie was about nineteen, tall and gangly with a Beatles mop top haircut. Walking with him was a tall, sensational blonde drag queen in high heels and a sundress with one strap falling onto her upper arm.
Jackie introduced the blonde as Hope Slattery (the name Candy was using in those days - her real name was Jimmy Slattery and she was from Massapequa, Long Island).
Jackie recognized Warhol immediately and asked for his autograph on the shopping bag he was carrying. When Andy asked what was is in the bag, Jackie pulled out several pairs of red satin shorts and told him they were for the tap-dancing scene his new play, Glamour, Glory and Gold. Curtis promised to send Warhol tickets to the opening night performance.[picture: Jackie Curtis in Americka Cleopatra]
Excerpt from "Superstar in a Housedress" by Craig B. Highberger (c)
2005, used by permission.
Superstar in a Housedress, the award winning film [DVD] and book documentary set is available through amazon.com or look in the sidebar links for lots of fabulous Jackie Curtis material including posters signed by Highberger and Holly Woodlawn.
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