Queer Places:
Backstage Boutique, Utrechtsedwarsstraat 67, 1017 WC Amsterdam, Netherlands
Gary Christmas (December 31, 1931 - February 3, 2009) was a designer and former dancer. For years, together with his
twin brother Greg Christmas, he ran a drug-free coffeeshop in the Utrechtsedwarsstraat. He was
also an actor, known for South Pacific (1958) and 7 en route (2003).
Twin brothers Greg and Gary Christmas were born in Boston on December 31, 1931, a striking mixture of Afro and Native American origins. They toured the world in show business, dancing with The Supremes, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and many more, then finally settled in Amsterdam, where they served coffee and snacks in their highly colourful Backstage Boutique, dishing out bawdy humor, gems of personal wisdom, uncanny spiritual insights or surprising kindness to all comers. "Yeah, yeah, our mother's name really was Mary Christmas". "You want my coffee or my body?"
Gary only had three and a half fingers on the hand that crocheted the most snazzy dresses, skirts, tops, hats, even flowers. "It's show-time, honey - what's your sign? Okay try this one on!" Greg would supervise critically.
Gary and Greg became a legend in Amsterdam's multi-cultural society and for tourists looking for quirky entertainment or spirituality, between the seventies and 2009.
Gary Christmas died on February 3, 2009 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.
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