Charles Pierce — The Intimate Extravaganza Souvenir Tee (1970s)
In the 1970s, Charles Pierce redefined drag and cabaret with a style that was at once razor-sharp, literate, and gloriously theatrical. A master of impersonation and monologue, Pierce brought figures like Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, Noël Coward, and Katharine Hepburn to life with wit, precision, and a deep love for old Hollywood and Broadway legend. His shows weren’t illusion—they were character studies, comedy, and cultural commentary delivered in evening wear.
The Intimate Extravaganza was one of his signature touring productions, staged in theaters and clubs across the country at a time when drag was still largely confined to bars and underground spaces. The title itself captured the contradiction that defined Pierce: grand personalities rendered through a single performer, in close quarters, for audiences who understood the references and the coded queer lineage behind them.
