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Miss Foozie
Miss Foozie waves during a pride parade.
Miss Foozie rides in the back of a car during the 2010 pride parade in Chicago, Illinois.[1]
In-universe information
AliasLucy Foozie
SpeciesHuman
GenderFemale
OccupationPersonality[2][3]
NationalityUnited States

Lucy Foozie (born (1960-04-06)April 6, 1960), better known as simply Miss Foozie, is a character from Chicago.[4][5] Today, Miss Foozie is not a "drag queen". She is a "personality."[2][3] Time Out Chicago calls her a "drag hostess and entertainer",[6][7] and Chicago Free Press has awarded her "best female impersonator".[8] Since 2008, Miss Foozie has served as Community Ambassador for ChicagoPride.com.

In 1997, Miss Foozie was "born" at her portrayer's 37th birthday party. Since then, her career has included parades, four movies, and live performances throughout the United States.[3][4][5][9][10][11][12][13][14] Her influence extends internationally as publications featuring her are available in both the United States and Canada.[7][15]

Origins

When Miss Foozie was a little boy, he liked other people and had many friends in school. From a very young age, he was a character and made people laugh. Years later, he moved to the more populous Chicago, certain that the city had a lot to offer him and that he had a great deal more to offer the world. He began a career in customer service, traveling downtown every day working 9 to 5. He claims he was a "great worker", but too often the job was not as satisfying as he had hoped it would be. He wanted to reach out to more people, not to just talk on the telephone.[3]

As his birthday came up, there was a new bar opening on North Halsted Street called Circuit. Very few people knew about it. "Can I have my birthday party here?" he asked. He had no shortage of friends, so they all pulled together. He passed out invitations to everyone he knew, and even some people that he did not know. He taped a thousand fliers that had happy faces all over Boystown announcing the party: "Bring your friends. If you like 'em...I like 'em."[3][4]

On Friday, April 6, 1997, he got to the celebration early, and pretty soon some friends pulled him into a back area and said "Perform something!" and presented shoes, jewelry, a dress and a wig. He told them,"Well, I don't do that sort of thing. I don't dress like a woman..." While they were trying to talk him into it, another friend ran in and yelled "Do something and I mean fast! There are over four hundred people out there! You'd better hurry up Foozie!" Dumbfounded, he thought about the four hundred people and replied, "That's Miss Foozie to you!"[3][4]

The birthday party was a huge success, and all of Miss Foozie's friends had a great time. Miss Foozie was never the same again, having found something that made her happy, and she had found something truly special that made people laugh.[3]

Career

Miss Foozie holds a microphone during a game of bingo.[9]

In April 2007, Miss Foozie told Chicago magazine her first paid gig was the weekly stage show "Miss Foozie and Her Floozies" at age 37 for US$30 per show, however, Chicago gave Miss Foozie's age as 48 at this time, mistakenly, since Miss Foozie's first gig was indeed at age 37, and before his 37th birthday on April 6, 1997, Miss Foozie did not exist. That would have made Miss Foozie 47 on April 6, 2007. Miss Foozie also told Chicago her alter ego works full-time at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and her fantasy job is to be Miss Foozie full-time, although she takes working vacations roughly every other month to cities including Washington, D.C. and New York.[5]

In April 2007, Boystown pizzeria Pie Hole named a pie after her: "Miss Foozie's Signature Pie". "She's a ham, and she calls everyone pineapple...so it was only a matter of time. Full ¼ lb. of ham and big chunks of pineapple, plus we pull out a $1 donation for Foozie Charity in honor of all the work she does in the community."[16] In addition to Foozie Charity, she was Miss December in the "Glamour Of Boystown Chicago" Charity Calendar.[16]

Miss Foozie had the opportunity to be hostess of the 2009 13th Annual Triangle Neighbors' Northalsted Halloween Parade, and she did indeed emcee the parade as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland's Queen of Hearts, following that year's theme of the parade, "Mad Hatter's Ball". This was her third year as emcee for this huge event in Boystown.[10][11][12][13]

Movies and television

In 2004, Miss Foozie appeared in Twenty Gay Stereotypes Confirmed, a tongue-in-cheek look at Gay stereotypes using the director's childhood home movies. She appears on the streets of Chicago introducing the third stereotype with her iconic catchphrase, "Hello, Pineapples!"[17]

