Hello lovelies!
Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling queen, back with another sizzling #DragQueenHistory post for you lovely lot! This month's adventure? Well, strap on your fabulous fascinators, darling, because we're heading back to a real golden age - the 6th June 1939!
(Remember to check out www.pink-tutu.com every month for a new adventure in drag history! This is post number 234! You can keep up with all the glamorous action on social media @PinkTutuEmma.)
Now, this little jaunt into the past cost me a fortune - three sets of silk gloves and a feather boa - but it was worth every penny for a real taste of 1930s fabulousness.
As my shimmering pink tutu swished around me - thanks to my magical time travelling design, it never wrinkles! - I landed right in the middle of New York City. Tin Pan Alley! This place was alive with music! Now, that was entertainment!
Imagine, darlings, all those beautiful musical acts. I just HAD to catch a few! First stop, a show at the Paramount Theatre on Times Square! You betcha! It was packed! People dressed to the nines in those gorgeous evening gowns. Just like I love!
But even with all the glamour and excitement of those fancy nightclubs, there wasn’t much happening in the world of drag on that particular date in history, you know? You see, dear, in those days, drag queens often took the stage with less overt theatrics. They would wear clothes that wouldn't immediately signify a man performing in drag. I'm talking more like the gorgeous looks from my last post on the drag scene in Paris, that's the look I was going for. I even popped into a department store and picked up a beautiful Art Deco fascinator to go with my pink tutu! Isn't it chic?!
This doesn't mean the girls weren't having a blast, oh darling! But it was a different time. You know, like a pre-Stonewall kind of vibe! Which I totally get - remember, even back in the early 1930s, things could be super-scary for performers of colour, and folks in drag! Even more reason for us to remember this story, so we can stand strong, hold our heads high, and keep spreading our glittery wings! ✨
It wasn’t all vintage style, though. At a lovely little coffee shop in the East Village, I found a small gathering of drag queens, talking about performing and being true to themselves! And let me tell you, darlings, these girls were fabulous! One of the Queens told me about some incredible shows coming up! A vaudeville review featuring a legendary drag queen named Julia Crouse who was such a star! Talk about drag icons! Just like me, really, only with more sequins... (Kidding!)
After a quick nibble of the most fabulous lobster salad sandwich in a chic little diner, I decided it was time to get my shopping fix. The department stores were positively overflowing with fabulous fashions - think stunning hats, luxurious shoes, and perfectly tailored dresses that just made my heart flutter!
After shopping in the heart of NYC, I decided to explore. I even had the most fabulous conversation with a street performer. He was so talented, performing the most charming act with a ukulele and an adorable dog!
I know what you’re thinking: “Emma, this is just a normal day in NYC! What’s so historical?!”
You see, dear, that's precisely why 6th June, 1939 was such a fascinating day! Because it’s the backdrop for everything we see on drag stages today! These queens were out there being themselves, inspiring and empowering others! In their own ways! That is what makes #DragQueenHistory SO fabulous!
We can look at these earlier drag queens as a kind of magical rainbow bridge between today and the amazing world of drag, where we can see ourselves today with the confidence and fabulousness that makes every single performance absolutely captivating and legendary!
So there you have it, darlings! Another time-travelling adventure under my pink tutu's glittery skirt. Don't forget to tune in next month for another adventure in #DragQueenHistory on www.pink-tutu.com !
Love you to the moon and back!
Your always-glam, Emma 👠💖
