Miss Lisa Lisa: The heart of Philly’s longest-running drag show
Every Thursday night for 30 years, one woman has taken the stage to light up a small bar on South Street. Her name is Miss Lisa Lisa.
Bob and Barbara’s Lounge at 1509 South St. was opened by Robert Porter and Barbara Carter back in 1969. It has been a South Street staple ever since.
“It’s not a straight bar. It’s not a gay bar. The ambiguity of it is the best thing. There’s no label. It doesn’t matter who you are; you are welcome here,” said general manager Katrina Duva in a CBS Philadelphia interview.
This sentiment makes the bar the perfect home for Miss Lisa Lisa’s drag show.
Miss Lisa Lisa has been performing, hosting and entertaining in Philadelphia for decades. The weekly drag show at Bob & Barbara’s Lounge is the longest-running drag show in Philadelphia and the country. In 2023, Miss Lisa Lisa earned the title of “Drag Veteran” in Philadelphia Magazine’s Best of Philly Awards.
Drag has a long and powerful history in the LGBTQ+ community. It began in underground clubs. It’s a form of performance that challenges traditional ideas of identity and self-expression. Over time, drag has become a global art form that blends theater, fashion and activism. Drag shows create safe and joyful spaces. They are a place for celebration and support, often led by Black and brown performers.
Drag balls are powerful spaces for Black and brown LGBTQ+ communities. They help people connect and express themselves. From the trailblazing performances of icons, like Marsha P. Johnson and Crystal LaBeija, to today’s vibrant local scenes, their creativity and leadership have shaped drag into the dynamic cultural force it is today.
Today’s drag culture is more visible, thanks to television and social media. But its roots run deep. Drag was shaped by pioneers, like Miss Lisa Lisa. These pioneers built community and created magic long before drag became mainstream. Today, drag is more recognized than ever.
Long before drag was popular on TV, Miss Lisa Lisa was on stage every week. She makes people laugh, cheer and feel at home. “I was probably the first trans woman that was doing the show,” Miss Lisa Lisa says. “But I came with a whole different style. So that’s how it happened.”
Miss Lisa Lisa is not just a performer. She’s a mentor, a leader and a respected member in Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community. The weekly drag show at Bob & Barbara’s Lounge is proof of her dedication and talent.
It’s a place where locals, tourists, and longtime fans gather — week after week — to experience something authentic and joyful.
What’s most impressive isn’t just how long the show has lasted. It’s how steady Miss Lisa Lisa’s presence has been through all those years. She keeps showing up, adjusting to the times and giving the crowd a great show.
“She’s a Philly treasure,” says one fan of the show. “The kind of person who reminds you what being part of something bigger means.”
LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June is the perfect time to honor the icons in our own backyard. Miss Lisa Lisa has shown us that legacy isn’t built overnight. Rather, it’s built with each step on the stage, each story told and each person made to feel seen. Her drag show isn’t just a performance. It’s a piece of Philadelphia history.
