| Wonder Bar | |
| Address: | 125 Decatur Street |
| Owner: | Emile Morlet |
| Opened: | 1933 |
| Closed: | 1936 |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Zoom: | 10 |
| Club My-O-My | |
| Former Names: | Wonder Club |
| Address: | 1744 Lake Avenue |
| Owner: | Pat Waters |
| Opened: | 1936 |
| Rebuilt: | 1948 |
| Closed: | January 17, 1972 |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Zoom: | 10 |
Club My-O-My was a former nightclub in the New Orleans area that employed female impersonators as entertainers. Its predecessors were the Wonder Bar, and the Wonder Club.
In 1933, a predecessor to Club My-O-My, the Wonder Bar, opened up with underground drag shows.[1] The Wonder Bar was located in the French Quarter at 125 Decatur Street.[1]
In 1936, the Wonder Bar was raided by police. Owner Emile Morlet requested an injunction in court, but was denied on grounds that the club was a menace to morality.[2]
In 1936, after the police raid of the Wonder Bar, it was moved to Jefferson Parish, outside police jurisdiction, and reopened as the Wonder Club.[1]
In the late 1940's, the Wonder Club was renamed to Club My-O-My.[1] The name Club My-O-My was in use as early as October 1947, when it appeared in Billboard magazine.[3]
On May 4, 1948, Club My-O-My was badly damaged by a fire, but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.[4] [5]
Club My-O-My had a sheriff assigned to keep watch at the front door for any issues. If there were issues, entertainers would deny any accusations.[6]
On January 17, 1972, Club My-O-My was destroyed by a second fire.[4] [5]
In 1972, Esther Newton listed Club My-O-My as being in the top four largest tourist clubs for female impersonation.[7] The list included Club 82, Club My-O-My, Finocchio's Club, and the Jewel Box Lounge.[7] She described a tourist club as one specializing exclusively in female impersonation performances, rather than acting primarily as a gay bar with only occasional performances.[7]
One source says that Club My-O-My catered to a white audience, both heterosexuals and homosexuals, and was popular with tourists.[1] Another source characterizes club-goers as mainly middle-class white heterosexuals and tourists.[8]
Kate Marlowe (born Kenneth Marlowe) worked as a female impersonator at Club My-O-My in the 1960's, and describes the close bond of the entertainers there:[6]
Marlowe describes Club My-O-My's culture of entertainers mixing with guests and hustling tables:[6]
Customers purchased overpriced drinks, photos of female impersonators in drag, or other small items.[6] In some cases they paid to see or touch entertainers.[6] If customers paid enough, they could arrange for sex with an entertainer. Sex between customers and female impersonators occurred primarily in the apartments of the female impersonators, who lived near one another in the French Quarter.[9] Away from work, entertainers from Club My-O-My also cruised the French Quarter for tourists, to turn tricks.[9]