From Issue 4.0 - September/October 1997
July and August were brimming over with leather contests, leading up to Leatherweek and the International Mr. Drummer contest to be held this month. On July 23, Mr. SF Drummer was chosen at Daddy's. The three contestants were Cuir Underground advertising representative Unicorn Escobedo, Jeff Michael, and John Brown, who captured the sash. The contest for SF Drummer Boy also featured three competitors, Chuck Stirling, Dragon Terry, and winner Joe Coloff.
The 15th SF Leather Daddy was selected July 25 in a contest at the SF Eagle. Five contestants -- Tony Amato, Patrick Batt, Jeff Brat, Bob Fifield, and Kelly Showers -- faced a panel of past Leather Daddies as judges. Outgoing Daddy Loren Berthelson will turn over the title to 1997 SF Leather Daddy Patrick Batt, owner of Mercury Mail Order.
Mr. Ebony in Leather -- a contest for African American leathermen -- was held July 27 following the Dore Alley Fair. Emcees were 1996 Ms. NLA International Stacy and Daddy Don Thompson, and entertainment was provided by Deena Jones, Donna Sachet, and Lurch. Roger, the prince of single tails, executed a delicate swirl of double floggers on Stacy's lovely shoulders. The event was a fund-raiser for New Village HIV/AIDS agency (formerly the Brothers Network). The five contestants -- Calvin Blake, Davie'n Nelson, Scott Rosemond, Marvin Ross, and L. Derek Young -- faced judges Omar Mosely (the first Mr. Ebony in Leather), Bart Casimir, MacArthur Flournoy, Carlos Larranaga, Joseph Osborne, and Keith Truitt. Ross was the second runner-up, Rosemond was first runner-up, and Davie'n Nelson is the new Mr. Ebony in Leather.
The Alameda County leather community selected new titleholders on August 2 at the World Famous Turf Club in Hayward. The new Mr. Alameda County Leather is Steve Crouse, and the new Ms. Alameda County Leather goes by the name of "E Ticket."
On August 30, four local Mr. Drummer winners competed at the SF Eagle for the Mr. Northern California Drummer title. The judging panel was made up of David Abler, Brian-Mark Conover, Omar Mosely, and Taurus Webster, and the event was emceed by Shan Carr and Gary Virginia. The contestants were Mr. Sacramento Drummer Mike Butler, Mr. San Jose Drummer Dan Pickerall, runner-up Mr. Alameda County Drummer Eric Keith, and winner Mr. San Francisco Drummer John Brown. Brown will now compete in the International Mr. Drummer contest to be held September 27. The Northern California Drummer Boy contest was held September 6 at Greg's Ballroom in San Jose. Dan Hughes of San Jose was selected as this year's titleholder.
Finally, the 15th SF Leather Daddy's Boy contest took place August 31, also at the Eagle. The event was sponsored by new SF Leather Daddy Patrick Batt, and emceed by Batt and Donna Shrout, with entertainment provided by comedian Marga Gomez. Contestants David Avitia, Robert Felkins, Michael Hutcherson, Alex Lindsay, and David Meyer faced judges Joey Faria (outgoing Daddy's Boy), James Buhler, Joe Coloff, Davie'n Nelson, and Philip Turner. Felkins was second runner-up, Lindsay was first runner-up, and the new Leather Daddy's Boy is David Meyer.
Congratulations to the new titleholders -- and to all the participants
-- and here's to a great year!