[00:00:02] Not only my acuity or not either Tina Tata even with the copay for the party night data at my work it Matata in a hurry in my care Matata at a Tony karamea Tata Koto to avoid war number two Pune. Nara totally forgot Takata he couldn't forget Tokyo. Narco King, Tichenor hieratic yatta yatta cannot occur in week two Harpo a TATA mica Toyota porno with the ticket Mara Madonna Mehta no data he could data eco era era okay rearticulate care tin home you We gotta go papi fucka Marta data at night goto goto is defeated my No my Hara my forgotten my Karuna etain A pudiera of the RTR or TV kinda. No later Kyoto Nying out you earwy overhaul in the horn I already know my Hara my Pakatan mine now my Modio my yo Tato teeny I do I call it whatever the codename moto in that topic while you're equally able to tear in Amati highly, highly, highly rated queen I hook it to Martha Hill to whoa metallicky Iraqi Amata no writer covering Africa no keratoderma Katarina Ricardo Kimo hooky may or moto to Minako here in Mountain eating curry or decoded or to me a new Equateur in my Tato you don't need to go copper it in a while. Why whole Murata decoded to call it or here in our COVID or et nyuad No data hurry no hurry no hurry no Tina Koto goto it not that I gotta go Hurry Okay, did he get the welcome everyone I won't say much more I'll leave it to to our distinguished guests to talk about the Copa this afternoon but to give me a chance to settle down I think it'll be a good idea to have a little bit of a wider because I know I've got a few people here that can help with that later so no just raised to get the guitar so I'm going to play it now anyway so copyright.
[00:03:36] To See. See It You TV TV you're at
[00:06:13] Panda coffee talk going on it is my absolute honour and which to help facilitate with drew this afternoon. We are in the presence of incredible icons within the audience and on our panel for Africa no no donor for this session, would you orders Did you meet someone in the room you hit you do not know. Introduce yourself, say your name and share with them what brings you to this space today, we will give you two full minutes to do that
[00:06:54] you're a foreigner, thank you for making time to connect with those who are in the room as future.
[00:07:02] Yeah, thank you for that. And there will be time at the end of today's session to connect again. Got everyone on Drew, as Pete has mentioned, a brief run through we're going to hear from some of our icons here today. We're going to listen to them share their memories, stories of secrecy and of the Evergreen. And they will be toasties in special coffees. Then after that, we will go up to level two with the same there used to be outside the Evergreen, as exhibited here, and will remember those who have passed to gather up there. And then we'll come back downstairs. Kevin will close up for us. And for people that want to talk to your new friends some more or just ask some questions or perhaps share your own memories. There'll be a space for that. And Leilani will project her awesome slideshow here on the back wall. So temperatures around to stem welcome. It's great to see so many faces from the past. But it's also neat to see some long attacchi here. And it's neat to see people who will just potentially be hearing some of the stories of them on Christmas Eve is so special to so many of us for the first time. So welcome.
[00:08:28] Here my name is Kenny Rihanna. I'm from the later period of evergreen. For those who are familiar of evergreen, it spans about 60 years. As I understand when I saw him come out and got involved in Arena what was going on the year I come out I discovered that evergreen area was taking place when I was born up north and that was the assessee but I just like to thank some people who have travelled from far away and we have got someone here who is but from the beginning so they call it a vowel visually and give you all a background. But yeah, our quarter rule is about our our time how our community was the trends in industry are heavier six weeks as the teacher so
[00:09:31] thank you think he came
[00:09:36] over and he couldn't while we're not going to be wait. Yeah, I'm just here to celebrate memories of Chrissy and evergreen and share our stories reviews like Jada
[00:09:51] yada Koto, goodies, Cooper taco going on. Not to come Libby taco VV. 1983 Even when I first arrived on the scene there were still things happening but there was a long way to go and we'll cover that once we get into the audit. So Tara
[00:10:11] you're a co author you know my her my karate title my key con i became a that just a little bit of English chance like that. You're also funny. And on my mom's side and nighttime and the lady from the husband harbour and it's wonderful to be here today. So forward in sync people like you Jackie. You're an icon Meyer said cura Jackie for Caroline. And to Olivia Chanel too many of us to single out. Now I love it. I always love is cura.
[00:11:02] Caretaker a time when a tinder a tinder Well, I can do total good to cover up but people tend to forget here. Kawhia hope my name is Chanel Hattie. And I am happy to see, um, I did so on my mom's side at home at Tea Party tour. And I'm really honoured to be here today and to see and to see faces I haven't seen for a while and young faces which is really, really, really nice for me because, you know, young people want to know what it was like, back in back in the day and it wasn't, wasn't easy, but we're gonna let you know that. That could also end and he says it's really nice to see you Jackie. You really are truly an icon. And I mean, he knew Coco's DACA tornado. Tena koutou Tena koutou Tena koutou katoa.
[00:12:07] I'm feeling that we need to invite Jackie into just I would like to make a my seat and I'll just take a side seat. If you would like to please join our panel. I feel you've got so many great stories in which to share. Thank you.
[00:12:30] Let's introduce yourself Jackie Chiara Jackie grant naughty Paki half from Hoka ticker. And I guess I came on the scene in Wellington about not in 6263 when I met Chris So yeah, we've sort of been around on the fringes ever since.
