History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin - People - Bios

 
Ron Thate, aka 'Rona'- Images & Articles Gallery

Return to Ron Thate main page.

 

 
 

1977

Article: 'Rona' one of entertainers in tutus, in an AGC Theatre production
(uncertain if this is our 'Rona')
(GPU News, June 1977)
 

1980

Cover and inside photos of Rona
(Milw Calendar vol. 3-18, August 1980)
 
 
Rona participates in dining reviews at two restaurants: Prologue and Benjamin's Too
(Milw Calendar vol. 3-22 and 3-24, Oct.-Nov. 1980)
 
Photo: Rona and others at a "Milwaukee Comes Calling" show at Bistro, Chicago
(Milw Calendar vol. 3-26, Dec. 1980)
 
Ad: 'Suprise' birthday party for Rona
(Gay Milw vol. 4-01, Jan. 1981)
 
Photo: Rona reading at 'Two Girls Two' birthday show
(Gay Milw vol. 4-04, March 1981)
 

1981-1982

Photo: Rona wins Miss Gay Wisconsin title at annual Pageant
(Escape vol. 4-11, Nov. 1981)
 
Ad: Gayla Royal Reception to be held at M&M Club
(Escape vol. 4-11, Nov. 1981)
 
Photo: Birthday Cake created by two admirers for Rick and Rona
(Escape vol. 4-11, Nov. 1981)
 
Small spot Ads referring to some sort of Necktie party and knot types
(Escape vol. 4-11, Nov. 1981)
 

1984-1985

'Jock Shorts' column: Rona heading the Saturday Softball Beer League (SSBL) 7th season organizing committee
(In Step vol. 1-08, May 1984)
 
Photos, Rona's 5th annual 39th birthday show, with performances by Rona, B.J. Daniels, others
(In Step vol. 2-04, Feb. 1985)
 

 
Milwaukee Mixed Chorus forming, Ron the contact; and review of its first show
(In Step vol. 2-10, May 1985 &
vol. 2-13, June 1985)
 
'Jock Shorts' column: Brief review of Rona's Series 9 benefit show at M&M (top right column)
(In Step vol. 2-13, June 1985)
 
Ad: Wreck Room bar hosts performance of Mixed Gay Chorus as Series 9 benefit
(In Step vol. 2-15, July 1985)
 

1986

Ad: 'Surprise' birthday party for Rona planned
(In Step vol. 3-01, Jan. 1986)
 
Photos: Rona's birthday party at M&M Club
(In Step vol. 3-03, Feb. 1986)
 
Ad: 'Rona A La Queen' roast to be held
(In Step vol. 3-06, April 1986)
 
Steppin' Out column: Roast of Rona was 'tame'
(In Step vol. 3-08, May 1986)
 
Photos: Rona at roast as benefit for Milwaukee AIDS Project (MAP)
(In Step vol. 3-08, May 1986)
 
Steppin' Out column: Circus parade saw chatting of 'Rona Rona Rona' at costumed girls
(In Step vol. 3-14, July 1986)
 

1987

Ad: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year from M&M staff
(In Step vol. 3-24, Dec. 1986)
 
Photos: Entertainers at Rona's birthday party
(In Step vol. 4-03, Feb. 1987)
 
Group Notes column: Rona named as one of CCBA's 1987 annual Hall of Fame winners
(In Step vol. 4-05, April 1987)
 

1988

Ad: Holiday Invitational Tournament (H.I.T.)'s Pie Toss; Rona to be 'pied'
(In Step vol. 5-09, June 1988)
 
History of the Pageant (Rona winner of Miss Gay Wisconsin 1981-1982)
(In Step vol. 5-19, October 1988)
 

1989-2000


 
RESEARCH INTO RONA's Appearances in media from 1989 to 2000 is underway, check back here again
 

 

2001-2002


 
Account of one of Rona's annual trips to Acapulco in Michael Johnston's 'Cordially Yours' column
(Quest vol. 8-02, March 2001)
 
Rona to appear in drag after 10 years in a benefit for Men's Voices Milwaukee chorus
(Quest vol. 8-18, Jan. 2001)
 
Review of Rona's birthday p[arty and show
by Miss Lilly White in her
'Drag It Out of Me' column
(Quest vol. 9-01, Feb. 2002)
 

2006-2009

Ad: Boom & The Room bar: KV and Rona serving cocktails
(Quest vol. 13-11, June 2006)
 
Ad: The Room bar: Rona's 'Wheel of Misfortune'
(Quest vol. 13-26, Jan. 2007)
 
Ad: Boom & The Room bar: Rona organizing a Marcus Center performance package
(Quest vol. 14-05, April 2007)
 
'Cordially Yours' column: thanks to Rona and others for keeping Cream City Chorus alive
(OutBound vol. 6-05, May 2007)
 
Article: Rona nd Michael Johnston to host Cream City Foundation 25th year gala
(Quest vol. 14-12, August 2007)
 
'Cordially Yours' column: Rona credited as one of the founders of Cream City Chorus
(OutBound vol. 8-10, October 2009)
 

2012-2014

'Cordially Yours' column: Cream City Chorus folding after 25 years
(Quest vol. 19-04, April 2012)
 
'Cordially Yours' column: Rona's Annual trip to Acapulco
(Quest vol. 21-04, April 2014)
 

2016

'Cordially Yours' columns: Rona organizing M&M Club reunion 10 years after it closed
(Quest vol. 23-01, Jan. 2016 / vol. 23-03, March 2016 / vol. 23-06, June 2016)
 

2018

'Cordially Yours' columns: 'Rona' and 'Karen Valentine' (Michael Johnston) scatter ashes of Chuck Poulson ('Charlotte Lorraine') around Milwaukee bars
(Quest vol. 25-02, May 2018 / vol. 25-05, August 2018)
 

Return to Ron Thate main page.

 

Credits: Most articles collected from Wis. LGBTQ periodicals by Don Schwamb;
Web site concept, creation, design and content by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: November-2023.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.