With the recent bans on drag performers, including a law being considered by the Missouri state legislature, Kansas City public radio station KCUR took a look at the history of female impersonator performances in the city. Ray is briefly mentioned in the article with his work at the Jewel Box. It provides good context for … Continue reading Background on drag history in Kansas City →

Some time ago, I ran into a reference on pages 67-68 of James L. Neibaur's The Andy Clyde Columbia Comedies noting Ray in the cast of the 1937 Andy Clyde short, "He Done His Duty". Through the generosity of a film collector, I was finally able to view the short and confirmed that, indeed, Ray … Continue reading Ray Bourbon in 1937 Columbia Short →

In our previous posts [part 1 and part 2] in this series, we looked at new research by Charles Cage revealing Ray Bourbon’s real name and some basic facts about his family and where he grew up.  In this last post in the series,  we look at the stories Ray told about his own life, … Continue reading Ray’s Childhood, Part 3: An Invented Past →