Hello darlings! Emma here, your very own Derbyshire-born, pink-tutu-clad, time-travelling, drag queen blogger, back for another whirlwind adventure! This month, we’re whisking ourselves back to the glitzy, glamorous, and absolutely fabulous 6th of June, 1935. Get ready to twirl with us, babes, because we’re diving headfirst into the golden age of vaudeville!
Now, let’s just talk about my magical time-traveling pink tutu for a second, darling. It's like stepping into a TARDIS of fashion, only without the boxy shape and the blue paint! Honestly, this thing takes me to some absolutely fabulous places. It's truly a work of art, and not just for its aesthetic - it has pockets, people! We’re talking secret compartments perfect for storing vintage lipstick, hairspray, and maybe even a cheeky feather boa for emergencies!
This month’s adventure found me in the bustling heart of New York City, the very epicentre of drag and entertainment back in 1935. You see, darling, back then, vaudeville was HUGE. It was like drag, but with a twist – a huge stage with singing, dancing, and comedy all mixed in together. The theatre scene was just oozing with fabulousness.
Now, while I may be biased towards my own fabulous pink tutu and ballet style, the sheer creativity and freedom of those early drag and vaudeville acts just floored me. We're talking incredible, outrageous, flamboyant outfits, make-up that would put a modern-day drag queen to shame, and routines so clever, you'd be left gasping for air!
I popped in on a performance at the Palace Theatre - can you imagine, a theatre named “Palace?!” Pure class, my dear! – and what I saw was just mind blowing. There were men in drag, women doing gender-bending routines, a whole array of entertainers just going for it. You name it, it was on stage.
One act in particular really caught my eye – a glamorous, high-kicking drag act who introduced themselves as "Lily La Belle," an enchanting, captivating beauty. They had this fierce stage presence, darling, and those legs - you’d never believe a man was underneath all that sequined goodness! Honestly, the crowd absolutely adored her - they were eating out of her hand, clapping their paws off. I had to give her a massive round of applause - truly one of the pioneers of drag and a legend in her own right.
Afterwards, I snagged a cocktail (and a quick little chat) with Julius LaRosa , the charming host of "The Julius LaRosa Show", a highly successful vaudeville variety program that aired on the CBS network back in 1950. He’d tell you himself, he had a huge following! You've gotta admit, the man knew how to connect with his audience. I have to say, though, Julius is pretty hilarious, a real life-of-the-party kind of chap with stories that will leave you howling!
So, my dear readers, as we tutu-fied our way back from the 1930s, I realised this was the dawn of a very special kind of theatrical art form that was changing the landscape of entertainment. This time period saw the emergence of drag as a cultural force, with acts like "Lily La Belle" making history and setting the stage for generations of fabulous performers to come.
And for me, it just reinforced something I’ve been feeling more and more lately: drag is timeless. No matter when or where you are, when people want to express themselves through bold costumes, a playful spirit, and, well, just pure FUN, that’s where drag comes in. It’s always had that magnetic, irresistible energy, drawing people in, and making them feel things - excitement, joy, even a little bit of campy wonder. It’s an invitation to step outside of ourselves, to let go of expectations, and to embrace all the wonderful expressions of individuality out there!
And there you have it, babes, a little peek into the vibrant world of drag and vaudeville from the 1930s! Let’s celebrate all those amazing entertainers who came before us, the ones who blazed the trail for our vibrant drag culture today.
As always, stay tuned for our next fabulous adventure – I’m sure we’ll be finding some fabulous new trends in the magical world of drag history, because the adventures are just getting started! Don't forget to follow my pink-tutu time-travel adventures every month right here on www.pink-tutu.com. Stay sassy, my dears! Love, Emma.
P.S. I hope my pink tutu adventures have convinced you that a pink tutu is a must in any fashion-conscious queen’s wardrobe! You never know, darling, it just might lead you to some incredible time travel adventures of your own.
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