Cap Moran
Capelthwaite New Paltz Moran
aka Capelthwaite Michael Anderson
aka Michael Allen Anderson
08 Aug 1954 - 03 Apr 1993
Clubs & Associations
- Squares Across the Border (Honorary Member)
- Western Star Dancers
Quick Facts
- appeared in Crossfire (soap opera)
In Their Own Words
OPINIONS
Grab Your Partner!
Enjoyed the article on western dancing [Issue 409/410]/ PLease let me contribute some clarification in regards to square dance. The comment stated about the dependence on recorded calling is quickly becoming outdated. Western Star DAncers of San Francisco, for instance, no longer uses recorded calling at club nights or hoedowns, but employes established callers from all over the Bay Area. In addition, many gay dancers are studying hard to become qualified callers.
Contrary to the article, the innovation of "calling" squares was probably developed during the War of 1812. It ws the move toward standardization and promotion of the club format that changed square dancing in the '40s, creating "modern square dance." The clubs that belong to the International Association of Gay Square Dance Clubs follow the Callerlab standardizing format. This enables prom all over to dance together with ease.
Clubs vary widely, from the contemporary to the trditional or purely colloquial, from private businsses to eight friends getting together, from those performance-oriented to those adamantly social. Hopefully this range will allow anyone to find their niche. Come join in!
Cap Moran
San Francisco, Calif.[1]
Question Man / by Conti
What Is Your Favorite Holiday?
Cap Moran, 31, job seeker, Duboce Triangle:
I celebrate the solstices. Intellectually, they're the nicest. They're the oldest holidays. People celebrated them in the caveman days. I cut my hair, have people over for dinner and make little presents.[2]
Obituary
Cap Anderson
(AKA Cap Moran)
Aug. 8, 1954 - April 3, 1993
Cap died peacefully at home after a two year struggle with AIDS.
Cap moved here from Seattle in 1982. Over the years, he worked for the State Bar of California, U.C. Medical Center, Eddie Bauer, Sharper Image and Pac Bell.
Cap's social life was dominated by his dance activities, including square dancing (with Western Star Dancers), Appalachian-style clogging (with the Cornmashers), and Scottish country dancing (at Noe Valley Ministry), plus occasional two-stepping, ballroom, Cajun and contra dancing. He taught beginners' clogging classes at C.C.S.F. and the Free Folk Festival, and performed with the Cornmashers at the '87 and '88 SF ethnic dance festivals.
Cap is survived by his parents, Carl and Pat Anderson (who came down from Washington to give tireless and invaluable support during the last weeks of his life), his brothers Jim and Bob and their families, and by his many friends, both gay and straight, who pitched in during the last months to help make the best of a difficult situation.
A gathering of friends to reminisce, socialize and celebrate our memories of Cap will be held on Sunday, May 23. Call Russ at (415) 863-9000 for details.[3]
Legacy
Capelthwaite
by Claudette Sigg
32 bar reel for two couples
Music: King’s Reel (Traditional tune)
Capelthwaite, a Scottish dance, is named to honour San Francisco Branch dancer Cap Moran (August 8, 1954-April 3, 1993). This dance was created not so much in memory of Cap but more to celebrate the generous energy that infused him. A believer in the waxing and waning of the seasons of life as observed in the rituals surrounding the Summer and Winter solstices, Cap created himself. “Cap” was the abbreviation for “Captain’: a nickname he was known by in scouting. When it became politically expedient in his student radical days to change his name, he came across “Capelthwaite” in a name book and took it as his own. “Moran” was the name of the town that his father, Carl Anderson, came from. Thus, Michael Anderson was reborn as Capelthwaite Moran – or Cap as we all knew him — the Captain of his own soul and the Captain of his life’s journey, even though that journey ended too soon.[4]
Remembrances
Cap is remembered with a panel on the AIDS Memorial Quilt, designed by Russ King and others. It incorporates all of Cap's designs for Camp Cazadero t-shirts, as well as some Scottish dancing clogging stuff.
On Saturday, April 3rd, our friend Cap Moran (Anderson) passed away after a long battle against AIDS. Let me just say that I will always remember Cap's dry (and sometimes twisted) sense of humor and his love of the traditional. His artistic talents will live on for many of us in the T-shirts which he designed for our retreats. He's left me many memories that I will treasure always. Ciao for now, my friend.
— Anna Damiani [5]
Memorial Panel
- 1LL | Western Star Dancers (first name only)
Photos
With Carl Hammond (L) dancing San Francisco, Easter, April 1984
Standing in Boy Scout uniform is Cap Moran; the "old lady" he is helping to cross he street is Jerry Hove. At the Western Star Dancers Halloween dance, YMCA, San Francisco, Oct 1984
KQED phonathon, 1984
Article (The Advocate)
Denver, 1985
Denver, 1985
Article (San Francisco Chronicle)
Cap in winter
Golden Gate Bridgewalk, 1987
Golden Gate Bridgewalk, 1987
Obituary (Bay Area Reporter)
Obituary photo
AIDS Memorial Quilt Block 3426
Sources
- ↑ The Advocate (Los Angeles, CA) Tuesday, 08 Jan 1985, p.7
- ↑ San Francisco Chronicle (San Francisco, CA) Wednesday, 20 Nov 1985, p.66 col.4
- ↑ Bay Area Reporter (San Francisco, CA) Thursday, 13 May 1993
- ↑ Ottawa Dance Scottish website : accessed 14 Mar 2022
- ↑ The Western Star newsletter (May/June 1993) p.1
