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Photo: Daniel Nicoletta. Hair & make-up: Eddie Valentine
San Francisco's drag community — its vast fan base and the LGBT community as a whole — were shocked when news broke of the August 25 passing of Arturo Galster at age 55. The gifted performer was an audience favorite, appearing in many shows which embodied the City's queer culture; he was a mainstay at shows that also featured drag legend Doris Fish, who died of AIDS in 1991. Fish and Galster, in fact, co-starred in the hit underground film
Vegas in Space (1991).
Galster was also a powerful singer. From 1982-89 he toured the country every summer, performing as legendary country singer Patsy Cline — he belted out many of Cline's classic tunes with his own powerful pipes. Galster really did it all in his 25 years as a performer: drag clubs, musical theater, film.
And on Monday, September 22, Arturo Galster will be remembered at the Castro Theatre. A Celebration of Arturo Galster will commence at 7:30 p.m. and will be a free event open to all. The beautifully iconic movie palace is a fitting place to honor Galster's memory as the theater's stage is one of the many that were graced by his talents.
