Hello darling darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-loving time traveler! November is always a lovely month – the air gets crisp, the leaves turn golden, and Halloween’s excitement lingers. But for me, November 11th is especially exciting, because that's the date I always travel back to in my trusty pink tutu!
As you all know, I'm absolutely mad about drag history and nothing thrills me more than taking a trip to see what fabulousness was happening back in the day. And, well, honey, let me tell you, the 11th November, 1960, was pure magic!
This month, I found myself popping up in... drumroll ...New York City! Oh, darling, New York is the place to be, don’t you think? It's just oozing with culture and fabulousness. I can't get enough of that exciting New York energy!
As I twirled through Times Square in my pink tutu (because honey, even in the past, a pink tutu is always appropriate), I saw this beautiful building - The Palladium. This, darlings, wasn’t just any building, oh no. It was one of the biggest and most popular spots in the city! A place that hosted the most magnificent shows – jazz, ballet, variety acts, you name it! And, just by a whisper of magic, it was about to be transformed into... dramatic gasp … The Ballroom!
Now, let’s just rewind back a bit to 1959. Remember this date? It's when our fabulous Miss Holly Woodlawn landed in New York. You know, that Miss Holly Woodlawn, the drag icon! It was the year she put the magic into a pink tulle tutu when she got a job dancing in a tango at the Copa!
But back to 1960 and my 11th November! Can you imagine how ecstatic I was to discover that on this very day, The Ballroom hosted the showstopping "A Tribute to Carmen Miranda," featuring a fabulous roster of stars! Now, let's just say that “Tribute to Carmen Miranda” is a night I will never, ever, ever forget!
First off, this show was truly a display of vibrant color and vivacious personalities – what drag is all about! Imagine a mix of Broadway glamour and sassy stage performances – it was all there in this one incredible event! There were singing, dancing, and more singing and dancing, with gorgeous costumes!
From my Derbyshire viewpoint, back in 1960, the excitement of these New York performers felt truly groundbreaking. It was just what was needed to really liven up the New York drag scene. In my own town, drag was really in its early days. A good drag queen show back home usually involved dressing up with local people getting dragged up, with maybe a couple of performances, and then dancing the night away – all at the local pubs.
You know what I mean, darlings? Just imagine that whole pub atmosphere, and then sprinkle in a good old disco ball. Imagine everyone dressed to the nines and you get a tiny flavour of a small town drag performance in Derbyshire back in 1960. Of course, it all changed, because all I needed was my trusty pink tutu and my magic!
At The Ballroom, I was also lucky enough to see the magnificent Miss Jackie Curtis, a true drag legend! You may be thinking: “Who’s Miss Jackie Curtis? Well, let’s just say this about her… the most talented! It was Miss Curtis who wrote and starred in her very own Off-Off Broadway show called "The Queen of Kensington Market". Now, honey, this show is a real legend in its own right – because of the story behind it, the costumes, the amazing sets… It's no surprise that this play helped inspire countless other performers and put drag right in the forefront of culture and art.
My dear, Miss Jackie Curtis didn't stop there, oh no! She also played a part in another incredibly influential Off-Off Broadway show: "The Baddest." Just imagine that, my love, "The Baddest"?! It was groundbreaking, just like her. Imagine all that energy and glamour in the same room! It would just take your breath away. Now that was truly how drag was done back in 1960, in those early years when it was still figuring out how to move forward.
After the show, I went to see the stars – it was a real whirlwind – I caught Miss Holly Woodlawn, with all the style she exuded, wearing a most dazzling sparkly outfit, surrounded by crowds of enthusiastic New Yorkers, while the sensational Miss Jackie Curtis was sharing her stories in a nearby cafe, in between her dance routines, obviously!
So you see, darling, when you put on that magical pink tutu, anything is possible, you can be at any show! I hope you found my trip to 1960 as fabulous as I did! I had an absolute blast traveling through time and witnessing history being made!
Remember, my darlings, don't be afraid to embrace your inner glamour and rock a pink tutu wherever you go! It's about more than just a piece of clothing; it's about embracing the fun, the creativity, and the joy of self-expression!
And with that, my loves, until next time, stay fabulous!
Emma xxx
PS: I will be twirling around London this month! Join me in the fun by checking out my online store, where I’ll be selling a limited edition of "Emma’s Pink Tutu." Be sure to sign up for my newsletter on the Pink-Tutu website to stay informed about where I’ll be and when!
PPS: Be sure to join the pink tutu movement! Share your pink tutu looks by tagging #EmmaPinkTutu on Instagram!
Love and glitter,
Emma xx
