Following the conversation with Ray Wise at the North Bend Theatre on February 21, 2025, attendees to the Real Twin Peaks event headed over to the Loyal Order of the Moose, Sno-Valley Lodge 1666 for Leland’s Karaoke. Hosted by the talented KJ Dwaine Wheeler, the evening was full of song, laughter and a surprise visit.
LELAND’S KARAOKE AT MOOSE LODGE 1666
Leland’s Karaoke was held at the Sno-Valley Moose Lodge 1666 located at 108 Sydney Avenue North in North Bend, Washington. The event ran from 7:00 p.m. to midnight. Real Twin Peaks VIP ticket holders received free admission while others paid a $15 cover charge. The Lodge doesn’t serve food so attendees were encouraged to either eat before the event or stop by the nearby Pour House to bring food into the night of karaoke.
Created in 1888 as a social club for men, the Loyal Order of Moose grew to be an organization dedicated to community service. The group welcomed Women of the Moose in 1913. The Snoqualmie Valley Moose Lodge 1666 was founded on January 4, 1925, marking this year as their 100th anniversary. On Aug. 18 during that first year, the organization acquired the original site of the Moose Lodge – an old school house on North Fork.
The property was purchased from Dio Reinig, one of the three sons of Leonard and Margaretha Reinig. The “Welcome to Twin Peaks” sign spot is located on Reinig Road in Snoqualmie, which is named after this early family of Snoqualmie Valley.
The fraternal organization relocated to the building on Sydney Ave. around 1948.
KJ DWAINE WHEELER HOSTS KARAOKE
Karaoke Jockey Dwaine Wheeler traveled with his equipment by car from Dayton, Ohio to serve as the life of the party for Real Twin Peaks 2025 events. He would also provide music for the Twin Peaks High School Class of 1989 Prom held on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Sno-Valley Eagles in Snoqualmie.
Wheeler has been a deejay for decades, playing music at large dance clubs in New York and in Dayton, Ohio. I was blown away by his set at the Pink Room Dance Party during Real Twin Peaks 2024. The combination of video with an outstanding music mix made for a memorable night.
I missed much of the karaoke party as I was assisting Mike McGraner and Steve Lange with Ray Wise’s autograph session at the North Bend Theatre. Thanks to images captured by fellow fans, like Joanna Kelly, it appears the party was out of this world (at least the lighting reminded me of a UFO).
Josh Eisenstadt led a group of singers on stage at what I’m guessing is his rendition of “Shadow” by The Chromatics. He gave an awesome performance of that song in 2024.
Hanging above the hall, a mounted moose head watched the evening performances.
A SURPRISE VISIT BY RAY WISE
Earlier in the evening over a slice of cherry pie, Mike and I were speaking with Ray about Leland’s Karaoke. He wanted to stop in to surprise Real Twin Peaks attendees by performing an a cappella version of “Mairzy Doats,” a song made famous by his character Leland Palmer in the Twin Peaks second season opener.
As Ray’s autograph session concluded at the North Bend Theatre, I pulled up the mini-van used to transport Mike and him to and from their hotel. The Moose Lodge is only a block away from the theatre. I parked just outside the main entrance to the Lodge and ran inside to tell Dwaine that Ray is coming into to surprise the crowd.
As Ray walks down the hall, the familiar tune of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” echo throughout the room. This version was being sung by Spencer James Parks who quickly introduced Ray as he entered the big hall.
Without missing a beat, Ray responds to Spencer, “I didn’t want to interrupt your wonderful rendition of that song.”
Wise then turned to the crowd saying, “I heard it was Leland’s Karaoke, so I thought I better show up.” Everyone cheered and yelled.
Someone from the back of the room then asked if Ray would sing a version of “Mairzy Doats” to which he agreed. It was pure magic as seen in this video.
The back-up dancer in the video is long-time Twin Peaks fan Chris Matthews, whom I first met during the 1996 Twin Peaks Fan Festival. He was imitating Jerry and Ben Horne’s impromptu dance party when Leland Palmer shows up singing in Ben’s office at The Great Northern Hotel. It made for a very “Lynchian” karaoke video and I love it!
Just like Frank “ol’ Blue Eyes” Sinatra, Ray finished singing and was whisked down the hall toward the front door. He stopped to take only two photos with fans who were excited to see him.
Two Twin Peaks fans from Portland, Coco and Josie, were the last pair to snap a photo with Wise before he departed. They were dressed as Ronette and Laura from Jacques Renault’s cabin scene in David Lynch’s 1992 feature film, which made for an incredibly unique photo.
SINGING UNTIL MIDNIGHT
I dropped off Mike and Ray at the hotel and quickly returned to the party.
There were no shortage of singers and all of the classic karaoke songs were played, such as Dan signing The B-52s “Love Shack.”
Everyone closed the place down which was a testament to what David Lynch once told David Letterman in 1991 – Twin Peaks people are party people.
I imagined this was our Roadhouse on a Friday night in the small, Pacific Northwest town, filled with good song, good friend and good times.
Thank you to the Sno-Valley Moose Lodge for hosting this party and the KJ Dwaine Wheeler for spinning tunes all night. Special thank you to Ray Wise whose surprise appearance made for a memory that will last a lifetime.
