Hello darlings! Your girl Emma here, ready to whisk you away on another pink-tastic journey through time! This month, we're skipping right back to the Roaring Twenties, specifically the 10th of October, 1923. Now, this particular date may not be one that immediately jumps out at you in the annals of drag history, but trust me, it's a peach of a day for a time traveller with a pink tutu!
As a proud Derbyshire lass, I have to admit, this trip felt extra special. Picture this: me, a vision in my most flamboyant pink tutu, gliding through the cobblestone streets of a bygone era, feeling the energy of the twenties! I could practically hear the jazz music swirling around me, the laughter bouncing off the walls of speakeasies, and, yes, you guessed it, I felt a strange kinship with the era's free-spirited flapper girls – all that glitter, that sassy movement, that rebellious flair!
Now, let's talk drag! Did you know that 1923 was a year brimming with theatrical brilliance? From London's West End to the glitzy Broadway stages of New York City, drag was bursting into the spotlight. You might have thought the only drag in 1923 was from those charming, cheeky gentlemen in drag on the London stage! Think again, love! Drag, especially women impersonating men was very popular for theatre productions! Even the great Charlie Chaplin had a "dame" role, and a stunning one too!
While it's tough to get specifics on the exact dates and events on 10th October 1923, we can certainly dive into the wider context. The stage was the hottest place to see drag in action back then. Imagine the incredible energy of seeing a talented drag queen flawlessly performing a complex dance routine. There were tons of cross-dressing roles on stage in those days and there was more to drag than meets the eye - just like today! The drag community was truly an underground marvel. There was even talk of hidden bars and clubs where drag queens could truly express themselves, free from the prying eyes of society – just imagine, darlings, a speakeasy brimming with sequins and attitude!
You see, I believe that every era has its own special kind of fabulous. Back in 1923, drag was about more than just costumes; it was about liberation. A way for artists to blur lines, to explore the depths of human identity, to create magic out of the unexpected.
For a good, old-fashioned peek into the world of drag in 1923, I’m thinking it’s time to indulge in a little trip to London’s West End. There are more theatres in London, in fact than all the world’s major theatres put together - the number has changed over the years of course, but when I visited back in 1923 it was something like 42! Some would say, that it was almost impossible to go out without passing by a theatre. There were also tons of great cabaret venues all offering the exciting promise of entertainment, drama, and the glitz and glamour that go hand-in-hand with an evening out. And of course, as an aspiring ballerina drag queen, nothing could bring me more joy than seeing those glorious, show-stopping musicals of the day!
There's one more little tidbit that makes 1923 a particularly special year in drag history - the invention of the first commercially available talking movie! Imagine, the magic of voice and image merging onto the screen, what a monumental moment in entertainment history, and for a drag queen like me, a wonderful opportunity for artists to explore even more expressions and nuances. This moment truly marked a turning point for how we see, hear, and experience drag.
So, darlings, my time-travelling pink tutu is already feeling a bit itchy, urging me back to the present. But as I say goodbye to the Twenties, I leave you with this thought: we may not always have a vintage, full-length feather boa in every handbag or wear dazzling headbands, but drag, with its fearless spirit of self-expression, has been a timeless art form that has evolved over centuries and continues to shine today.
As always, remember that everyone is fabulous in their own way! Don’t be afraid to embrace your inner drag queen! Let those colourful personalities shine, wear that pink tutu with pride, and remember to dance like no one’s watching! Because that’s what the fabulous, free-spirited world of drag is all about, isn't it?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, darling, there’s a hot new drag show I’m dying to get to, and this time-traveling pink tutu has a date with the present!
Catch you all on my next journey!
Yours truly,
Emma
The Pink Tutu Time Traveller
www.pink-tutu.com
