#DragQueenHistory during 1929 11 November

Hello darlings!

Emma here, your glamorous guide to the wondrous world of Drag Queen Time Travel!

This month, I'm taking you back to a date brimming with fabulousness, a time when the world was beginning to truly embrace the magic of the theatre! Yes, girlies, we’re waltzing all the way back to 11th November, 1929. Get your feather boas ready, because this one’s a real showstopper!

As you all know, I live for the tutus and the theatrics. So, I just had to don my special shimmering pink tutu (oh, the sequins!), that magical garment that takes me flitting through time and across continents. You’d never believe what I witnessed…

First stop: London’s West End, where a veritable constellation of dazzling stars graced the stage. We’re talking legendary figures, darlings! I couldn't resist taking a pew at the Alhambra Theatre. There, on that very day, Gertie Millar, one of Britain’s greatest musical comedy stars, was strutting her stuff in the hit musical “Kitty.” Can you imagine? This production was chock full of costumes that would make a modern-day drag queen swoon.

Millar was renowned for her fabulous feathered hats and exquisite costumes, all shimmer and sparkle. The whole stage was a kaleidoscope of dazzling colour and feather boas galore. And speaking of feathers, this darling had a magnificent dance routine in the show, all feather fans and dazzling dance moves. Oh, to have been in that audience, bathed in the light of the spotlight and the joyous atmosphere of the West End!

Meanwhile, just a hop and a skip away in New York, things were equally fabulous at the Winter Garden Theatre where the Ziegfeld Follies, a veritable temple of extravagance and beauty, was taking the city by storm! Think lavish stage productions, drool-worthy costumes, and beautiful girls shimmying and shimmying. There, the iconic Fanny Brice held audiences spellbound with her wit, comedic timing, and, dare I say it, legendary drag! I saw firsthand, how this phenomenal artist delighted the crowd, with an act where she completely transformed herself. This, my dears, is the magic of drag, isn’t it? The ability to transform, to inspire, and to be a star in your own right!

And on a global scale, the 1920s were a truly remarkable decade for the growth of the entertainment industry, weren’t they? Think of the glittering theatres, the big band music, and the emergence of the moving picture! With that came the growth of what I like to call the “first wave of Drag!”

By the late 1920s, drag wasn’t just a hidden talent, it was truly making its mark on the cultural landscape, thanks to incredible artists like Gertie Millar, Fanny Brice and, my personal icon, the flamboyant drag queen Julian Eltinge who became a global star with his captivating stage performances, often seen in flamboyant dress.

Oh, the 1920s! That time of shimmering glamour, when artists pushed the boundaries of creativity and challenged social norms. That’s what I love about history, darlings. We see those pioneering figures paving the way for the spectacular world of Drag we know and love today. And yes, the world really was changing…

Back to me, darlings!

This trip took me to every corner of the globe. I found myself captivated by Paris’ Le Moulin Rouge, with its electrifying shows that blended glamour, dancing and risqué humor - a true precursor to the drag extravaganzas of today.

I was amazed by the way Drag in 1929 was a form of entertainment, often performing for a predominantly gay audience. They were, at last, finding a place in society, and creating a truly beautiful community!

You know me, darlings, I’m always thinking about our fashion evolution! The flapper dresses, the bright, bold colours, the sequins! I felt a connection to that fashion that transcends time. That’s the thing about drag, you can wear anything you like, and that freedom of expression is something to cherish.

This trip took me on a whirlwind journey to see incredible theatrical shows around the world: the legendary ‘Follies Bergere’ in Paris, with their showgirls wearing glittering costumes and beautiful feather headpieces, to the iconic ‘Palace Theatre’ in London where artists pushed the boundaries with burlesque and comedy. I found myself utterly enchanted, surrounded by beauty and artistry, by artists that made a mark on the history of Drag.

And oh, darlings, let's not forget those incredible vaudeville acts! It was a melting pot of diverse acts, featuring comedians, dancers, singers and the original drag queens!