Baton Show Lounge
.jpg) The Baton Show Lounge float, Chicago Pride Parade 2013 | |
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| Address | 4713 N. Broadway Chicago United States |
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| Location | Uptown Chicago |
| Coordinates | 41°58′4.39″N 87°39′31.47″W / 41.9678861°N 87.6587417°W |
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| Parking |
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| Owner | Jim Flint, Christoph Chiavazza |
| Type | LGBT |
| Genre(s) | Drag |
| Capacity | 195 |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Years active | 1969-present |
| Website | |
| www | |
Baton Show Lounge is a Chicago drag club since 1969. It is famous as the venue for the Miss Continental pageant.
History
[edit]Baton Show Lounge was founded in 1969 in River North.[1][2][3] The first venue's address was 436 N. Clark St.[4] The name was inspired by Flint's time in the Navy as a drum major.[1] He would attract crowds by baton twirling and roller skating on the street.[1]
The early days of the lounge were marked by police raids.[5]
The venue moved to its present address at the Uptown Broadway Building in Uptown at the end of 2018 due to rent hikes.[4] The new venue provides a capacity of 195 seats with an additional disco and bar room.[4] Grand opening of the new location was on April 10, 2019.[4]
Performances
[edit]Performers put on shows three times a night, five nights a week.[4]
Miss Continental
[edit]Flint organized the first Miss Continental Pageant in 1980.[4] He started the competition as an inclusive pageant for all female impersonators, including those who have taken hormones or had surgical enhancements.[6][3]
Dance Divas benefit
[edit]Since 2008, Dance Divas is a group that has held a benefit show for Chicago Dancers United at Baton Show Lounge.[7] Proceeds help members of the arts community with health expenses.[7][8]
Notable performers
[edit]- Chilli Pepper[4][6]
- Mimi Marks[4]
- Candace Cayne[4]
- Jacky Couture[1]
- Joan Jullian[1]
Notable guests
[edit]- Madonna[4][9]
- RuPaul[4]
- Janet Jackson[1][9]
- Ted Kennedy[1]
- Joan Crawford[1][9]
- Alexandra Billings[1]
- Chris Farley[1]
- Kirk Douglas[9]
Popular media
[edit]The Queens, a documentary directed by Mark Saxenmeyer, premiered in 2020 and focused on the 2011 Miss Continental competition.[10][11][4]
The cast appeared on several shows, including: Phil Donahue, Maury Povich, Oprah, Sally Jesse Raphael, Jenny Jones, People are Talking, 190 North, and ABC 7 New Year's Eve Celebrations.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Syska, Justyna (2021-06-26). "Chicago drag show celebrates Pride Month". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b "About Us". www.thebatonshowlounge.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b Collo-Julin, Salem (2023-04-06). "Best internationally known drag pageant system based in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Ballew, Jonathan (2019-03-01). "Legendary Drag Club The Baton Opens In Uptown Friday After Decades In River North: 'It's A New Chapter'". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Kirsch, Jesse (2019-06-14). "Baton Show Lounge celebrates 50 years". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b Swenson, JP; Mendoza, Marie (2023-03-30). "What's the history of drag performance in Chicago?". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b "Chicago Dancers Prepare for Annual Drag Show to Fund Health Benefits for Artists". NBC Chicago. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "History". CHICAGO DANCERS UNITED. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ a b c d "Chicago's Top Burlesque, Cabaret, and Drag Shows". Choose Chicago. 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ "The Queens". The Reporters Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Corrall, Cody (2020-09-04). "The Queens takes you behind the scenes of a Chicago drag pageant". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.