LOOKING BACK AT 2008

Has it been a year since I updated this blog? Shame on Bingo-boy. Well with all of the new MySpace and Facebook and the weekly e-mail and....I forgive myself. Now on to our "2008 BINGO MEMORIES!"

This year we were fortunate enough to give our help to many, many wonderful charities including THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS, LEUKEMIA/LYMPHOMA SOCIETY, AIDS SERVICE CENTER FOOD BANK, UNDER THE BRIDGES & ON THE STREETS, THE DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER, PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THE WELLNESS COMMUNITY, THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, MUCH LOVE ANIMAL RESCUE and so many others.

And what about our CELEBRITY BALLCALLING GUESTS? Always interesting to look back and see who came this year, who came back and who refuses to ever come back. You know, we have had just about every celebrity in the entire world as guest ballcallers! Please don't send me any e-mails. I know it's a big fat lie but I like to think that way. On one fun evening, we had Lesley Ann Warren- who plays Teri Hatcher's mom on "Desperate Housewives" and Andrea Bowab who plays Teri Hatcher's daughter ON THE SAME NIGHT! They did different shows so alas they did not meet but we got photos anyway just to prove it.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE BINGO FREAKS? Believe it or not, this photo was not taken on Halloween. It's just another night at Legendary Bingo with a group of loyal bingo freaks. Of course we always use that term with love. A Bingo Freak is someone who...well, comes to Legendary Bingo! It's that simple and welcome to the club! This year you all saved animals lives, fed the homeless, helped find a cure for cancer, sponsored marathons, tried to kill Prop. 8, supported Los Angeles independent theater, gave supplies and afterschool programs to grade school children and drank a lot of "Mary-tini's." Good for you. Your support of all of our charities is what keeps this bingo wheel turning year after year after year (almost 11 now!). Thank you from all of us.

OUR TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY GALA! Speaking of year after year- we celebrated our Ten Year Anniversary in high style in May of this year. Sold out the entire restaurant in 36 hours of announcing ticket sales. Huge prizes, awesome celebrities, an actual red carpet with paparazzi and film crews and, for the first time ever on one stage- ALL THREE BINGO HOSTESSES! It was unnatural and wrong but also oh-so-right. In the photo you will find the lovely bingo hostesses as well as a few of the celebrities who came out to support. To keep the event classy, some of the prizes included porn, dirty board games and a dildo that hooked into your I-Pod.

NEW EVENTS IN 2008
This was a good year for introducing new "hybrid" bingo events to the adoring and "we'll try anything" public. Having already thrilled you with Bingeoke (bingo & kareoke) and Cabaringo (cabaret and bingo- I miss Rudolpho's) in 2007, for 2008 we introduced three new monthly events for you to try. "GO-GO SISTER BINGO" took off right away and has become an instant legend. Go-Go boys and The Los Angeles Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence make this event so very unusual and interesting. The porn prizes and happy hour drink prices don't hurt either. Held at MJ's Bar in Silverlake the 3rd Saturday of each month.

"BURLESQUE BINGO" is a combination of bingo and burlesque performances. And I do not mean stripping. It is actually closer to performance art. On one occasion one of the dancers appeared as Napoleon Dynamite and rubbed tater tots all over her body before dousing her chest with ketchup. Standing ovation for that one. Our dancers have names like Delilah DeMilo, Lavender LaRue and Anastasia Von Teaserhausen. Need we say more? Held on the last Sunday of each month at Royal Claytons Tavern in the loft district of downtown Los Angeles.

"BELLE AIRE'S DQB"- Everyone loves The Fabulous Belle Aire. So we decided to give her a night of her own where she can yell at the bingo freaks ("shuuuuut up!") and also show her amazing talent as a drag performer. Belle and her puppet are one of the funniest, most amazing things that you will ever see and special drag guests just make it even better. Held the first Sunday of each month at Hamburger Mary's in West Hollywood.

AND FINALLY...

We are grateful to all for the ongoing support for Legendary Bingo and all of our other events. Times are tough right now and we will continue, through 2009, to assist our charities (who are hurting as well) and provide an inexpensive way for all to "change the world" through giving as well as have a great time and a few laughs with old friends and new. From Bingo-boy, The Fabulous Belle Aire, Bridgette of Madison County and Famous Bingo Hostess Willam- thank you for your support and we look forward to even more outrageous events in 2009- all in the name of charity!