The Ball - Part 2
The 1990 J&B Chicago Voguers' Ball was recorded, and a VHS tape of the event was kept in the Gerber/Hart archives. It hasn't been fully digitized, but included below are 4 clips from the short film. These include the beginning of the tape, the opening act, the opening speeches, 2 performances from houses, the awards ceremony, and the credits.
For a YouTube playlist containing all 4 of the below videos: CLICK HERE.
Opening Act & Speeches
Video Description/Summary: The video opens with clips of the attendees and clips of the performers getting ready, with Vogue by Madonna playing. It then moves on to the stage, where Tom Dorfmeister performs an act to the song There Are Worse Things I Could Do by Stockard Channing, from the movie Grease. He then moves up to the podium and greets the audience before thanking and giving credit to those involved with the creation and success of the ball. He then introduces Judith Johns, the HBMC Executive Director, who gives a short speech dedicating the event to Keith Haring, who thought of the idea, and describes how he came up with it and how they made it happen. She thanks the audience for attending and then leaves the podium as Tom returns to it.
Performance from the House of Automatic Inc. by Vampire Lesbians of Sodom
Video Description/Summary: Tom Dorfmeister introduces Charlene Unger, who then introduces the House that is about to perform, the House of Automatic Inc. by Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. She also names the house's choreographer, stylist, costume designer, and hairstylist. Then, the instrumentals from the beginning of Vogue by Madonna play as the performers make their way on stage. The music stops with a record scratch, and then one of the performers beatboxes and raps about the story of the play that they're advertising as the others seemingly reenact parts of it in the background. The final lines of the rap include the location and time of the full performance.
Performance from the House of Shelter
Video Description/Summary: Tom Dorfmeister lists the next house's sponsors, house leader, choreographer, costume designer, and stylist, as well as crediting the person in charge of the light show. Then he introduces them as the House of Shelter. The performers enter the stage and begin performing to the song White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane. Shortly after, the music slows and then remixes into Groove Is in the Heart by Deee-Lite, which is the song for the rest of the performance.
Trophies & Credits
Video Description/Summary: Tom Dorfmeister informs the crowd that the judges are going to pick the winners, and then has the audience applaud for all the houses that performed. The video then changes to show the audience dancing while Tom tells them to dance, have fun, and drink J&B Scotch, and then says he'll be right back. The video continues showing the crowd dancing.
The video switches again and Tom Dorfmeister states that he is about to announce the winners of the J&B Chicago Voguers' Ball. Before he does that though, he has the audience applaud the event organizer, Tracey Tarantino. He then begins to announce the categories and winners. As they win, the houses get up onto the stage to celebrate and to take their trophy. The trophies and their winners are:
- Most Original Concept - House of Whistles
- Best House Styling - House of North Beach Leather
- Best Diva - House of Cairo
- Most Outrageous House - House of Shelter
- Best Individual Costume - House of Whistles
- Best House Costumes - House of Whistles
- Best Individual Performer - House of Whistles
- Best Overall House - House of Cairo
After announcing the winners, he has all of the houses come up onto the stage and take a bow, and tells the audience to give them all a hand. He then once again lists off the people who were responsible for making the event happen before telling everyone to stick around and have fun, and then says goodnight. The video shows the houses on stage while Vogue by Madonna plays in the background, and then the credits roll.