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Chablis began her career at age 15 in the Fox Trot gay bar in
Tallahassee. It was there that she met Cliff Taylor, who performed under the pseudonym of Miss Tina Devore. He was the first male in Quincy that Chablis ever met who dressed up. Taylor offered to have Chablis stay with him if she ever
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She began working at the Prince George Inn, a gay-owned restaurant, where she began a relationship with one of her co-workers. She left in 1975 after the relationship ended, and picked up work at Eckerd's
Drugstore. After becoming sick for three weeks, she had to leave that position too. A new
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for the Arts, with a tribute to
Chablis beforehand. A few of Chablis' gowns were on display in the theatre's lobby. Jerry Spence, the former hairdresser who appeared in both the book and movie, was in attendance. A reception was held at Club One after the memorial service and, after the movie
33:
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Chablis and Linda moved to
Regency Woods apartment complex. Encouraged by her friend's lush life and surroundings, Chablis decided to return to the stage. She eventually found herself at The Locker Room, a bathhouse.
176:. She lived with her mother and her new husband, who owned a dry-cleaning business. Chablis became close to her neighbor, Connie, who offered her a lot of support and a refuge from homophobic troubles at home.
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165:. "My mom was going to have a baby and she miscarried. The baby's name was going to be La Quinta Chablis and she told me to take the name. I didn't even know what Chablis was."
518:, said: "So sad to hear of The Lady Chablis' passing. She was super talented, kind, and laugh out loud funny. She was a true transgender pioneer, way ahead of her time (in the
236:, where she began working at a new spot, The Menage. The Menage closed after three years, due to new competition, and Chablis did not find much work for a couple of years.
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Chablis frequently performed at her "home" nightclub of Club One, where she was known as the "Grand
Empress". Chablis traveled the U.S. performing her show,
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at several
Savannah restaurants including Elizabeth on 37th. In 2012, she was interviewed in Savannah on the local television and internet talk show
150:. Her parents divorced when she was five, and she was supported by her aunt, Katie Bell, and grandmother, Anna Mae Ponder, after her mother moved to
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to be a nurse. Chablis did not meet her mother until she was nine, or her father until she was 12. She went on to live with her father in the
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friend, Linda, saw the decline in
Chablis' health and moved her into her two-bedroom apartment. She found another job, this time at a
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moved to
Atlanta. She moved there in 1974 at the age of 17, previously living with her aunt in Tallahassee for about eighteen months.
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Chablis said she did not want any label except her name, "The Lady
Chablis", and said she found it hurtful when people called her a "
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467:". In his book, Berendt wrote that he met Chablis as she was returning home from having a hormone injection. In her book
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on its opening night in 1988, and was a regular performer there until August 6, 2016, just before she was hospitalized.
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317:(season 2, episode 1). On April 19, 2013, Chablis performed for the grand opening of the short-lived Mama's Cabaret in
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The Lady
Chablis Sassy Transgender Figure in Savannah Book, Movie Dies at-59." Washington Post, Sept. 9, 2016.
860:– via Online Archive of California; University of California, Los Angeles Library Special Collections.
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1124:"'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' episode 2 recap: The queens double dip in a double-headed 'Snatch Game'"
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Chablis returned to Savannah, beginning work at new club, The Edge. She lived on the western side of
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In her early career as an entertainer, under the name Brenda Dale Knox, she won multiple titles in
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1002:"The Lady Chablis, Sassy Eccentric in 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,' Dies at 59"
876:"The Lady Chablis, Sassy Eccentric in 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,' Dies at 59"
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wall of Club One. It includes a censored version of her catchphrase, which she uses in
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561:"The Lady Chablis, Best Known for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Has Died"
526:. Feel free to envy our glamour." Chablis was impersonated on the second episode of
134:, she became one of the first trans performers to be introduced to a wide audience.
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She changed her name to "The Lady Chablis" when she was 16 years old and living in
828:"Oct 26, 1994, page 41 - The Atlanta Constitution at Atlanta Journal Constitution"
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Upon news of her death, several of Chablis' former co-stars made tributes to her.
