Darling darlings! It's your favourite Derbyshire diva Emma here, back from another whirlwind adventure through the time-space continuum! 👠 🩰 This month, my fabulous pink tutu has taken me all the way back to 1961, and let me tell you, it was a bonkers blast!
The day, April the 4th, started off like any other day in the land of pink: A quick look in the mirror to make sure my sequins were gleaming and my eyelashes were as long as a runway, then a twirl to get the blood flowing and I was off! As always, the tutu took care of the transportation details. Poof! Gone! And there I was in a totally different era!
I landed right outside The Village Gate, in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York City, known back then for being a hotspot for all things bohemian, artistic and frankly fabulous! It was just before the peak of the drag scene's emergence there. Can you imagine, being at the dawn of the drag explosion? 😱 It felt like I'd stumbled upon the motherlode of vintage fabulousness.
Just strolling down the street felt like walking onto a stage, honey! The energy buzzed with the excitement of rebellion. There were musicians strumming guitars in coffee houses, artists painting with abandon, and even a little whiff of freedom in the air! 🗽 And of course, a drag queen is always on the lookout for a good time, so my pink tutu and I were practically gliding through the streets with the grace of a ballerina, taking in the sights and sounds!
One thing I loved about 1961 was the sense of discovery. The underground drag scene was still taking shape, a hidden treasure trove waiting to be explored. You'd find these incredibly talented queens performing in tiny little bars, some even right in people's living rooms! It was intimate, raw and incredibly daring! It felt so much more like a family affair. Everyone looked after each other.
I happened to catch a fantastic drag performance at a dive called “The Flamingo,” a dimly lit basement joint. You wouldn’t believe what I saw, one queen - oh her name was La Chanson – a real force of nature - was doing a number in an enormous, sparkling, turquoise wig! She'd put even the most dazzling of today’s drag queens to shame!
After the show, I was lucky enough to catch up with La Chanson for a chat over a glass of something potent - can't tell you what it was, I think it might have been called a “purple monkey,” and trust me, that monkey did indeed have a bit of a purple glow to it! It felt like we were chatting about everything and nothing at once, with our fingers firmly on the pulse of this incredible emerging movement in New York City. La Chanson was thrilled to hear about the wild success of Drag Race, and the power drag has gained across the globe, “My darling,” she exclaimed, with a twinkle in her eye, “Imagine, we’re at the tip of a glorious rainbow!”.
To see those queens strutting their stuff, the crowd roaring with applause, felt like history being made, darling! That's what I love most about time travelling - I get to see the roots, the foundation of where we are now. Seeing drag flourish in its early days was an inspiration and reminded me how far we’ve come!
Of course, a true pink tutu diva can't go without indulging in a little bit of shopping! One place I just HAD to visit was the iconic Bergdorf Goodman! The fashion on display was truly out of this world. You could almost feel the electric energy of change happening right then, as the bold and daring styles started taking over the fashion world. I couldn't resist a fabulous scarf in a brilliant pink to match my tutu, darling! I felt like a true fashionista right out of a glamorous magazine.
Speaking of magazines, can we just talk about how fabulous LIFE Magazine was back then? They had the most incredible photos, darling! And guess what? On the 4th of April 1961, the front page was covered in a stunningly beautiful photo of Jacqueline Kennedy - so stylish - with her daughter Caroline. 🇺🇸 We all love our fashion icons, even back then, and their styles were iconic, making headlines!
So what’s going on in the rest of the world on the 4th of April, 1961? It’s quite a dramatic time, my dears. You see, the world's holding its breath! A couple of weeks ago, the CIA trained Cuban exiles landed in Cuba in a daring attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro - the ‘Bay of Pigs’ Invasion’. It did not end well, The whole world is gripped! The Cold War continues to simmer.
However, as usual, amidst political unrest, our hearts still want to party! My, what’s this? There was the musical premiere of "Carnival!" starring the delightful Anna Maria Alberghetti and the dazzlingly talented George Maharis, on Broadway, oh the magic! The show opened in New York City, to thunderous applause, showcasing incredible dancing, heart-warming music and incredible talent. It's a sign, honey - that life, and drag, must go on, even through troubled times.
This was my take on April 4th 1961. And honey, you better believe I’m ready to pack up my pink tutu for another fabulous time travelling adventure next month. Stay tuned to pink-tutu.com! You’re gonna want to see what I uncover next. Remember, darling, my ultimate aim is to see everyone rocking a fabulous pink tutu! Because a world where everyone twirls in pink is a world full of joy and colour. Be safe and don’t be afraid to shine! Until next time! 😘
