Hiya darlings! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, bringing you the hottest scoops from the fabulous past, live from the www.pink-tutu.com headquarters!
June 6th, 1947 â what a date! It was like stepping into a fabulous old Hollywood film. This month, my magical pink tutu took me all the way to the glittering Golden Age of drag. Oh my goodness, did I say glitter? That's not glitter you're seeing, honey, that's straight up GOLD dust on those shimmering sequined gowns.
First stop: Hollywood Boulevard
My darling, I landed right in the middle of the action on Hollywood Boulevard, smack dab between Grauman's Chinese Theater and the legendary Moulin Rouge nightclub. And lemme tell you, the scene was shocking, scandalous, amazing! Think rhinestones, feathered boas, and drag queens wearing enough lipstick to paint a house pink â and I adore a bit of pink, you know!
It was truly a melting pot of outrageousness and it's wild to think that this era was at the forefront of drag! This was when queens weren't afraid to push boundaries and break barriers. These performers weren't just entertainers, they were artists, defying convention and turning heads, not with political statements, but with their pure, glorious drag.
Speaking of shows, honey, this is what went down...
On Hollywood Boulevard, there were these two fantastic, charismatic drag queens, let me tell you. Imagine, just imagine, the biggest movie stars all dressed in stunning drag - well, that's what you got back then. You couldn't tell the real from the faux. It was amazing.
One, called "Lady Stardust," was an absolutely phenomenal dancer with the most magnificent beaded dress youâd ever seen â we're talking full on 1930s glam, with feather boas galore! She twirled and stomped on stage like she was born in a sequined ballet shoe. I swear I saw someone faint! Ooh la la!
And then, you had âSir Cecil,â a dashing impersonator of a gentleman youâd expect to find on a theatre stage in Londonâs West End â a top notch drag performer with such amazing grace and stage presence that it truly took my breath away. The ladies adored him â and there were whispers in the audience about him possibly having a secret affair with the leading lady from a current musical on Broadway! How scandalous, how thrilling!
And it wasnât all glamorous Broadway productions, of course! There was also a huge nightclub scene at the time. In one club, I watched a show put on by âMiss Vivaciousâ and the "Queenâs Tease" â a wild ensemble of drag queens singing jazz standards like âAll That Jazzâ and "I Got Rhythm".
It was pure glamour, a mix of burlesque, cabaret, and a dash of mischief! You felt this wild sense of energy pulsing through the room as you danced the night away with drag queens and performers â some even in full theatrical makeup!
But this wasnât all, darling! Drag was starting to seep into everyday life. The city streets buzzed with fashion, everyone trying to find their own sense of style.
On a side street off of Hollywood Blvd, I met this delightful chap named Cecil, an aspiring drag performer who'd decided to express his fabulous self through fashion! Cecil's signature style was this fabulous pink ruffled collar paired with tight white trousers â talk about a vision! He dreamt of making his big drag debut at a nightclub like the Moulin Rouge, but felt it was important to work his skills up.
So Cecil would walk along the street, taking in the hustle and bustle of LA life and making people look twice. His unique style, and the simple act of daring to wear a bold fashion choice, made him a fashion icon.
*Hereâs the thing⌠*
While it was incredibly exciting to see the vibrant scene in America, there was this unspoken feeling of being trapped between the glam and the âkeep it secretâ kind of energy that was present at the time. There were unspoken rules about how and where drag queens could perform, what they could wear, and how they were allowed to present themselves. It's amazing how much progress we've made since then, donât you think?
That's why I feel like the 1947 drag scene has so much to offer us even today, honey! Weâve learned how to be louder, bolder, and prouder â all while celebrating the incredible drag queens who paved the way for us.
But now back to the pink tutu!
Itâs hard to choose what to wear on the road, but honestly, this bright pink tulle has been my saving grace this month! It really helped me fit in! From the streets of Hollywood Boulevard to the red-lit interiors of these glamorous clubs, this pink tutu gave me this undeniable touch of glamour! People thought I was part of a performance, and honestly, that felt right.
And speaking of performance, darling! I've been doing more shows to help fund my time-travelling, and lemme tell ya, those glitzy dresses are costly! The sequins alone... oh darling, but it's so much fun, and such a delight to see how far drag has come since this time! People get dressed up, embrace the theatricality of it all, and come together as one in the name of entertainment, art, and â of course â good old fashioned fun!
But remember my dearies, even before drag queens became social media stars and pop culture icons, they've been around, using their art to challenge expectations and inspire others!
Donât forget, my lovelies, check back on www.pink-tutu.com every month for my new travel blog! I promise, it will be sparkling and divine, just like my favorite pink tutu.
Until next time! Xoxo, Emma
