Partner Sam Micotto
Queer Places:
The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta, 212 N Kingshighway Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
5615 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112
New Masonic Cemetery
Potosi, Washington County, Missouri, USA
Elvin
P. “Buddy” Walton (June 14, 1921 - May 25, 2009), known as the hairstylist to
the stars, was a favorite of St Louis socialites and international jet-setters
alike. Walton, who wrote the memoir High Styles in 2004 with Connie McIntyre,
said that over the years he had styled US first ladies, Queen Silvia of
Sweden, Countess Torniski of Poland, and a variety of celebrities. The client
names he dropped are legendary: Joan Crawford,
Sophie Tucker, Abigail Van
Buren, Phyllis Diller, Margot Fonteyn,
Carol Channing, Rosemary Clooney,
Beatrice Lillie,
Tallulah Bankhead, Kathy Crosby, Rosalind Russell, Martha
Graham, Ethel Merman, and all the Gabors: Eva, Zsa Zsa, Jolie, and Magda.
Walton was a licensed cosmetologist for over 55 years. He represented the
National Hairdressers and Cosmetologist Association at 23 Events in Europe and
was a team advisor for the association in Japan. He also partecipated in the
first US hairdressing demonstration in Russia. He owned salons in St. Louis
and Florida.
Walton and his partner
Sam Micotto were known for their lavish
gatherings by the pool on a property owned by the Micotto family in Hillsboro, Missouri. Walton and Micotto lived at 5615 Lindell Boulevard, the home sat
just steps from the Missouri History Museum — smack in the middle of the
two-mile stretch of stately residences that line Forest Park’s northern edge.
Micotto had been one of thirteen kids. The construction business owned by his large Catholic family had helped build the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. Micotto had served in the U.S. Army during the war, then later operated his own dog-grooming business at the Chase: The Poodle Palace.
Two of their friends were couple Harry Smith and Russ Grenzebach, who ran The
Ranch, a gay-friendly weekend getaway in Winfield, Missouri. Harry F. Smith,
Jr (1919 - October 16,
1974)’s family had owned a grocery store in south city. Smith himself played
the piano at the Chase. Russell J. Grenzebach (died October 15, 1983)'s family
owned the Ranch.
Buddy Walton (a hairdresser) and Sam Micotto (a dog-groomer)
Harry Smith and Russ Grenzebach
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