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

Baton Show Lounge
The Baton Show Lounge float, Chicago Pride Parade 2013
Map
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

History

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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 at the Uptown Broadway Building in Uptown 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

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

Miss Continental

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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

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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]

 
Uptown Broadway Building, home to the Baton Show Lounge

Notable performers

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Notable guests

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Syska, Justyna (2021-06-26). "Chicago drag show celebrates Pride Month". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. ^ a b "About Us". www.thebatonshowlounge.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. ^ a b Collo-Julin, Salem (2023-04-06). "Best internationally known drag pageant system based in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ a b Swenson, JP; Mendoza, Marie (2023-03-30). "What's the history of drag performance in Chicago?". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  7. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d "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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