LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Being Scene |
by Guest Columnist David MacKay |
In 1990 Dan Quayle was Vice President. The Strand reigned on Rehoboth Avenue as the town's premier gay disco. Madonna's "Vogue" was the hot new dance song. The two trees outside the Blue Moon front patio were merely five feet high. There were only three outlet malls on Route 1! CAMP Rehoboth was launched. Chris Riss wore khaki shorts and long sleeve polo shirts at happy hour. And Rehoboth was still very much "a family town." 1990 was also the year that this column Being Scene was born. And I was the sucker who started it. It appeared in one of the first issues of Letters and oh, what a stir it caused. Just ask editor and publisher Steve Elkins. He had the unenviable task of watering down my column every week and putting out the many brush fires the column would ignite throughout Rehoboth with my take no prisoners, "don't ask, just tell" style of gossip reporting. The vision then for Being Scene was simple but scaryto report on the escapades of the gay social scene in Rehoboth and if the dirty details were wrong, correct them later. Those were the days! It was still very much "the wild, wild west" for Rehoboth journalism and especially the gay community. Letters was a small rag with no rules. Gays were getting beat up on the boardwalk, rednecks in rusty pickup trucks hurled beer bottles into the Blue Moon at happy hour, and an elderly couple were spending their social security checks on lawyers and cops in hope of nailing their controversial next door neighbor, the Strand disco. The horrible crimes that the early Being Scene columns were accused of committing are too numerous to list here. Besides, I'm not inclined to commit social suicide twice. But trust me, my words were daggers for anyone caught: stumbling out of a mobile home at dawn, fooling around with a housemate while their partner slept in the next bed, driving or falling down drunk, or just being tragic. Our innocence was shattered after the first four issues. For unlucky souls incapable of covering up these and other indiscretions, Being Scene quickly became the obituary page de jour. And for anyone with a flair for the dramatic, a raw talent, a new outfit, a hot body, or a big house the column served as their launching pad to legend status. It catapulted them into fifteen seconds of fame among Delmarva's cut-throat catwalks the Blue Moon, the Renegade, Poodle Beach, North Shores, The Palmand put them on every guest list for cocktail parties hosted inside and outside the Social Berlin Wall of Route 1. Since Being Scene first came on the scene ten years ago I've mellowed considerably, and so has the column. I relinquished the job in 1994 and went into the witness protection program. Steve Elkins wanted less nasty "Letters to the Editor" and more advertisers to expand Letters (the inaugural issue boasted 4 pages, while this year issues will hit 120). Those skewered in my column in the early nineties have either grown up, settled down, cleaned up their act, come up with a new act, stopped drinking, fixed their eyes or simply split town. This is not to say that my protgs David Parham, Chris Riss and Tom Minnuto haven't done a superb job rattling the rafters of the Rehoboth rental set all these years. They've learned from my mistakes, repainted the burnt bridges and sliced and diced up a new generation of beach blanket bimbos. In doing so they took the column to the next levela higher level. Frankly, there was no where else for it to go. Today's Being Scene is a much kinder and gentler columna softer, even spiritual, sassy weekend wrap-up of outrageous house parties, political fundraisers, annual dance benefits, new faces and places, hunky men, glitter, glitz, and drag. All of you reading this column today should be grateful I'm only a guest columnist. Just think about the nasty things you did this summer and have kept a secret. You would never have gotten away with that ten years ago. This July 4th holiday marked my first trip to Rehoboth in the 21st century (My that sounds dramatic!) and only my sixth visit in the past five years. Despite the long absence I've kept up with Being Scene and watched with amazement as it matured. I have to admit I'm out of touch with the new generation of summer hunks and hustlers. A sea of new faces and waves of fresh names have swept into town and now dot this column every week. Once in