The All City Waitresses Marching Band ­ Redefined

Celebrating 25 years of Los Angeles Art Scene and All Visual Radio Fundraiser
L.A. County Museum of Art Plaza
April 18, 2007

JERRI ALLYN, Producer
Chutney Gunderson, Band Leader

“ARTSCENE : 25”
CELEBRATES DIGEST’S ANNIVERSARY WITH FULL IMMERSION IN ART

Thirty-three women and men in white slacks and skirts, with red crinoline aprons,
still marching to a pot, pan and utensil band ­ and still demanding a living wage, as
the discrepancies between class and gender which are serious issues at this moment
in history. The bandleader leads the marching and singing group to the
accompaniment of a pot, pan, and kitchen utensil band singing...

To the tune of “McNamara’s Band:”
Oh… We are the Marching Waitresses,
The finest in the land.
To our $1.65, we add whatever we can.
We bring your juice, your toast, your eggs,
Yours burgers, and your ham.
And all we ask is simple thanks
And a dollar in our hand!

THE ALL CITY WAITRESS MARCHING BAND
Background

The Waitresses were a collaborative performance artist group who were also waitresses during the late-seventies in Los Angeles. These graduates of the Feminist Studio Workshop at The Woman’s Building entertained audiences in restaurants, explored working conditions for women, used humor, and were precursors to later groups like The Guerrilla Girls.

The Waitresses, including Jerri Allyn, Leslie Belt, Anne Gauldin, Patti Nicklaus, Jamie Wildman, and Denise Yarfitz premiered “Ready to Order?” in April 1978. “Ready to Order?” was a seven day, site-specific conceptual art piece including humorous, performance art tableaus during mealtimes in various Los Angeles restaurants; with evening bilingual panel discussions to address the issues of women and work, money, sexual harassment, and stereotypes of the waitress as mother, servant, slave, and sex object. The Waitresses also marched in the Pasadena DooDah Parade on New Years Day in 1979 forming a marching band with thirty-three woman and children in white, 50s waitress uniforms with red aprons.