From Drags to Riches
The Untold Story of Charles Pierce
A Memoir by John Wallraff
(2002) Harrington Park Press - 280 pp. with index. Includes
14-page photo section
About The Book:
Learn how Charles Pierce achieved stardom and became
one of the most famous female impersonators of all time!
Charles Pierce (1926--1999) was an internationally
known and highly successful female impersonator, known for his
vivid portrayals of Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, and Mae West.
This book offers a candid look at a career that spanned over fifty
years--from his humble start at the Pasadena Playhouse, to his
sold-out shows in San Francisco.
From Drags to Riches provides a rich and colorful history
of Charles Pierce. In this insightful and moving volume, Pierce?s
friend John Wallraff offers valuable insights about the little-known
man behind the makeup and captures the essence of what drag stardom
is really like.
This informative, imaginative, and sexually provocative
book contains:
- stories of how famous Hollywood icons shaped Charles Pierce?s
life and his act
- Pierce?s history, from his humble beginnings at the
Pasadena Playhouse to his sold-out shows in San Francisco and
beyond
- a look at Pierce?s private life
- an examination of the price of fame--how successes and failures
shape any performer
Using the words of Charles Pierce himself, adding a dash of
humor, mixing in fascinating insights, and sprinkling in juicy
stories of love, lust, and sex, this book is a melting pot of
information about a well-loved but sometimes misunderstood man.
?I am not a drag queen! I am a Male Actress--a Master
and Mistress of Disguise!?
--Charles Pierce
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