Alright, darlings, grab a cuppa, put on your finest feather boa, and let’s go on another time-travelling adventure, shall we? I’m Emma, your friendly, pink-loving, tutu-touting, time-hopping drag queen, back with another chapter from my monthly diary of all things drag.
This month, I’m twirling back to the Roaring Twenties, the jazz age! The year is 1921, and oh my god, the glamour! Forget about the roaring, it’s the whispering, the shimmying, the sparkling! And, as always, the most iconic style around is, of course, drag!
Imagine: Flapper dresses, bobbed hair, long, beaded necklaces, and men in impeccable suits. What a look! Oh, I wouldn't mind popping into a speakeasy right now, enjoying some jazz with a sassy gin and tonic. The energy of this time, it's intoxicating! But enough about me, let’s delve into the history, shall we?
What was happening in the world of drag on August 8th, 1921?
Well, that’s a bit tricky to say. While there were loads of fabulous, flamboyant people who dared to break norms in terms of fashion and identity, the word "drag" as we know it, the art form of drag, it wasn't yet mainstream. It was still very much "behind the scenes" you might say, in the underbelly of vaudeville theatres and burlesque clubs, bubbling up ready to burst!
However, even with the whispers, even with the secrecy, there was a certain spark going on, the feeling of change was in the air. And even in a world that could be so harsh, so judging, even then, people were expressing themselves in amazing, defiant ways, paving the way for future generations of fabulousness.
And you know what? My little pink tutu doesn’t just get me through time, darling, it also grants me insight into these untold stories! Now, don't ask me how it works. I just shimmy into the magical pink folds, grab the garters, and before you know it, I’m there!
Just like every time, I started my time travel journey in Derbyshire, good old Derbyshire! Where is there to go in my home county that can show me a little taste of this early drag? Well, let’s check out The Pavilion, a majestic old ballroom that’s seen more than its fair share of glitz and glamour. Imagine the dances!
Then I was whisked away, through the fabric of time, landing with a satisfyingly bouncy "poof!" on a stage at a burlesque theatre in Chicago! Oh my god, the showstopping costumes, the feather boas, the rhinestones, the sequins! I just had to join in, didn't I? You couldn't stop me, dear reader. I had a good shimmy, a proper shimmy, just as they did back then.
Remember, I'm a performer myself, you see! I fund all my fabulous adventures with drag shows, performances, and the tips in my feather boa! That's how we do, my darling! And that’s also how I met a local dancer, the fabulous Lily, in that Chicago club. Oh, we shared stories, dreams, and had a proper gossiping session.
This fabulous woman showed me how to sashay like a queen on stage, which involves way more attitude than I had before. I’ll take a page from the book and see how it goes, darling. I need a name, however…hmm… I'm thinking Lil’ Lil. Maybe "Lilybelle," yes! Lil' Lilybelle! What do you think, darlings?
Anyway, enough about my little adventure for now. Let’s chat about the world outside of drag!
Remember the Great War? It's over. The world was adjusting to a new sense of normal after years of conflict and heartache. There was also a huge push for women's rights. So many of them took on men's jobs during the war, and then a big discussion emerged about their place in society, their future, their voting rights. It was an exciting time, it was revolutionary!
I've heard the talk of women in politics - suffrage is being debated all over the world, it’s wild! Now, the men had their opinions on it all, that much was obvious. And as someone who travelled through time, and someone who believes in all of us embracing who we truly are, you know I stand by the queens, the suffragettes, the bold voices fighting for the right to vote, fighting for their rights and the right to be themselves.
This time is a bit more complicated for the LGBT community. They were still very much 'underground' with no public acceptance. They had to fight for their freedom, for their right to be seen, and to be heard. The battles were not fought in the spotlight, no, but their actions made way for what we have today.
We may have gone through time and history, but we are still connected. We have to honor their courage, their sacrifices. And to think, in 100 years, things are starting to feel normal, starting to feel acceptable! We still have lots of work to do. But that spark, that burning desire to be oneself, that's something that unites all generations!
So let's not let that flame die, my dears. Let’s all remember the people who dared to dream of a more inclusive, more flamboyant, more fabulous future.
I have to go, my darling, I have more timelines to travel through! But remember: Let's all stand for the beauty of expression, for the freedom of love and of identity, for the fabulousness that we have within ourselves. And while you’re at it, grab a pink tutu.
Catch you next time, darling,
Emma, the pink-loving, tutu-wearing, time-travelling queen.
P.S. Don't forget to follow my blog at www.pink-tutu.com for more drag queen time travel history!