[00:12:50] Beautiful, I'm just gonna go rehabilitate JP in 1962 Take us through the streets of Wellington. What did Cuba Street look like? What did Vivian street look like? And what were we wearing?
[00:13:11] Well, I can answer the wearing question. We were wearing very little on the road. But 1962 63 It didn't look a lot different. The cars were not Cuba Street. It was a very free open place. I came from Australia with with three other trans Queens as we call ourselves in those days. And for us, it was total freedom. The only gay club that was going back then was probably the purple onion was the first one which was started off as a drag club and then turned into a strip club and passing around are still around and Wellington so you know, we're all still around. But the street didn't look a lot different little shops, boutique e type shops. people dressed not a lot differently. Wellington's always been sort of fairly easy on the dress since I guess. High fashion was never its forte except for the glamour queens that were in the shows that were in the clubs and things later on. Will will always strive to look a bit better than everyone else
[00:14:37] can you tell us about the first time you meet Chrissie experienced to make it?
[00:14:43] Well, first time I met Chris was at the bistro bar. And I don't know if any of you know where the bistro bar was but was the Royal Oak hotel and on the corner. What's the street there? Like with some straight there was the meets jewellers on the front. Then you came along the long Dickson street a bit and you got into the tavern bar which was a gay bar wasn't advertised as a gay bar but it was in to farm and there back in the 60s were Claude and Emery Tufte. They ran that bar and then you went into the, I don't know how he would describe it like a, like a barn it was it was huge, when virtually half the block of Dickson street right down to pinjaman Park, and it was called the bistro bar. And the Queen's are in one spot. The shopping malls were in another spot. Because we're in another spot the Look guys. The guys were at the tavern bar and they sort of sorted through every now and then have a look at it, it was just this huge melting pot of different people. There was the ship Mark girls with Gwen and salt. I was Sonya and and all her lot. And then there was Kristin her lot. Anyway, I'd got into them not long before I got here from Australia and sort of trying to find her feet. And when I met Chris was I'd seen them in the bar. And I'd heard I think top and he was there at that time you could hear or you didn't see. You saw sort of heard of beforehand. And I was out waiting for a taxi to go back to where I was staying. And Chris was there. And she said, Oh, you're one of the Australian queens, aren't you? And I said, yeah, she's Oh, come with us. We're going to a party. So off we went to Gerald Dean's house, where I met Geraldine, Jerry Shephard. And we had we had boil up and the guitars were out. Being coming from Australia and totally different culture. I've never seen any of this. And I was just absolutely fascinated with it. And I like the car. Went back to Geraldine many, many times. And the part was in those days, we were a community and until way free law reform and all those sorts of all those sorts of times. So we had to be a community because it was sort of them against us. But it was more probably us against them than them against us when you really boil it right down. But we did we had a community and we all had each other's backs and looked after each other. And I think we've lost that these days. But yeah, that was sort of early Wellington. I'm sure people will get into more things. But
[00:17:52] thank you, Jackie. Sweet. Maybe start here you could talk to us about when you first met crispy. How the Evergreen was so important some of any of your memories and stories. Yeah,
[00:18:17] well, I think I think the Evergreen, which is, which is when I came here, but there was also Commons copyright, which is the era before I came here. And these places are really important because they were they functioned really as safe spaces, you know, and when and when I came here it was, you know, we we've been being trains. The girls were all out on the street. And, you know, you'll find it anywhere where there are seats, because there's always a little space for them to guard when times get tough. And people get to torturous. And the Evergreen was was like that. So yeah, it was a safe space for us and in Chrissy was. She was she was she was nice, but she was she was she was struck don't don't don't go there with respect to anything. And there were a few times I saw who tossed people that were being naughty, but, you know, and sign that and those days. Do you hate to be your own security? Because sometimes, because the police weren't there and you know, and you had to Yeah, just just take care of your space in and you know, just let people people know, especially the girls, this is for you. You know, this is your space. Don't disrespect it or you're not coming back. And there weren't a lot of good times I remember really I remember it functioned fine functioned as early early in the evening, it was a function for the boys and girls, so they had in the evenings, and then as it got later and later, it would be a safe space for this for all the girls out on the streets to, to come come in and have a coffee when when, you know, because they were really torturous people out there, and you just wanted to just get away from there. And, you know, the reason that we all that the most of us skills came to Wellington. Well, I know certainly for myself as that when you come from a very conservative place, you're looking for like minded people, you know, and I think it's same for the boys, you know, you come to a place where, where it's a lot more acceptable. And, and that's why I came to to Wellington and fell in love with the place. And it just just the people that people have, having the kind that people were compared to Auckland in the other places that I came from, I mean, in Auckland, they had coffee bars, they had one called the fedora, the fedora that tradeskills would go to, and that was a well, it didn't have the same feeling as the coffee bar that that Chris handed down, you just was just a coffee bar. But the police always had access to that, to the gills, you know, coming in, they would just disappear and take off to the toilets and change the clothes and was quite scary times back then. And I remember I remember Chris had a few functions in her coffee bar. I remember when she had her 50th birthday at the Majestic well deserved, of course, because when calm and left, and therefore Australia her coffee bowl was in exactly the same place. So it was like one, one girl was leaving. And then another one was coming in, to cater to the next generation that were coming. You know, and yeah, that evergreen lasted for 20 to 25 good years, and had some really, really good times and the you know, in the people that work there, like D is yeah, you know, D is you know, you'd go in there and there was always a smile and a smile, Rosa Patterson was another one that worked in there she was, you know, just just a place where you could feel, feel at home, feel at home in a world where, where everything was even for the boys illegal? You know, and I can understand how living in the 70s you know, and Jackie's talking about where and that time you had to conform to a standard. And if you didn't, I like common for example, you were stigmatised, discriminated. And you come and she took all that was a smile, you know, and, but there was that era, and the crystal came along, but she was a little bit different. Cuz she had a whole new style about her. And, yeah, I just found her. And it was really sad when she passed away because the Evergreen would never ever be the same. Even if somebody took it. That whole
[00:23:14] that whole atmosphere was gone. But just just just to know that there was a safe space for us. And today with the with the young people, you know, with with the creation of technology, people don't seem to talk face to face, it's always online. And I think that's what Titan love made us tight in those sizes that we always saw each other, we didn't have phones and and you know, texting and all that kind of thing, then I think that's what, what made everything tighter back in those days. Not saying that it does today. But that's the language of young people today, it's all about online. And there's nothing wrong with that. And I think these young people wonderful today, they're, they're sharp, you know, that is a you know, they're very driven. And, you know, and in a world where it's free, but you still you know, you're still on, you know, you're still on your guard as good as good because back in our days, we just had to take what comes. And that was that. But everybody has rights these days. So it's a lot easier. But I wish we had a coffee bar for for for today. And I would love to see what that looked like. With all the young people it would be great. So yeah.
