Hiya darlings! Itās your fabulous friend Emma, back again with another glorious post from my time travelling, pink tutu filled adventures! This month Iāve landed on November 11th, 1920! Fancy that, right? Can you imagine? A whole century ago!
Now, I know what you're thinking - 1920? How on earth are we going to find any fabulous drag queens back then? Oh, sweetie! The world of drag was absolutely booming! The Roaring Twenties, darling, the age of flapper girls, jazz and gin! Where thereās jazz, there's drag, and where there's gin, there's an absolute ball!
I'm a huge fan of anything that sparkles, and let me tell you, 1920s drag was simply radiant. Think sequins, feathers, long, dramatic gowns, and that perfect "come hither" look. It's not that different to the glamorous drag we see today, just a little bit more prohibition-era chic, you know?
This month's travel brought me straight to the heart of New York City, the centre of all things drag back in 1920. There I found myself surrounded by the glitz and glamour of a drag show at the legendary "The Gaiety Theatre".
I shimmied my way into this glittering den of decadence, my own pink tutu shining like a beacon amidst the roaring crowds. Imagine it, a room full of dapper gents in tuxedos and glamorous women, and here I was, standing out, sparkling, with a vibrant pink tutu that defied the dress codes!
And oh, darling, the drag show! I could die for the camp, the drama, the exquisite costumes! It was a wild whirlwind of feathers, sequins, and unforgettable performances that left me giddy with glee. We're talking classic lip syncs to popular music (it was called āThe One Stepā, "The Fox Trotā, āThe Charlestonā - you get the picture) but with that extra dash of camp. Oh, the camp!
The flappers, queens they called themselves, were the epitome of feminine power. Their movements, the way they moved across the stage, was captivating! I couldn't help myself, I found myself tapping my toes, swaying along with the rhythm, whispering compliments to myself under my breath!
And what were some of the fashion highlights? I have to confess, I fell in love with a deep crimson, feather-trimmed gown worn by one fabulous queen who took the stage with an incredible performance of āLet's All Go Down to the River.ā It was absolute fire! The dress was perfectly fitted and she made such an entrance in a billowing plume of smoked cigarette ā truly, fabulous.
I spent the rest of the night observing. The queens had their signature drinks, their signature dance moves, and they all knew how to work it. It was clear the art of drag was already highly evolved even back in those days, and this New York theatre was a prime example.
There was this one drag queen ā let's call her Ginger. She had these bright red lips that stopped you dead in your tracks. The lipstick shade? Let's just say, darling, it was the perfect pop of colour in this room! I learned her name from some fellas in the crowd who were absolutely mesmerised by her moves. It was just like modern-day drag but with a vintage touch ā just pure elegance and class, which makes you realise that true drag has no expiration date!
You know what I love about this period, and what I think still resonates today? It was an era of pure individuality! This is something that shines so bright in modern drag and, it's clear, has always been there in some way.
I found a really exciting piece in a historical article in my time machineās little onboard library (donāt judge! My pink tutu is a portal AND a bibliophile!) The article was titled "Drag Kings in New York ā The New Female Fashion" from 1920. Apparently, at that time, some drag queens even tried to masquerade as men! They adopted male roles, went to work in factories, all sorts. They even took part in sporting events dressed up as male counterparts. They wanted to defy the norm and try to break free from the restrictive standards for women of the day.
It just goes to show that the essence of drag has always been about taking risks, expressing oneself in bold ways, and celebrating being yourself! And, of course, you canāt get any bolder than the statement made by a drag queen in a pink tutu in the 1920s! That takes guts, my dears!
After my amazing night at The Gaiety Theatre, I took a stroll along the street in all my pink tutu glory. To my surprise, the 1920s were much more tolerant of drag than one might think, especially for such a different style as mine! But what made me happy were the stares, the curious looks from folks in the streets who were drawn to the colour pink, just like you, my darling readers. I made sure to wink, sashay a little, and give them the classic "hello gorgeous!" wave as I glided through the crowd.
So, here I am back in the present, and oh, my darlings, I must say I was quite shocked by the sheer strength of the drag spirit in 1920s New York. I may be a 2020s pink tutu enthusiast, but letās be honest, the pioneering queens of 1920 certainly laid the foundations for what we see in the drag scene today!
Next time I jump in my tutu for a time travel, who knows where I might pop up! It could be in the Victorian era, maybe in the swinging sixties, or maybe even in ancient Rome ā wouldn't that be fun?
Til next month! Donāt forget, the more of us wearing pink tutus, the brighter the future! Letās keep spreading the love!
XOXO Emma, Your Pink Tutu Time Travelling Blogger!
P.S.: Visit my website www.pink-tutu.com for even more drag history snippets and fun facts, plus, Iāll have all the details on my upcoming drag show!
