McAlester’s only gay bar: Drink and be Mary

by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer

“Fat Mary’s, the bar where everyone is Mary!” exclaims their website, and McAlester’s only gay bar is so aptly named – first after a Mad Max reference, Fat Nancy’s, but edited to apply to their demographic.

“Gay men used to call each other Mary, so we thought, let’s do Fat Mary’s!” co-owner Paul Prichard says.

Business is going great for the year-and-a-half old bar, despite all odds. A seemingly tired red barn placed in front of McAlester Prison Cemetery may not seem like the most copacetic environment for a big, gay get-together, but it has actually attracted quite the crowd.

Prichard says they did not expect such great business and that all success can be attributed to his business partner, Matthew Heath-Fitzgerald.

“He [Heath-Fitzgerald] and his husband [Bunnie Lamar] are the ones with the amazing ideas. I help around the place and we co-own it, but I have got to give him props. He’s a country singer, he’s traveled around, and he met a lot of entertainers and drag performers and has used those connections to get performances down here.”

And he has gotten many performances, to say the least. Every Saturday night hosts a drag show at Fat Mary’s, with LGBT patrons and allies galore.

“There is something about this area. Some people have never seen drag shows, so they come for the shows. In other places, drag is taken for granted. Here, in our bar, they come to see the shows,” Prichard says.

And, they have yet to experience any negative backlash from the community. There has not been a single instance of crime in the area, despite the prison cemetery being their closest comrade. Both the LGBT and the straight communities are in support of what they present to the McAlester community.

“To be honest, if it weren’t for the support of a lot of people here, including the straight community, we wouldn’t have the business we do. There’s a large population of lesbian, gay, transgender and the like here, but they want to go out of town to clubs; so on a Saturday night I’d say 70 to 80 percent of our customers are straight.”

Fat Mary’s is prided on being a very friendly bar. All kinds of patrons come through, and no fights are allowed – no funny business whatsoever. Prichard says even straight men have come to him with thanks for creating such a peaceful environment for people to have fun and stay comfortable as a group.

In addition to their friendliness, they are prided on their favorite specialty drink, the Fruity Taint. “Yes, you heard me right!” says Prichard. It is only a vodka grapefruit, but it costs $2 and they “go like crazy.”

As for their Saturday night drag shows, Fat Mary’s sounds like the place to be. Their two highlighting regulars are Mister Bunnie Lamar and Kelly Powers.

Lamar, Heath-Fitzgerald’s husband, got his last name from the infamous Ginger Lamar. “He has become one of the most amazing drag performers I have ever seen in my life,” Prichard beams. At Lamar’s shows, two to four entertainers come down to perform as well.

On the third Saturday of every month, it becomes the Kelly Powers show. “She came out of retirement for us and has just the most amazing following on Saturdays. She brings her troupe with her.” Kris Kohl also has a semi-regular show, as well as other local drag performers.

On Friday nights, it’s all about the karaoke – Matthew Heath-Fitzgerald’s Kowboy Karaoke, that is, with an open floor for singers, drag queens or anyone who wants to showcase their talent.

I know what you’re thinking – but is there a dance floor?

“Yes! And, oh my gosh, in between drag sets everyone gets up and dances. It’s a small floor. I mean, we are out in the country, across from McAlester prison. We are in a red barn,” Prichard laughs. “What the hell is this? A hole in the wall club. So we dance and have a blast.”

Fat Mary’s Lounge and Cabaret is located at 1561 West Brewer Rd. in McAlester, Oklahoma. Their hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

For more information, look up Fat Mary’s on Facebook. Or, visit their website at www.fatmarysmcalester.com.

The Gayly – June 9, 2016 @ 12:30 p.m.