[Club LaRay Talent Show (December 9, 1986)]

A drag competition at Chicago music and performance venue Club LaRay, followed by a DJ set featuring early House music with footage of club patrons dancing.

00:03Copy video clip URL The host, Larry Williams, introduces Lady Ashley. The stage/performance area is centered around stairs and a landing. 

00:11Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Gwen Guthrie’s song “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But the Rent.” From offstage, Lady Ashley asks for the volume to be turned up. The Camera pans across the crowd at the bar as Lady Ashley enters the stage wearing a sparkling black and gold dress and performs. 

06:18Copy video clip URL Larry returns as Lady Ashley walks off stage. He introduces “Grace Jones,” the next performer. 

06:38Copy video clip URL A performer dressed as Grace Jones enters and performs to Jones’ song “On Your Knees.” 

10:09Copy video clip URL Larry returns to introduce Brown Sugar. The camera pans across the bar, showing the patrons and the bartenders. 

10:23Copy video clip URL The music for Patti Labelle’s “You Are My Friend” begins. The camera pans to show Brown Sugar at the top of the stairs. She performs, wearing a layered white dress. 

14:57Copy video clip URL Larry introduces Steve Wright, wearing a tuxedo, who immediately starts performing “The Bells” by Motown artist Sam Harris.  

19:25Copy video clip URL Larry introduces Flame, the next performer. The camera pans across the crowd as Flame, wearing a long black dress and long black gloves, begins performing to Teena Marie’s “You Make Love Like Springtime.” 

24:34Copy video clip URL Larry introduces the next performer, Chloe. Michael Ezubukwu, the DJ, begins playing the wrong track – he plays the Theme from the film New York, New York instead of the song “New York, New York.” Shots of the crowd as Larry and Michael find the correct track. 

25:48Copy video clip URL Chloe enters to Liza Minnelli’s “New York, New York,” wearing a raincoat and carrying a transparent umbrella. She removes the coat to reveal a fancy dress as she performs. 

29:01Copy video clip URL Shots of the crowd as Larry introduces Sadat, wearing a flannel shirt and overalls overflowing with colorful, sparkling fringe, performing to Dee Dee Bridgewater’s “I Was Born on the Day Before Yesterday.” 

32:25Copy video clip URL Larry introduces Roberta, who performs Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All,” wearing a sparkling black and silver dress.

37:00Copy video clip URL Larry introduces Connie and Ken. The performers, one wearing a draped red dress and the other wearing a collared shirt and sweater, lip sync to Atlantic Starr’s song “If Your Heart Isn’t In It.” Near the end of the song, audience members ascend the stairs and hand money to Connie and Ken as they perform. 

41:04Copy video clip URL The host introduces his co-hostess, who “was late getting here,” Miss Tasha Thomas. Shots of the crowd. Wearing a shiny silver suit, Thomas performs to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” sung by Pattie Labelle. 

45:24Copy video clip URL The host discusses a change in the evening’s program and calls out for Woolly, the unexpected next performer. 

46:05Copy video clip URL Woolly performs to Enchantment’s “It’s You that I Need” wearing a white button-up shirt and tie. 

52:11Copy video clip URL The host introduces Lady Kim, who performs to the Pointer Sisters’ “Dare Me,” wearing a gray suit and hat. She opens her coat to reveal a shiny gold blouse underneath. 

56:25Copy video clip URL The host introduces Bobby Vine, who performs with a puppet that lip syncs and dances to Patti Labelle’s “There’s a Winner in You.” 

61:05Copy video clip URL The host introduces Lady Diana, who performs “When I First Saw You,” sung by Sheryl Lee Ralph from the musical Dreamgirls. Diana wears a heavy coat that she removes to reveal a shiny purple dress. The song skips several times near the end but Diana keeps performing. 

65:50Copy video clip URL The host commends Diana for continuing through the technical difficulties. He introduces Gigi Bearnais. Gigi, dressed as Prince with tight purple pants and a purple headband and a low-cut white shirt, performs to Prince’s “Sexy Dancer.” 

71:21Copy video clip URL Taped-over commercials briefly interrupt the performances. 

71:28Copy video clip URL The host introduces Lee Eggleston, who performs to Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U.” Brief disruption and distortion.

74:31Copy video clip URL The host introduces Love Company. The DJ plays the wrong music, Supertramp’s “Cannonball.” He puts on the correct song, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” 

75:35Copy video clip URL Shots of the crowd as “Thriller” starts playing. The performers, one of whom is dressed as Michael Jackson in red leather, move onto the dance floor. As the song progresses other dancers, made up like zombies, join the performance.