In 2005, Miss Foozie made a special appearance in Bowser Makes a Movie, a comedy with a young man struggling to make a Gay adult film.[16][18][19] In 2007, Miss Foozie appeared as herself in Father Knows..., a Gay interest film involving a father-son relationship, Gay romance, and explicit sex.[20] In 2009, Miss Foozie played herself again in Sister Mary, a dark comedy written and directed by Scott Grenke, starring Brent Corrigan, Bruce Vilanch, and producer James Vallo who plays Mark Rima, a homophobic Detective who must "partner" up with the very Gay and flamboyant Detective Chris Riant (Shawn Quinlan) to stop a serial killing Nun (Judy Tenuta) from offing 5 band members otherwise known as "The Ex Choir Boys", but when it is determined that the Detectives cannot solve the case on their own, expert F.B.I. profiler Agent Peccant (Ant) is assigned to the case. As the details of the case slowly emerge the police determine that the "nun" may only be a silent witness to the grisly murders. The task force then turns its attention on the Catholic Church and a suspect group of Priests that have had a propensity for "cleansing the souls" of innocent young choir boys.[21]

On May 25, 2011, Connie de Bie spent "A Night with Miss Foozie" in Chicago with the Windy City celebrity for 1st Look Chicago on Life/Style Television, a division of NBCUniversal, describing, "She's a character artist with a supersized personality and when Miss Foozie enters a room, you'll know it! She's extremely well-known and supportive of Chicago's gay community. Watch as the two paint the town as Miss Foozie gears up for Pride Fest!"[22] The program was broadcast on June 19, 2011 on NBC nationwide after Saturday Night Live.[22][23]

Publications

Miss Foozie rides in the back of a car during the 2007 pride parade in Chicago, Illinois.[14]

On March 20, 2002, Miss Foozie appeared on the cover of Nightspots, an extensive, four-color glossy of Chicago's vibrant LGBT nightlife scene, published by Windy City Media Group, which also publishes Windy City Times, the city's oldest gay newspaper.[24] Artwork of her appeared on the cover on May 1, 2005,[25] and she appeared on the cover again in April 2007.[26][27] In November 2002, she appeared on the cover of BoystownChicago,[28] and she appeared on the cover again in 2005 as "Chicago's Most Loved Host".[7][29][30]

For North Halsted Market Days in 2003, Chicago artist Lee Kay created a caricature of her in the window of Boystown adult shop Batteries Not Included. BOI Magazine, a free magazine established in January 2000 distributed in bulk in the Chicago area, featured Kay's photo & artwork on the cover.[31] In June 2004, she appeared on the cover of Chicago magazine Crusin'.[32] In June 2005, she advertised beads in print ad for Gay Mart in Chicago.[7]

In March 2007, she appeared in Time Out Chicago, and her photo ran alongside a question she answered in a Gay & Lesbian article for their October 15–21, 2009 issue titled "Virgin territory"; Jason A. Heidemann asked some of their favorite LGBT Chicagoans to "reveal their first same-sex shag.": "My first time was all about who is the top and who is the bottom. That took five minutes."[6][7]

Miss Foozie emcees the 12th Annual Triangle Neighbors' Northalsted Halloween Parade in Boystown in 2008.[10][11][12][13]

In April 2007, she appeared on the cover of Gay Chicago Magazine and on October 29, 2009 as the Queen of Hearts for her then-upcoming role as hostess and emcee for the parade. Photographer Ashley Allen photographed her front and center with the other characters of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Alice, Mad Hatter, March Hare, and Cheshire Cat.[7][11][12][13]

In April 2007, she appeared in a straight periodical, wig and all, for Chicago magazine's special report "Money in Chicago 2007". The section entitled "Who Makes What" featured other Chicagoans from a variety of professions from many walks of life with salaries from $200,000 to $0, where she revealed her own to be $23,500.[5][7]

In June 2007, she was on the front page of Metromix for that year's pride parade, and she was featured in the "Summer Festivals" gallery in the Chicago section for Market Days of that year.[33]

