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Corbett Reynolds Rudely Elegant and Red Party photo album and ephemera

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1005

Content Description

This collection contains a photo album, clothing, and accessories associated with Corbett Reynolds' Columbus, OH gay nightclub he owned, named Rudely Elegant, and the circuit parties, which he called Red Parties, that Reynolds held after Rudely Elegant closed in 1985.

The photo album appears to slightly predate the opening of Rudely Elegant, as the earliest photos are labeled as early 1970s at a party at "The Barn" on Neil Ave. While Reynolds is the subject of the album, the creator appears to be an unidentified close friend of Reynolds', based on the reminiscing text within the album. The photos show Reynolds with friends and partners at various parties over the years, Reynolds' artwork, and a parade, as well as buttons and other ephemera associated with Rudely Elegant and several Red Parties.

The box of ephemera includes two necklaces with a smiling Man in the Moon image on their front and two tank top e-shirts, circa 2000, with six e-shirt devices with the Man in the Moon image pasted as a sticker over the peace sign on five of the six light-up portions of the included devices. The light-up section would be slotted through a buttonhole-style slit in the tank tops and connected to a wired device beneath the shirt. One necklace is branded "Rudely Elegant" and dated 1992, while the other is undated.

Dates

  • Creation: 1970 - 2000

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Corbett Reynolds was an artist and designer of wall coverings and textiles who owned and operated a gay nightclub called Rudely Elegant between 1977 and 1985. Rudely Elegant was located on West Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio, within an Art Deco-style building previously called the Avondale Theater. Guest performers at Rudely Elegant included Divine, Grace Jones, Sylvester, and Klaus Nomi. Reynolds frequently changed the club’s interior decoration for themed events and parties. Following the closure of Rudely Elegant, Reynolds began hosting yearly themed Red Parties that attracted thousands of partiers, which his friend Tom Queen described as “part art installation, part performance art, much dancing, and magic and spectacle.” These circuit parties all made use of the color red, Reynolds’ signature color.

Source: Queen, Thomas. “Corbett Reynolds / Art.” Ragazine, December 29, 2014. https://www.ragazine.cc/corbett-reynolds-art/.

Extent

0.64 Cubic Feet (2 flat boxes (15.5 x 12 x 3 inches))

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains a photo album, clothing, and accessories associated with Corbett Reynolds' Columbus, OH gay nightclub he owned, named Rudely Elegant, and the circuit parties, which he called Red Parties, that Reynolds held after Rudely Elegant closed in 1985.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Division Leap in March 2020.

Related Materials

See MS-1006, Finocchio's Club ephemera, for materials associated with a similar club.

Processing Information

This collection was processed in February 2024 by Jenelle Clark.

Title
Guide to the Corbett Reynolds Rudely Elegant and Red Party photo album and ephemera
Author
Jenelle Clark
Date
February 2024
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA