Partner Dorothea "Torchy" Wilde
Queer Places:
The Mascarade Bar, 819 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Alice Brady's, 514 Ursulines Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116
Brady's, 700 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Friendly Bar, 2301 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70117
417 Thirba St, Metairie, LA 70003
Alice Lee Brady (July 31, 1927 – February 25, 2012) was well known in the New Orleans community as a bartender and cocktail lounge owner. Alice's first bar, "The Mascarade Bar" opened at 819 St. Louis St. in 1952 followed by Alice Brady's at 514 Ursulines St. Her third location, Mr. D's Hide-A-Way and finally Brady's at 700 N. Rampart St. Known as a parental figure in the gay and lesbian community, she was involved in early gay Carnival organizations and was a longtime supporter of LGBT social and athletic organizations. In 2016 a unique assemblage of photographs, artwork, correspondence, and ephemera documenting the lives of four New Orleans entertainers was discovered in the attic of her former home, at 417 Thirba Street in Metairie.
Alice Lee Brady was the daughter of Alice Pickels and Wilson D. Brady. She arrived in New Orleans from her childhood home, Alexandria, LA, by bus in 1946 carrying a single suitcase. She was befriended by Dorothea "Torchy" Wilde who saw Alice getting off the bus. Trochy told Alice that she should get back on the bus and go back where she came from; she was much too young to take on the city, but take on the city was just what she did. She began working in local French Quarter bars and learned the trade and the workings of the city. Alice was gutsy and determined and eventually opened her own bar in 1952, The Mascarade Bar at 819 St. Louis St. Her goal was to have a place where gay patrons could gather and have a good time. At that time one could be arrested for gathering in a known gay bar, but this did not detour Alice; her customers were going to be safe in her bar. Alice's compassion and close watch on her customers lead to her becoming a legend in the Gay Community.
Following the Mascarade she opened Alice Brady's at 514 Ursulines St. Her third location was Mr. D's Hide-A-Way and finally Brady's at 700 N. Rampart St. She sold Brady's in the late 1970's and retired to Metairie with her first New Orleans friend Torchy. She soon found that retirement was not for her and she bought into another local bar only to sell her interest and retired again. Several bar owners tried to get her to return to the business offering her numerous opportunities.
She came out of retirement and began tending bar again on Rampart Street, spending her shifts telling stories of her life in New Orleans, and pouring many drinks. She could fill a bar when she was working because the old and the new wanted to hear her escapades. She eventually moved to the Friendly Bar on Chartres Street and continued drawing in crowds until standing for hours became an issue and in the early 1990's she had to give up bartending. Alice spent her later years visiting with her friends who would stop by, talking on the phone and sending e-mails. When she did make the occasional appearance in public she could still stop traffic, everyone loved Alice. Alice's long and vast life experiences could not be learned in school, they had to be lived, and live she did. Alice was always available to offer advice gathered from her life experiences and knowledge. She was perhaps best known as the proprietor of lesbian bars but her personality spilled over to include the male gay community and many in the straight community. She had a passion for music, if you liked a certain artist or a particular song and Alice knew it, you'd get a CD from her. During her years in the French Quarter she became friends with many of the great musicians and entertainers playing on Bourbon Street as well as musicians from around the world. She shared her vast collection of music with her friends and bar owners making tapes and eventually CD's that played throughout the city. Although Alice never had children of her own, she raised hundreds. She was a friend to many, whose lives were changed and served as an inspiration to members of the gay community who went on to become doctors, lawyers, nurses, businessmen and women. Alice would say that she was helped by many when she arrived in New Orleans and intern she helped many throughout her lifetime. Alice put forth a gruff demeanor but once you peeled away this facade of the 'tough broad" you found the real Alice the one with the heart of gold. Alice was an original contributor in the 1960's to the newly forming Gay Mardi Gras Balls and in the 1970's she helped sponsor local gay softball teams, bowling leagues and the Kitty Kat Koctail Klub, giving our community events outside the bars to participate in and bringing gay women and men together. In the 1980's the LGBT community faced the biggest nightmare they had ever encountered, the "HIV/AIDS" epidemic. Once again Alice stood up and comforted all of us who were lost in how to deal with the emotional and physical ravaging of our community. When local fundraising events were planned to help people with HIV/AIDS, Alice was an original contributor, and for the rest of her life she was a champion for Buzzy's Boys & Girls who continues to help people with HIV/AIDS today.
Alice was survived by her "adopted" son Walter Dennis Sickels of Galveston, TX, his partner Randy Elwood.
My published books:
