Name: THE QUEEN (1968) – Co-Presented by Queer Diaspora!
Start: 2025-03-05T19:30:00-08:00
End: 2025-03-05T21:30:00-08:00
Location: Philosophical Research Society

THE QUEEN (1968) – Co-Presented by Queer Diaspora!

The Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles is a nonprofit cultural and educational organization which presents concerts, film screenings, lectures, performance art and theatre events, gallery exhibits and more on the intersection between the creative arts and mythology, mysticism and metaphysics.

The Philosophical Research Society

Queer Diaspora co-presents a rediscovered classic, the film that captured the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant drag competition!

Philosophical Research Society

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<h4>"Extraordinary." – Renata Adler, The New York Times</h4> <h4>“A gutsy, funny... really very moving documentary.” – Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times</h4> <h4>“The mother of all drag documentaries. – Mekado Murphy, The New York Times</h4> The Philosophical Research Society and Queer Diaspora — the bi-monthly screening series programmed and hosted by filmmaker Gregorio Davila (L.A. A QUEER HISTORY, UNIDAD: GAY AND LESBIAN LATINOS UNIDOS) — proudly present the long-unseen, rediscovered classic THE QUEEN (1968) PLUS a very special panel discussion with Zackary Drucker and Syd Xtravaganza AND a recorded conversation with cabaret legend Marlow La Fantastique, who is featured in the film as a pageant contestant! More than 40 years before RuPaul's Drag Race, this ground-breaking documentary about the 1967 Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant introduced audiences to the world of competitive drag. The film takes us backstage to kiki with the contestants as they rehearse, throw shade, and transform into their drag personas in the lead-up to the big event. Organized by LGBTQ icon and activist Flawless Sabrina, the competition boasted a star-studded panel of judges including Andy Warhol, Larry Rivers, and Terry Southern. But perhaps most memorable is an epic diatribe calling out the pageant's bias delivered by Crystal LaBeija, who would go on to form the influential House of LaBeija, heavily featured in Paris Is Burning (1990). A vibrant piece of queer history and a classic of cinema verite documentary filmmaking, The Queen can now be seen in full resplendence thanks to a new restoration from the original camera negative. ABOUT QUEER DIASPORAQueer Diaspora is a tri-monthly event held at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz. Founded and hosted by filmmaker, Gregorio Davila, Queer Diaspora intends to showcase the rich history, culture and artistry of the international LGBT+ community, through screenings, live performances and exhibitions. All are welcome. ABOUT GREGORIO DAVILAUnder his production company, EXOTICO FILMS., Gregorio has written, produced, edited, and directed two short films and two feature films. He made his first feature documentary in 2001 entitled Bent Fest 2001; a documentary account of a five-day music festival in Seattle that featured an all-queer band line-up. Bent Fest 2001 received critical acclaim locally and has been noted for the rare footage of Gossip, The Butchies, Traci &amp; The Plastics, and The Chromatics in their early years.His two short films; NANCY FROM EAST SIDE CLOVER, and JEANNE CORDOVA: BUTCHES, LIES &amp; FEMINISM won multiple film festival awards around the world, the latter taking home the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest 2017 for BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT.His third feature-length documentary; L.A. A QUEER HISTORY, a film showcasing the rich LGBTQ+ history of the Los Angeles area is the winner of a 2022 NETA PUBLIC MEDIA AWARD, a 2022 MIPCOM DIVERSIFY AWARD at Cannes, a TELLY AWARD, and two 2022 LOS ANGELES PRESS CLUB AWARDS.His latest documentary feature, UNIDAD: GAY AND LESBIAN LATINOS UNIDOS , a film about the first Queer Latine organization in the country (Gay &amp; Lesbian Latinos Unidos) which formed in Los Angeles in 1981, won a SILVER TELLY AWARD, and a 2024 LOS ANGELES PRESS CLUB AWARD. Both L.A. A QUEER HISTORY and UNIDAD are currently available to stream on PBS. <h3>Ticket Price: $10 (in-person event only).</h3>Please email events@prs.org or phone 323-663-2167 with any questions.

