For a period there when I was first starting Bingo and for the first year, I was close with singer/songwriter Kris Landherr and his boyfriend Troy/Charmagne. Kris was a meaningful presence in my world and helped me on more than one occasion with some pretty life altering stuff. But, as happens with artists in New York, Kris and Char found work elsewhere, in a city that was more affordable and just plain easier to live in. It was really the end of the first big era of the show and marked a big change. Seems like he was part of the show for years, but it was just the first. I'm doing my best not to burst out crying in this pic btw.
From Feb 2004 - December 2004, I produced and emceed my first talk show in NYC - People Will Talk. It was never terribly successful from a financial point of view, the crowds were usually small and eventually the bar decided (rightly) that it didn't make sense to continue. I was bummed but didn't fight it. We had fans and those that came were appreciative of the effort I put into it.
But a lot came out of those 11 months. My first guest, a playwright named AB, saw how much I was struggling to emcee the show AND take pictures. He offered to help out that night in exchange for drinks and then offered to come back the next week. I figured that it would run it's course in a few weeks and was grateful for the temporary help as I struggled to establish myself in New York.
But AB stayed and has been shooting with me and my events for ten years. That's pretty awesome.
Also from those shows, I met more or less most of the beneficiaries and guests who have been the foundation of P*rno Bingo these last nine years. I wanted to have three guests every night and one of those guests be someone from a charity, to talk about what they do.
I don't remember how I met singer/composer Kris Landherr, but he was the creator of monthly LGBT music nights called "Fagapalooza" and for a long time, he sent all sorts of amazing LGBT artists my way. Most were amazing, and a few became friends. Like Yolanda who is one of my very best buddies and will be joining me for tonight's Final Bingo.
In November 2004 I had a "Fagapalooza" night and one of the bands had three members - one of whom was a balding bearded redhead named Tom Rolanti with coke bottle thick glasses. He had a wicked sense of humor and a heart. We connected immediately.
He looked around and, like AB before him, saw that I needed help and, as a graphic designer, offered to donate his time to create future posters for the show. We began to talk in earnest how we could redesign the look of the advertising.... but soon after, the axe came down and I was show-less.
Enter P*rno Bingo. It was a few days after the final show when the 9th Ave. Bistro came calling to find out if I'd do a show for them. I had admired what Belle Aire did in LA with her fundraising bingo nights and I surmised that part of the failure of "People Will Talk" was my insistence that I feature very few porn stars. I had come up with the name "P*rno Bingo" some months before and so here was an opportunity to use it.
For the first year or so, Tom designed the posters and we became very close friends. He designed the final Bad Boys Pool Party poster and helped me through a time of intense transition as I focused my time and energy more on New York and less on Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In 2006 Tom got really sick and retreated from his friends, including me. In early 2007 he went into the hospital and though he was dying, still gave me quite brillant advice. And, on February 25th, 2007, Tom Rolanti passed away. By then, Bingo was zinging along it's merry way but it's Tom's devotion to the first year of promotion that built such a solid foundation upon which the rest of the run has been built. I didn't find out about his passing until the next day, February 26th so it's yet another reason why tonight's show date is so meaningful.
In May 2007 friends held his memorial service here in New York - and you know, I almost didn't go. I almost couldn't go. I was in a show but the Sunday matinee got moved at the last minute to Thursday night. So I went. I remember that it was a beautiful day. A gorgeous, spring, May day, the kind that you can kind of taste in your mouth, the kind you want to wrap your arms around and embrace, to hold on to it and breathe in. This was Tom's day.
All his friends from different areas of his life gathered - his bandmates, his family and so on. Tom knew many people but none of us really knew each other. So we all collided in one place at one time. I got to speak about how Tom had helped so many charities through his work with Bingo.
Afterward, grief-stricken, I barely could respond when a friend of Tom's started flirting with me. In fact, this friend would later take me to task for being offputting that day. But this man didn't simply become a friend, he's become family and seven years later we are like brothers. The kind of brother that I always wanted to have. We've been lovers, boyfriends, best friends, but brothers seems to encapsulate it more than anything else. And Tom brought us together.
