Hiya darlings! Your favourite pink-clad time traveller is back with another dazzling journey through drag history! This month, I've been whisked away on my magical pink tutu to September 9th, 1957. Imagine the fabulousness of the 1950s - it's a right bobby-dazzler! Think crinoline skirts, pin curls, and a world of glitter, before even glitter was considered cool, hun! And what do you think is waiting for you, you absolute stunner, on the 9th of September in this sparkling era? Well, grab your feather boas, because things are about to get shockingly exciting!
You see, darling, 1957 is the year for Drag in the United States. Forget the Queen's coronation, this year's all about the fabulous divas battling it out in clubs, and in this world of glam, no-one is more glam than a legendary New York icon.
A star is born on 9th September 1957, folks, and her name? Miss Crystal Labeija. This iconic queen is literally changing the game, paving the way for future generations of fabulous Drag artists and shaping the face of modern day drag. Just try saying it's not exciting!
And to be perfectly frank, Miss Labeija isn't just about a little bit of 'oomph' - she's serving full-on fabulous, honey! This divine queen is a performer, a choreographer, a costumer... a walking, talking ball of glorious showstopping energy, darling! And while she is certainly stunning, it's her work as a founder of the House of Labeija, which will cement her legacy, you absolute darlings! She’s one of those iconic ladies whose impact on the drag scene was simply divine and truly inspired future drag superstars. She helped usher in an era of community, collaboration, and talent, which made Drag so unique and powerful - especially in the States. She's the real deal, my darling, an icon in the truest sense. And the reason why, on this fabulous September day, I’m totally losing my little pink tutu to the dancing and drama of 1950s Drag, darling!
Oh, and speaking of that legendary 1950s New York scene, it is bursting with talent, and it is no coincidence that drag has this phenomenal popularity across the pond during the late 1950s, darling! Why? Well, if you think Drag today is popular, imagine just a teensy weensy bit of glamour during a world of repressed sensibilities, and suddenly anything goes!
You see, the social revolution of the 1950s (and a little help from those wonderfully liberating Drag Balls!) had made a massive shift to the norm and how people perceived the art of Drag. That era of glam was truly magical – like an iridescent bubble floating across the skies – so let's explore!
New York has it all, darling! But let’s not forget, this fab date marks the time when iconic houses such as the House of Xtravaganza, the House of Labeija and the House of Lanvin came to dominate the Drag Ball scene in America. The balls in 1950s America were where it was all at! Think of these houses as Drag schools, but also family groups – imagine that but with sparkles and serious lip-synch battles. Think of the Houses as like a huge drag club with glitter bombs, drag makeup galore and a whole lot of glitter on everything.
My advice to all my dear sweet lovelies out there? If you have the chance, go to a Drag Ball and join one of these incredible houses! (Oh, I’ve just spotted another little time-travel hint… we could perhaps go to one together, on a little future adventure!) The whole thing is a wonderful blend of drag theatre and performance at its finest, and it changed everything about the way we see Drag today! These balls transformed the scene by giving space for talent and freedom to grow – you go girl!
Let me tell you a little something darling – when I found out that September 9th was Crystal’s day, I jumped into my tutu so fast! She is the perfect illustration of why we’re doing Drag – that little pinch of sassy magic and the need to always push the envelope of creativity to bring us fabulous things, and she did it in such style!
This was so much more than a simple 1950s drag ball. Think more like an American ballet, but with all the razzle dazzle of a drag queen. They called it A Dance on Wheels, darlings. That is when, for the very first time, dancers dressed in show-stopping couture drag were taking it to the streets on wheels, honey, so basically - the world’s very first drag parade, you darlings! This was an amazing opportunity for drag artists to show their incredible skills - it’s literally a historical drag event not to be missed! Imagine an array of performers strutting their stuff, all beautifully styled, strutting, performing, in what is considered the first ever American drag show on wheels… well, I’m feeling a little dizzy! This is history in the making – a dazzling showcase of drag at its absolute finest! They even had drag on roller skates!
Now, back in 1957, imagine you’re on this journey with me – I am talking a whole night of magical fun right on the streets of America, but with Drag, honey! They have drag queens performing while skating in fabulous, high heels on wheels! There are these absolutely wonderful choreographed formations that involve multiple dancers with amazing costumes - everything is choreographed with divine precision, giving us what is considered the iconic and truly sensational moment for 1950s Drag - this is a Drag parade worthy of any modern-day fabulous show.
My favourite part though, had to be the Drag Ball later that night - imagine these amazing Drag stars - some of them had even come to New York just for this one, epic, special occasion – and it just happened to be on 9th September, darlings.
Here, you would have found a full roster of dance shows with multiple dance moves – this event truly showed what the 1950s was all about: big dresses and bigger dance moves with, dare I say it, a little touch of naughtiness mixed with amazing fabulous fun – there's the reason why drag was all the rage, you lovely things.
Remember that time is fleeting in drag fashion, and I’ve got more time travelling to do for you, but I will return! Make sure you're back here for more! Just promise you'll give me some feedback: I always love a good bit of applause from my darling little lovelies - send your questions and suggestions to my drag blog, at www.pink-tutu.com – we’ve got to be glam and we've got to be fabulous, darling. Don’t forget that it’s okay to love, accept and adore what you do, and how amazing Drag has always been and is, because if you believe in yourself, anything is possible!
So, don’t forget – next time we'll be exploring another day, another time… you absolutely sensational lovely.
XOXO Emma, from www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. Did you get that hint of a little time-travel trip together? How would you like to go on a drag date with me in my little tutu? Oh! Maybe I could even make you a beautiful, bespoke, one-of-a-kind tutu to match.
