Walter Cole has died at 92. Here’s the first profile ever written of his club, Darcelle XV Showplace.

Walter Cole has died at 92. Here’s the first profile ever written of his club, Darcelle XV Showplace.

Darcelle was known to say she hoped she’d die onstage, and simply dissolve into glitter

Darcelle was known to say she hoped she’d die onstage, and simply dissolve into glitter

We like to think that’s what happened Thursday, when Walter Cole, who found civic immortality as Portland’s grand dame of drag, died at 92.

We like to think that’s what happened Thursday, when Walter Cole, who found civic immortality as Portland’s grand dame of drag, died at 92.

Or maybe Darcelle became her admirers, the denizens of Darcelle XV Showplace, the nightclub on Northwest 3rd Avenue that now sits on the National Registry of Historic Places

Or maybe Darcelle became her admirers, the denizens of Darcelle XV Showplace, the nightclub on Northwest 3rd Avenue that now sits on the National Registry of Historic Places

In 1975, it was a hole-in-the-wall with a $1 cover when reporter Susan Stanley walked in to inquire about neighborhood graffiti.

In 1975, it was a hole-in-the-wall with a $1 cover when reporter Susan Stanley walked in to inquire about neighborhood graffiti.

She decided the stage show she found inside was more interesting

She decided the stage show she found inside was more interesting

and sold the story to a fledging Willamette Week, a newspaper also in its first year of existence.

and sold the story to a fledging Willamette Week, a newspaper also in its first year of existence.