So, Tom Rolanti changed my life and I dedicate tonight's 457th and Final Bingo to him and his memory.
Klea Blackhurst had shown up at Bingo early on in the run as a cast member of a new musical called (I think) BINGO: THE MUSICAL. We gave away tickets and she called number. It wasn't until a couple of years later though when she showed up as a featured talent for Uptown Express (unfortunately disbanded in 2013, but John, sitting next to her has an amazing voice) that we got to know each other a little better.
I am hoping in my post Bingo world that Klea and I will get to work together somehow, someday. She's incredibly talented and what fun it would be to do something with her... time will tell!
(New York) After 9 years, 457 shows and a quarter of a million dollars raised, promoter, producer, performer Will Clark will call the last round of The Will Clark Show feat. P*rno Bingo, his popular weekly fundraiser, on Wednesday, February 26th, 2014 at New York's Uncle Charlies located at 139 E. 45th Street.
The Will Clark Show feat. P*rno Bingo has been a New York nightlife staple since it’s inception in February 2005. The event in which attendees raise money for New York based LGBT charities by buying bingo cards and raffle tickets as well as bidding on porn stars’ jockstraps, followed from Clark’s successful Bad Boys Pool Party events in Los Angeles and Palm Springs (1998 – 2005) which collectively raised over $400,000 for California based HIV/AIDS service organizations.
The final night will celebrate Will’s 50th birthday from 7:30pm to 9pm and then the final four rounds of Bingo will be called from 9pm to 11pm with special guests Dowager Empress Witti Repartee, Rev. Roger Yolanda Mapes and Boylesque producer Matt Knife. AB, Will’s event photographer for ten years, will co-call the final round. The Gay/Lesbian Anti Violence Project, Bingo’s first beneficiary, will be it’s last. The lineup for the entire run of the final six shows is listed below.
With the end of P*rno Bingo, Will Clark will cap off his 19 year long career in the nightlife and XXX industry.
And, as Will Clark is a titleholder (Mr. NE Drummer, 1997), leather contest judge & emcee and life-long leatherman, it’s a great honor to him that he has been named as one of the judges of this year’s International Mr. Leather taking place in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend 2014.
You can hear a podcast with more in an in-depth interview with Will at http://www.ThisShowIsSoGay.com, one of Will’s favorite websites. This interview will go live Thursday, January 23, 2014.
Will wishes to publicly acknowledge the generosity of all the sponsors of all of his events over the past two decades, but in particular the good people at NEXT Magazine who have showcased his show week in and week out for many years.
Will Clark began his career as on-screen talent in August 1995 starring in Hot House’s XXX feature, “Dr. Goodglove”. From there, he appeared in an additional 47 movies including his final video appearance, “Red Star” (Raging Stallion, 2003). Will began writing online and in print and regularly updates his blog about life in New York at http://www.WillClarkWorld.com. Will has emceed and produced events since 1997 – including Cocktails with the Stars (1999 – 2002), P*rn Idol (2004 – 2007), Bad Boys on the Hudson (2004 – 2013) as well as hundreds of additional contests, fundraisers, street fairs and parties. He’s also emceed “Folsom Street East” (2011 – 2012), “Brooklyn Pride” (2012) and “Homo Erectus” (2013) among many many other events. In November 2011, Will became licensed to marry couples in New York state. To date, he has married 14 couples.