81:20Copy video clip URL The host returns to introduce The Glamorous Three. 

82:14Copy video clip URL The trio perform to Jermaine Stewart’s “Jody.” The lead performer wears leather pants and a big sweater. The camera follows him, zooming in for close-ups at several points. 

86:02Copy video clip URL The host introduces Kim and Tim, who perform to Luther Vandross’ “If Only For One Night.” Tim is dressed like Vandross, while Kim is dressed in a long black dress, smoking a cigarette. Audience members come to the stage to put money in Kim’s dress. 

90:33Copy video clip URL The host returns and asks the audience not to run up the stairs during performances. He introduces “Mz. Bossomtwaddle” (Ronald Estridge). 

91:33Copy video clip URL Wearing a prosthetic “fat suit” and an elegant, low cut white dress, Mz. Bossomtwaddle performs to The Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited,” aided by Bobby Vine and his puppet. 

96:24Copy video clip URL Mz. Bossomtwaddle performs to Melba Moore’s “The Other Side of the Rainbow.” 

102:40Copy video clip URL The host introduces Juan, who performs wearing jeans and a sweater to William Wee Gee Howard’s “Hold On To Your Dreams.” 

110:05Copy video clip URL The host introduces a dance group called Jancreo (?). Shots of the crowd as the group prepares on the dance floor. The duo performs to Supertramp’s “Cannonball.” 

118:30Copy video clip URL The host discusses Club LaRay’s events for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. 

119:14Copy video clip URL Miss Tasha Thomas returns to perform to Patti Labelle’s “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.” 

127:05Copy video clip URL The host concludes the talent show and brings up all of the guest artists and contestants again. 

131:13Copy video clip URL Club owner LaRay talks about the contest and to announce the winners. Larry returns to talk about the Cotton Club Revue and other upcoming events. 

134:35Copy video clip URL LaRay tells the DJ “Michael, let’s party.” He plays the track “It’s Over” by Chicago House music pioneers Fingers, Inc. The crowd dances. 

140:50Copy video clip URL Some distortion disrupts the image. The crowd dances to “Can You Feel It” by Chicago House music pioneer Mr. Fingers, aka Larry Heard. 

144:30Copy video clip URL A track from Chicago House music pioneers Master C & J, “Face It.” 

149:35Copy video clip URL The DJ interrupts to notify the crowd that one of the performers has lost their hat. 

153:11Copy video clip URL The DJ plays J.M. Silk’s “Music Is the Key”

160:35Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “House Nation” by The Housemaster Boyz & The Rude Boy of House.

164:40Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Robert Owens’ “Bring Down the Walls.” 

169:55Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “ride the rhythm” by Marshall Jefferson & On the House.

175:13Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Black Ivory’s “Mainline.”

177:05Copy video clip URL The camera operator applies kaleidoscope effects and other in-camera effects and filters to the footage of the crowd dancing. 

180:13Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Rainstar’s “Breakdown.” The camera effects continue. 

182:31Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “Make Some Love” by Miles Maeda. 

193:20Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “Love Injection,” by Trussel.

194:13Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Ben E. King’s “Music Trance” and mixes back into “Love Injection.”

202:33Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Answer Service’s “Call Me Mr. Telephone.” LaRay serves drinks behind the bar. 

207:20Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Grace Jones’ “I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You).” 

211:15Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “Rock-A-Lott” by Aretha Franklin. 

218:20Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “The Jungle” by Jungle Wonz. The crowd has started to thin. 

227:50Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “Pump Up the Volume” by MA/R/R/S.

230:55Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “I Can’t Turn Around” by Ron Hardy. Wild dancing among the remaining crowd. 

237:50Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “Work the Box” by The Children.  

241:40Copy video clip URL The DJ plays “Jack Your Body” by Steve “Silk” Hurley. 

243:05Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Tjin Tjin’s “Jungle DJ.”

247:35Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Marshall Jefferson’s “Move Your Body,” which he mixes into Phuture’s “Acid Tracks.” 

255:15Copy video clip URL The DJ plays ESG’s “Standing in Line.” 

259:00Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Enchantment’s “Silly Love Song.” The crowd slow dances. 

263:25Copy video clip URL The DJ plays LTD’s “Love Ballad.” 

267:20Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Luther Vandross’ “If Only For One Night.” 

271:24Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).”

275:48Copy video clip URL The DJ plays Eddie Kendricks’ “Girl You Need a Change of Mind.”

282:40Copy video clip URL The DJ announces last call and plays “It’s Over” by Fingers, Inc.

289:48Copy video clip URL The DJ announces that Club LaRay “is now closed. We ask that you please remove your coats from the coat room. Club LaRay is now closed.” The crowd filters out.