CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
When Wayland Flowers died in 1988, he left ownership of his creation--campy, raunchy puppet Madame--to Marlena Shell...or Mark Paquette. It all depends on whom you ask.
For 22 years the novelty act Flowers made famous on shows like Solid Gold, The Hollywood Squares, and the short-lived sitcom Madame's Place has attracted audiences, starring in HIV benefits and sharing stages with Carol Channing and Bea Arthur. But two Madame puppets have been making the rounds--one voiced by Paquette (Flowers's ex-boyfriend) and another by performers hired by Shell (Flowers's longtime friend). But now a U.S. district court has been asked to decide the identity of the real Madame; Paquette filed a $10 million trademark infringement suit against Shell in August, claiming she has no claim to the foulmouthed puppet.
Paquette says Flowers bequeathed Madame to him (in front of witnesses, including Shell) when he was in a hospice dying of AIDS. "I said I would use her to raise money for HIV," he says. But Shell says she's never met Paquette and that Flowers promised her the rights: "I was [Flowers's] friend first, his manager, and then, unfortunately in the last year of his life, his caretaker."
Neither Paquette nor Shell took action against the other until 2008, when Shell hired performer Rick Skye to revive Madame's risque, cackling act on the nightclub circuit, sent Paquette a cease-and-desist letter, and, Paquette says, ordered him to destroy his puppet. Since then, Shell "tried to interfere with me every time I did a show," he says. "She has called [venues] and said, 'I own the trademark.' "
Shell, who won't discuss how she came to own the trademark, calls Paquette's suit "annoying" mainly: "I'm not really worried about it, because I don't think his suit has any merit."
Even with the suit progressing--as of press time, Shell had yet to be officially served--both parties say they're moving forward with Madame appearances. Paquette says he has charity gigs lined up and is working on a new TV series. Shell says Skye and Madame will continue to perform at casinos and clubs, mainly from bookings that come through MadameAndMe.com.
Despite the feud, both parties seem to agree, albeit separately, on why they continue to put Madame center stage. "I promised I'd do this for Wayland," Paquette says, while Shell adds that Flowers "deserves to be honored."
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedIndulge in luxury and sensuality with The Pride Store’s Taurus gift guide
April 22 2024 11:46 AM
The gay man leading the Earth Day Initiative offers hope for the future
April 22 2024 9:00 AM
Pattie Gonia takes drag and fierceness to Capitol Hill to voice environmental concerns
April 22 2024 8:23 AM
Jodie Foster leaves her mark in cement at L.A.'s Chinese Theatre
April 22 2024 7:55 AM
Climate change has a bigger impact on LGBTQ+ couples than straight couples. Here's how
April 22 2024 7:42 AM
Iraq postpones vote on bill punishing gay sex with death
April 20 2024 1:31 PM
Russian poetry contest bans entries from transgender poets
April 20 2024 1:25 PM
Here's who won 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 16
April 20 2024 1:01 PM
The Tip Off: A beginners guide to the WNBA
April 20 2024 11:06 AM
John Fetterman challenges Pa. school board’s cancellation of talk by gay actor
April 19 2024 2:39 PM