Kenneth Marlowe

Katherine Marlowe Bies (born Kenneth Bies; November 26, 1926 – April 30, 1990), formerly known as Kenneth Marlowe, was an American author, entertainer, and hairdresser. She gained recognition for her memoir Mr. Madam: Confessions of a Male Madam, and was considered a trailblazer in LGBTQ+ history.

Career

Early years and entertainment In 1948, Marlowe worked as an exotic dancer at Club My-O-My in New Orleans, a well-known venue for drag and cabaret performances.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, she became a prominent hairdresser to celebrities such as Gypsy Rose Lee, Phyllis Diller, and Imogene Coca.

In 1971, Marlowe hosted a vaudeville-style event titled The Tricia Nixon Wedding/Vaudeville Returns at the Nob Hill Theatre in San Francisco.

Transition and advocacy In 1975, Marlowe transitioned and began living as Katherine "Kate" Marlowe Bies. That year, she organized a fundraiser called The Ball to End All Balls at California Hall in San Francisco, which was attended by prominent figures such as journalist Armistead Maupin and burlesque performer Sally Rand.

Marriage On June 29, 1977, she married Robert "Lonnie" Barnes, an inmate at San Quentin Prison. This marked one of the earliest known marriages involving a transgender person within the California prison system.

Literary and theatrical work

Mr. Madam In 1964, Marlowe published Mr. Madam: Confessions of a Male Madam, an autobiographical account of her life in the drag and sex work scenes. The book achieved cult status and contributed to her public persona.

Make Me Gorgeous! In 2022, a stage play based on Marlowe's life, originally titled Mr. Madam, premiered in Portland. It was later adapted as Make Me Gorgeous! and opened Off-Broadway at Playhouse 46 in New York City in November 2023, receiving favorable reviews.

Legacy Marlowe's life as a gender-nonconforming entertainer, author, and activist positioned her as a pioneer in LGBTQ+ history. Her story continues to be revisited and honored through books, theatre, and academic work.