Among his most recent fundraising honors, Will was recognized by New York’s Gay/Lesbian Anti Violence Project (2012) and by Terry Christopher’s United for the Ride (2013). Plus, New York’s Imperial Court knighted Will Clark in April 2013 during the annual “Night of a Thousand Gowns” at the New York Hilton. You now can literally call him “Sir”. J
Will Clark supports Wisconsin AIDS Ride cyclist Terry Christopher in his journey to once again to be the top earner for this important ride raising funds for Wisconsin’s AIDS Network. To donate to his page, please go to http://act12.kintera.org/tcridesagain
In lieu of cards or presents for his 50th birthday, Will Clark asks that a donation be made in his name to the Gay/Lesbian Anti Violence Project http://www.avp.org. Please list “Will Clark” or “The Will Clark Show” on the donation page under “how did you hear of AVP?” A victim of sibling violence growing up in his home state of Wisconsin, Will supports this organization so that all people have a place to turn in times of struggle via AVP’s 24/7 hotline.
Will emcees his third Homo Erectus Boylesque Show, “My Furry Valentine”, on Thursday, February 13, 2014. The show, now in it’s second year at historic Stonewall, features several acts under the direction of promoter Matt Knife.
International Mr. Leather brings together thousands of gay leatherman from around the world every Memorial Day weekend. You can read more about IML by going to http://www.imrl.org
You can see a complete showcase of posters from the 9 year history of The Will Clark Show feat. P*rno Bingo by going to http://www.pinterest.com/willclarkworld
THE FINAL SIX EDITIONS OF THE WILL CLARK SHOW FEAT. P*RNO BINGO
All shows take place from 9pm to 11pm at Uncle Charlies located at 139 E. 45th Street, New York
Sponsored by NEXT Magazine http://www.nextmagazine.com & ID Lube http://www.idlube.com
452 January 22: AB’s Birthday
AIDS Ride South Africa http://www.arsa.org.za
ARSA cycles annually to raise funds and awareness about HIV and AIDS in South Africa and globally. We accept donations of funds, food, cycling equipment, gear, and repair, lodging, petrol, rental vans, plane tickets as well as the generosity of your time and enthusiasm.
JEANNIE SOL is an Actor – Comedian- Singer since 1984 with a strong following of 10,000 people in the LGBT community .You can find her at
http://[email protected] or on Facebook: Jeannie Sol .
LAILAH LANCING this TS is an NYC Star-tender extraordinaire, singer/songwriter, and all around good time gal with her own unique mix of Retro, Punk Glamour!
JOE ZASO is an American actor and filmmaker. He is a B-movie regular and has been involved in the low budget science fiction and horror industry since 1990.
AB has been shooting Will Clark events (People Will Talk, P*rn Idol, Bad Boys on the Hudson, P*rno Bingo) for ten years. An actor, writer and director, AB is also a loyal friend and is not in any way shape or form 54 years old.
XXX prizes by Lucas Entertainment http://www.lucasentertainment.com
453 January 29:
Rock N Rawhide http://www.rockandrawhide.org
Rock & Rawhide aims to increase adoptions and quality of life for dogs and cats in shelters, by providing distraction therapy and noise/stress reduction through the donations of toys, tough chew items, Kongs, Nylabones, bones, rawhides, blankets and more. If a dog is chewing, it’s not barking! If a cat is playing, it’s not meowing! Rock and Rawhide collects items through regular donations, music gigs, visual art shows, culinary events, DJ events, drop box programs, and more.
MATTHEW HASHIMOTO is a board member of Rock & Rawhide as well as the lead singer of Rexford, an NYC indie-pop band. You can find him at http://www.rexfordmusic.com ! Matthew won Amateur Night at The Apollo on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 by singing Adele's Someone Like You.
Go to: Matthew Hashimoto Performs Adele's Someone Like You at Apollo
NICK PARK is an actor and host throughout NYC, Nicholas is thrilled to team up with Will Clark for another entertaining evening. Nicholas is also a board member for Rock & Rawhide, an animal loving non-profit based out of New York.
