Hiya Darlings!
Emma here, your resident Pink Tutu Time Traveller, bringing you the latest instalment in my magical drag history journey.
Now, let's talk about this month's trip! Oh, you wouldn't BELIEVE the glamorous, flamboyant journey I just took back to the roaring 1920s! My magical pink tutu took me right back to April the 4th, 1920, and oh honey, what a day! Just picture it, darling: the jazz music spilling onto the cobbled streets, flapper girls swirling in shimmering dresses, and me, dazzling in my pink tulle masterpiece, feeling every bit the star of the show!
My first stop? Of course, it had to be the glorious Cotton Club in New York. The energy there was absolutely electric! This was during a time when cabaret was absolutely bursting onto the scene. People were absolutely smitten with the dazzling lights, lively music, and the wonderful, exuberant performances.
And honey, you wouldn't BELIEVE the looks! It was an absolute whirlwind of glamour and excess - think extravagant feathers, glittery beading, and stunning headbands with sparkles galore. These gals were literally LIVING their best lives! I was in complete drag heaven, sipping champagne, and enjoying a spectacular cabaret performance that would have made even the most seasoned queen do a double-take! Imagine, a musical revue by the George White Scandals, just a whirlwind of song, dance, and stunning costumes - it truly left me gasping for breath!
The fabulous drag and dance performances just didn't stop there though, darling! There was an absolute plethora of drag acts to see throughout New York in 1920. This wasn't a hidden world then, like it often is now. Drag was an incredibly prominent and thriving part of cabaret culture - with venues like the Ziegfeld Follies and The Midnight Frolic absolutely booming with glamorous and dazzling performances. These shows featured spectacular performers, dressed to the nines in dazzling gowns, dazzling make-up and glittering headpieces - these weren't your everyday entertainers!
What a whirlwind of a trip! And oh, the shopping! This period was a real fashion explosion. The beautiful, glittering flapper dresses were absolute perfection! We were talking short skirts, glittering fabrics and the most divine beading - the height of luxury and glamour!
Let's talk fashion for a minute, darlings. We've come full circle with a lot of 1920s looks now. We're seeing them reimagined and revisited. Just think: The glitzy headpieces with those beautiful long feathers? The sparkly fringes on dresses and bags? And, of course, those short flapper dresses that have come back with a bang! And guess what, these trends are even influencing modern drag. So many of the iconic queens from the golden age of drag were already sporting these glamorous styles. Think of Divine's divine feathered outfits or Julie Newmar in her iconic "Green Catwoman" look!
But my journey back in time didn't stop there! I also paid a visit to the wonderful London scene. Now, it might surprise you, but this was a time when the UK was seriously rocking out with a booming music hall and theatre scene. It was home to incredible variety shows featuring some of the most daring and iconic performances. And yes, I did sneak a peak at the world's most famous variety show, the London Palladium - which, fun fact, darling, opened way back in 1910!
And oh my, the performances! It was all a glorious spectacle. They had glamorous chorus lines, acrobats defying gravity, comedians, singers and oh, my dear, SO much glitter. Drag performances were just part of the act and it was all incredibly dazzling and colourful - an absolutely fabulous extravaganza.
Honestly, I was simply blown away by this glimpse of a bygone era. These vibrant performance spaces were filled with a mix of gender fluidity and pure exuberance. It felt truly like a magical world where artists could simply be themselves, and their expressions of artistry, sexuality and their individuality could really be celebrated and embraced by the public.
Back in 2023, the UK's drag scene has a long and storied history, but in the 1920s, drag performance was at the heart of theatre and variety. So if you're ever in Derbyshire, my lovely, head down to your local theatre - they’ve probably got a vibrant and energetic drag show waiting to inspire you, just as it did back in 1920.
Remember, darlings, my purpose in life is to get everyone in the world sporting a pink tutu. It doesn’t matter if you're a professional queen, or a theatre goer - there's a place for everyone on the pink tutu dance floor. So go ahead and grab that tulle, spread your wings, and let your inner star shine. And if you’d like to travel back with me, keep those fingers crossed. Maybe we’ll visit together soon, dear.
Till next month,
Emma, your fabulous Pink Tutu Time Traveller, sending you lots of love and glittery hugs.
Don’t forget to keep up with the latest happenings on my fabulous pinktutu blog and all things pink and glittery on www.pink-tutu.com.
Catch you later! xoxo
