#DragQueenHistory during 1922 12 December

Hiya darlings! It's your girl Emma here, and let me tell you, my latest tutu time travel adventure was just…well, fab-u-lous! I’m talking pink feather boas, sequins so bright they could blind a lighthouse, and a trip to 1922! That’s right, I traded my time machine tutu for a 1920s-style flapper dress, grabbed a feather boa, and hit the streets for some seriously exciting drag history!

As you all know, I’m a firm believer that everyone should be wearing a pink tutu at some point in their lives, and that includes every era of drag history! So this month’s adventure takes us to December 12th, 1922. Buckle your metaphorical seatbelts, darlings, it’s going to be a bumpy, glamorous ride!

Now, you’re probably wondering what was going on in the world of drag on this particular date in history. It's harder to track the “drag scene” exactly as we know it today in the 1920s because there wasn’t the same dedicated cabaret spaces for drag performers as there is today. We are talking about a period where it was considered somewhat of a scandal for a man to dress as a woman! However, the year 1922 is considered the start of the “Jazz Age” – a vibrant and progressive time when social boundaries began to blur, making it a bit of a haven for flamboyant performance!

What’s great about this era was the theatrical scene was huge. London was home to multiple large and extravagant theaters like the Alhambra and the Hippodrome – think glitz and glamour galore, darling! This means there were loads of opportunities for performance, especially music hall and vaudeville. These were packed with acts including female impersonators – these performances were less specifically considered drag and more about the comedic “drag” effect for an entertaining audience. I can just imagine the kind of fabulous fashion that graced these stages: I’m picturing feathered hats, boas as long as your arm, and shoes to die for. This was the era of women like the legendary Josephine Baker, the American dancer who later moved to Paris and broke barriers as a drag king of sorts with her unique style and captivating shows. It was exciting and inspiring!

Now, where was I in my pink tutu adventure? Picture this, I found myself in London, which was abuzz with The Midnight Follies. This is where the fun started!

This was a big music hall featuring drag and burlesque performances, alongside music and cabaret acts – definitely not your everyday drag queen performance but a roaring example of entertainment that would certainly rival many contemporary Drag Races. You had to be at least 21 to enter, and I’m sure there was more than a hint of forbidden fun taking place in this theatre!

Let me tell you, the costumes were off the hook, especially when it came to the feather boas and glamorous headpieces! One show, starring "Miss Z," is particularly talked about today - they had such flair for showmanship - the reviews mentioned how Z's “leggy costumes" caused a sensation - she sounded a real sassy drag queen of the era. The Pink Tutu of course was nowhere to be seen, not a hint of it – yet, you can always spot a performer who knows how to rock it, no matter the decade, or fashion, just like me! I loved my journey through history; and I could not wait to get on the next adventure in my pink tutu!

Now, imagine the stage – glamorous beyond imagination with its sequined gowns, daring flapper dresses, and even a few cheeky glimpses of some “reveal” gowns (remember the revealing looks on Drag Race – we can definitely credit this to those scandalous reveals of the 1920s). This was a time when it was considered shocking for a woman to show a bit of leg! But don’t worry, I wasn’t shy about getting into the swing of things. I slipped into a fab, sparkly flapper dress, danced with the fellas (who all seemed very enthusiastic about a new arrival) and took in the entire vibe.

We’re talking music and a general joyous celebration, that was truly unique. In all the history books I’d read, it wasn’t so much about who was doing what or who was who; it was more about just having a blast with good company and an even better vibe, dancing, and having fun together - this was certainly in part because, like the rest of history, this was the early beginnings of LGBTQ+ history! And for that reason, I felt such a strong sense of connection with this drag queen world! I know it may not have been the same level of "visibility" as we have today – it wasn't easy to be gay in 1922 - however, those who could, certainly had a flair for performance, and made it exciting!

You could almost say the whole era was dressed to the nines to celebrate everything flamboyant, even without the awareness we have today of how much they were breaking down boundaries in their performance styles! In those days, a little showmanship could cause a lot of “ooh, la-la”!

Now, it wouldn't be a proper Emma blog post without a bit of pink, right? Well, as much as I wanted to rock a full pink tutu in 1922, the fashion choices were definitely not ready for that yet – imagine a pink tutu at the Midnight Follies – they’d faint in that era! Maybe that will be the next challenge – to transport a pink tutu to the past - I wonder if my trusty magical time travelling pink tutu would even work on something like that.

I did manage to slip in some subtle nods to my favorite colour - my boa had a slight pink hue - I'll always be a Pink Tutu enthusiast! However, my trusty time travel tutu (always a sparkly pink, obviously) did get a whole lot of compliments that evening! Everyone just had to know what magic it was. Even though the “pink tutu trend” hadn’t swept the nation back then, my little nod to the fabulous brought a touch of modern flair to the past!

It was also super cool to meet all these incredible individuals who paved the way for modern drag, those who dared to push boundaries with their performance, with their styles. Their daring spirit of self-expression was so inspiring! They definitely paved the way for a world where everyone can be themselves - including wearing a pink tutu! Maybe, one day soon I'll be time-travelling back to 1922, dressed in pink - or even have a time-travel convention! Imagine what kind of pink tutu mayhem that would be...

Well, my dearies, that was my adventure for this month. Until next time, remember to stay fabulous, fabulous, FABULOUS!!

*Get out there, have fun, wear some fabulous outfits - pink tutus encouraged, and stay tuned for more from your girl Emma! *