LUCKY CHARMING has, in just two short years on the boylesque scene, already been twice nominated in the Glam Awards for Best Burlesque Performer, and has performed in San Francisco, Toronto, Boston, DC, and of course, New York. By day, he can be found blogging as his alter ego Lucas Brooks at http://www.ToptoBottomNYC.com
XXX prizes by Lucas Entertainment http://www.lucasentertainment.com
454 February 5: Manny’s Birthday
Gay Geeks http://www.gaygeeksny.com
Gay Geeks of NY is an ongoing social gathering for all gay, lesbian, bi, trans and otherwise queer "geeks" of all backgrounds and ages meeting at the LGBT Center once a month. Gay supporters welcome as well!! This is a place to make friends and discuss your favorite comics, video games, TV shows, role-playing games, books and more with fellow geeks of all genres.
GUSTY WINDS is a Legendary drag performer in New York. Gusty says ”Legendary? - in other words, I’m old!”
DREW SUMROK is an American gay adult video actor and producer. Drew's success can only be accredited to his passion for sex and his drive to be the best at whatever he does.
MANNY is an integral part of the P*rno Bingo family having bartended four and a half years of the nine year run.
XXX prizes by Lucas Entertainment http://www.lucasentertainment.com
455 February 12: Bingo’s 9th Anniversary
Cheer New York http://www.cheerny.org
Cheer New York is an all-volunteer non-profit adult cheerleading organization by and for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Straight communities that combines cheers, gymnastics, dance and acrobatic stunts into a professional and exhilarating crowd-pleasing performance. Our mission is to support the fight against AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses and conditions by raising money for small local charities through our "Cheer for Life" fund. That is why we consider ourselves a "Cheer-ity" (Cheerleaders for Charity)!!
BEARDONNA is big, blonde & ballsy and is everyone's favorite “hairy bear gone wild” parody artist. Beardonna’s slogan - “Without BEARDONNA, YOU are nothing!” See Beardonna’s duet with Sherry Vine by clicking here: BEARDONNA & SHERRY VINE " MOVES LIKE JAGGER" parody - "I'm Having an Orgasm"
ROBUSTA CAPP is a powerhouse drag vocalist, the co-owner of the Bizarre Noir Theatre Company, and will be appearing in her two woman show with singer/comedian, Jane Aquilina, called Dirty Little Ditties on February 14th. Find her at her at her home on the web: http://www.bizarrenoirtheatre.com !
XXX prizes by Lucas Entertainment http://www.lucasentertainment.com, Hot House http://www.hothouse.com & Raging Stallion http://www.ragingstallion.com
456 February 19:
Sponsored by NEXT, ID Lube, Raging Stallion Studios, Hot House,
Gotham Knights http://gothamrfc.org
The Gotham Knights Rugby Football Club was founded in 2001 and since then has proudly fielded teams of diverse athletes of all skill levels and experience dedicated to competitiveness, rugby excellence, fitness, fun.
The groups mission is to increase diversity within the sport of rugby football, refute negative stereotypes, create a welcoming and encouraging learning environment for new ruggers, create a competitive team on local, national and international levels
In August of 2014, the Gotham Knights will head to Sydney, Australia in hopes of returning the Bingham Cup to New York City.
The Bingham Cup is named in honour of Mark Bingham, a great rugby player and a great guy. He was fundamental in the establishment of two premier gay rugby clubs – the San Francisco Fog and the Gotham Knights. He is also now known internationally as one of the heroes of 9/11. The global gay rugby community are privileged to compete in the Bingham Cup named in his honour.
From 24 to 31 August 2014, teams from over 15 countries will come together in Sydney to celebrate diversity in sport. Bingham Cup Sydney 2014 week will commence on Sunday 24 August 2014 and will feature a line-up of stellar events to ensure your team has a trip of a lifetime. The tournament will be played from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 August 2014 and will cater for all levels of rugby and for the first time will feature a women's competition.
For more information about the Bingham Cup, please go to http://binghamcup.com
BIANCA LEIGH http://www.biancaleigh.com is one of downtown theatre's leading lights. She recently finished a successful return engagement of her solo musical BUSTED at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Her eclectic roles include Frannie Halcyon in Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City (ACT workshop), Time/Wind in Tayor Mac's The Lily's Revenge, Livia in Theatre Askew's I, Claudius, Live, Olivia in Twelfth Night (performed entirely in American Sign Language), Sylvia Rivera, Tammy Faye Baker, and Loreena Bobbit. Miss Leigh is best known for her role as Mary Ellen in the groundbreaking film TransAmerica.
