After, as he puts it, more than “50 years behind bars,” in Cherry Grove and in New York City, beloved bartender Johny Pool has decided to retire. And on July 31, Cherry’s gave him a standing-room-only gala retirement party, with a show hosted by Donna Piranha.
On hand were many divas returning to Fire Island after an absence, some of whom came up from Florida for the occasion and some coming out of drag retirement. And many did numbers in the show that was organized in Johny’s honor.
Among those seen here were Bella and China, who live in Florida; Viva Sexx and Nikki Starr; Ivanna Cocktail; Mary Oofaa; reigning New York Empress Sugar B. Real and Emperor Tree Sequoia; Logan Hardcore; Miss Fire Island Zola Powell; Miss Drag Attack Levonia Jenkins; radio personality Elvis Duran; and Robin Byrd.

all photos by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
1. Johny Pool
2. Donna Piranha & Logan Hardcore
3. Tree
4. China
5. Dale
6. Johny & China
7. Nikki Starr & Viva Sexx
8. Donna Piranha working the crowd
9. Ivanna Cocktail
10. Empress Sugar B. Real & Emperor Tree
11. Mary Oofaa
12. Bella
13. Miss Fire Island Zola Powell
14. Miss Drag Attack Levonia Jenkins