awhile a familiar name pops up and I smile to myself, "Good for you, girl," or "hang in there honey" but the antics being chronicled in Being Scene 2000 reveal a new Rehoboththe end of one era and the dawn of a new one. At Steve Elkins' 50th birthday salute (July 2nd see details below) I witnessed the convergence of these two eras. Legends from the 80's and early 90's were mingling with emerging superstars under a white tent next door to a day spa. A day spa? In Rehoboth? While picking at the leftover buffet, my protg Tom Minnuto threw himself at my feet and begged me to put down the fried chicken long enough to consider writing the next issue of Being Scene. (The idea instantly intrigued me, but it aged Steve Elkins another 50 years). It would be a fitting honor to the 10th anniversary of the column, Tom drooled. I agreed and instantly decided to mark this Letters milestone by frantically running around town to see what had changed since 1990 and who was up to no good: There is a spa epidemic overtaking Rehoboth. Ten years ago everyone rejuvenated in the privacy of their beach house or under the boardwalk. Now they pamper themselves at an assortment of Big Sur style spas scattered throughout town. Most notable is Chameleon on Rehoboth Avenue operated by Estee Lauder stud Clint Vance. Despite the recent scar over his eyebrow (expensive European emollients sold in the store will heal that in a second), Clint has a vision of turning RB into a fountain of youthand Chameleon evolving into a major destination for any one look'n for a makeover. Future plans include suites on a second level for the jet set to recover in Four Seasons luxury, pampered by cooks, maids and Clint's strong hands. Hello, was that really the Renegade? I've got to hand it to Glenn Thompson. He's got one hell of a club on his hands. The makeover that greeted me was stunning and the music rocked. The Renegade now rivals the clubs on Ibiza. And the men never looked better, sexier, happier. Yum Yum hosted the "Chandelier Party," which was an exhibit of chandeliers for sale designed by Frank Suprenant and David Cochran. I thought Frank was a dentist and David a Psychiatrist? Alas, another change. On Saturday, July 1st at Marvin Miller and Dan Kyle's house, 37 Quillen, another birthday party was held for Danny Hazard. Dan and Marvin are RB legends. They practically founded the town and Danny has been on everyone's "top ten date list" for over a decade. Over at 104 Stockley "Let's Play Doctor!" packed them in. I hear that Governor Glendening made a guest appearance. Who pulled that off? The buzz was that Chris Riss squirted the governor in the face with some kind of gadget containing a fruit punch/vodka cocktail. The governor tried to swallow but couldn't manage it. Prostate exams were given in the back yard with lots of people "playing doctor." Ten years ago you had to go to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes for that tricky treatment. Then there was the annual LOVE dance benefit at the Convention Center. DJ Darryl Strickland was great as usual. I remember the first SUNDANCE at the Strand in the late 80's and now marvel at the fact that these circuit parties draw hundreds and have even moved next door to THE POLICE STATION!!! July 2nd marked Steve Elkins' 50th birthday party held in the Acropolis courtyard. No sooner had I finished my drink than I spotted yet another spa in the courtyard!! Now this event brought out all of the RB gay establishment. The guest list was a who's who of Rehoboth past, present and future. Steve's immediate familyMurray Archibald, Mary Beth and Bob Ramsey, and Sondra Arkintook turns greeting the guests while a magnificent drag queen (Cliff Lassahn) freaked out and enthralled passersby on Baltimore Avenue. Drag queens on Baltimore Avenue at dinner time? Unheard of ten years ago. Arthur Dochterman and Keith Neale had a huge party at their 129 Henlopen home. Lots of Bear-types attended. Our Place Restaurant catered the excellent food. They've installed a massive hot tub out on their deck, which has about 50 different powerful jets, one for every curve on the body. Question: if you're a bear, do you care? And speaking of bears, I never did make it out to the Double L Bar but a new gay bar in town is a step in the right direction. Tony Burns (7 Lake Comegy's) hosted its annual fireworks display over the Lake. Tony invited Tom Minnuto to light all the fireworks while his guests