On August 24, 2007, Photographer Mia Algotti featured "Miss Foozie of Cocktail [(a Boystown bar)] encouraging the crowd to try their hand at the dunking booth during North Halsted Market Days Saturday afternoon." The photo showed her in front of a dunk tank seating a twink in Skyline.[34] Dave Ouano photographed her for the August 2007 cover of Chicago Free Press' Freetime section.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ "David G. Carrillo". Facebook. June 27, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "The Miss Foozie Blog". ChicagoPride.com Blogs. April 10, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Miss Foozie. "FOOZIE". missfoozie.com. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d Terry Oldes (August 14, 2007). "Foozie". A Barrel Full of Monkeys – More Baggage Than Ann Miller Brought On the Love Boat. Sarasota, Florida: Starbooks Press. {{cite book}}: External link in |author= (help)
    Terry Oldes. Miss Foozie (ed.). ""Foozie" by Terry Oldes". MISS FOOZIE. Retrieved March 30, 2009. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Megan Lovejoy; Alexis Mattera; Carrie Napolilli; Nora O'Donnell; Corina Quinn; Brendan Shea; Pauline Shih; Brigid Sweeney; Jennifer Wehunt (April 2007). Richard Babcock (ed.). "Who Makes What — Profiles". Chicago. Money in Chicago 2007. 56 (4). 435 N Michigan Ave Ste 1100, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60611-4031: Tribune Company. ISSN 0362-4595. OCLC 2398937.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
    Megan Lovejoy; Alexis Mattera; Carrie Napolilli; Nora O'Donnell; Corina Quinn; Brendan Shea; Pauline Shih; Brigid Sweeney; Jennifer Wehunt (April 2004). Richard Babcock (ed.). "Who Makes What — Profiles — Chicago". Chicago. Tribune Company. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Miss Foozie (October 15–21, 2009). Jason A. Heidemann (ed.). "Virgin territory". Time Out Chicago (242). Chicago, Illinois. ISSN 1552-2202. OCLC 56360378. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
    Miss Foozie (October 15, 2009). Jason A. Heidemann (ed.). "Queer Chicagoans' first times". Chicago Events & Things to Do. Time Out. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Miss Foozie (October 29, 2009). "MISS FOOZIE — Press & Media". MISS FOOZIE. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  8. ^ Miss Foozie (2005). "MISS FOOZIE — Press & Media". MISS FOOZIE. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Erin! (Rhymes with nervous) (November 5, 2009). "Oh dear ... on Flickr — Photo Sharing!". Retrieved November 7, 2009. Yes Miss Foozie! When I went up to get my bingo card, she called me "honey hotdog" and I felt special. {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  10. ^ a b c EBluEyedA73 (October 31, 2008). "Miss Foozie at the Boystown Halloween Parade on Flickr — Photo Sharing!". Retrieved November 2, 2008. Miss Foozie at the Boystown Halloween Parade {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ a b c d Triangle Neighbors NortHalsted Business Alliance (October 22, 2009). Jonathan Lewis (ed.). "Calendar" (PDF). Gay Chicago Magazine. 33 (43). 3115 N. Broadway, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60657-4522: Gernhardt Publications. OCLC 28863823. Triangle Neighbors NortHalsted Business Alliance: "Mad Hatters Ball" Halloween Parade 6pm w/hostess Queen of Hearts Miss Foozie; Chicago Spirit Brigade performs; tea party 4pm for children; meet at Spin 4pm; costume contests & prizes {{cite journal}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
    Lindsay Charvat (October 29, 2009). Jonathan Lewis (ed.). "Everyone's Got a Story" (PDF). Gay Chicago Magazine. 33 (44). 3115 N Broadway St, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60657-4522: Gernhardt Publications. OCLC 28863823. Name: Miss Foozie Neighborhood: Lakeview Your job or career: Character, personality, entertainer, actor and activist. Life's work or just a job? This is my future. How did you get into this line of work? As a joke! Now it's my passion. What do you like about this work? I enjoy bringing Happiness to people; it's all about laughter, Pineapple! Where do you see yourself, careerwise, [sic] in 10 years? In the plus-size department! Any fun perks to this job/career? Men, men and more men. Let's not forget new friends! Are there any downsides to this job/career? Time consuming. Did you go to school for this job/career? School of Hard Knocks! What's your background? Pineapple 101. How are you involved in Chicago's gay community? I am gay! Do you belong to any organizations or groups in your spare time? What spare time? Do you like to travel? Absolutely! So much to see and do! Miss Foozie Loves to travel! Where is your favorite vacation spot? Florida, home of the Golden Girls! What do you like to do on your vacation? Shop for Miss Foozie wear. Do you have any hobbies? Shoes and lipstick and lots and lots of glitter! What do you like about these hobbies? Shopping! Do these hobbies require any special skills? You have to have a keen eye for excellence. Anything else that we should know about you? I Love Lucy. What's your latest project? Emcee for the 13th annual Triangle Neighbors Northalsted Halloween Parade on Saturday October 31. How did this project come about? This will be my third year as emcee for this huge event in Boystown. What excites you about this project? People are sharing different ideas on whom they would love to be or dress like and out and about having a great time. One wish for yourself? Travel the world, spread Miss Foozie Love. One wish for others? For everyone to enjoy life. Website & Contact: www.missfoozie.com{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
