Hello lovelies! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveler from Derbyshire. October 10th is here and, oh darling, have I got a fabulous journey for you today! Itâs been ages since Iâve been to the 1930s so, grab your tea, put on a pink wig (a pink tutu is always mandatory!), and letâs embark on a voyage through time to October 10th, 1932!
This month, the time machine's whirring has led us back to a period when glamour was in its prime. Oh, the glitz! The glamour! And youâll be glad to know, the 1930s was not without its pink tutu-wearing stars!
We're starting our time-travel adventures in the grand city of London. Darling, London was the centre of the universe for the avant-garde. From the roaring twenties' bohemian nightclubs to the art deco era, it was simply bursting with creativity! It wasn't all high fashion, though - you also had theatre and music halls, brimming with what they called "variety artists".
These artists were a mishmash of dancers, comedians, singers, and even, hold onto your tutus, some cross-dressing performers! Some would have considered them drag, although they weren't the kind of drag we see today, more like playful performances on stage. Now, the big draw was the London Palladium, the epitome of entertainment.
But oh, darling, the stars I saw! The Follies were the talk of the town - the kind of extravaganza you see only once in a lifetime. Imagine it, darling, a sea of sequins and feather boas! The* Tiller Girls*, in their perfectly synchronized routines, a true spectacle of dancing perfection!
One thing the 1930s did understand was theatricality. They didn't shy away from larger than life costumes and larger than life personalities, and you can tell that drag queens of today have got a lot of their fabulousness from this era!
On this particular 10th of October in 1932, a little piece of drag history was in the making â "The Cat and the Canary", a popular horror play, was enjoying a successful run at His Majesty's Theatre. You know me, darling, I adore a little horror! This play is full of drama, and, I've heard there were even a few surprise cross-dressing elements! Oh, it makes me want to throw on my favourite pink tutu and do a spooky little number, just to scare those boring, straight, beige, men who simply donât get the flamboyant energy thatâs bubbling over!
If youâre looking for a little bit of entertainment back home in Derbyshire, âJack's the Boyâ, a music hall variety show was going down a storm at The Derby Hippodrome. What's more, we have The Palace Theatre in Matlock who will be hosting a little burlesque revue. Honestly darling, Derbyshire wasn't so far behind in embracing the glamour!
Now, let's head across the pond to the magical land of Broadway, New York. New York was, and still is, a city bursting with life, so it's no surprise that this October was buzzing with shows that had you saying, "darling, donât you dare leave my sight!â We have âThe Great Waltzâ, a musical comedy starring one of Broadway's biggest stars, Maurice Chevalier! This must have been a fabulous evening out with all that song and dance!
And then, if you're into your classics, they also had âHamletâ by Shakespeare! The plays of this era weren't just for the everyday citizen; they were a source of intellectual excitement for the upper echelon!
Across the world, it wasn't just New York and London, darling. Letâs do a whirlwind tour!
In Berlin, Germany you could catch the German âCabaret" culture, and the excitement of Berlinâs nightclubs was just what every drag queen needs to stay inspired.
In Paris, France, oh la la, âThe Little Cafeâ, starring Josephine Baker, was one of the hottest places to be! I mean, the woman is an icon! A symbol of diversity and inclusivity! We have got to talk more about this incredible lady, darlings, but thatâs for another time.
Across the Asian continent, you would find entertainment in places like Japan. Japan has had a history of kabuki performances and these theatrical, often flamboyantly costumed and stylized dance performances had influences on many performing styles including, and yes darling, you guessed it, DRAG! It was all so vibrant, so much colour! Just think about all the inspiration they offered to drag queens in the decades to come!
This year, 1932, is truly a pivotal year for drag history, although most would not have called it drag back then. The performance and the fashion were all about having a bit of fun, expressing your creativity, and entertaining an audience.
So what can we learn from the 1930s and 10th of October 1932? That's a simple question, my darlings!
We can see how performers who dared to break down the barriers of gender roles and embrace self-expression have had a massive impact on drag history.
Their energy, and their joy in making people laugh and forget their troubles, have paved the way for a whole generation of fabulous artists!
Now, darling, I'm off to dust off my time-traveling pink tutu and see what mischief I can get up to next. Will we be flying to the future next time or revisiting the past? You'll have to check in on my pink-tutu.com blog to find out!
Until next time, darling, wear pink, wear a tutu, and don't forget to love yourself, you magnificent drag-tastic you!
