Danny Love of the Great Imposters

This is Danny performing "Just One Of Those Songs" at Club Figaro Dinner Theatre in Toronto; circa 1982.

It was shot by a fan of the group, Cathy Jacobs, of Barrie Ontario. The VHS tape that this video has been recovered from is over 25 years old.

Danny Love is now a legend in the history of the story of Canadian female impersonation, and even somewhat of a myth amongst younger drag performers who have started their careers since the last years of his life, and subsequent early death, in the mid-nineties. Simply put, he was an original. He was also an inadvertent participant in the rights, activist and awareness processes that the gay community went through, and endured, particularly throughout the 70's and 80's. As a solo entertainer or member of the Great Imposters, from the mid-70's until his death in the mid-90's, he brought a "little bit of Vegas" to Canada as the group ploughed their way through a circuit of nightclubs, dinner theatres and discotheques not only in big cities, but also, the "back woods" of the country. Danny developed many "signature" pieces that are still performed today by others who remember him. He was one of those comedians that would gladly and willingly sacrifice "image" in the name of comedy and entertaining his audiences. A very physical and dynamic entertainer, he was also well known for his "rubber face". He evolved a number of look-alike impressions throughout his career. Most notable of those would be Barbra Streisand, Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Carol Channing, Mae West, Joan Rivers; and there were others. Some of his character impressions were better known than others, but regardless of whether or not he really looked like the people he was impersonating, one thing can never be denied, and that was his eerie and innate ability to capture the essence of his subject and make it believable. Other drag artists try/tried to "channel", "re-portray" or capture his performance style, particularly when copping his comedy numbers. Danny was never outwardly bothered by that, however, he would always gently encourage other entertainers who idolized and copied him to find their own style, then go on and develop something else new for himself again.

Danny was also a hysterical and engaging stand-up comic. He could hold an audience's attention as long as he so desired with his mental encyclopedia of jokes and stories. On a good night, he could have his audience members literally running to the washrooms to relieve themselves because he'd had them laughing so hard.

His secret quite simply lay in the fact that for Danny, the audience was the customer. The customer comes first and they're always right.

There was only one Danny Love. And there will never truly be another.

There may well be more footage on Youtube of other well-known members of "The Great Imposters", "The Great Imposters Touring Company" and "The Imposters" that would include names like: Rusty Ryan (Co-Founder), Tracy Reeves, Angel, Michelle DuBarry (Co-Founder), Jackie Loren, Leslea O'Shea, Randy Cole, Billie Bardot, Dana Gallagher (a.k.a. Bryan Greenwood), Ronnie Holliday, Brandy Michaels, Beaux Mirada, Dale Barnette, Christopher Peterson, Nicki Thomas, Georgie Girl....

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Danny
• Love
• Great
• Imposters
• Figaro
• Historic
• Drag
• Queen
• Vintage
• Performance
• Just
• One
• Of
• Those
• Songs

[thehollyjohnson]

Danny also did a great Bette Middler...got any footage of that?

[bryangreenwood]

I do have some of the work Danny did on his look at Bette. Have to be careful what gets posted though because it just gets disabled or taken down because of copyright. I suppose if I put up footage with a different soundtrack, it could work though. I need to think about that.

[kristopherbarnet]

thank you again Bryan for those lovely memories of Danny ! hope to see more! sincerely Kris

[bobbbxxx]

I lived on the floor above Danny Love at one time! Lot's of Cher at midnight! hehe! ;)