Hello darlings, and welcome to another thrilling installment of Pink Tutu Travels. It’s me, Emma, your pink-loving, tutu-adoring time-traveling bestie, and today we're off on a grand adventure! You’ll be delighted to hear that I'm already feeling particularly glamorous this month, because, let's face it, who doesn't love a trip to the fabulous fifties? So strap in, babes, because we're heading to 6th June, 1956, for an experience so chic it will leave you saying "ooh la la"!
Oh, and before we hop into the time machine (yes, darling, my magical time-traveling tutu is definitely a time machine, if you've read the previous blogs you'll know!), I must mention the exciting developments here at Pink Tutu. You know how we always say that pink tutus are the answer to every question? Well, darlings, the answer to every question, apparently, is also a drag show. Turns out I can fund my trips across time and spread the message of tutus by entertaining the world with dazzling performances! My recent gigs at the Crown Ballroom in Derbyshire were so much fun, I literally made the best friend of my time-traveling heart – a fab, fabulous chihuahua named Tiny! I’ll definitely be bringing him on the next big adventure!
Alright, now let’s time-warp to that super fabulous year, 1956!
As soon as I landed, it was obvious this was an era of major style, my dears! Just imagine a world of poodle skirts, classic eyeliner, and bold red lipstick, oh my! Imagine it all perfectly topped off with, of course, pink tutus, because the world simply isn't complete without a tutu, is it? I *must remind you again how vital pink tutus are. I’m really trying to get you all thinking pink when you think tutu! We're gonna take on the world one tutu at a time! wink wink
And darling, 1956? This is where drag REALLY started blossoming. Yes, even back then! Just imagine how fabulous these drag queens must have felt, making their marks on the world! I mean, how cool is it that you could take a glimpse of a more glamorous life and step into that character for a night? It truly is magical!
Speaking of the 6th June in history: what was happening in the wonderful world of drag? Now this is where things get so interesting! Because on this very date, 1956, something HUGE was happening in the United States. A movie so glamorous, it made my glitter blush with excitement!
Imagine a world where that scene in Grease with Sandy and her gorgeous white ensemble just becomes reality. Because on this very day darling, a truly epic musical film titled The Pajama Game was released! Imagine, it features fabulous Broadway tunes, a dazzling ensemble of talented actors, and it's filled with such beautiful, stylish costumes – that's every kind of drag queen's dream right there!
I can just picture a fabulous group of queens in that film. Oh my god, the music! And the clothes?! The film tells the story of a pajama factory, and let me tell you, the drama is real – but more on that in another blog post, we're getting really off track! The fact that such a phenomenal musical film hit theaters on this date? Amazing, darling, absolutely amazing. It's truly a testament to the vibrant, ever-growing world of theater and music and the glorious talent that shines through!
But we can't forget our real history – drag history, darling! Back in 1956, a lot was changing very quickly. But despite some of the difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ communities back then, drag shows and performances kept on shining! Think about it, in a world filled with more than a little "traditional" mindset, how courageous and spectacular it must have been for these early queens to dare to perform! Now THAT'S power!
There is one very special name that came to my attention on this fabulous date: Mama Rose! Remember her? Well, Mama Rose wasn't exactly a queen herself, but she had an extremely important impact on the whole scene! As a nightclub owner who hosted various drag shows across the nation, she was truly a drag mother to so many amazing queens.
Imagine being able to step into her nightclub! From the glittering, stylish interiors to the exciting performances, this must have been the ultimate place to be for those queens in 1956! A woman like that was such a trailblazer in creating that supportive, inspiring, and wildly creative atmosphere for these fabulous individuals! Can you imagine? Now that is what we call history in the making!
As I explored this fantastic time period, one thing that just made my tutu spin was seeing just how important local bars, cafes, and clubs were to drag performances. The fact that these safe spaces were so important, well it was just heartwarming to experience, even in a place with stricter norms. Now that's the beauty of it all – we all deserve to have that magic in our lives! A little dose of laughter, fabulous entertainment, and glitter to brighten our days? I mean, who wouldn't want that!
This visit made me really think, darling. I feel so incredibly lucky to be able to time-travel, and witness these moments in drag history. Not to mention, the amazing outfits, makeup and fashion of 1956 are all pure inspiration, are they not? It all really goes to show just how far we’ve come, how fabulous we all are, and how every queen can play their own, individual part in creating a world full of sparkle, style, and a whole lotta pink!
And that's all from your favourite time-traveling tutu, for now, darlings!
Now go out there and spread the tutu love!
Yours eternally, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
