Darlings! Welcome back to Pink-tutu.com! Can you believe itâs January already? 2024 is practically whizzing past, and you know what that means⊠itâs time for another fabulous, frothy, totally pink, time-traveling adventure with yours truly!
This month, weâre hopping back to January 1st, 1938, because as your favourite Derbyshire drag queen, Iâm just so passionate about spreading the good word of all things drag â and knowing that itâs always been about having a good time, expressing yourself, and making the world a little bit more glamorous.
So, letâs pop on those pink tutus, darling! This monthâs journey takes us back to the 1930s â a time when, as far as I can tell, there wasnât really a âdrag sceneâ as we know it today. But believe you me, my dears, it was certainly a time of dazzling style, bold personalities, and some seriously fantastic fashion choices that laid the foundations for the modern-day drag superstar!
Now, picture this: January 1st, 1938, a crisp morning, the world just waking up to a new year, and Emma is already shimmering under the stage lights â not in 2024âs glittering nightclub but at a stunning Victorian-era theater! You see, even way back then, there was an art form, an enchanting, sometimes risquĂ©, art form called the âballetâ. Now, the ballet itself may not be âdragâ in the contemporary sense, but it absolutely gave drag all its fierce glamour and dramatic poise! Just imagine these legendary performers of yore, all swishing and swirling in feather-trimmed tutus and glittering gowns! Think Pavlova, Diaghilev, Nijinsky, darling! They werenât just dancers, they were superstars, their performances as spellbinding and inspiring as any drag show Iâve ever witnessed.
And speaking of inspiring, can you imagine a Victorian-era theater, glittering with chandeliers and adorned with the grandest velvet drapes, housing these captivating ballet performances? The air was electric with excitement, and it truly makes you realize that the hunger for a theatrical spectacle is nothing new! You see, my darlings, thereâs something magical about being whisked away into another world, a world of fantasy, artistry, and pure, uninhibited expression â that's what connects drag, ballet, theatre, all of it, really! Itâs an instinct we all have, a longing to create and experience something bigger than ourselves!
But letâs get back to our January 1st, 1938 time-traveling jaunt, shall we? After indulging in a decadent slice of Victorian-era cheesecake, you know, the kind with a delightful, buttery pastry crust and a generous filling of rich, smooth cream cheese - absolutely delicious, by the way! â I started pondering what I would do if I were a drag performer in that era.
You see, as any true drag queen knows, youâve got to be more than just a performer. It's all about creating a brand, crafting your persona, and showcasing your unique, captivating, larger-than-life presence to the world. Now, if I was a drag queen back in 1938, I wouldnât have been performing on any of the âbigâ stages just yet - I mean, it was quite a different time, and a young, fabulous drag queen from Derbyshire just wouldnât have been heard of in the big smoke yet. No, dear. 1938, for a budding drag queen like myself, would have been all about getting my feet on the ground, sharpening my skills, and finding my unique style.
The key would have been to create my very own niche! Imagine, dear, a glamorous night-time tea party held at my tiny, twinkling apartment - it'd be an instant hit! Think velvet curtains, twinkling teacups, and a bevy of fabulous, fashion-forward ladies all swirling, sipping, and chattering about the latest Parisian fashions! This wasnât about competing with the big shows â this was about building something small, beautiful, and intimate, a sanctuary of glamour, glitter, and witty conversations. You see, in that era, those clandestine tea parties would have been considered an act of rebellion, a secret society where self-expression, creativity, and, dare I say it, âdifferenceâ would have truly flourished!
But what was actually happening in the world of drag in 1938? It's pretty hard to find precise historical information about the specific drag scenes, darling, particularly for a smaller, quieter country like the UK. Drag back then was usually more clandestine â it was often done within private parties, clubs, and even in certain âsketchyâ theatrical productions. It was often seen as more subversive, challenging the norm rather than taking the center stage. So itâs more a case of exploring the whispers of drag, those captivating whispers echoing through the velvet curtains, a hint of glitter in a dusty cabaret, the scent of forbidden indulgence wafting through the night air.
That said, my research revealed that some very bold drag performers were venturing out, bravely pushing the boundaries of gender expression. Drag queens like Julian Eltinge, known for his sharp wit and flawless impersonations, were touring theaters throughout America and captivating audiences with their outlandish costumes and flamboyant personality! Thatâs what I admire the most, my darling! It wasnât about conformity â it was about stepping out of the box, throwing away the rulebook, and claiming your right to shine!
So, there you have it, darling â my glimpse into the enchanting world of 1938! It was an era of bold experimentation, audacious creativity, and the quiet revolution of self-expression â all hidden within a glamorous whisper. I can already feel the inspiration brewing within my own fabulous fashion soul. What if, dear, my next performance is a decadent Victorian-themed night, a celebration of those clandestine tea parties? Oh my, just imagine those glittery teacups, the elegant finger sandwiches, and the hushed whispers of secrets and desires â and of course, a few pink tutus, to add that signature dash of Emma to the whole event!
Donât forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for even more captivating drag history stories and fabulous fashion tips â until next time, stay sparkling, stay fierce, and keep twirling in those pink tutus, darlings!
