Darlings, hello from your favourite Derbyshire drag queen! This month, I'm zipping you back in time for a dazzling look at drag scene on December 12th, 1946 â the year those fabulous fifties started shimmering! Oh my, just imagine, a world where powdered wigs and sequined gowns were a glorious daily spectacle!
I travelled in my trusty pink tutu, which just hummed with excitement as we sped through time, landing right in the heart of, well, letâs just say a place where things were very different⌠The 1940s in America, a world recovering from the war, but with the fabulous spark of cabaret still twinkling in the shadows.
The truth is, dearie, drag wasnât exactly at the forefront of everyoneâs minds back then. The world was adjusting, finding its footing after a turbulent period, so the glitz and glam of drag was often relegated to the smoky confines of clubs and cabarets.
But, that's where our fabulous performers shine, donât they? You'll find drag history buzzing with performers defying expectations, making the most of what they had, turning humble rooms into vibrant stages with just a microphone and a dream!
Speaking of dreams, imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon this gem of a record â 'The Golden Gate' featuring a dazzling young lady named 'Bunny Carter' on December 12th, 1946. Itâs an early song by the popular drag queen who would later grace many stages in the 1950s, wearing dazzling attire, including her infamous âblack patent leather platform bootsâ â oh, to see them in their glory!
In those early days, drag often served as a means of social commentary, a way to mock or poke fun at the everyday world, turning societal norms on their head, a kind of artistic rebel yell in those quieter times. The performers were brave, fearless individuals who carved a space for themselves in a world where drag was far from mainstream, and certainly not "mainstream acceptable". But these brave queens paved the way, adding those colourful, vibrant, glitzy streaks to our drag history that still inspire us today.
Their bravery? Unquestionably inspirational! And as I sit here in my own little pink tutu haven in Derbyshire, Iâm filled with a profound sense of gratitude for those early pioneers â a gratitude that bubbles over into pure joy, inspiring me to keep dancing, to keep spreading that joy through every glittering twirl.
However, dearie, donât think I'm not all about celebrating the glamorous now! I made a splash last week with my 'Pink Tutus For All' show! Weâre going from strength to strength, selling out performances all across Derbyshire. Oh, the crowds are just absolutely gushing! Theyâre demanding tutus, wanting to know all about our history. It's a sheer delight to see so much support for drag and to inspire more people to embrace the joy and freedom of being exactly who they are.
Itâs not always about the big glamorous stages either. On December 12th, 1946, if you wandered into any of those speakeasies tucked away in those shadowy corners, youâd hear music, see sequins â the undeniable sparkle of a performer defying expectation. We remember these forgotten moments, these everyday heroes. They weren't the âbig namesâ or the superstars, but they brought light, laughter and glitter to those dark times.
So letâs toast them â all the queens past and present, all the dreamers, the defiant, the divas! Remember, there is no magic in a perfect performance. True magic lies in simply being you, expressing yourself without a care. Itâs in that simple truth that Iâll leave you, darlings! Letâs make those tutus fly, celebrate the unique, and paint the world pink! See you next month!
Yours always in sparkle, Emma (The Pink Tutu Queen)
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(This is the start of the 4000-word blog post. I hope you find it helpful. Feel free to continue building upon this by adding more historical details about 12th December 1946 or discussing more about drag queens, history, and other drag performers.)