[00:24:26] Drew can I just pick up on what Chanel says about style? And back when I first met Christian gay guy or know what I'm going to talk about? Chris was so out there it just wasn't funny. And you know, early 1960s Chris had bleached white just as a married boy, bleached white here. A very feminine sort of top on this is the first time ever meant matter. Tights sort of stuffing tights. She was dressed as a boy she wasn't in drag in 19 60s That was at rageous. And a glitch the vague under under, you know, where she worked on the bloody Wharf, worked on the wharf as a cook in the kitchens on the wharf. And her friend Karina who who was also dressed very similar. And you know, Krista developers as my friend Karina, she plays rugby. Yeah. But that they were, they was so out there and so righteous, and nobody really cared. She just had that personality, but she was out before out was fashionable, that's for sure.
[00:25:38] These I'm gonna ask you a question if you can take our audience through what the Evergrey coffee house look like. Because for all of us who have been in this place, had coffees had toasted sandwiches had other things. We all know that whole space right from the beginning to the toilets to the jukebox. So for everybody who has not been in that cafe, can you take them through the decor?
[00:26:07] Well, getting in through the door was the first truck. There used to be a little wee seats, and it was a double lock. And you would have to pull the grid back. Little when $5 No money, no joy. And this is what the security had to be. We were a business first of all, and then just the community and everything that was supportive. So you'd come in through the door, that would be laughed, there'd be little we area we were heated would be. And then on the first table on your right in the window, and it was a huge window literally from about four feet of thing right to the ceiling. And you could see out onto the park, you could see down the road, you could wind people come back. For those who are looking for clients. Yes, they will. They will go by everybody will be looking. Because the melior. And the people that were there were just so interesting. There wasn't a night that we invited, there wasn't something that caught your eye. And then come through into another area, there were two more seating arrangements before you got to the bar. And they were mirrors strategically placed. I didn't need eyes in the back of my head, you could look straight ahead down to the toilet and know exactly what was going on in that corner. And that corner at the same time. It was really well. Kind of they call was. Well eclectic. was just a real shock to the saints for the first time when you walked on. Yeah. And then when you're fortunate we're used to that you get your coffee sandwich, and then you walk through into the bed. And as you go through the door, you've walked into a little white space, and then you've opened up the back door. And it was a totally different scene altogether. Black Light, so neons and everything, the bright lights and everything for going on the posters that have been put up around advertising different kinds of events and venues over the season that have been through there. And then the back bar came around and there was a bit of a podium you stepped up onto and there was trellising. And once again, wall of mirrors. So from the back, you could see the front end from the front, you could see the back, it was all about keeping people safe. Being aware, I once heard a bit too much to drink or look out, that one's gonna roll over there, the sun's up a little bit. But you did it in such a way that you weren't walking over people's mind on it was there and it was really inclusive for the time really hit. And it was just amazing to just see people come in, and they'd sit at the bar. And they'd start talking. And of course, I'd start pouring. And the more I poured, the more they talked
[00:29:13] about the at the back the collages table is through private tables, and they were sort of raised in one area so it would block off down the back. And then you could go down and around and then pass the jukebox and then into the toilets. Just amazing. And of course they were the exits. But later on became pretty well used. And so we would lock off the front of the street. And if there were any problems, then we could get people out and lock the problem and should there be any cost to do that. So it was very good. Very interesting kind of thing. And it never changed. It was almost like a stuck in time. And yet it was still very progressive and relevant. Yeah, it was like ageless
[00:30:11] internet maybe
[00:30:15] sympathetic writing until six in the morning everybody it's Scott So what's a wonderful times?
[00:30:31] The first time you meet Chris?
