Harry Hemphill, aka Huntress (left), most likely wasn't the only drag queen Lucas County has produced, but he certainly was the most widely known --- at the turn of the 20th century.
I've written extensively about Harry before (see links at the end of this post), but one of the things to remember here is that he always returned during the off-season to the cottage on West Braden Avenue in Chariton that he shared with his mother and developed his act for the upcoming season there, as a rule sewing his costumes himself and calling in various experts to help out with technical details.
The acts were premiered for local audiences --- at the Lincoln Theater, other times at the Armory --- before they were taken on the road.
The following review of his 1904-5 act appeared in The San Francisco Dramatic Review and was republished in The Chariton Leader of April 13, 1905:
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The Leader reporter is in receipt of an interesting letter from Harry Hemphill of this city, known to the dramatic world as "Huntress." For the past eight months he has been with a troupe touring the Pacific coast states. His many friends here will be pleased to learn that he is meeting with wonderful success and that he is rapidly rising in his profession.
From the San Francisco Dramatic Review, we take the following mention of his recent appearance in that city:
"Huntress, the male Papinta, and spherical drapery dancer, appears at the Lyceum this week. Of an extra good bill, he is undoubtedly the striking novelty. His singing, impersonation and acting are receiving the applause they deserve.
"While singing The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes, Huntress brings down the house. Many a maiden in the audience would no doubt give a great deal to get the same expression into her eyes that he does. Next comes the spherical drapery or serpentine dance, which is done with surprising ability and cleverness. There are very few in the audience not reading his name on the program that would realize that he is anything else than he impersonates --- a charming young lady.
"Huntress offers a decided change from similar acts. Unlike other performers in this line, he opens with a song, dress very elaborate and hand-painted coat and hat. Next he makes a complete change to a very large dress with drapery, in which he shows beautiful electrical effects. In this dance the dress measures eighteen feet from wing to wing and is completely startling in its effects.
"For this last change, Huntress offers an impersonation of Adele Purvis Onri in her spherical serpentine dance on a large rolling globe, working all over the stage with lights following in his wake. All of Huntress' electrical effects are by Professer Sheilds and the Kleine Optical Co. He goes to the Chutes next week."
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Here are the links to an earlier series of posts about Harry: "Huntress: Chariton's Gender-bending Superstar"; "Huntress 2: Bright Lights and Baseball, Too"; "Huntress 3: Harry Goes Coastal; Creates a Bungalow"; "Huntress 4: A Murder in the Family"; "Huntress 5: Harry and George Down Under"; "Huntress 6: Harry's Swan Song".
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