Welcome, darlings, to Pink Tutu's monthly delve into the glorious, fabulous history of drag! This is Post Number 52 on my blog, and we're travelling back to April 4th, 1924, baby! Just a few years after the world was changed forever by the First World War, this time period in drag history saw an explosion of flamboyant performances, new fashions and the emergence of new venues dedicated to the art of drag. I'm already giddy thinking about it!
As you know, my magical, sparkly, pink time travelling tutu only works for one day a month. I can choose any date, but I tend to go with ones that mean something, either for personal reasons or for important moments in drag history. Today, darlings, I am just bursting to see what 1924 has in store for us. After all, who wouldn't love to go on a magical adventure in a dazzling pink tutu and immerse themselves in the roaring Twenties? Imagine the decadent dances, the lavish fashion and the glittering nightlife of New York and London!
So grab your glitter glue, darlings, because it's time to hop on my pink tutu and set off to see the drag scene in 1924!
*Itās April 4th, 1924 and itās a blustery Tuesday. * Iāve landed in my pink tutu somewhere in New York, a city famous for its pioneering drag scene! Now, there's a reason drag in New York at the time is considered legendary - a lot of iconic artists took the stage, some in the most unexpected ways! Think of the incredible female impersonators like Julian Eltinge or the captivating "dancing men" like Bert Savoy who mesmerized audiences with their theatrical and campy flair. They weren't just entertainers, darling, they were art pioneers.
Even without a time-traveling tutu, finding out what happened on the drag scene is so easy, thanks to the power of the internet. This is another reason why my website, pink-tutu.com, exists, for the benefit of other drag queens all over the world! I know youāre reading this and that many of you want to be drag stars, darlings, and this is how we learn. That, and all my amazing performances in various drag venues across the globe which pays for my time travel. You can catch me performing at "The Blue Angel," one of the most happening night spots back then.
Thereās lots of energy in New York right now.
There's so much to learn and see. Youāve got the iconic venues like the Palais Royale. Itās a grand theatre space that puts on grand variety shows, which feature cross-dressing performers, musicians, dancers, and lots more. They pull out all the stops, and are legendary for putting on extravaganzas! The crowds are lively, the laughter is infectious and the air crackles with the magic of performance.
Today, darlings, it feels so exciting just to be part of it. Weāre on the cusp of the "Golden Age" of vaudeville, and all the entertainment possibilities, especially drag! These arenāt just ādrag queensā - these are women impersonators who know the true art of illusion and charisma, blending theatre, dance, and the spirit of female beauty, with flamboyant attire! They use elaborate makeup, costumes and perform captivating routines which enthral audiences. The drag of the roaring twenties truly embraced extravagance! Imagine the stunning gowns and feather boas, darling. Picture yourself gliding onto a stage in a stunning ensemble that sparkles with the glamour and drama of the times. Think "The Great Gatsby" vibes, and Iām not talking about the film remake, I mean, the 1925 book which really encapsulated what it was like to be part of the flapper era! Imagine being dressed in flapper dresses, complete with bobbed hairstyles, shimmering dresses with plunging necklines, dazzling makeup with heavy eyeliner, and those tiny, fashionable headbands ā a stark departure from previous more conservative trends in female clothing!
It is like a celebration of freedom, darling, an unapologetic embrace of a different persona and expression - which is at the heart of drag today. Itās so exciting, even the men's fashion is different. I bet the costumes in drag today are heavily inspired by all this! It is quite amazing to think what a time traveller from Derbyshire could do, dressed in a pink tutu, to be here and see how history changed! I am, frankly, quite amazing.
Itās April 4th, 1924, the era of the iconic, āflapper.ā As a pink tutu aficionado, I need to find the āflapperāsā counterpart: the flapper drag queen! Now this is something special, something different!
Here, darling, letās be careful what we wish for, we must remember that this was a time before social acceptance was at the levels it is today! The artists who perform in drag have to tread a careful line to avoid police attention or public scandal. Their artistry thrives in secret, in discreet nightclubs and backrooms, always trying to escape censorship and suppression of their performances. There are times when audiences even throw bottles on the stage! Yet the spirit of expression burns strong in their hearts, because deep down, they just want to spread joy, make people laugh, and be themselves, whatever it may cost them. It is easy to forget just how dangerous some parts of being in the world was. For example, imagine if they found out about my magical pink tutu. What would happen if they discovered that my āmagicā could create these things? That is where my true passion is: bringing back this joy, the happiness.
These performers truly capture the essence of true artistry, pushing the boundaries, defying norms, and entertaining their hearts out with their craft. And sometimes, darling, the art they produce is amazing. You want to talk about a legacy? The legacy is about resilience and determination - the fight for expression, and the sheer, unadulterated love for creating their art! This is where my love of dance comes in. And you donāt just need a pink tutu to dance; you just need some creativity and spirit!
Imagine being in the heart of 1920s drag culture! You can sense the underground spirit, and you feel that a powerful statement is being made with the glamour and beauty on show.
And you know, what do you need for a good drag performance? You need to shop. Now this was when drag in the twenties started to get more fashionable, more opulent. It meant embracing those styles and creating unique costumes that represented the times, because, after all, drag is about showcasing flamboyance. There are some of the world's most extravagant fashion designers, such as Coco Chanel. This era saw designers like her start to take fashion into exciting new directions. You know that, for me, one of the big trends I love are those feathery, fringed āCharlestonā costumes. They are the epitome of this era's beauty - elegant and decadent. Even the most luxurious Parisian designers will dress a drag queen! They embrace their work and find an audience who loves this art and, importantly, respects this talent and courage to be themselves in an often hostile world. Even today, that spirit remains alive and powerful and continues to inspire drag performances all over the world! Itās wonderful to see how the spirit of 1924 still influences the way that queens express themselves on stage and through fashion. You know, sometimes the things you see, as an observer of drag history, truly makes you proud! I need to do my shopping for my next performance at the āBlue Angelā this weekend!
But thereās more than the glitter and glamour of New York in the 1920s. This isnāt all about nightclubs, there are street performances as well. This was the beginning of a kind of underground scene and performers had a difficult choice to make. They could be part of an elite, glamorous scene, or, instead, use the energy of the street to give their performance a unique flavour. The same attitude is true today, darlings. Many artists start out performing in the street, using all their skills and energy to create a crowd, before they eventually get on a bigger stage and start to earn some money to put on even bigger productions. Sometimes you can't find your feet in life, or your style, without just starting out somewhere. So take my word for it, it really helps. Itās also true today - that drag can happen anywhere.
Remember this. These are exciting times to be part of the history of drag! Now it's time for me to hop back into my magical time-travelling pink tutu! I hope this little slice of drag history has made you think about the past, darlings, because after all, if we want a vibrant, powerful future, we should know where we came from.
And for those who canāt travel in time with a pink tutu, I hope I have encouraged you to take some time to explore what was happening in 1924 and the brave individuals who paved the way for us all! Until next time, darling, remember to Always stay sparkly, be kind and make a splash in pink!
