![]({"full":{"0":"2025\/02\/CC_WEB-1.jpg","1":611,"2":485,"3":false,"file":"https:\/\/montrosestar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/CC_WEB-1.jpg"}})
STAR OF THE MONTH: C.C. Ryder
By Johnny Trlica
In a world where the term “living legend” is tossed about as freely as penalty flags at a Kansas City Chiefs opponent, rarely does the phrase actually fit. Anyone who has been to Galveston anytime in the past 30 or so years has likely run across a true living legend.
A former Miss Kon Tiki, Miss Evolution, Miss Robert’s Lafitte and Miss Gay Galveston America, C.C. Ryder has been an Island staple for decades. Merriam-Webster defines living legend as, “a person who is famous while still living for doing something extremely well.” They should add a picture of C.C. next to their definition.
C.C. Ryder is in the Montrose Star Spotlight.
Name:
C.C. Ryder
Preferred pronouns:
She or girl.
Zodiac sign:
I am a Libra.
Home City:
I was born in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. (The town of about 10,000 people is in eastern Pennsylvania, about 75 miles west of New York City.)
You are essentially a living legend in Galveston. How long have you been doing drag/entertaining?
I need a calculator for that. Let’s see, my first pageant was in 1988, so I guess it’s been 37 years. Holy crap! I didn’t realize that it has been so long.
When was the first time you did drag and what was it like?
I think it was Halloween in 1987. I was Princess Diana because I had that distinctive haircut. Me and my best friend Mark Lovejoy dressed up and our husbands at the time went with us as their husbands.
What is your favorite number or celebrity to perform?
Lucy is one of them, of course. (C.C. does a killer Vitameatavegamin skit.) I also love doing Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, Dolly Parton and Liza Minnelli. Oh, and Marlene Dietrich.
Who is your inspiration?
My mother. When I was young she supported me in everything I wanted to do. She bought me a Bach trumpet for Christmas one year at a time when we didn’t have a lot of money, but she managed somehow.
You are a cancer survivor. What advice can you offer for someone with a cancer diagnosis?
Just keep a positive attitude and live on. Keep living! Have fun! What comes to mind is a line Rosalind Russell said in Mame, “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
An interesting fact about you:
I was a d*ck dancer. Well, that was a long time ago. Also, a lot of people don’t know my real name or how I got my drag name. I used to drink Canadian Club and people started calling me C.C. My real name is Clair Schuler, and I was a Jehovah Witness in my younger years.
When not on stage what do you do for fun?
Drink! I like to hang out with my day drinking friends like Cowboy Tom and Robert Blackwell.
February is the month for lovers with Valentine’s Day. Who is your Valentine?
Jason Stiles. Our 20th anniversary will be on Valentine’s Day.
Where can we catch your act?
I mostly appear at Robert’s Lafitte except for periodic stops in Houston. I regularly host karaoke night on Mondays at Robert’s Lafitte, Bingo on Tuesday, and usually co-emcee and DJ on Friday and Saturday.
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