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The Lady Chablis was featured in the closing segment of the Savannah episode of
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587:"Transgender performer Lady Chablis dies at 59; portrayed in best-selling book"
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522:, no less). This pic of The Lady and me was taken between shots while filming
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In the late 1980s, a job offer from The Friends Lounge, a cabaret bar in
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club performer. Through exposure in the bestselling nonfiction book
1052:"Lady Chablis, Trans Icon and Savannah's Grand Empress, Dead at 59"
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Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah
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Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah
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Hiding My Candy: The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah
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765:"Female Impersonator, Lady Chablis, Makes Debut" - Amy A. Swann,
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screening, Club One Cabaret held two Lady Chablis tribute shows.
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was published in 1996, a year before she played herself in the
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Chablis' mother moved back to Florida and practiced nursing at
613:"Lady Chablis, transgender star of 'Midnight,' dies at 59"
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In the early 1990s, she moved with her partner, Jesse, to
1077:"The Lady Chablis, breakout transgender star, dies at 59"
514:, alongside whom she appeared in the movie adaptation of
16:
American actress, author, and transgender club performer
784:"First transgender star The Lady Chablis dies at 59"
112:(March 11, 1957 – September 8, 2016), also known as
419:(1997) as Chablis Deveau (credited as Lady Chablis)
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87:
68:
42:
23:
483:The Lady Chablis died on September 8, 2016, from
263:, at various venues and special events, such as
188:A poster in memoriam of The Lady Chablis on the
854:"It's Been a Vintage Year for The Lady Chablis"
718:"Flying home with The Lady Chablis was a blast"
1223:Deaths from pneumonia in Georgia (U.S. state)
222:, resulted in her moving south from Atlanta.
8:
1164:The Lady Chablis' memorial page at Club One
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910:"Brian Kovalski – Lowell (Massachusetts)"
198:: "Two tears in a bucket, motherfuck it."
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707:
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908:Brian Kovalski (Savannah Georgia'Mama.
803:"A Square as Reminder of Jim Crow Days"
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524:Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil
495:Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
416:Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
285:Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
253:Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
195:Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
158:neighborhood of New York City in 1969.
127:Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
120:, was an American actress, author, and
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493:On November 5, a special screening of
1238:LGBT people from Georgia (U.S. state)
1050:Broverman, Neal (September 8, 2016).
1000:Chokshi, Niraj (September 10, 2016).
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779:
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761:
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611:Griggs, Brandon (September 8, 2016).
471:, Chablis said she had not undergone
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1278:21st-century African-American people
1273:20th-century African-American people
874:Chokshi, Niraj (September 8, 2016).
437:(2004, video documentary) as Herself
1288:21st-century African-American women
1283:20th-century African-American women
1025:. New York: Pocket Books. pp.
346:Miss Sweetheart International, 1989
343:The Grand Empress of Savannah, 1977
14:
1100:- David DeCaro, December 20, 2016
976:"Interview with The Lady Chablis"
425:(1997, TV documentary) as Herself
267:gatherings. She also appeared on
246:She was a prominent character in
1268:African-American women musicians
321:, with "MAMA" Savannah Georgia.
1298:American transgender musicians
1218:African-American women writers
1122:Benutty, John (May 21, 2022).
1110:Paul Hipp's official Instagram
974:Wade, Kim (March–April 2013).
364:Miss Southern States USA, 1998
282:-directed movie adaptation of
1:
639:Retrieved September 12, 2016.
1293:American transgender writers
1228:African-American LGBT people
1208:African-American drag queens
1019:Theodore, Bouloukos (1996).
533:RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
1263:Transgender drag performers
1248:Transgender women musicians
1203:People from Quincy, Florida
431:(1999, TV movie) as Beverly
361:Miss Georgia National, 1998
358:Miss Atlanta Universe, 1998
1314:
451:Real Housewives of Atlanta
250:'s best-selling 1994 book
1243:Transgender women writers
852:Jeffreys, Joe E. (1997).