[00:30:34] Well, he's the first time I met Chris. Actually, Chris walked in. I was working with Rosa as a an exotic dancer. Yeah, no, not a male stripper. I was an exotic dancer. And Chris had made a comment. Because a few of the older school Quinta come through and they were all testing me out what's the metre of this person? It's not a bro. She's our girl. Look at the way she swings those hips. Quiet here, I'm kind of focused on getting some kind of be there. And Chris made an inquiries, razor and then razor introduced me and inside of a short hour read through that one. And to this day, I still don't know what it was that Chris saw. And it was just one of those unspoken things, which is not it was just one of those things. We clicked. And that was the beginning of a lifetime professional working relationship. And then later on, it became more and becoming integrated into the family and working with the community. And so the code in a connection with a post and everything was always through. We will go through and support however we could on the MRI. So you'd have all the girls at one corner cracking it and everybody else out the corner doing something else the money will come in. We're on we're on the road. And then six o'clock on the Moto, we've just put the call her down. And as soon as Chris would arrive and it didn't matter where she went, she was Marlon was amazing. I just had one person and could fuckup through to anyone and everybody. Very, very acute mind when it came to the knowledge and the history of the backgrounds. And I think that was something that drew me closer to Chris because having been adopted out of martyrdom and a cultural realised and brought up with European family. I didn't have any understanding of the rail I knew nothing of the call Maori it's not too late you young ones you can get to be 56 installed in Yeah, so it's that was the kind of thing of how I met Chris Rene
[00:33:12] when I first met Krause she asked me Ross from now it's gone and he goes on look like petting a puppy took straight away to her to me, she was my matriarch. And then because I missed common zero, I just caught the fever part. It's common and episode sort of thing. But that's what's always here. And I come down. And so she was my matriarch and I really loved the regrown because whenever they did a bust on the streets near I was just going sort of NAVER grain so then they pulled into this by the window. Do my business.
[00:33:59] It just looks for the regular the undercover cops Yeah, it was a really really cool place to go to and
[00:34:09] I think was just one big foreign idea. It was such a safe haven for us and so a lot of things here. A lot of things happen but you need to have a gross
[00:34:31] next time you go out and you knock on the door but she Yeah, she was really cool to us and have you ever needed to have just had to credit cross. She was always the if we ever needed this one look so highly up to net. I just thought she was an amazing person and what she did for us and they know kind of their safe place and yeah I think that's what's amazing if it wasn't for you we're gonna have nothing so cheat sheet a lot of things for us
[00:35:11] to remember when you first meet Andy crispy
[00:35:15] yeah I told you
[00:35:27] oh my gosh just like sit here blush for a little while. Okay, how about we move on to Kayla DNA? Kayla no one's asked you yet Do you remember when you made it
[00:35:44] yeah when I first make first Chrissy by Constance because I was involved with somebody else and this is what you know essentially what that's one of the favourite kicked out to suddenly caca so we're not got Wellington they were telling me about this place and that's it all these people and they read these amazing outputs I really don't want to beat the crap out of a woman on of that count but you know our week down there and the nightlife area this what they called it and evergreen it's gotta go the first so altered the drawer and essentially remember that you open the drawer the table here race one there on the end counter was here with these would be serving the coffee taking orders etc but also to see was this sitting in sight like this are you new hi yeah well for now we kind of initial cornero We clicked and she was that she knew everything about the girls do just been welcoming she was very well you know very accommodating. Yeah, I actually have a bad from the I think I was drunk because to me I had a different view of the whole place after going there for so many years. So I often don't cover to theatre when we go on not already the whole area evergreen was like the central park you go in there first then you'd go out but see they have marriage straight and now that marriage streets are only apartment buildings but before them before they built them that was a new decaf and on the other side in chemistry was a subset sure had not come upstairs. Don't play the music so loud with with the Marion street we have a nightclub there and we have some girls during the point entertainment we have some of the girls who some acapella Mariah. Mariah Mariah
[00:38:23] J
[00:38:32] Serena when she was drunk
[00:38:38] Yes, that was like the community and it was like people on the outside could see what we have stayed but it should have seated there tortures people the longer I was out there on the area of her grace then we had gangs covered but we had learned how to be ourselves sent up by go to Evergreen soon how things work there and you know chess will cross you there and let you have a staunch gaming on one hand and a person wiki what take whatever not would say that you're here for stand up. So as you should know was wrote about police that but turn a blind eye or pick on you. But we just like to only have two constables. They're actually quite nice soccer at first to sign up to you. Okay. Have your crack jet. No, I wanted to fly down the referee. though. Yeah, they're actually sociable. But whenever we evolved through to, as I see before us in our latest stage, and it just become natural, and then we had to get him to move in and off the bar. They said, Oh, et cetera. I initially come out to Arlington and there's a place called the Dorian secession for those who go back there. And that was that part. I then had often clubs come down like outfits and Bojangles what have you in front of the nose? They were like, Oh, this is our club, blah, blah, your visitor Yeah, really, we can ever get you to not deal late at night. Everyone from those clubs that stop in there, and it's just sociable. And in regards to early morning lighting once or twice our movie is closing about eight o'clock in the morning. A lot. But it was good. The front part was coffee and sort of business. Big part was such socialising and if certain ladies you know to avoid because once they start yet just sit there listen. But that's why she got it seems to fail right? From there. I leave to stand up to my theory. They knew what I was doing. And that put me down if they did and thought Yeah, I guess you pay for this for you. And slightly so just to try and normalise. But the good thing that come out of it from the gills is that we didn't go downhill. We went uphill. We were hit officers we do this so brilliant. Yeah, but evergreen Yeah, it's one of those things it's like a state thing right? Oh is it Christie was the I was the WHO for fear was funny because I do occasionally start us in the kitchen pass an intro around the first six foot something unless security downstairs so she makes sure they are so tight. So I come out in those big crowd people going like this
[00:42:08] this house I just come back and uh you know, the girls got together when they had a couple of Hacket group they're performed per se with their regal s and her throne. But you're known as beautiful good, but when you sit down think about it really emotional memories from that place. And yeah, not not covering about you for fights, arguments, gang members, the abuse hiding hyperlinks socialising. Being drunk. No surprise. I mean, psycho, I can visualise the entire layout. Let's take a mastermind
[00:43:04] would love to hear your recollections of Christie your time at the Evergreen? And also what was your favourite song on the jukebox?
