Baton Show Lounge
| The Baton Show Lounge float, Chicago Pride Parade 2013 | |
| Map Interactive map of Baton Show Lounge | |
| Address | 4713 N. Broadway Chicago United States |
|---|---|
| Location | Uptown Chicago |
| Coordinates | 41°58′4.39′′N 87°39′31.47′′W / 41.9678861°N 87.6587417°W / 41.9678861; -87.6587417 |
| Owner | Jim Flint, Christoph Chiavazza |
| Capacity | 195 |
| Type | LGBT |
| Event | Drag |
| Public transit |
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| Parking |
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| Construction | |
| Opened | 1969 (1969) |
Years active | 1969-present |
| Website | |
| www | |
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Baton Show Lounge is a Chicago drag club founded in 1969. It is the venue for the Miss Continental pageant.
History
[edit ]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]
In 2025, HV Entertainment bought the lounge and announced plans to reopen the Chicago Eagle, a former gay bar catering to the leather LGBT community, previously located at 5015 N Clark St in Andersonville. HV Entertainment pledged to provide a dedicated space for the Baton Show Lounge within the bar.[6]
Miss Continental
[edit ]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.[7] [3]
Dance Divas benefit
[edit ]Since 2008, Dance Divas is a group that has held a benefit show for Chicago Dancers United at Baton Show Lounge.[8] Proceeds help members of the arts community with health expenses.[8] [9]
Notable performers
[edit ]Notable guests
[edit ]- Madonna [4] [10]
- RuPaul [4]
- Janet Jackson [1] [10]
- Ted Kennedy [1]
- Joan Crawford [1] [10]
- Alexandra Billings [1]
- Chris Farley [1]
- Kirk Douglas [10]
Popular media
[edit ]The Queens, a documentary directed by Mark Saxenmeyer, premiered in 2020 and focused on the 2011 Miss Continental competition.[11] [12] [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
[edit ]- ^ a b c d e f g h Syska, Justyna (2021年06月26日). "Chicago drag show celebrates Pride Month". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ a b "About Us". www.thebatonshowlounge.com. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ a b Collo-Julin, Salem (2023年04月06日). "Best internationally known drag pageant system based in Chicago". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ballew, Jonathan (2019年03月01日). "Legendary Drag Club The Baton Opens In Uptown Friday After Decades In River North: 'It's A New Chapter'". Block Club Chicago. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ Kirsch, Jesse (2019年06月14日). "Baton Show Lounge celebrates 50 years". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ Savedra, Madison (2025年09月23日). "Leather Bar Chicago Eagle Takes Over Baton Show Lounge, But Drag Shows Will Continue". Block Club Chicago . Retrieved 2025年11月16日.
- ^ Swenson, JP; Mendoza, Marie (2023年03月30日). "What's the history of drag performance in Chicago?". WBEZ Chicago. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ a b "Chicago Dancers Prepare for Annual Drag Show to Fund Health Benefits for Artists". NBC Chicago. 2023年05月08日. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ "History". CHICAGO DANCERS UNITED. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ a b c d "Chicago's Top Burlesque, Cabaret, and Drag Shows". Choose Chicago. 2019年06月21日. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ "The Queens". The Reporters Inc. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.
- ^ Corrall, Cody (2020年09月04日). "The Queens takes you behind the scenes of a Chicago drag pageant". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023年10月16日.