From the moment I first saw her perform I was in awe of Miss Sammy. I had just returned to Orlando from a three year residence in New York and I had just started working as Watermark’s new admin assistant. My roommate and I spent many nights at the Parliament House where, at the time, Miss Sammy hosted a slew of shows. I didn’t know her personally but I loved her.
Miss Sammy was my kind of drag queen. There was an old-school performer inside of her, a true entertainer. The moment she walked on stage, whether it was the small Bingo stage in the Parliament House video room or the big stage of the Footlight Theater, I instantly felt joy. Miss Sammy had a contagious smile that she shared as she walked to center stage, offering up her famous twirl before accepting compliments on the amazing frock created by the incomparable Marcy Singhaus. That’s usually when my roommate and I would look at each other and simply say, “She makes me smile.” Man, was I in awe of her.
I certainly was a bashful young-ish man at the time. Miss Sammy was a celebrity and I was not much for being the center of attention, so although I was enamored I never talked to her. It was Miss Sammy who first engaged our friendship. I was walking across the disco room dance floor and we crossed paths. I, as usual, didn’t make eye contact and was walking past Miss Sammy when she stopped, watched me walk by and exclaimed, “Damn, look at that ass. It’s like a shelf. I could set my drink on that!” Miss Sammy then placed her drink on my ass. I said thank you and sheepishly walked away. My roommate ran up to me and asked what the illustrious Miss Sammy said to me. “I think she said I have a nice ass?” I replied. We laughed, and a friendship was born.
Not too long after that I got to know Sam Singhaus, the man behind Miss Sammy. Sam was part of the “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” band that played at the Parliament House before touring Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale. My boyfriend at the time was also in the band and I was their number one groupie. I grew to be every bit in awe of Sam that I was with Miss Sammy. He was so kind, so caring and so unbelievably funny. While in Ft. Lauderdale we went to Copa on Halloween night. Sam was dressed as Carrie — in full prom drag, covered in blood. Before it was his turn on the costume contest stage, Sam handed all of us tampons and asked us to throw them at him and scream, “Plug it up, Carrie!” We were in tears laughing, until security yelled at us and wanted to throw us out. They didn’t realize it was all part of the show.
Sam went all out, rarely disappointing his audience. In my crazier days I would host an annual themed party. It’s probably not politically appropriate to talk about anymore, so let’s just say it’s the kind of party where the mullets were appropriate and the décor looked like an episode of “Hoarders.” It was all very fitting for the neighborhood I was in. About an hour into the party a man walks in with a blonde mullet, a trucker hat and a black T-shirt that read, “My Dixie Wrecked.” He had a few teeth missing and a black eye. I turned to my roommate and said, “We need to start using bouncers so random neighbors don’t just walk in.” It took us at least half an hour to realize that it wasn’t a neighbor. It was Sam. He knew we didn’t recognize him and he played that up really well.
Being close with Watermark founder, Tom Dyer, meant that Sam was close to all of us at Watermark. He would lend himself, or Miss Sammy, for any event we asked him to do and he would do it voluntarily. He could be seen hosting the majority of our WAVE parties, hosting Stratosphere at Universal and he was a resident comedian for my favorite thing he has ever done — Movies Out Loud. Sam loved what we do, what we stand for because he loved this community.
I knew Sam personally, and I loved him. I am sad for those who didn’t get the chance to know him, to feel the love that was his presence. We at Watermark dedicate this issue to our friend Sam Singhaus, to give back a small portion of the love he showed us. Although our hearts break for his passing, our souls are grateful to have known him.
We strive to bring you a variety of stories, your stories. I hope you enjoy this latest issue.