745:The Lady Chablis obituary
146:in 1957, Knox grew up in
30:
1253:African-American writers
1233:LGBT people from Florida
792:Books, September 8, 2016
497:was shown at Savannah's
473:sex reassignment surgery
349:Empress of Atlanta, 1996
234:Columbia, South Carolina
1178:The Lady Chablis Photos
274:Chablis' autobiography
209:Burlington Coat Factory
1258:Transgender memoirists
516:Midnight in the Garden
355:Miss Garden City, 1997
199:
37:The Lady Chablis, 1996
1153:"Internet radio show"
932:"Domain Default page"
768:Savannah Morning News
672:Lady Chablis (1996).
567:on September 10, 2016
442:Bizarre Foods America
375:Lady Chablis (1996).
302:Bizarre Foods America
187:
1213:American drag queens
1159:on November 9, 2006.
1112:- September 12, 2016
722:Tallahassee Democrat
423:Midnight in Savannah
352:Miss Cosmo USA, 1997
340:Miss Gay World, 1976
337:Miss Dixieland, 1976
144:Benjamin Edward Knox
47:Benjamin Edward Knox
1098:"Tribute to a Lady"
1079:. September 8, 2016
938:on January 6, 2014.
1006:The New York Times
880:The New York Times
538:Jaida Essence Hall
309:. She joined host
307:The Travel Channel
200:
1036:978-0-671-52095-3
980:Savannah Magazine
771:, January 9, 1994
753:, October 2, 2016
591:Los Angeles Times
454:(2013) as Herself
446:(2012) as Herself
325:Awards and titles
225:She performed at
220:Savannah, Georgia
114:The Grand Empress
107:
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80:Savannah, Georgia
72:September 8, 2016
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190:Jefferson Street
170:Sunland Hospital
110:The Lady Chablis
88:Other names
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315:MAMA Knows Best
241:Crawford Square
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950:"Lady Chablis"
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716:Hinson, Mark.
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435:Damn Good Dog
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1169:Lady Chablis
1157:the original
1131:. Retrieved
1127:
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1105:
1093:
1081:. Retrieved
1071:
1061:September 8,
1059:. Retrieved
1056:The Advocate
1055:
1045:
1021:
1014:
1005:
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985:February 20,
983:. Retrieved
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957:. Retrieved
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944:
936:the original
926:
914:. Retrieved
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891:. Retrieved
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835:. Retrieved
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810:. Retrieved
806:
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766:
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725:. Retrieved
721:
680:Pocket Books
674:
632:
620:. Retrieved
616:
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594:. Retrieved
590:
581:
569:. Retrieved
565:the original
531:
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515:
509:
494:
492:
486:Pneumocystis
485:
482:
468:
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449:
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383:Pocket Books
377:
328:
314:
300:
298:
290:Kevin Spacey
283:
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260:
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248:John Berendt
245:
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74:(2016-09-08)
18:
1198:2016 deaths
1193:1957 births
959:October 20,
916:December 5,
727:October 20,
409:Filmography
333:including:
294:John Cusack
288:, starring
174:Tallahassee
122:transgender
1187:Categories
912:. Facebook
544:References
520:Deep South
465:drag queen
444:: Savannah
138:Early life
53:1957-03-11
1128:Goldderby
1083:August 3,
888:0362-4331
858:Dragazine
837:March 28,
812:March 30,
789:USA Today
512:Paul Hipp
488:pneumonia
265:gay pride
698:37901705
528:Season 7
506:Tributes
429:Partners
401:37901705
227:Club One
211:outlet.
118:The Doll
1133:May 25,
271:shows.
163:Atlanta
152:Chicago
99:Actress
1033:
886:
696:
686:
399:
389:
180:Career
156:Harlem
101:Author
82:, U.S.
63:, U.S.
479:Death
269:radio
142:Born
1173:IMDb
1135:2022
1085:2023
1063:2016
1031:ISBN
987:2020
961:2019
954:IMDb
918:2013
895:2016
884:ISSN
839:2024
814:2022
729:2019
694:OCLC
684:ISBN
624:2016
598:2016
573:2016
397:OCLC
387:ISBN
292:and
116:and
69:Died
43:Born
1171:at
617:CNN
530:of
305:on
172:in
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