The Cockettes

Streaming video - 2002

As the psychedelic San Francisco of the ’60’s began evolving into the gay San Francisco of the ’70’s, The Cockettes, a flamboyant ensemble of hippies decked themselves out in gender-bending drag and tons of glitter for a series of legendary midnight musicals at the Palace Theater in North Beach.. With titles like “Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma” and “Pearls over Shanghai”, these all singing, all dancing extravaganzas featured elaborate costumes, rebellious sexuality, and exuberant chaos that spoke directly to the nature of that tumultuous time.. Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival. Winner of Best Documentary/Non-Fiction Film at the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.. "T...his expert, heartfelt movie establishes [The Cockettes] as being as much a part of swingin' San Francisco as the Grateful Dead or the Beats." - Steven Rosen, Denver Post. "An irresistible documentary look at the ensemble of the moment in the hippie kingdom of San Francisco, this comprehensive and charming film not only recalls those days exactly, it also manages the wonderful trick of taking us back there along with it." - Kenneth Turan , Los Angeles Times more