BROOKLYN IRONS is a Boylesque performer who is known as “The Dance Floor Whore”
XXX prizes by Hot House http://www.hothouse.com, Naked Sword http://www.nakedsword.com, Kristen Bjorn http://www.kristenbjorn.com & Raging Stallion http://www.ragingstallion.com
457 February 26: Will’s Birthday Party & Final Bingo
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Will’s 50th Birthday Party
9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Final Bingo
Gay/Lesbian Anti Violence Project http://www.avp.org
AVP empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.
WITTI REPARTEE is a hostess, saloon singer and philanthropist queen about town. Currently the Dowager Empress of the Imperial Court of New York, she recently produced The Dowager's Bachelorette Party, has appeared with burlesque troops Homo Erectus and Uncle Monty's Mollyhouse. You can find her online at http://www.wittirepartee.com or follow her @WittiRepartee on Twitter.
REV. YOLANDA is an award winning singer songwriter, drag queen and Interfaith minister who's work in arts and community building earned her a place in the GLBT Hall Of Fame. A new full feature documentary on Rev. Yolanda's life and work is to be released by Avaiya Media in March 2014. Find out more at http://www.yolanda.net
MATT KNIFE produces the monthly “Homo Erectus” Boylesque show at the historic Stonewall and performs at many Burlesque shows around New York City.
Special giveaways from The Karpel Group, Fly Life Music, San Francisco’s Nancy Boy http://www.nancyboy.com and Big Gay Ice Cream http://biggayicecream.com
XXX prizes by Hot House http://www.hothouse.com, Naked Sword http://www.nakedsword.com, Kristen Bjorn http://www.kristenbjorn.com & Raging Stallion http://www.ragingstallion.com
TONIGHT, Wednesday May 29th Candy Sample's back and guest hosting P*rno Bingo in my absence. Yes, because of a work thing this week, I'm missing my own show - but Candy is awesome and she'll be presenting our guest, XXX stud Bryan Slater in a fun-filled evening raising funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. There'll be prizes from Boy Butter (mmm!) as well as from Titan Men and Ray Dragon plus other bits and pieces including two tickets to this Friday night's (May 31st) LGBT night at New York Theater Workshop's production of SONTAG: REBORN.
The Will Clark Show feat. P*rno Bingo runs from 9pm to 11pm at Uncle Charlies located at 139 E. 45th Street between Lexington and Thrid on the north side of the street under the bright day glo blue awning. :)
About the AFSP
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the nation’s leading organization bringing together people across communities and backgrounds to understand and prevent suicide, and to help heal the pain it causes. Individuals, families, and communities who have been personally touched by suicide are the moving force behind everything we do.
Last week March 20th around 10pm to be exact I was sitting at Bingo, watching vegan drag queen Honey LaBronx do an outrageous bit (something about inhalers) when I was reminded how awesome my job is - I get to produce a show that benefits dozens of organizations each year, have a front row seat to some of the best entertainment in New York City and occasionally sit next to some of the hottest, sexiest men on the planet and watch them handle my balls (my "Bingo balls" naturally.. har!).
And there's not only a lot of eye candy out in the audience, but not enough hours in the day to get to talk to everyone - and when I do, I'm always impressed by the neat things that people do in this burg, even if sometimes I, like probably everyone else, get a little unnerved by just the variety of awesome things that people do. And occasionally too random friends from various parts of the globe will show up - sometimes announced, sometimes unannounced.. but always welcome. That week it was my friends Paul and Chris from Montreal. I think they'd told me that they were going to be in town but lately I've been extremely distracted by so many things (regular readers know the drill so I won't go over it here) so I think I just forgot.I'm grateful that folks come and seek us out as I know (I know!) that Uncle Charlies isn't centrally located.. and it does make all the folks that turn out for our event mean just that much more.
