Array Seka - Inside Seka

I’d get offers to go out after the gigs. Some rock band would be in town like The Fabulous Thunderbirds, or good local bands. We’d both be playing at the same time so they couldn’t come to the show. They’d send flowers and invite me to go out clubbing. I got to meet Roy Orbison that way because we were in town at the same time. He was my absolute favorite performer. I still have a picture of us together.

From time to time there would be female impersonators who would come in dressed as me. There is no better compliment than someone trying to emulate you. I would make them get up on stage with me and it was hysterically funny. Some of my greatest fans are gay men. At the time there weren’t a lot of gay bookstores where they could watch gay movies. A lot of times they went to see my movies with John Holmes. After all, he had the biggest cock around. Even today I have a lot of gay members on my website. I’ve even had recent appearances where on certain days gay men would predominantly come and see me. Some would swoon, “Oh my GAWD, it’s Seka!” Packs of gay men crowded around me. The same with lesbians. I think I cover all bases with my fans.

As my film career got smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror of my life, attendance started to drop in the clubs and ultimately the bookings dried up. But in spite of the grueling nature of it all, some of the best times I ever had were when I was stripping.

I went to see Sam Kinison at the Vic Theater one weekend in Chicago. It’s a beautiful old theater with gilded artwork on the walls, opera boxes on the side, and graduated seating. It had been converted into a nightclub and performance palace. Bands and comedians would come in and they even had a series where you could watch classic movies while eating snacks. It was a great venue because of the ambiance and the type of unique programming presented.

I heard Sam was not only hysterical but also irreverent, which certainly appealed to me. But I didn’t know much about him except he was an ordained minister and the church he started was near the theater. I was invited to the performance and not only had backstage passes, but a great little opera box on the side of the stage. I was with a couple of friends and it was V.I.P. treatment all the way.

Suddenly, out comes this large, roaring, straggly redheaded man in an overcoat with his cap turned backwards. Most of the comedians of that era were dressed a hell of a lot better. It was like seeing a heavyset Columbo on stage. But seeing him storm out and seize the mike was like an instant jolt of energy. The place went wild. It was just amazing to watch how he worked the crowd. He literally started screaming and it made me jump out of my seat. I started to laugh uncontrollably. When I get extremely tickled like that, I can’t get my breath. I couldn’t stop laughing and was making a honking sound to the point that he stopped the act, looked at me, and he actually started laughing.

We were getting ready to leave when one of Sam’s people came over and said, “Sam would like to meet you.” I said, “Cool, but my friends have to come, too.” I didn’t go anyplace by myself if I didn’t know the person. Besides, I figured “share the wealth” — my pals wanted to meet him, too.

We went backstage and were hanging out and hitting it off. It was a really interesting chemistry. I felt very comfortable, like I had known him a long time. It wasn’t like, “I’m Sam and you have to worship me.” He was just very down-to-earth.

“We’re going out. Would you like to come with us?” he asked.

As I had nothing to do, I said, “Why not?” It was a group of his friends and his manager Elliot Abbott, a really nice man. He helped Penny Marshall put together A League of Their Own and was a big time agent.

We went out on the town in Chicago, hitting what felt like every nightspot. It was amazing how people flocked to him. Sam was very cordial to everyone, but he never neglected me that evening, which I found kind of refreshing. He wasn’t treating me like just another groupie. I didn’t mind that he wasn’t a traditionally attractive man. Looks were never a big thing to me anyway. I’d rather have a man who can hold a conversation. Sam had unbelievable charisma and was highly intelligent.

I ended up spending the night with him, and with Sam it was all sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I had certainly done my share of partying, as many of us had in the eighties, but this ex-preacher sure took things to a whole new level.

He stayed in town that week, with his next show scheduled four or five days later in Fort Lauderdale. Elliot asked if I wanted to go. “Sam really likes you. And he hasn’t felt like that towards someone in a long time.”

I figured, why not? It was a trip to Florida on someone else’s dime. Plus, there were a lot of drugs around.

I never did drugs as a kid. When I got married, Frank got me to try pot and I continued to smoke up once in a while, though I was never what you’d call a stoner. Hell, I never really liked to drink much. When I’d be booked for industry events and meet-and-greets, I’d force myself to hold a glass in order to fit in. I never knew what to order so I’d ask for a screwdriver. To this day, I hate those things. Eventually, I started to enjoy sunny morning mimosas when I was living in California and would lounge around on my days off by the pool and Jacuzzi. Later on, I learned to appreciate fine wine.

When I was on set, I was always straight as an arrow (my girl/girl scenes aside). I knew cocaine was becoming popular, but I never saw any being used at work because it would have screwed up filming and wasted precious time. In fact, I never tried it myself until after I’d stopped doing films and after I’d been asked about the topic before the Meese Commission. But like most others of my generation, I eventually gave it a try and liked it on occasion. But at this point in my life, it wasn’t a driving passion or hobby.

So we went to Florida and I was told to have my bags packed and Sam’s guys would take care of everything. I didn’t have to worry about checking in or anything. Sam did another spectacular show, which led to another spectacular evening of partying and drinking. That was a continuous thing.