February 06, 2025 | Michail Takach

Didi Darnell: celebrating the last showgirl

As a lifelong artist, costumer, and drag performer, Ken was the last survivor of a legendary cast of characters.

Kenneth "Didi Darnell" Thorell at the GPU Ball of 1974

"He always said, 'well, I'm fabulous. And he was. He really was."

Ken was an artist, musician, costume expert and drag entertainer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for over six decades.

Ken was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Rhode Island School of Design after high school. He joined the U.S. Navy and served his country from 1954-1957.

Upon exiting the service, he moved to Milwaukee for a job at AO Smith, where he spent most of his career as a machinist.

“Didi Darnell” was born at a cocktail party, where friends – after several drinks – decided that was going to be his nickname from that point forward.

Ken's costume work was legendary throughout the city.

In the 1970s, he designed costumes inspired by Mother Nature and the Four Seasons for a Halloween party at the Pfister Hotel. He was awarded first place for his remarkable designs.

Didi was part of an early drag collective was known as AGC (believed to mean “All Girl Cast.”) AGC ran the stage operations for the New Riviera Show Lounge (181 S. 2nd St.,) a pioneering drag-and-dine establishment that advertised in mainstream media and attracted straight/crossover crowds from 1972 to 1974.

The New Riviera, the “Hamburger Mary’s” of its time, was destroyed by arson – along with half the block – in the Easter Sunday Inferno of April 14, 1974.

It was widely rumored that the Easter Sunday show, the most extravagant and expensive in the AGC’s history, fired a cast member on Good Friday.

In revenge, they threatened to burn down the Riviera – much like the earlier Riviera (401 N. Plankinton) a decade earlier. No one took them seriously, until a dumpster full of accelerants ignited into a four alarm fire.

Oddly, no arson investigation was ever conducted, and newspapers never mentioned the fire again.

Fifty years later, it's one of LGBTQ Milwaukee’s biggest unsolved mysteries: who was the jilted queen who torched the block? The AGC cast took that secret to their graves.

"A four-alarm fire of undetermined cause destroyed two adjoining taverns and severely damaged three more at 173-183 S. 2nd St. Eight firemen were injured, including five who fell through the second floor of a building when the floor collapsed."

"No one was in the tavern, where the fire started in the rear around 1:30 a.m., but four or five customers and a bartender fled from the Flame Tavern at 181 S. 2nd St."

"Customers described the event as an 'explosion of fire' that engulfed the old, wooden buildings within minutes. Battalion chiefs predict 80% of the block to be lost in the blaze." - Milwaukee Journal, April 15, 1974.

Didi proudly attended the historic Gay People’s Union Masqueraid Ball of February 9, 1974. Hosted by emcee Michael Greer, the Ball attracted over 350 guests.

It was the first gay event to ever receive local media coverage, and a GPU spokesperson named it "the most lavish gay social event Milwaukee had ever seen." Ken cherished his event souvenir photo for the rest of his life.

Didi appeared in GPU News several times over the years.

First, she was featured as one of four drag bridesmaids at the May 11, 1975 wedding of Ricky Vegas and Lee Mercer.
In April 1976, she was named as one of the winners of the “Fourth Annual Academy Awards Ball,” earning titles for Best Costumes and Best Set for a Theme Show.

Over the rainbow

Ken was only five years old when “The Wizard of Oz” made its global debut on August 11, 1939.

The film had a profound effect on him and became a lifelong source of joy.

As an adult, he visited a Wizard of Oz event in Rosemont, Illinois that reunited the surviving Munchkins, with whom he became well-acquainted in the years ahead.

Ken was so touched by their friendship that he designed 12 sets of ruby slippers as gifts for his friends. His photos with Wizard of Oz cast and crew were some of his most cherished possessions.

Ken was also a major fan of the Great Circus Parade, and was proud to have met MC Ernest Borgnine. The couple posed for a series of autographed photos.

In his senior years, Ken became a regular at the M&M Club but Didi was seen less and less.

Didi performed his swan song “Pretty Little Girl” at the M&M Club in the mid-90s. He performed the number wearing a pink-and-white ruflfed gingham dress, while holding a prop lollipop he had created for one of his Munchkin friends.

Ken "Didi Darnell" Thorell, 1952

Ken "Didi Darnell" Thorell, 1954

Ken "Didi Darnell" Thorell, Halloween 1961

Gay People's Union Ball of 1974

Ken "Didi Darnell" Thorell, in costume

Didi's swan song

Ken retired from AO Smith at age 62. He became a founding member of Men’s Voices Milwaukee, alongside his longtime friend Mark. They met at St. Josaphat’s Basilica, where the choir performed for many years.

Mark remembers Ken as a “packrat.”

After years of costuming and performing, Ken had an entire bedroom filled with his wardrobe collection, including a full-sized Tutankhamen sarcophagus.

He had accumulated a massive collection of sequins, hats, scarves, fur stoles, feather boas, velvet capes, and other accessories. Ken stitched most of these garments himself. He also had an enormous collection of over 50 wigs, although many hadn't been worn in decades.

Over 24 years, Ken moved six times. During his second move, he parted ways with many of his treasures. Six SUVs full of costumes were sold to Marge’s Glitter Shop in West Allis. Some of his costume jewelry was donated to local high school drama clubs, but the wigs -- well beyond salvage -- were permanently retired.

In later year, Ken struggled with Alzheimer’s. He was 82-1/2 years old when the disease really began to impact his quality of life.

For the next eight years, he retreated from the public eye, but Mark, friends, and family maintained daily contact.

Ken passed away on February 6, 2025, at age 90. He had fought long and hard against cancer. When he passed, the nurses shared that they’d lost their most favorite patient.

He was survived by his brother, sister-in-law, and countless friends made over a live well lived. The lyrics to the song, “Pretty Little Girl,” were cremated with his remains.

Ken’s Wizard of Oz-themed memorial, hosted on February 16, 2025, featured guest speakers, concert pianists, choral vocalists, a solo of “I Am What I Am” by Esther, a military service, photo and memorabilia exhibits, and a multimedia tribute to Ken’s life, including video clips from the Village People and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It was a true extravaganza -- and a true testament to a life well lived.

The experience was complete with an actual “Yellow Brick Road” inside the chapel. Guest host Karen Valentine welcomed crowds to Wisconsin Memorial Park for the ceremonies.

Ken was one of the last surviving members of the Milwaukee Entertainers Club, following the passing of Mel and Jerry Powell, Tiger Rose, Mother Chris, Mama Rae, and other contemporaries of his era.

Ken considered himself one of the “last troupe of showgirls,” and he was right. It was the end of an era that Milwaukee could never see again.

“They’re having one hell of a show up there right now,” said Karen Valentine. “You just know all those old queens are up there, bickering up a thunderstorm!”

“Even in his dying days, whenever I’d ask Ken how he was doing, he would always, without hesitation, say, ‘Well, I’m just fabulous.’” said Mark.

“And he was. He really was.”