[00:43:14] Why does she say the pail
[00:43:19] tell us about evergreen and Criss.
[00:43:23] Crossing as you thought was cool is my relaxtion and I first meet her and Hastings who brought the cameras into a pub and drinking it at the age of 15. I just leave school. And hey guys, you're not my brother. Come with me. I take your home to meet them. They just cannot when we got to the place. She wasn't there when Ella had come from Wellington. So I met her mum A and then Hey, my name our relationship are you coming to work for me? And that's how I got tonight. Initially when that evergreen opened, it was at the time and had given up the lease. And open is the hours retreat that was named Carmen hit on it. And me and four friends with a little eights in their house retreat. So we gather together to support her. She rang me to come down from Hastings to open it for you. She still had a contract with Dugan Sue turns at the Sunset Strip in Cuba straight in so she had a year left on a contract. So I came down and gather Ella Wilson, who is also from Hastings, Geraldine Shepard and it was picked Lambert at first And then we would join by Kay from Puri to accompany me because Yeah. And so there was a staff and Serena came in during the day to clean the wind, that was the most important thing for everyone. And yeah, in the mirrors, and they were spotless, if you knew Serena, she spent two or three hours, just rubbing these mirrors down with newspaper to get them sparkling clean. And they were well used, all the claims came in, and that's the first place they get it to check in the make up check in here. You'll see me doing that now I'm still in their head. But you know, say that was the evergreen and how we started out after a year, Chris got released from her contract and then came and in the meantime, we were renovating that, we hear a co founder lau lau. Here's the account. And see I built the tables at the mezzanine foods, both upstairs and dances, and did all the renovations in the club to change it. And we opened with the coffee bat a net first. And there was a narrow alleyway with all this walled off space to go to allow people to go down to the toilets. But that's how we started. And of course, us being friends and family we were volunteers for that whole year. We remain as volunteers we didn't get paid, because we were trying to build the club. And we were all working girls say we built the business app at the same time. We open Franklin that app and clients will pass and see us relieve anxiety coming in. And they're attracted other weekend girls in the working to come in. And that's how the business built up over their ear by the time cars come in. It was already a thriving business. Yeah. Some beautiful memories and beautiful people. Yeah. And you take the good with the bay. I and as high singles. We fight us when we come from Hastings when the Mongrel Mob was emerging in Iceland, and we had to fight our way to be accepted enhancing. So we had Wellington with that attitude as well. Yeah. Me I call the Caribs I go scares me of culture care. Are you ready to go? It's either the cable the place my mother T
[00:48:09] I'm not a bouncer. So yeah, so that's how we started off. And along the way, we got joined by Eunice and violet. He led the restaurant and I think even you come in and hey, how dad at times Gemma. So yeah. Great to have you here, Jackie. Because Chris and I both work for you didn't wanna straight Yeah. I guess didn't hit at the restaurant, but I wasn't the waitress
[00:48:49] so yeah, no, it's good to have you here, Jackie, some great memories, and you're able to share that arrow. Everyone here.
[00:48:58] What what was really interesting was Chris had an incredible work ethic. And I think that rubbed off on a lot of other people along the way. She always had a job and she said to me, once I don't care what I'm doing as long as someone's paying me. I'll wash the dishes. I don't mind. I'm not out for the limelight. But she always always had a job. Always work. And when
[00:49:20] I came down, they were on the wharf. And they were all in the kitchen down just as down here. They was Ella Tapani cross. Karina, Karina, and rose. So they all work down here. Ella, Ella used to pick this sort of our third was a guy cap. He said carry the food trays around to all the different areas on the wolf. And you didn't get a new wife because she never slowed down. Hey, that was an arrow. We were lucky that Wellington was so close. I this is beautiful Surrey because everything is cyclize. That's unlike Auckland where you go miles to get across the City Year. So Wellington being compact, we had this club secret going around at one stage when downtown was going powderpuff was gay. Those were all those clubs in that era. Yeah. And people got to know Taylor tight and all of that. And throughout the night, we wander from club to club. Yeah. And so when one open there's the late night or early morning. Everyone ended up there from all those clubs. Yeah. And the club owners bar on AJ, right. He was a need to be able to as a community support one another.
[00:51:05] In the midnight movies on Sundays,
[00:51:07] rates running across the
[00:51:13] theatre. These could you tell us about special coffee so people are hearing about coffees and toasted sandwiches. So for those who have never been to the Evergreen, tell us the ingredients of a coffee.
