House of Camelot Reigns; Drag Entertainment in the City of Norfolk
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
House of Camelot was a drag centered organization based in Norfolk that operated from 1974 into the 1990s. House of Camelot was founded by Dave Putman and the purpose of the group was “to improve and upgrade gay entertainment in the Tidewater area.” They worked closely with the Cue Club, a gay disco bar that was located near Old Dominion University on Killam Avenue. House of Camelot hosted community events that brought together queer people across the Tidewater area. Beyond entertainment, House of Camelot played an important role in the ecosystem that was and still is Norfolk’s queer community, partnering with other local groups to sponsor conferences, benefits, and fundraisers and donating proceeds to causes such as the Kidney Foundation, gay hotlines, and Our Own Community Press.
This presentation will focus not only on House of Camelot and their functions, but their impact on the local community and the overall importance of studying underrepresented queer histories, especially in the local area. A majority of the research done was conducted within local newspapers, editorials, and correspondence with community members. The story of House of Camelot also tells the story of efforts to uncover and document queer history that has taken place around Old Dominion University and the surrounding areas.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Cathleen Rhodes
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
carhodes@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Women and Gender Studies
College/School Affiliation
College of Arts & Letters
Student Level Group
Undergraduate
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
House of Camelot Reigns; Drag Entertainment in the City of Norfolk
House of Camelot was a drag centered organization based in Norfolk that operated from 1974 into the 1990s. House of Camelot was founded by Dave Putman and the purpose of the group was “to improve and upgrade gay entertainment in the Tidewater area.” They worked closely with the Cue Club, a gay disco bar that was located near Old Dominion University on Killam Avenue. House of Camelot hosted community events that brought together queer people across the Tidewater area. Beyond entertainment, House of Camelot played an important role in the ecosystem that was and still is Norfolk’s queer community, partnering with other local groups to sponsor conferences, benefits, and fundraisers and donating proceeds to causes such as the Kidney Foundation, gay hotlines, and Our Own Community Press.
This presentation will focus not only on House of Camelot and their functions, but their impact on the local community and the overall importance of studying underrepresented queer histories, especially in the local area. A majority of the research done was conducted within local newspapers, editorials, and correspondence with community members. The story of House of Camelot also tells the story of efforts to uncover and document queer history that has taken place around Old Dominion University and the surrounding areas.