How did a southern gay bar become one of the longest continually operating LGBT businesses in America? It's time you knew…
Dickinson Avenue: The [mostly] True Story of The Paddock Club is a documentary about history, love, hope, successes and failures, and of course, pageantry.
See, What Had Happened Was...
In the early 70s, a group of friends in eastern NC began meeting every Sunday at a local hotel bar. When the manager found out they were mostly gay, he asked them to leave and never return. They faced a choice: go back to hanging out on their back porches, or band together and open their own bar. In 1973 they opened a safe haven for the gay community of eastern Carolina, The Paddock Club. For more than 30 years it changed the lives of the LGBT community of NC, and altered the landscape and culture of all eastern Carolina. Playboy Magazine named it the #1 place in town to 'pick up chicks,' and even Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock danced in shows there while attending East Carolina University.
The Love, and the Legacy
Though the bar is now closed, its legacy lives on. 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the Miss Dickinson Avenue Pageant, the oldest comedy drag pageant on the east coast, founded on a whim at The Paddock in 1983. With contestants and former winners spanning in age from teenagers to adults in their 50s, The Miss Dickinson Avenue Pageant (Miss D for short) encompasses the spirit of community and friendship that the founders of the Paddock fought so hard to create and preserve.
Girl... What Are You Doing?
Through home video, pictures, and stories told by the people who lived them, this film patches together more than 40 years of history of the gay community in North Carolina, and simultaneously takes its audience backstage for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to pull off what could possibly be the zaniest drag pageant in the world, the (30th Annual) Miss Dickinson Avenue Pageant!
We Need the Coins!/How This Works!
Kickstarter is a brilliant way to connect artists with potential backers. You decide how much you're willing to help us with, and it's our job to make sure we get enough backers to meet our goal. Money gained from Kickstarter goes directly to production costs; equipment, editing, legal fees, travel and accommodation (for the production team to travel between NYC and NC for principal photography). If we meet our goal, we get the funds. If we fall short, no one's cards are charged, and we get nothing :( Don't let that happen!!
But Why?
It's so important for our kids to know that they're not alone, and they never have been; that there have always been people who've loved them and have fought for their rights.The story of The Paddock Club and Miss Dickinson Avenue is more than the story of a bar an its patrons; it's a story of persecution and compassion, fear and hope, perseverance, history, family, and love. I hope you can help me tell it. It's time you knew...
For Further Info:
Or shoot us an e-mail: DickinsonAvenue@gmail.com
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
60
Backers
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pledged of $7,000 goal
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Funding period
Jul 5, 2012 -
Aug 4, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 0 backed
- Michael Bojtos 760 friends
- Website: youtube.com
Pledge $5 or more
3 backers
Every bit helps! A pledge of $5 gets you a Special Thanks on the movie's website (first on the Faceboook page, and eventually on the official site)!
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $10 or more
3 backers
For a pledge of $10 you get an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $15 or more
1 backer
$15 gets you a shout-out on the podcast Coffee With Queens from filmmaker/Miss Dickinson Avenue 2003 Sister Mary Helen, or from podcast hosts Frostie Flakes and Kittin Withawhip, an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard, and a Special Thanks on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $25 or more
9 backers
Actually be IN the movies! A $25 pledge gets you a Special Thanks in the credits of the finished film! You will also get an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $35 or more
8 backers
$35 gets you a "I helped fund the documentary Dickinson Avenue: The [mostly] True Story of the Paddock Club" t-shirt! You'll also get an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the credits of the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $40 or more
1 backer
Is your makeup a busted mess? Then you should pledge $40 and get a makeup tutorial with filmmaker Sister Mary Helen via Skype! You'll also get the 'I Helped Fund Dickinson Ave' T-shirt, an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the credits of the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $50 or more
5 backers
Want to support our film AND the environment?! Then pledge $50 and get the 'I Helped Fund Dickinson Ave' canvas tote bag! You can put your groceries in it, it will carry around your school books, you can even use it to hold your extra wigs... You'll also get an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the credits of the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $75 or more
3 backers Limited (17 of 20 left)
For $75 you get a Miss Dickinson Avenue limited edition poster, featuring all of the Miss Dickinson Avenues (autographed by many of them). AAAAAAND... Want to see some of the film before ANYONE ELSE?! Your pledge also gets you a sneak peek of the first 10 minutes of the film! As soon as the first 10 minutes are through post-production (early 2013) you will be sent a link and a password to watch it!! You'll also get an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $100 or more
7 backers
*Super Value* For a donation of $100, you get the 'I Helped Fund Dickinson Ave' T-shirt and canvas tote bag COMBO!! You'll also get a sneak peek of the first 10 minutes of the film (early 2013), an autographed Dickinson Avenue postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $250 or more
1 backer
It is tradition that the winner of the Miss Dickinson Avenue Pageant hand-makes a crown for the next winner. A pledge of $250 gets you your own one-of-a-kind Miss Dickinson Avenue style crown, hand-made by a former winner! You'll also receive a Special Thanks in the credits of the finished film, the 'I Helped Fund Dickinson Ave' T-shirt, a sneak peek of the first 10 minutes of the film (early 2013), an autographed Dickinson Avenue Postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $250 or more
1 backer Limited (5 of 6 left)
I'm a... slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaave... for you... You tell me the song, and I write a parody, shoot a music video, and upload it to YouTube for the world to enjoy! You'll also receive a Special Thanks in the credits of the finished film, the 'I Helped Fund Dickinson Ave' T-shirt/tote bag COMBO, a sneak peek of the first 10 minutes of the film (early 2013), an autographed Dickinson Avenue Postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $500 or more
6 backers
Need another credit for your IMDB page? A pledge of $500 makes you an Associate Producer! Your name will appear as Associate Producer in the credits of the finished film! You'll also receive the 'I Helped Fund Dickinson Ave' T-shirt/tote bag COMBO, a sneak peek of the first 10 minutes of the film (early 2013), an autographed Dickinson Avenue Postcard from the filmmaker and a Special Thanks in the film and on the movie's website!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