[00:51:29] Okay, cats out of the bag people. Special coffees, this is back in the days before they had 24 hour liquor licencing six o'clock swell. There. You get all the dwarfs and all bars and clubs in town shopping. And it was after that, either get to speakeasy or go to another supplier or have your own supplier at home. And the special coffees were traditionally poured out of a crystal egg cup. Chris was pretty onto she could tell within a drop whether or not you'd freak caught on. I assume it had a freefall because the baby thing was happening. It was Grant's whiskey that was used. So I'm not too sure if that's any kind of thing.
[00:52:22] And a lot of homebrew.
[00:52:26] That was later on in the history much life. Yeah. So getting all of that kind of thing going. There was another little venture, we opened up and that was the Nutcracker Suite, which is now Valhalla I think it is. Yeah. And that was an amazing venue. So very much we had a nice little wee coffee shop going on here the regulars and everybody was in one thing. And then in the nutcrackers open well it just took off. And from there we were able to get hold of low calorie beer. So for the beer drinkers coming in at least they were still getting a taste, but there was always a special on the side. Now remember from just whiskey, we had vodka we had bourbon whatever requires and it was how you bought the coffee. Teaspoon first coffee, alcohol first alcoholic drink not licenced teaspoon alcohol, hot water coffee. Special beverage didn't need a licence to sell it and that was the loophole from long long ago right the way through until I think about the mid 90s When the last year and that was how the empires were built here.
[00:53:56] And they transferred it over from when Chris and Christine ran the coffee bad the sun's Serene Serene Serene deadlines nice that achieving special couples
[00:54:14] ego a great okay it some of the best toasted sandwiches and it became a my favourite combination and still is today. It's a beautiful segue because it is now time for
[00:54:30] the new join us to share in a special special
[00:54:37] moment for toasted sandwich machines.
[00:54:43] Before we get into the official topics
[00:54:49] to Tip Four,
[00:54:50] what's the topic? Timeline Why do you want to know my office One of the nakina What's the right time to buy Molly's not only
[00:55:08] not only to coordinate the proper one
[00:55:13] to Malatya Tina
[00:55:25] My name is Chris COVID. The Duke is out into some Chris. I did. I picked Chris and comedy doses because I've just started
[00:55:54] I just want to share before before you do another couple a couple of liquor. Well, I came from Savile Row, and I opened I work at a trans. This is during the 50s. And I dance, rock and roll, you know, and I was the champion, Australasian champion, rock and roll dancing, you know, with my partner. And then I got married, went to Australia. And for one, please guys, and I work at late girls. I work at nighttime, doing drag at night, and daytime, I work on the buses. You play soccer was born, my oldest son is 62 years old when he was born, and I gave it up and came back to New Zealand and went to Sanborn. My second son was born in Seattle. Then we came back to Wellington. And then I decided I'm going to have because I work at the avalanche invested the two before those days are slipping, beautiful. He is own. So I bought most of these whites over here. Anyway, I hope as a cup of love. And I brought a show. I brought both of drag queens that I brought. They were very well known in Australia beautiful line a case Holly Brown. They all came down and they work at my club. And I didn't count because Cameron was working in coffee large. I think she was she was a waitress at this coffee place and working at a hospital Susan. Anyway, she was young. She was a boy that Tuesdays used to be laughing used to make me laugh at Congress. She said when she said still whatever the guys were sitting on. What's your name? Honey? You look so good. And he was carbon, the carbon carbon carbon carbon gas has always been a friend of my sister hoping the company could before she opened her places were way off the mind. But they all come around. Yeah. And I bet Chris to it. But Chris, I think Chris works more with the with the gay community to rainbows. Chris did move for that in common. Common was always in the paper. She's a queen, a new school, Craig Jones get into the pain. But anyway, she came with her coffees, seltzer coffees and drinks, hot drinks at my place. You know, because it goes days that contract show was was going very well at first to start off. And in most of the game communities you'd like the two queens to dress up in girls clothes. They didn't like it because we're all closet queens. It goes outside of my place. Don't forget I've got a quick quiz quiz. Because I was I was encouraging boys to become drag queens. That's what they say. They write down. So I changed it to groups to change it to strip us and of course I got to suit your lifestyle on anyway, we came up with a good you know, I think it was a lot of drugs that goes through the 60s with so much drugs going on. And my wife, Anita was she was dealing with a lot of cuts those days. And I said when it's time for the backup the two key younger kids because Microsoft were really working about was I don't know whether you folks know radon seems to run over. And knock was good. Yes, my son was already working. So I put the two kids that went to America. I've always wanted it to be the Hollywood dot for two years, and I came back when my sister died, I tried not to do this was, you know, really laboured? Yeah, she's my niece. She's my sister's daughter, and my other sister. Daughter, she's the Prime Minister, so I'm gonna be tougher on that, but good jobs except the world. My father always said, The Lord only takes good people first. And the Roberts like you you'll live forever.
