Despite a year plagued by bankruptcy and lawsuits, it appears that promoter Johnny Chisholm is attempting a comeback on the Gay Days Weekend circuit party scene.
Chisholm and his company, Chisholm LLC, gained notoriety as producers of “One Mighty Weekend,” which included the huge theme-park events that have monopolized the Gay Days Weekend nighttime party scene the past several years. But last April, less than two months before scheduled event dates, Chisholm announced that he had moved Friday night’s Beach Ball to the Buena Vista Palace, and Saturday night’s One Mighty Party to the Gaylord Palms convention hotel on International Drive. Then, just three days before One Mighty Party, the venue was switched again, also to the Buena Vista Palace.
After the switch, some ticket holders complained to Watermark that they were unable to secure refunds.
Chisholm blamed the economy, pricing and parking issues, but based on correspondence made public on a circuit web site, many speculated that the promoter still owed Disney money. A lawsuit brought by two of Chisholm’s investors reinforced the appearance of financial problems. On March 8, 2010, Chisholm LLC was dissolved by a judge in a bankruptcy ruling. Many speculated that would be the end of Chisholm’s lengthy high-profile involvement with Orlando’s annual big gay event.
Then, almost under the radar, something called “One Mighty Reunion” popped up. Promoted at OneMightyReunionEvents.com, it is touted as a hotel and pool party package sold directly through the Buena Vista Palace, Chisholm’s location in previous years.
The “One Mighty” name suggests Chisholm’s involvement, but that was otherwise not apparent online. However, the booking page of the Buena Vista Palace website lists the Reunion company address as 201 East Garden Street in Pensacola—the same address as the now-defunct Chisholm Properties, LLC. The company phone number listed went to a recording stating that the voice mailbox is not yet set up.
The Reunion site states copyright “2010 One Mighty Reunion Events,” which according to state records, is registered under Ted McCrary. In a 2007 interview with Edge, a Boston-based gay nightlife publication, McCrary was described by a Chisholm staffer as Chisholm’s “second-in-command.” McCrary was also an event manager for last year’s One Mighty Weekend, and was quoted in Watermark regarding the last-minute venue changes.
Chisholm is not listed anywhere in the 2010 One Mighty Reunion Events company registration. The company address is 4311 Irongate Road in Pensacola, which Google Maps shows as a residential address.
A booking agent with Buena Vista Palace confirmed that “a group [of rooms] is set aside” for the Reunion party, and that several rooms had been booked. When asked, a different reservations agent at the Buena Vista Palace confirmed that the event is “a Johnny Chisholm party.”
Already, there is speculation that the omission of Chisholm’s name from the Reunion web site, company registration and marketing materials is designed to distance Chisholm from the weekend event in light of his problems the previous year, lawsuits and recent bankruptcy.
“The fact that both the Reunion website and his promotional sponsor at JustCircuit.com fail to acknowledge that Johnny Chisholm is behind these parties suggests something dubious,” said Tony Hayden, who runs TheCircuitDog.com, a popular circuit party web site. “He is operating from the shadows, hoping he can pad his pockets. He doesn’t fully understand the damage that he has already done.”
Hayden said he doesn’t know who is providing financial backing for the hotel and pool parties. He noted that many Orlando area vendors were listed as creditors in Chisholm’s bankruptcy case.
“[Chisholm] never paid the vendors from last year, so why would any of them be willing to do business with him again?” Hayden asked.
Watermark contacted Chisholm by phone, and he said he was going into a meeting with his accountants and would call back in an hour. After several hours, Watermark called him again and this time a recording said that the number had been temporarily disconnected by its owner. A third call went to voice mail, but was not returned by press time.
A full slate of nighttime parties is planned this year for the 20th anniversary of the original Gay Day at the Magic Kingdom. Last year, Fort Lauderdale-based promoters stepped in at the last minute to produce the successful Let’s Go Play party at Typhoon Lagoon, and that event will be back this year. Respected promoter Mark Baker has also announced his return to the newly dubbed “Wonderland Weekend” nighttime lineup. He will produce events on Thursday and Sunday night, and sponsor a host hotel and pool parties at the Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista. Watermark will also produce a Saturday night event at Universal Studios Orlando.
