Margo Howard-Howard
Encyclopedia
Margo Howard-Howard was a New York City
drag queen
who wrote memoirs titled I Was a White Slave in Harlem shortly before his death. With a preface by Quentin Crisp
, the memoirs, co-written with Abbe Michaels, describe Howard-Howard's privileged childhood in Singapore under his given name of "Robert Hesse," his rape aboard a British Navy vessel escaping the Japanese at the start of World War II
, and lifestyle as a drag queen prostitute in the 1950s and 1960s in Manhattan
. In these years, he supported a drug habit though prostitution, theft, and the exploitation of a wealthy but mentally ill old woman. He claims to have had encounters with James Dean
, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Truman Capote
during this time as well. In 1964, he met Leroy "Nicky" Barnes, the most prolific heroin dealer in New York City, and claims to have been "kept" by him, not leaving his apartment in the Lenox Terrace co-op in Harlem
for four years.
Howard-Howard claims to have ultimately escaped Barnes and recovered from his heroin addiction with the help of a methadone
program run by the Handmaids of Mary convent on West 124th Street. Thereafter he achieved some kind of prominence with a cabaret
act and tributes to Mary Stuart
. In his post-Harlem years, he claims to have met Judy Garland
, and Martha Raye
, Andy Warhol
, Jackie Curtis
, Brooke Astor
, Tallulah Bankhead
, Madonna
, and Queen Elizabeth II
, among others.
Reviewing these memoirs in 1988, the New York Times wrote: "His life was a breathless walk on the wild side. Stories were for embellishing, rules for breaking and people either fools or toys - or, less often, mythical figures of the sort that Howard-Howard, the grand drag queen, manifestly considered himself to be. For decades, until his death in September, he breezed through a slick New York scene of transvestites and tricksters." There is apparently a movie being developed based on Howard-Howard's memoirs.
In 1988 and 1989, the New York Times published articles stating that Susana Ventura (the performance artist Penny Arcade
) had created a character named Margo Howard-Howard, a 50-year-old drag queen with a scandalous past, for her performances. The Times specifically refers to the Howard-Howard character as "patently unbelievable." A later article in the Times specifies that Arcade's monologue was "based on real Lower East Side residents," and Howard-Howard did receive an obituary in The Village Voice
.
Note: The Village Voice claims Howard-Howard was born in 1937; in his autobiography he claims 1935.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
drag queen
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
who wrote memoirs titled I Was a White Slave in Harlem shortly before his death. With a preface by Quentin Crisp
Quentin Crisp
Quentin Crisp , was an English writer and raconteur. He became a gay icon in the 1970s after publication of his memoir, The Naked Civil Servant.- Early life :...
, the memoirs, co-written with Abbe Michaels, describe Howard-Howard's privileged childhood in Singapore under his given name of "Robert Hesse," his rape aboard a British Navy vessel escaping the Japanese at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and lifestyle as a drag queen prostitute in the 1950s and 1960s in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. In these years, he supported a drug habit though prostitution, theft, and the exploitation of a wealthy but mentally ill old woman. He claims to have had encounters with James Dean
James Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
during this time as well. In 1964, he met Leroy "Nicky" Barnes, the most prolific heroin dealer in New York City, and claims to have been "kept" by him, not leaving his apartment in the Lenox Terrace co-op in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
for four years.
Howard-Howard claims to have ultimately escaped Barnes and recovered from his heroin addiction with the help of a methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
program run by the Handmaids of Mary convent on West 124th Street. Thereafter he achieved some kind of prominence with a cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
act and tributes to Mary Stuart
Mary II of England
Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
. In his post-Harlem years, he claims to have met Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
, and Martha Raye
Martha Raye
Martha Raye was an American comic actress and standards singer who performed in movies, and later on television....
, Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
, Jackie Curtis
Jackie Curtis
John Curtis Holder, Jr. , better known as Jackie Curtis, was an actor, writer, singer and Warhol Superstar.-Early life and career:...
, Brooke Astor
Brooke Astor
Roberta Brooke Astor was an American philanthropist and socialite who was the chairwoman of the Vincent Astor Foundation, which had been established by her third husband, Vincent Astor, son of John Jacob Astor IV and great-great grandson of America's first multi-millionaire, John Jacob...
, Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead was an award-winning American actress of the stage and screen, talk-show host, and bonne vivante...
, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, and Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, among others.
Reviewing these memoirs in 1988, the New York Times wrote: "His life was a breathless walk on the wild side. Stories were for embellishing, rules for breaking and people either fools or toys - or, less often, mythical figures of the sort that Howard-Howard, the grand drag queen, manifestly considered himself to be. For decades, until his death in September, he breezed through a slick New York scene of transvestites and tricksters." There is apparently a movie being developed based on Howard-Howard's memoirs.
Truth or Fiction?
Howard-Howard is known primarily though these memoirs, and no evidence supports most of his stories. Though the memoirs contain some photographs, none date to earlier than 1988 or validate any of the remarkable episodes he claims from his past. His publisher added an Afterword to I Was a White Slave in Harlem stating that "much, if not most" of the stories in the autobiography were false. The Afterword specifically disavows Howard-Howard's stories about his childhood.In 1988 and 1989, the New York Times published articles stating that Susana Ventura (the performance artist Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade (performer)
Susana Ventura , better known by her stage name Penny Arcade, is an American performance artist, actress, and playwright based in New York City.-Career:...
) had created a character named Margo Howard-Howard, a 50-year-old drag queen with a scandalous past, for her performances. The Times specifically refers to the Howard-Howard character as "patently unbelievable." A later article in the Times specifies that Arcade's monologue was "based on real Lower East Side residents," and Howard-Howard did receive an obituary in The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
.
Note: The Village Voice claims Howard-Howard was born in 1937; in his autobiography he claims 1935.