Didi Darnell: celebrating the last showgirl

Ken was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Rhode Island School of Design after high school. He joined the U.S. Navy and served his country from 1954-1957. 

Upon exiting the service, he moved to Milwaukee and worked a variety of jobs.  He wound up at AO Smith, where he spent most of his career as a machinist, and later retired at age 62.

“Didi Darnell” was born at a cocktail party, where friends – after several drinks – decided that was going to be his nickname from that point forward.

Ken's costume work was legendary throughout the city.

In the 1970s, he designed costumes inspired by Mother Nature and the Four Seasons for a Halloween party at the Pfister Hotel. He was awarded first place for his remarkable designs.

Didi was part of an early drag collective was known as AGC (believed to mean “All Girl Cast.”) AGC ran the stage operations for the New Riviera Show Lounge (181 S. 2nd St.,) a pioneering drag-and-dine establishment that advertised in mainstream media and attracted straight/crossover crowds from 1972 to 1974.

The New Riviera, the “Hamburger Mary’s” of its time, was destroyed by arson – along with half the block – in the Easter Sunday Inferno of April 14, 1974. 

It was widely rumored that the Easter Sunday show, the most extravagant and expensive in the AGC’s history, fired a cast member on Good Friday. 

In revenge, they threatened to burn down the Riviera – much like the earlier Riviera (401 N. Plankinton) a decade earlier. No one took them seriously, until a dumpster full of accelerants ignited into a four alarm fire. 

Oddly, no arson investigation was ever conducted, and newspapers never mentioned the fire again.

Fifty years later, it's one of LGBTQ Milwaukee’s biggest unsolved mysteries: who was the jilted queen who torched the block? The AGC cast took that secret to their graves.

"A four-alarm fire of undetermined cause destroyed two adjoining taverns and severely damaged three more at 173-183 S. 2nd St. Eight firemen were injured, including five who fell through the second floor of a building when the floor collapsed."

"No one was in the tavern, where the fire started in the rear around 1:30 a.m., but four or five customers and a bartender fled from the Flame Tavern at 181 S. 2nd St."

"Customers described the event as an 'explosion of fire' that engulfed the old, wooden buildings within minutes. Battalion chiefs predict 80% of the block to be lost in the blaze." - Milwaukee Journal, April 15, 1974.

Didi proudly attended the historic Gay People’s Union Masqueraid Ball of February 9, 1974.  Hosted by emcee Michael Greer, the Ball attracted over 350 guests. 

It was the first gay event to ever receive local media coverage, and a GPU spokesperson named it "the most lavish gay social event Milwaukee had ever seen."  Ken cherished his event souvenir photo for the rest of his life.

Ken was part of the Milwaukee Entertainers Club, which included Mel and Jerry Powell, Tiger Rose, Mother Chris, Mama Rae, Duchess, Squeakie, and other drag superstars of the era.

Didi appeared in GPU News several times over the years.

• First, she was featured as one of four drag bridesmaids at the May 11, 1975 wedding of Ricky Vegas and Lee Mercer. 
  
• In April 1976, she was named as one of the winners of the “Fourth Annual Academy Awards Ball,” earning titles for Best Costumes and Best Set for a Theme Show.

Over the rainbow

Ken was only five years old when “The Wizard of Oz” made its global debut on August 11, 1939.

The film had a profound effect on him and became a lifelong source of joy. 

As an adult, he visited a Wizard of Oz event in Rosemont, Illinois that reunited the surviving Munchkins, with whom he became well-acquainted in the years ahead.  This meeting sparked a 40-year friendship

Ken was so touched by their friendship that he designed 12 sets of ruby slippers as gifts for his friends. His photos with Wizard of Oz cast and crew were some of his most cherished possessions.

Ken was also a major fan of the Great Circus Parade, and was proud to have met MC Ernest Borgnine. The couple posed for a series of autographed photos.

In his senior years, Ken became a regular at the M&M Club but Didi was seen less and less.

Didi performed his swan song “Pretty Little Girl” at the M&M Club in the mid-90s. He performed the number wearing a pink-and-white ruflfed gingham dress, while holding a prop lollipop he had created for one of his Munchkin friends.

Ken retired from AO Smith at age 62. He became a founding member of Men’s Voices Milwaukee, alongside his longtime friend Mark Koehler. They met at St. Josaphat’s Basilica, where the choir performed for many years.

Mark remembers Ken as a “packrat.”

After years of costuming and performing, Ken had an entire bedroom filled with his wardrobe collection, including a full-sized Tutankhamen sarcophagus.

Ken had accumulated a massive collection of sequins, hats, scarves, fur stoles, feather boas, velvet capes, and other accessories. Ken stitched most of these garments himself.

He also had an enormous collection of over 50 wigs, although many hadn't been worn in decades.

"One of my favorite photos of Ken was from Halloween," said Mark.

"He went as a mash-up of Prince Poppycock and Liberace!"

"Ken created his own costume, of course, and it included a hand-made headpiece made of decorated toilet paper rolls and peacock feathers. He did all his own make-up.  He could make anything out of anything, when he was inspired."

"It's actually perfect that my favorite photo is the two of us in costume, knowing how much Ken loved his costumes and knowing how much he loved the extravagance of Halloween."

"Over our 26 years of friendship, Ken moved six times," said Mark. "It was obvious he wasn't going to be able to keep everything."

During his second move, he parted ways with many of his treasures. Six SUVs full of costumes were sold to Marge’s Glitter Shop in West Allis. Some of his costume jewelry was donated to local high school drama clubs, but the wigs -- well beyond salvage -- were permanently retired.