• Title
  Danny Abood papers and pictorial material, ca.1960-1995
• Creator
  Danny Abood, 1954-2021
• Call number
  MLMSS 8095
  PXX 77
  VT 1460-VT 1463
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca.1960-1995
• Type of material
  Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Moving Images, Photographs, Clippings, Posters, Ephemera
• Reference code
  901871
• Physical Description
  0.39 metres of textual material and graphic materials (4 boxes)
  0.11 metres of videorecordings (4 VHS)
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Danny Abood (Daniel Archer or Miss Abood) born 25 May 1954, a Lebanese-Australian, has worked as a performance artist in Australia and the United States. He was a member of the Sydney drag performance troupes 'Sylvia and the Synthetics' and 'Cabaret Conspiracy'.
  
  'Sylvia and the Synthetics' were created in Sydney in October 1972 and disbanded at the end of 1974. The founding members of the group were Denis Norton, Paul Hock and Morris Spinetti. They were joined by a core of regular performers including Doris Fish (Philip Mills), Mel Slattery, Peter McMahon (Jasper Havoc), Bruce Goold, Clayton MacDonald (Clare), and Danny Abood. Other semi-regulars included Andrew Sharpe, Cherry Ripe, Stewart Graham, and Ros Palmer. Live music content was supplied by regular Wendy Saddington along with assorted rock bands including Mental as Anything.
  
  The life span of 'Sylvia and the Synthetics' paralleled the early years of the gay rights movement. The historical significance of the 'Synthetics' embraces art, politics and lifestyle, and their off the-wall, in-your-face performances mocked the political correctness of the day. According to their most ardent fans, the 'Synthetics' influenced the development of Oxford Street as a gay precinct as well as its annual showpiece of glam street theatre, the Mardi Gras.
  
  In 1979, Danny Abood hosted and performed in 'Cabaret Conspiracy', an entertainment showcase for fringe performers at the Garibaldi Community Centre, Darlinghurst, alongside other performers including Doris Fish (Philip Mills). He also wrote a regular column, “20 Minutes with Miss Abood”, in 'Icon' magazine, ca. 1991-1992.
  
  Doris Fish (Philip Clargo Mills, 1952-1991) was an Australian-born drag queen and member of 'Sylvia and the Synthetics'. Doris moved to San Francisco in 1975 and co-founded another drag troupe, 'Sluts A-Go-Go', which evolved into 'Blonde Sin'. She also starred in the feature-length cult movie, 'Vegas in Space'. From 1982 Doris was a “model” for West Graphix and featured in a series of greeting cards. Between 1989 and 1990 Doris wrote a regular column in 'The San Francisco Sentinel' on social issues and the gay and drag scene. Doris died in 1991. After her death, Danny Abood and Jacqueline Hyde headed a memorial concert at Kinselas, Darlinghurst, on 11 August 1991.
  
  References:
  Library correspondence file
  Compiled from the collection
• Scope and Content
  A collection comprising mainly correspondence, printed material, newscuttings, photographic prints, slides and negatives of Danny Abood and Doris Fish, and the gay and drag scene in Sydney, San Francisco and New York, ca. 1960-1995. The majority of the collection dates from the 1970s to the 1990s.
  
  MLMSS 8095/BOX 1
  Folder 01: Correspondence from Doris Fish to Daniel [Danny] Abood, 1973-1982, and from Doris Fish to Jacqueline Hyde (Mel Slattery), 1976-1986, some undated
  
  Folder 02: Birthday, Christmas and humorous cards published by West Graphics, San Francisco, featuring Doris Fish, 1982-1991
  
  [Folder 03: Transferred to PXX 77. See below]
  
  Folder 04: Newspaper articles by Doris Fish from the San Francisco Sentinel, 1989-1990
  
  Folder 05: Posters of Doris Fish’s cabaret and stage roles, ca. 1975-1989
  
  Folder 06: Papers and photographic prints mainly concerning the concert ‘A Salute to Doris Fish’ at Kinselas, Darlinghurst, 11 August 1991
  
  Folder 07: Newscuttings and printed material relating to Doris Fish and Danny Abood, ca. 1977-1992, some undated
  
  Folder 08: Newscuttings and printed material mainly relating to Sylvia and the Synthetics, ca. 1977-1992, some undated
  
  Folder 09: Posters for Sylvia and the Synthetics, ca. 1972-1974
  
  Folder 10: Cloth banners for Wendy Saddington and the Synthetic Diamonds, undated
  
  Folder 11: Printed material, mainly relating to Danny Abood, Doris Fish and Jasper Havoc, ca. 1960s, 1972-1994, some undated
  
  Folder 12: Photocopies of original photographs photographic prints mainly relating to Danny Abood, Doris Fish, Jacqueline Hyde, and Jasper Havoc, ca. 1970s-1980s, most undated
  
  MLMSS 8095/BOX 2
  Photographic prints, mainly of Doris Fish, Jasper Havoc, Danny Abood and Jacqueline Hyde, ca. 1972-1993
  
  MLMSS 8095/BOX 3
  Photographic slides, ca. 1978-1980
  
  MLMSS 8095/BOX 4
  Album 1: Photographic negatives and proof sheets, ca. 1979-1981, some undated
  
  Album 2: Album of photographic negatives and proof sheets, ca. 1977-1979, some undated
  
  Album 3: Photographic prints of Danny Abood, Doris Fish, Frank Zummet, Jasper Havoc, and drag performances, ca. 1972-1995, some undated
  
  Folder 4: Photographic negatives, mainly of family photographs of Danny Abood, undated
  
  
  PXX 77
  Poster for Garibaldi’s Benifit [i.e. Benefit] Weekend, 28 April and 29 April [1979], Rilely [i.e. Riley] St, Darlinghurst
  
  
  VIDEORECORDINGS:
  VT 1460
  ‘Doris Show Long Shots’, being of the Kinsellas tribute night to Doris Fish, 11 August 1991 (46 minutes)
  VT 1461
  Edited version of the Kinsellas tribute night – video by Kerrin (36 minutes) and excerpt on transvestite call girls from The Phil Donahue Show, Ten Network, ca. 1991 (14 minutes)
  VT 1462
  ‘Doris Show Close Ups’, being of the Kinsellas tribute night taken near the stage (46 minutes)
  VT 1463
  Video recording of Danny Abood as a child in Armidale
• Access Conditions
  Restricted: Prior approval from donor is required for access. Any requests for access will be referred to donor by the Head of Manuscripts.
  For access to this collection please submit your request through Ask a Librarian
• Copying Conditions
  Copyright status:: In copyright
  Copyright holder:: This collection has multiple rights owners
  Rights and Restrictions Information:: No reproduction without prior written approval of copyright holder
  Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder
• General note
  
  A detailed listing (compiled by Library staff) has been placed in each box
  MLMSS 8095/Box 1/Folder 3 transferred to PXX 77.
  PXX 77 transferred from PXD 1565, 13 November 2023
• Subject
  Female impersonators--Australia.
  Performance art--New South Wales--Sydney.
  Gay men--New South Wales.
  
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE17763065

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