My other guest of the evening was Ivan, who was voted Rentboys Escort of the Year for New York ... Ivan's a jovial guy, so full of good cheer that it really becomes less about his flawless physique than about his upbeat positive nature. He's been boyfriend with the similarly complected Kennedy Carter - another redhead, like me, with pale skin..... which means the odds are in my favor! LOL
We raised a few hundred dollars for and gave out CDs and concert tickets from our beneficiary of the evening, the Empire City Men's Chorus who have been too long away from our event, and it was great to have them back! They're next concert is in May, click here to check out their site and get tix. And you can also click here to see the free gallery of pics from the night; thanks to AB for taking such great pix!
So, look, no one wants to talk about AIDS anymore. I get it. We have rushed headlong into Marriage Equality and Adoption and probably soon will thankfully be raising the issues of what it means to Retire as a gay person in the 21st century- particularly troubling for those us without families to be there for us when we fall into eventual disrepair (although my partner declared last night after a particularly troubling evening with his elderly parent, that we'd have to start looking for some hot 20something to "adopt" now so that we'd have someone to take care of us in our dotage... I am totally on board for this, by the way).
But, there are still people with AIDS. There are still people living with HIV. And, there is still a need for HIV/AIDS services especially now that the sequester has upended funding for crucial programs keeping our friends alive. You probably know many people that depend on these services, but they will never let you know. It's one area of gay-shame that no one wants to talk about - that many of our friends are struggling financially and fall below the poverty line and the only thing keeping them alive is ADAP (that's AIDS Drug Assistance Program for those of you not in the know).
But it's events like the New York AIDS Walk that help keep case workers employed at GMHC to give HIV positive men and women the access to services that literally keep them alive.
And so, on February 27th when Candy Samples joined us, she was raising money for her Walk ... and as usually doesn't happen at our event, Candy told a very personal story about why she walks.
And I have to admit. It made me uncomfortable. Not because I get uncomfortable hearing stories about sad things - Candy's story about how her father died of AIDS nearly 20 years ago was heartbreaking but moving and motivational - but because we go out to the bars to escape the problems of our days, not to confront them.
And yet that is the very heart and soul of P*rno Bingo - to look at causes in the eye and greet them with mature understanding while raising money to support those causes through .. well, Bingo. And our regular supporters understand this and come back to help out week after week. And I was happy to say that my fear was unfounded - everyone appreciated her telling her story to us. And I did too.
We have a lot of fun playing Bingo, but after all the porn prizes and booze is consumed, we can't forget the reason why we do this in the first place - to help people fundraise for a variety of causes - and there's no one better than people involved in each cause to show us their commitment and passion.
And hearing Candy's story reminded me why I have been fundraising for AIDS organizations for nearly 20 years - for my friend Jeff whom I loved like a brother who died of AIDS in 1993 (20 years ago this Memorial Day).
It's not often (anymore) that anyone gets worked up publicly about how the deaths we've all tragically had to face have affected us. And in this age where HIV is manageable, it's easier to avoid talking about it.
Thanks Candy for reminding us why we're doing this in the first place.
Unfortunately, AB had to be out that particular evening and I didn't bring on another photographer, so we only have <blush> two photos from the night. LOL But here's the gallery (such as it is) anyway. :)
Will Clark has been involved with the erotic entertainment industry for 25 years. He has appeared in 48 XXX films, produced 10 Bad Boys Pool Partys and 10 Bad Boys on the Hudson events, 144 nights of "Cocktails with the Stars", 470 editions of "The Will Clark Show feat. P*rno Bingo" (raising a quarter of a million dollars for NY/NJ non-profits), 40 "P*rn Idol" events, as well as hundreds of other events raising funds for LGBT charities. He still emcees, officiates at weddings and makes appearances at bris's and the openings of shopping malls. He is currently in semi-retirement, waiting/looking for the right project to come along.
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