Baton Show Lounge
The Baton Show Lounge float, Chicago Pride Parade 2013
Address4713 N. Broadway
Chicago
United States
LocationUptown Chicago
Coordinates41°58′4.39″N 87°39′31.47″W / 41.9678861°N 87.6587417°W / 41.9678861; -87.6587417
Public transit
Parking
  • ParkChicago #466107
  • ParkChicago #466108
OwnerJim Flint, Christoph Chiavazza
TypeLGBT
Genre(s)Drag
Capacity195
Opened1969 (1969)
Years active1969-present
Website
www.thebatonshowlounge.com

Baton Show Lounge is a Chicago drag club since 1969. It is famous as the venue for the Miss Continental pageant.

History

Baton Show Lounge was founded in 1969 in River North.[1][2][3] The first venue's address was 436 N. Clark St.[4] The name was inspired by Flint's time in the Navy as a drum major.[1] He would attract crowds by baton twirling and roller skating on the street.[1]

The early days of the lounge were marked by police raids.[5]

The venue moved to its present address in Uptown Chicago at the end of 2018 due to rent hikes.[4] The new venue provides a capacity of 195 seats with an additional disco and bar room.[4] Grand opening of the new location was on April 10, 2019.[4]

Performances

Performers put on shows three times a night, five nights a week.[4]

Miss Continental

Flint organized the first Miss Continental Pageant in 1980.[4] He started the competition as an inclusive pageant for all female impersonators, including those who have taken hormones or had surgical enhancements.[6][3]

Dance Divas benefit

Since 2008, Dance Divas is a group that has held a benefit show for Chicago Dancers United at Baton Show Lounge.[7] Proceeds help members of the arts community with health expenses.[7][8]

Notable performers

Notable guests

The Queens, a documentary directed by Mark Saxenmeyer, premiered in 2020 and focused on the 2011 Miss Continental competition.[10][11][4]

The cast appeared on several shows, including: Phil Donahue, Maury Povich, Oprah, Sally Jesse Raphael, Jenny Jones, People are Talking, 190 North, and ABC 7 New Year's Eve Celebrations.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Syska, Justyna (2021-06-26). "Chicago drag show celebrates Pride Month". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. 1 2 "About Us". www.thebatonshowlounge.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. 1 2 Collo-Julin, Salem (2023-04-06). "Best internationally known drag pageant system based in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ballew, Jonathan (2019-03-01). "Legendary Drag Club The Baton Opens In Uptown Friday After Decades In River North: 'It's A New Chapter'". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  5. ↑ Kirsch, Jesse (2019-06-14). "Baton Show Lounge celebrates 50 years". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  6. 1 2 Swenson, JP; Mendoza, Marie (2023-03-30). "What's the history of drag performance in Chicago?". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  7. 1 2 "Chicago Dancers Prepare for Annual Drag Show to Fund Health Benefits for Artists". NBC Chicago. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  8. ↑ "History". CHICAGO DANCERS UNITED. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Chicago's Top Burlesque, Cabaret, and Drag Shows". Choose Chicago. 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  10. ↑ "The Queens". The Reporters Inc. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  11. ↑ Corrall, Cody (2020-09-04). "The Queens takes you behind the scenes of a Chicago drag pageant". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
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