Zackary DruckerZackary Drucker is an Emmy nominated director for the HBO Original feature documentary The Stroll (2023), and an Emmy nominated producer for the docuseries This Is Me (2015). She was a producer on the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning Amazon show Transparent (2014 - 2019), and produced the feature film Biosphere with Mark Duplass &amp; Sterling K. Brown (Duplass Brothers Productions / IFC, 2022). The Lady and The Dale, her 4-part series and directorial debut for television, premiered on HBO in 2021; it was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in 2022. In addition to being nominated for Best Documentary at the News + Docs Emmy Awards, The Stroll won a Peabody Award in 2024 and a Special Jury Award: Clarity of Vision at Sundance 2023. Her standalone directorial feature QUEENMAKER: The Making of an It Girl was released on Hulu in May 2023. Her latest documentary feature Enigma debuted at Sundance 2025.

Syd XtravaganzaSyd Xtravaganza is a writer, producer, director, dancer, archivist and journalist. He is in the House of Xtravaganza and he was Co-Executive Producer on HBOMax’s LEGENDARY Seasons 1 and 2. In 2022, he was the first Black trans man in the Writers Guild of America after working as a staff writer in scripted TV on THE VANISHING HALF (HBO) and TOM SWIFT (CW). Syd is an author of a history-memoir tentatively entitled, Undeniable: A History of Voguing, Ballroom And How it Changed My Life (And the World). He was the first trans man to solely win Grand Prize for “Old Way” at the Latex Ball in 2019.

Marlow La Fantastique<a href="https://marlowlafantastique.weebly.com/" title="https://marlowlafantastique.weebly.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://marlowlafantastique.weebly.com/</a>

ACCESSIBILITYPRS wants all guests to be able to enjoy our events safely and comfortably. If you require any accessibility accommodation, please reach out to <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-angel-the-genius-of-judee-sill-qa-w-tommy-peltier-pat-thomas-tickets-893762526777?aff=oddtdtcreator&amp;_gl=1%2A1l9pitv%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2ANjMyMDUzNjc4LjE3MTQ0MDU1NTg.%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AMTcxNDQwNTU1OC4xLjAuMTcxNDQwNTU1OC4wLjAuMA.." title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lost-angel-the-genius-of-judee-sill-qa-w-tommy-peltier-pat-thomas-tickets-893762526777?aff=oddtdtcreator&amp;_gl=1%2A1l9pitv%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2ANjMyMDUzNjc4LjE3MTQ0MDU1NTg.%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AMTcxNDQwNTU1OC4xLjAuMTcxNDQwNTU1OC4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">events@prs.org</a> before showtime and we will be happy to assist you. REFUND POLICIESAll sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges for PRS events, except in the event of a medical emergency, including but not limited to a positive COVID-19 test.In the event that PRS is forced to cancel an event entirely, tickets will be refunded or vouchers offered for a rescheduled event. PARKINGLimited parking is available onsite at PRS in both the front lot (entry from Los Feliz Blvd. when heading east) and back lot (entry from first alley way, off Griffith Park Blvd. from intersection with Los Feliz Blvd.), as well as street parking on Griffith Park Blvd. and on Los Feliz Blvd after 7pm. We encourage attendees to consider carpooling, walking or biking to events if possible, and please be considerate of our Los Feliz neighbors when parking. PRS EVENT POLICIES<ul><li>We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.</li><li>Events are subject to change without notice, including guest speakers and/or performers.</li><li>We encourage you to arrive at least 30 min. before the scheduled event start time to find parking, enjoy the Bookstore and take your seats.</li><li>Please turn off all mobile devices before the show. Talking and texting are not allowed during the events.</li><li>No filming, audio recording or mobile phone recording of events, screenings, concerts or other programs by audience members is allowed without permission.</li><li>There is no smoking permitted on PRS grounds.</li><li>We strongly encourage guests to wear masks to PRS events to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.</li><li>PRS allows Service Animals into the facility under ADA and state guidelines. For further details please visit www.ADA.gov. No animals permitted whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, under ADA guidelines and CA Health Code.</li><li>Please do not bring outside food or drink into PRS events.</li><li>Weapons are strictly prohibited at PRS events.</li></ul>

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THE QUEEN (1968) – Co-Presented by Queer Diaspora!

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