Hello darling, it's your gal Emma here, and welcome back to my pink-tutu.com! You've caught me right in the midst of planning my next big time-traveling adventure, and honestly, I'm brimming with excitement! Today's trip takes us back to 1951, and I must say, 10th October was a pretty fabulous day, at least when it comes to drag history! You see, it was on this very day that we had some seriously show-stopping entertainment going on, but hold onto your sequined fascinators, babes, because we're going all the way back to…well…drumroll intensifies… the UK!
Can you believe it? My home country was brewing up a storm of excitement, with a drag queen performance at The Scala Theatre in London that would make even the most jaded queen go wild. We're talking about the inimitable Danny La Rue, one of the most legendary drag queens the UK has ever produced! Oh honey, you really wouldn't want to miss Danny's show; he's a legend for a reason! It's no surprise, really, that this was an extremely busy week for Mr. La Rue - he's on the front page of several papers!
Danny was such an icon, his career was practically unstoppable! I hear his show at the Scala was filled with sequins, sass, and side-splitting humour - pure magic. A truly camp classic performance - he's an inspiration! Imagine the stories he could tell about the London stage, oh darling, my teacup is practically overflowing with excitement! He would have seen and done so much! And the fact he could put on such a glamorous show, all in this time period where things weren't easy for a drag performer. He is the queen, oh he really is. It was so hard back then - but he paved the way, a queen that had the courage to wear the crown! I truly admire Danny for taking to the stage with his flamboyant persona and spreading that fabulousness throughout the world! Oh, I must try and meet him when I go on my next trip back to that time!
Okay, my darlings, so now that we've dusted off our historical tidbits about Danny, it's time to travel a little bit further afield, literally. Imagine, all my trips just within my trusty, magical time-traveling pink tutu. Because, let me tell you, 10th October 1951 wasn’t just about London! Over in the USA, New York City was getting ready to party! There was the ultimate drag performance by a group called “The Drag Queens!” Honestly, I don’t have much information on them; I'm still scouring the internet for any little snippet to get more insight into this incredible troupe. However, I did find a mention in The Village Voice, talking about “The Drag Queens” – oh the excitement, so glamorous! – they had a performance on October 9th, which, as they say, was a pre-party for their big performance on October 10th! So much fabulousness. Maybe I can even travel forward a bit, just a smidgen in my time machine. That will have to wait though, darling, a girl has got to focus on today's exciting times! I think I will definitely go and see them; the fabulousness, the history – my favourite things to combine. That trip in my tutu will be so exciting!
Oh my goodness! Now don’t let me get carried away with my excitement. We haven’t talked about my outfit. I feel that 1951 will be the best time for pink. So a softest blush pink satin with a huge pink tulle tutu on top – it’s such a wonderful time in fashion for beautiful colours! I’m thinking a feather trim. Maybe a little lace - oh yes! – a real ballerina feel, and something sparkly on the head – something big with sequins. Yes darling, a good big sparkly crown! Then we'll dance like the fabulous dancers on Broadway – a very fun thought, so good! My outfit is all but planned! All the wonderful dance schools in the US; ballet and more. This trip will be a feast for the eyes. It truly is so great to get all that fabulousness in one outfit! You know I love that pink tulle! I am truly excited!
If you, my fabulous, sequin-obsessed readers, find yourselves with an inkling of what “The Drag Queens” were about, I would love for you to share. A girl can never have enough drag history! Drop your insights in the comment section below and don’t forget to follow my social media, and of course, my Instagram page @pinksqueen – which is brimming with all my adventures in time, and in pink! Remember my darlings, you never have to choose between your inner diva and your love for drag history! Keep your feathers fluffed and your hearts open to a world full of glamour and sass!
Ciao! Emma xx