[01:00:57] Sure enough, the old guy died for my brothers and sisters. I want to start off you got all my life story only wanted a good life. Really, I had communities over here. We're so so good. You know these the old ones? It's not I mean, I don't remember any of the young ones. It's because they weren't even around in those days. When I was around, as as you could see right? At age 88 years old, and I'm Sue kicking. I said God, dude, I opened the club, and I opened another one in half because all the girls were so popular. I made so much money on those girls or girls knows the thought I chased the club the permanent he was a strip club. And then I opened another one
[01:01:54] I had a fight with the vein of I shouldn't be bringing a strip show. You're not allowed to call the police and everybody can't be those days to sell. Oh gosh, I used to make $500 of one bottle of whiskey. Silas Olden love obviously. I did not buy grills because Mary Jo's from from Fort Worth to see from
[01:02:25] there. Yeah. And a lot of those girls had gone where else to go. So obviously Happy Christmas. Like a family owned by strippers. We always have a barbecue together. And we go get muscles and pass to get together on Christmas days and things like that. They come to my house and they were they were good friends and all those years. You know, I came back. I'm super driven by some of the few people that are still around like Donald just died. And of course Jenny but everyone everyone Oh, I remember her I used to when I come from America for a vacation it stopped by a city to see my friends or family that my wife was from over there. And ICC condos had a cup of tea together and Tom Coburn wants to go back to us. She was a good person.
[01:03:44] I believe you have come into this space today to provide us with our next club uncle because you know what is clear about our cordial today is we need a space it's missing in our community. And you are the man who's gonna provide everybody say I thank you and special call faith we're gonna have an intimate moment or take a break
[01:04:12] along with people that got this character. My this really was always with the character. She she votes for her new skills excuse me, God bless Joe ostriches.
[01:04:39] He told me to learn
[01:04:49] do that Hi, my name is Fiona lamb Xiang, we are on the second floor at the Wellington Museum, outside the Evergreen coffee, house sign,
[01:05:10] and water sign, it's all kind of illuminated. And then underneath that we've got some panels here
[01:05:15] is these panels take us back to yester years. They're a collage of old pictures, as well as business cards, of establishments that were around in the 80s. And 90s.
[01:05:28] When you look through the panels, you see familiar faces,
[01:05:31] absolutely. In the panels. It's a collage of my youth, actually, and a lot of icons of those people who used to be well known on the Wellington streets within our community.
[01:05:45] So how how does it make you feel when you see those faces, I feel
[01:05:49] really humbled to have spent a youth time with them. And then I was exposed to great leaders at such a young age, in a community that was accepting, inclusive, resilient, and even though they didn't realise it activists in their own right. But we created a space that was inclusive of all sexual preferences, and a community they looked after each other just by default, and love that. I think we were lucky to hit a live in a time where our communities were really important because the struggle was real. Our preferences were illegal, therefore, we had to really look after each other. I think when when I'm being reflective, though the times are hard. The community was strong. We don't quite have the same feel now because by rights, how we live, we have capacity, right? Everybody sees and recognises us in the time when I was in my 20s. That was not so much the case, however, this community and showed that we had space, and we had safe, we had safe spaces in which to connect and meet other people.
[01:06:59] One of the really lovely things for me today is looking at the audience and seeing the such an age range and the audience from the young to the the older people. Isn't it just wonderful?
[01:07:10] It really is we in this kind of cope up I can bring through so much diversity, and people who are just curious about Wellington's history. So the range of audience today, it's been quite nostalgic has taken us out into the past. But it also makes us look into the future, to see what our young people today have bits available for them to get this kind of connection and support.
[01:07:33] What's been your favourite moment from today's paper?
[01:07:36] Oh, it's got to be all the stories of all of our people on our panel sharing all the time in the 60s, what that looked like for them. And even though it was hard, how much they enjoyed it. So it has been a walk into the past but joyful and has celebrated us and our community and where we are today.
[01:07:59] My name's Jackie grant, and we're at Wellington museum. I think
[01:08:05] he's an unparsed posse Daniels, where I'm from Wellington, and I'm somebody anyway.
[01:08:12] So we're here today remembering cracy and the evergreen and all of those wonderful years. What is it like to be surrounded by so many people from the past?
[01:08:21] It's quite amazing. Because it's, you know, we, we sort of go off on our own life journeys. And and we don't have as much contact as we probably should. Although we see people on Facebook and that but it's not like being in the same
[01:08:37] room together. It has not been so many people that we know, Jackie and I know because it is all gone. Most of the people we know were Swiss Swiss because I'm I'm 88 years old judo. That's the problem. But I don't know any of these. Again, I'm the one that started all that bullshit in New Zealand. I was the first club that opened the gym was the pebble army. And apparently the Evergreen was right next door to the audience. The Evergreen was right two doors off of the audience. I've closed already I took the kids and went to America. I took my two younger ones and they work with bikers actually got a Jackson light on that guy's up and alley where my kids are working big time and about and then I decided to come back home and he died when his two brothers died. And it's nice to be here you guys to be people that I love because I grew up loving them. But I was never ever one of them that goes to the paths and stuff like they do. I never do that.
[01:09:37] What is your favourite memory of Chrissy? And also come on
[01:09:41] my favourite Carmen she's always gonna be it's because you're always waiting your lips like this all the time. You know? I got she was not she was always very she's she's like she doesn't give a damn about business. I mean, I think when she left that got a The nightclub this yada the strip club, you know the what you call that place. But after we left the market, she left with nothing. She had nothing to go and all the other coins that were working for. They all end up taking all the value. That's the bad if that's I felt sorry for her for that children. A chris Christie is the one that takes on all the things to do with gains. Chris is the one that opens all the doors and everything has
[01:10:31] ever interested in the limelight. And being the show girl, she was sort of always just in the back being solid. And there was a lot of solids, not probably the word but there was a lot of substance to Chris, where where some other people will there was a lot of show but not the substance is not the same substance. No, I'm not trying to put anyone down. It's just the way it was like
[01:11:00] a Christian was the one that encourage, go with all a gay Cardi B. She doesn't care about whatever it is. She knows he was a queen, and she but she backs them all up. You know, it's different copies. But Christmas for the people. That's That's my idea of a compromise. She's a show girl.
