Hello my darlings, Emma here, and welcome to another fabulously frivolous foray through the shimmering annals of drag history! October is my absolute favourite month. The weather is crisp, the leaves are turning a glorious shade of auburn, and, best of all, Halloween is just around the corner, giving me an excuse to wear an even more spectacular, frightfully fabulous, pink tutu. This month, our time-travelling tutu has landed us in the year 1922. That's right, babes! This time, we're going back to the Roaring Twenties, a time of flapper dresses, jazz music, and - as you can see, my darlings, it's a time for the blossoming of drag!
A Fashionable Flutter to 1922:Just imagine, the scent of flapper perfume mingled with the sound of a raucous jazz band, and on a stage somewhere, a drag queen, bathed in the glow of the stage lights, sashayed and shimmied. Think Josephine Baker in her show-stopping performances - an American dancer who took the French world by storm. In 1922 she debuted her famous banana dance at the Folies Bergère. Oh darling, can you imagine? I practically faint with delight thinking of such theatrical prowess!
It's quite a world away from Derbyshire, don't you think? Imagine: tea and cakes at the WI followed by a lively, but dignified, amateur dramatic show in the village hall...not a bad life but...oh! It's nowhere near as glamorous as 1920's Paris or New York.
Now, my loves, before I lose myself in this glamorous reverie, I must admit drag history is shrouded in a little mystery. As we go further back in time, finding documented details of drag becomes, shall we say, less 'polished' and much less documented, a little bit like those vintage shoes that are lovely but sadly a little too tired to wear. But that doesn't mean it wasn't vibrant! Just because we don't have enough historical data doesn't mean there weren't queens slaying the stage with their fashion sense, wit, and talent.
It's said that in the 1920s, "cross-dressing" was used for amusement, entertainment, and social change, but also that this style of 'dress-up' was illegal and considered taboo in many countries. I can only imagine what fun the queens of that era must have had sneaking about and dodging the 'authorities'! My Tutu and I are, luckily, exempt from such shenanigans, thanks to a time travel exemption and my fabulous pink tutu magic!
But the 1920's were not only a time of illegal fun, but also a time of change! The rise of women's suffrage gave them more power and voice, the feminist movement (yes darlings, it has been happening for centuries!) began to take hold in its infancy, women wanted the vote and wanted to be heard - this has to be a contributing factor to the popularity of drag. As drag itself is often used by the performers to express themselves in subversive, shocking, or even empowering ways! We must admire the daring individuals that put themselves on stage.
Where Does The 'Pink Tutu' Make An Entrance?Speaking of "daring" the 1920s also saw the emergence of ballet as a more popular art form. Ballet performances became increasingly prevalent. While not exactly the pink tutu of our dreams (it was mostly the delicate and romantic "white tutu", of course!), we can see the glimmering connection to a tutu’s fashion! Imagine: long skirts that skimmed the ankles of beautiful ballerinas with feathered hats - this is almost tutu-esque! (But pink - oh darlings! Don't get me started!)
However, as our Tutu journey takes us through time, we have discovered that even in this era, the Tutu wasn't exactly a must-have on every fashionable stage. I must be honest - the idea of a pink tutu was still a secret locked away in our Time-Traveling-Tutu! I guess we haven't yet invented it. It's our mission, you see - a mission to get everyone wearing pink tutus in every time period! After all, how can you live your best drag life without wearing a magnificent pink tutu? The answer is simple, my dears: You cannot!
But do not fret! This journey through history isn't only about tutus. As we move from the elegant world of ballet, to the smokey bars of 1920s America, to the exciting evolution of the pink tutu...We do need a new source of fabulous funds, right? The "drag queen world" can't solely rely on "the world's most amazing Pink Tutu", even if it can take us through time!
Enter The Drag Performance!:So how does the world of 'drag' stay afloat, dear ones? As it turns out, the world of ‘drag’ has relied on its own kind of showmanship for ages. And showmanship, you see, often leads to show - or what we know and love today as the “drag show”.
In 1922, these ‘shows’ were called "vaudeville", or even "burlesque" or "revues" and featured singers, comedians, dancers and possibly (though we have yet to find definitive evidence) drag queens! They were popular, vibrant and very funny! The shows featured singers, comedians, dancers, and…dare I say, possibly drag queens! Although evidence of drag queens appearing in these shows is somewhat vague, it is a strong indicator that drag performance - especially within this period, relied heavily on show as its core - its essence!
Imagine! A time of “drag” reliant on “show" - well, it just goes to show, (see what I did there, darlings?) -that drag has always been about captivating the audience! In 1922 it's clear that audiences went crazy for such captivating, diverse, hilarious acts - The demand for entertainment!
As it does now. You know - think of your Pink-Tutu-Dream Drag Queen Extravaganza! Oh darling! All that glitz and glamour of the best show. Think dazzling outfits, a sassy stage presence, and of course... the grand finale of a spectacular pink tutu!
That's how our Time-Traveling-Tutu does its thing. We fund the travels with fabulous shows and the glorious magic of a magnificent pink tutu.
The Importance of a Pink Tutu:It's about giving yourself permission to be creative and be bold. The “pink” tutu of 1922 (although sadly non-existent... yet!) would be an absolute riot to be seen in! Now imagine it with glitter and jewelled accents - you simply couldn't escape being the center of attention! It's about self-expression, breaking the norm, embracing every element of what it is to be a drag queen in the world, just as the drag queens of 1922 would have.
My darlings, let us never forget: "drag is an art, not an act". Let us take to the stage and the streets in bold expressions of beauty, wit and artistry, just as those fabulous queens of the roaring 20s have taught us to do.
Well, darlings, I think it's time to put my "pink tutu” on! I have some grand ideas to implement and some time travel to accomplish! Remember, the world is your oyster... if you're willing to wear a spectacular pink tutu and embrace your inner drag goddess! Join us next time, darlings, for our monthly exploration into the enchanting history of drag, where the pink tutu never fades!
With love and glittery kisses,
Emma, from the Pink-Tutu.com team
