{"id":367,"date":"2021-09-25T22:21:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-26T02:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourcommunityroots.com\/?p=367"},"modified":"2021-09-25T22:21:31","modified_gmt":"2021-09-26T02:21:31","slug":"dusty-michaels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourcommunityroots.com\/?p=367","title":{"rendered":"In Loving Memory of Dusty Michaels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Dusty<\/a>
Dusty Michaels<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dusty Michaels was the illusion of Stephen Adams and was an entertainer out of Missouri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name Dusty Michaels was derived from Stephen’s middle name Michael and Dusty was from his admiration to Dusty Springfield as well as a reference to his days in the Army. \u00a0In the army they held regular area inspections, which Stephen always passed, but his\u00a0area was always dusty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dusty Michaels astounded the crowd in 1977 with his interpretation of Roxy Hart’s lively performances and won on his first attempt at \u00a0Miss Gay Missouri America which few have done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen originally came from Indianapolis, Indiana where he taught ballroom dance at Arthur Murray’s then a Private School & was 5 years in a row the International Latin dance Champion. He moved to St. Louis in 1969 after 4 years in the Army. He still taught Dance when he arrived and soon started working at Helen Schraders doing shows as a female impersonator where he caught Donna Drag & Lana Kuntz’s eye and was hired to Red Bull. He did mostly comedy but was talented at all forms of entertaining. He was maestro on the microphone and an awesome dancer. Stephen was the first to do Rocky Horror in St. Louis and his most requested performances were Comedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Stephen\u00a0retired from performing professionally many years ago, he remained connected to the MGMA pageant as a supporter & judge in his later years. Stephen had resided in Alton, Illinois. He operated Simple Treasures on Broadway for many years. In 2008, Dusty made his return to stage, where he treated audiences to the occasional “Razzle Dazzle ” & comedic flair. We sadly lost Stephen in September of 2021. We salute the artistry that was Dusty Michaels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Titles and Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miss Gay Missouri America 1977<\/strong><\/a>
Prelim to Miss Gay America<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*A special thanks to Stephen Adams (Dusty Michaels) for letting me archive some of his collection here and throughout the site with some of his fellow performers and friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n