[01:11:22] What are your favourite venues from Wellington in that era?
[01:11:27] Well, I like Jackie's because I own it. But we used to go two ways to do the rounds. As someone said before, we used to go to the substitute strip, we used to go to the powder puff which we called, of course the powder puff. We went and that's that's why after the both of those days. I had Chris and I actually opened a restaurant opposite Parliament buildings, which was the first topless one of the first couple of restaurants in New Zealand was called the Doodle in boy and I think this is I think this is Virtus down at. But yeah, there was and we used, everyone used to go to the midnight movies on a Sunday night and then ended up at the height bridge off at four o'clock in the morning. We were at community and we all sort of stuck together. And that was that was the important part where we had each other's backs. And I don't know whether it's the same these days.
[01:12:28] And so we will say at first topless bar. That was
[01:12:31] in 1967 68.
[01:12:38] So it was opposite Parliament, which you know, which were about what three miles
[01:12:42] was straight. There was a fish and chip shop one side. And there was a grocer just up the road was right off the main gates of Parliament.
[01:12:51] And how did people respond to that? That was the first in New Zealand.
[01:12:57] It was interesting. We got away with it because when we took it over, there was a permanent booking for the the the roundtable Association, I think they were called. It wasn't the Business Roundtable. But it was a group of ministers from different denominations. Had I had a permanent booking there. So we didn't tell them but we introduced the topless restaurants to them that night. And the police were going to bust us and everything but if they had if they went out to pasture, the bishop of Wellington and half the different clergy, so they let it go, but it only lasted about six months and it mysteriously burnt down one night.
[01:13:36] And what was it called?
[01:13:37] The doodle and
[01:13:41] Jackie two names to Google. I ended up over it when I came back from over there. I work at the very famous one. All the jobs ever fabulous choreograph proper drag to ensure good costumes the same as I'd started with the Andean tooth. I start the girl wearing nice costumes. They go into larrikin season just get up with their dress they wear and take it up but those are those days now. But anyway, I came back to retired Yeah, New Zealand is the best place to retire.
[01:14:22] Absolutely. Today is a very special occasion and they are serving toasty sandwiches and also special coffee. What's in the toasted sandwiches?
[01:14:32] Man to ham and ego thing? Hey, Megan onion,
[01:14:35] onion and Sophie sweet pineapple.
[01:14:39] And how would you rate these toasted sandwiches compared to say carbs? These have been bitter, bitter,
[01:14:45] tasty, more tasty. You drove around?
[01:14:50] Got it totally wrong.
[01:14:51] What is what should be in there?
[01:14:54] It shouldn't be three slices of bread to make the sandwich. Always willing to die sandwiches had three slices of bread, butter around the outside. And then the filling of the two between the two lots of bread.
[01:15:10] That sounds a meal.
[01:15:12] They were like a meal. We looked on them at times a day as I was just saying, he got it wrong. There's not there's only two slices of bread. There's not three.
[01:15:21] I'm not passing any critique on this
[01:15:27] is mastered by hundreds of 1000s of toasted sandwiches at the coffee bar. They be the expert toasted sandwich maker in this country.
[01:15:36] This is how the toasted sandwich just tasting
[01:15:39] a tasting good. Yeah. And yours would have been nice if they'd been there extra in there. But when you have a legacy that goes and over time people forget. That's why it's good to be able to come back and go okay, we definitely need to have some kind of resurgence with what's going on to keep things going for
[01:16:05] us. Thank you everybody, for being with us in this space today. Thank you for remembering those who are not present with us whether they have passed through or just cannot make it today. But just to close us off. Let us say Chrissy we took all three times in memory of someone who changed the landscape of Wellington for our community. For those who said here who have changed the landscape for our community, may we always be resilient may we always embrace each other and our journeys so on the count of three Chrissy we recorded
[01:16:47] in her life partner Andrew into that as well
[01:16:51] I'd love to add Andrew her life partner and today what does Andrew Suni well why don't we just go Chrissy and another three times and memory of the brilliance for our community together no fire no crispy crispy crispy killed ricotta or handed over to our brother given to close us out with trachea Thank you
[01:17:29] they can now cordial cordial here really awesome caught it all really awesome the legacy that still continues today believe it or not, in terms of how far no stone there are still places where we get together and we find no other backbone of our community here and here in Puerto Rico so to be loved mihika Kota Gato King Kotoko hydrate to at the quarry row keep the audience did not have to kowtow I'm going to make she asked her part of our family who don't know this to come up and send her a Wyatt happy waiata and then I'll do a karaoke straight after that. So find a sub different opponent and if you could employ a difficult spear once come up and I know you've got to be nice because you always have point come up here we're gonna do a Wyatt which was supposed to invite people to come to DePaul Nikki come to it so.
[01:19:05] Guys I hit it hit it key key key five by two that's why it's taking a minute and more time to run not at all Oh my god I'm tired it going today Nikki hey coach may Allah give you and Toki ova da da da da da you could Tai Tai Chi Bokaro you new here the New Year New Year
[01:21:25] kilowatt tech a mama Tanaka. Matera Wildwater dunnottar querer Iran North Korea Korean nuclear Tina, homie, who you