    "Archives". Gay Chicago Magazine. October 22, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d Bill Pritchard (October 29, 2009). "Miss Foozie the Queen of Hearts!". Community Connection. Know Gay Chicago - ChicagoPride.Com. Retrieved May 30, 2010. Foo Boo: Looks like the lovely Miss Foozie is at it again; this time on the cover of Gay Chicago Magazine. Of course Foozie is the emcee of this years Halloween festivities in Boystown! Come out to see all the fun and freaks this Saturday at the Northalsted Halloween Parade. The schedule for the whole days festivities is here. Happy Hallowiener! {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b c d "Boystown Halloween "Gay" Parade and Parties". Best Gay Chicago. October 27, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2010. We're excited to announce Miss Foozie has agreed to emcee the parade (as the Queen of Hearts) and the Chicago Spirit Brigade will march and perform! ... A special prize will be awarded to the costume that best represents the theme of the parade, "Mad Hatter's Ball"
  14. ^ a b Richie Diesterheft (June 24, 2007). "Miss Foozie at the Boystown Halloween Parade on Flickr — Photo Sharing!". Retrieved June 25, 2007. Famous Chicagoan Miss Foozie {{cite web}}: External link in |author= (help)
  15. ^ Shawn Troy Johnson (November 12–25, 2009). "Cover". HOTT Magazine. 2 (17). 1510 Boulan Drive, Troy, Michigan, USA, 48084-1536.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
    Shawn Troy Johnson (November 2008). "Old Issues". HOTT Magazine. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  16. ^ a b c Miss Foozie (January 2010). "MISS FOOZIE — Press & Media". MISS FOOZIE. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  17. ^ Jason Bolicki (Director & Writer), Miss Foozie (#3) (2004). Twenty Gay Stereotypes Confirmed (Flash) (Videotape). United States: Nothing In Moderation Productions. Event occurs at 1:28. Retrieved May 10, 2006. Hello, Pineapples! Hehehe, #3: Gay men throw like girls.
    "IMDb Video: Twenty Gay Stereotypes Confirmed". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved May 10, 2006.
  18. ^ Toby Ross (Director & Writer), Miss Foozie (Herself) (2005). Bowser Makes a Movie (DVD). United States: Hornbill Films.
    "Bowser Makes a Movie (2005)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  19. ^ "Hornbill Films Presents: Bowser Makes A Movie". Hornbill Films. April 20, 2005. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  20. ^ Toby Ross (Director), Miss Foozie (Herself) (2007). Father Knows... (Videotape). United States: Hornbill Films.
    "Father Knows... (2007 V)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  21. ^ Scott Grenke (Director & Writer), James Vallo (Producer & Mark Rima), Miss Foozie (Herself) (2009). Sister Mary (Videotape). United States: James Vallo Movies, Knee Deep Films.
    "Sister Mary (2009)". Internet Movie Database. December 17, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  22. ^ a b Connie de Bie (Hostess), Miss Foozie (Herself) (June 19, 2011). A Night with Miss Foozie (Flash) (Television). LXTV Chicago, 454 N. Columbus Drive, 5th floor, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60611-5807: LXTV. Retrieved October 25, 2011.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
    "A Night with Miss Foozie". 1st Look-Chicago. LXTV. June 19, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
  23. ^ "Live taping for NBC for "First Look Chicago" with Miss Foozie!". Facebook. May 20, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  24. ^ Tracy Baim, ed. (March 20, 2002). "Cover". Nightspots (26). 1510 Boulan Drive, Troy, Michigan, USA, 48084-1536: Windy City Media Group Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Trans News.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  25. ^ Tracy Baim, ed. (May 11, 2005). "Cover". Nightspots. 1510 Boulan Drive, Troy, Michigan, USA, 48084-1536: Windy City Media Group Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Trans News.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  26. ^ Tracy Baim, ed. (April 2007). "Cover". Nightspots. 1510 Boulan Drive, Troy, Michigan, USA, 48084-1536: Windy City Media Group Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Trans News.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  27. ^ Tracy Baim, ed. (March 20, 2002). "Nightspots". Windy City Media Group Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Trans News. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  28. ^ Milan; Michael, eds. (November 2002). "Cover". BoystownChicago. 1 (24). Chicago, Illinois, USA: Windy City Web Group.
  29. ^ Milan; Michael, eds. (2005). "Cover". BoystownChicago. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Windy City Web Group.
  30. ^ Milan, Michael, ed. (November 2002). "Boystown Chicago Gay Men Women GLBT Events Guide Photos Travel Lakeview Q u e e r Chicago". Windy City Web Group. Archived from the original on November 27, 2002. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  31. ^ "Cover". http://www.boimagazine.com. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Mike Macharello. 2003. OCLC 56900629.
    "get boi magazine IN PRINT.. ONLINE.. or BOI BLAST direct to email". Mike Macharello. 2003. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  32. ^ "Cover". Crusin' (8). Chicago, Illinois, USA. June 2004.
  33. ^ "Metromix Chicago – Your Chicago Restaurants, Nightlife & Events Guide". Metromix. Chicago Tribune. June 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  34. ^ Mia Algotti (August 24, 2007). "Frame of Mind — Visually Speaking". Skyline. Chicago, Illinois, USA: Pioneer Press.
  35. ^ Dave Ouano (August 2007). St. Sukie de la Croix (ed.). "Cover". Freetime. 819 W Lawrence Ave, Apt. 3, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 60640-4252: Chicago Free Press.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
    St. Sukie de la Croix, ed. (August 2007). "FreeTime". A Common Voice for a Diverse Community. Retrieved March 30, 2010.

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