oohed and aahed. One of the larger, more explosive, fireworks, called "Great Balls of Fire," fell over on the grass, causing the balls of fire to shoot one by one into the trees, into the crowd of onlookers, and one into the screened porch of a neighbors house (the couple was on the porch!) At any rate, it was quite funny as all the guests were running about trying to dodge the large balls of fire. A total of 8 balls were fired. Super lawyer Michael Carr is moving his palatial digs to North Shores now that he's made another million in a major courtroom victory. His new yacht will be moored at the Henlopen Yacht Club and fittingly christened "Trial Won." One of the cushiest bed and breakfasts in town has to be Chesapeake Landing (101 Chesapeake Street) nestled along the shores of Lake Comegys. This secluded setting once was the compound of PR mogul Bob Gray and served as his Playboy Mansion. Today, the bamboo grove, lush greenery, pool, view of the lake and eight guestrooms filled with antiques make this Rehoboth's most exclusive retreat only steps away from Poodle Beach. Bob lives in Miami now in a bigger Playboy Mansion. They once ruled Rehoboth's party scene but now live in Hollywood. Ernie Johnston, Jr. and Bernie Cummings (the infamous "Ernie & Bernie") are returning to town after a 5 year hiatus for a 2-week vacation bringing their 4-month old daughter Caelan (fathered by Ernie). Evidence that Ernie and Bernie still have a special place in their heart for Rehoboth is their decision to christen Caelan at a local Catholic Church surrounded by more than 60 family and friends. Another legend who has moved to greener pastures (emotionally that is), Bill Goldstein, will be introducing his adopted son from Russia, 8-year old Sergei, to Rehoboth later in July. Bill exchanged the big martini glass, all night pool parties and $800 silk shirts that made him famous in RB during the '80s and '90s for fatherhood and he is every bit a wonderful Dad. Look for blond-haired Sergei at Funland on the boardwalk as he experiences America in all its wonder. Bill will be the older, dashing man throwing up under the Sea Dragon. Did you know Rehoboth has its first private squash court? First it was on Henlopen Avenue but now its been moved to Surf Avenue. The billionaire owners have the best compound in town on Surf and in case you're asking "so what?" let it be known that they have family ties to the gay scenery. Brother-in-law Steve Kramer and his partner Jamie Finch (DC PR flacks) are holed up in the estate of the family matriarch. They prefer stiff drinks on the cozy porch of their neighbor, local media celebrity Stephen Tschida, to playing squash. Joyce Felton (the Jackie Onassis-Hillary Clinton-Madonna of RB) has done the unthinkable and moved to the suburbs, turning over her twenty-year digs at the Blue Moon to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Her private quarters will be turned into an exhibit, a "must see" on any RB sightseeing tour. A "tell all" memoir is right around the corner. And proof that your star can still shine after three decades in Delmarva, perfect couple Greg Albright and Wes Combs hosted a "Survivor" theme party July 8th at their newly refurbished East Hamptonesque home on Columbia Avenue. A fitting theme indeed. Greg and Wes have survived RB since the early 80's and while this year's party (a 37th birthday salute to Wes) was fashioned after the hit CBS television show, Greg and Wes have proven once again that you can age, stay cute, get rich and still get to "stay on the island." Of course I saw and heard lots more during the July 4th week than what I was able to squeeze into this anniversary column. Rest assured not all of what I unearthed was pretty. But as I mentioned earlier, I've mellowed. I trust that who ever carries on the Being Scene tradition in the 21st century issues of Letters will remain true to the core values of the column. It shouldn't be hard because there are none. Future authors can make up the rules as they go along just as Tom, Chris, David and I have done for the last ten years. To the thousands of gay men and women who love reading Being Scene, are loyal to Letters and measure time by their endless summers in Rehoboth, I leave just one piece of Being Scene wisdom. "Life after Rehoboth begins, and middle age ends, the day your outfits outnumber your friends." |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 9, July 14, 2000. |