The first time she performed for someone other than her reflection in the mirror was in 1965 at the Red Robin, a gay bar in town. The song was Ritchie Valens' 'La Bamba.' Her knees were shaking, but the claps and cheers from the audience made her feel like a star. She was hooked.
In the beginning, Saldaña would stuff her male clothes in a paper bag to sneak past her mother, who she knew wouldn't approve of drag, nor her being a lesbian. She'd perform in big stage productions or solo shows at LGBTQ-friendly bars like Girl of the Golden West and The Palace.
Saldaña still gets nervous before a performance. On the night of her recent show, her coif was stiff with hairspray, her shirt sharply ironed, her bowtie snug. Tom Jones was her specialty. The Red Lantern, where she performed 'It's Not Unusual' over four decades ago, remains a significant venue for her.
The Imperial Court, established in 1965 in the Bay Area, provided a platform for LGBTQ pride and drag performances amid conservative cultural norms. It thrived in Fresno and other cities, fostering royal competitions and fundraising drag balls.
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