Interview: Heklina
We agree with our today's interview subject, when she says you've never lived in SF until you've been to Trannyshack. You can see Heklina at the Stud every Tuesday at midnight, as the creator, producer, and hostess of Trannyshack, the Stud's legendary drag show. She's bold, beautiful, and smart and funny as hell.
Heklina will be hosting this Saturday's 10th Annual Miss Trannyshack Pageant, which starts at 10 p.pm. at the Regency Center (1300 Van Ness at Sutter). You can get tickets here for 20 bucks, or pay $30 at the door. Come for the outrageous spectacle, and stay for the amazing intensity these performers bring to their art.
We've heard rumors that this will be the last year for Trannyshack, that this was only a ten year project. Say it isn't so! Or is it?
It's not true, but I am to blame for this rumor. Last year I was really burnt out around this time (Pageant time) and I did remark to several people that I was planning to retire the club at ten-but I changed my mind! People really ran with this though and I get stopped on the street by total strangers who ask me if Trannyshack is ending.
Photo of Heklina by Brandon Norris
On the other side of this rumor, we've also heard that Trannyshack is expanding into NY and LA. Again, we ask "Say it isn't so?" Or is it?
Yes, we are expanding to LA and NYC, but in two very different ways. Splash bar in NYC is licensing the name Trannyshack from me, but it bears resemblance to Trannyshack SF in name only-it's at SPLASH, a circuit bar in Chelsea! Trannyshack LA is hosted and promoted by yours truly, we go down there about once every three months to give them a taste of San Francisco.
Over at SFist, we're big fans of Sasha Aickin's documentary film (Blood, Sweat and Glitter), about last year's pageant. At the Q&A after its screening at Frameline, you mentioned that many other folks had tried and failed at making documentary features on Trannyshack, and that you were therefore a little cynical about Sasha's aspirations. Why do you think other folks have failed at capturing Trannyshack, and how do you account for Sasha's success?
I think because most people have attempted to make documentaries about the overall history of Trannyshack, rather than about one event such as Sasha's film covered. It's easier to have a beginning, middle and end to a story when you're focusing on one single thing, but by saying this I of course don't want to take anything away from the incredible job Sasha did.
Tell all the SFist readers out there why they want to/need to go to this year's Miss Trannyshack Pageant. If you've never been to one of our Pageant's you're missing out on the biggest annual drag show in the Bay Area, and a slice of true San Francisco. Get a ticket and go, do I really need to convince you? I've been doing this for 10 years, just go!
Introduce yourself in one sentence
Mistress of Trannyshack
Occupation:
Drag queen and club promoter
Home Town:
Minneapolis
How much time have you spent in the Bay Area?
15 years
Favorite website:
google
Favorite local business:
The Stud Bar
What I'm currently reading:
The Culture of Fear by Barry Glassner
Best deal in San Francisco:
Trannyshack
Favorite mode of transportation:
Bicycle
Favorite local hangout:
Trannyshack
SF has the BEST:
Drag show in the world, Trannyshack! Are you sensing that I'm a self-promotional whore?
You've never lived in SF until:
You've been to Trannyshack. Alright, and you should go to Alcatraz too.
Favorite Bay Area politician of past or present:
Gee, I don't know.....Carol Migden? Next question please.
Now that Gavin Newsom is single, who are you going to set him up with?
Yuck!
You can tell someone is a local here IF:
They don't get wrapped up in labeling people.
SF would be soooo much better if only:
We became our own government and separated from the rest of the USA.
Best Burrito:
Azteca on Church
Best Restaurant:
Tommy's Joint
Best movie scene filmed in or about SF:
The scene under the bridge in "Vertigo", also I loved the car chase in "Foul Play".
Best thing to do in the city in the winter:
Leave!
Favorite author to come out of the Bay Area:
K.M. Soehnlein
Place you always tell visitors to check out:
Golden Gate Park
Favorite Bridge in the area:
Golden Gate
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Get a bottle of poppers and go to the Folsom Gulch....kidding! I'd have lunch at Tommy's Joint and then walk across the street and see a matinee at AMC 1000
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist:
Never been on craigslist....seriously!
I want all the SFists out there to know:
That I'm cheap, easy, and available
Question you'd ask if you were doing this interview:
Heklina, you look so young and beautiful, how do you do it?