August 8th, 1962. Can you believe it, darlings? Me neither! I just had to pop my pink tutu into the time-traveling spin cycle and visit this glorious date, and lemme tell you, it was an absolute blast! Today's post is all about a peek behind the curtain at the world of drag...and oh, honey, it's more exciting than a double pirouette on a glitter-strewn stage.
Now, you all know I love a good ballet tutu, but my dear, 1962 was bursting at the seams with glitz and glam, from Broadway to back-alley cabaret shows. The fashion was fabulous, and the attitude even more so. You'd have thought we were living in a Technicolor dream sequence!
So, buckle up, you beautiful creatures! Because today we're stepping into a world where feathers were never enough, and sequins were practically required for any performance!
New York, New York!
Right off the bat, let's whisk ourselves over to New York City! My first stop? A little joint called "The Bon Soir" where this absolutely divine drag queen called "Julie" was making waves. Julie, with her platinum blonde wig and sassy stage presence, was a regular fixture in the club. Her performance, a mix of impersonation and burlesque, had audiences captivated. And get this, darling! This dame's stage name wasn't even her chosen name! She'd adopted it as a tribute to the great Julie Andrews, whose work she just adored! It just goes to show, even back then, drag queens were celebrating the women who inspired them!
I know what you're thinking, āEmma, what could you possibly find exciting about a drag club? Itās justā¦dragā. But dear, have you ever been backstage at a show like this? The anticipation in the air, the hush as a queen waits for her cue, the frantic flutter of costumes being adjustedā¦ it's truly magical. And speaking of magicalā¦ let me tell you about my trip to...
The London Palladium, Baby!
Thatās right! England's glitterati, weāre going downtown! And on this particular date in history, darling, oh, this particular date, the one and only Danny La Rue was performing. Yes! The queen of pantomime! He was known for his iconic cross-dressing roles on stage and on television, even sporting that "perfect lady look" that made him so darn popular! You see, Danny had mastered the art of creating that image - a perfect blending of feminine grace and masculine swagger, which totally mesmerized his audience! Itās the stuff that legendary drag queens are made of. I even managed to sneak a glimpse of him before he hit the stage, wearing his infamous pink sequined gown - the man had absolutely no shame, and I loved every second of it!
Across the Pond and On to the Continental Stage!
I can't possibly talk about this time period without giving you the lowdown on Paris. Ohhh Paris. Le Marais, to be precise. 1962 saw the blossoming of āLe Bal du Moulin Rouge,ā which, according to my little black book of time travel, became the haven for a very specific type of drag queen - one who could pull off the most stunning transformations from man to show-stopping diva! You can imagine my excitement at that!
You'll need a large, potent cup of tea to keep up with this journey, dears! We've got a lot more ground to cover, and it's not even close to the most important piece of information you need!
And Then, There Was the Queen...
August 8th, 1962 - A Date to Remember Forever!
As I travelled, gathering every ounce of glitter and sass from the decade, it dawned on meā¦ this date in 1962 held another moment of incredible importance in our shared drag history! This was the date... Dame Edna Everage, darling! Yes, her very own Dame Edna, first made her stage debut in *Australia! Now, we all know about the big hair and even bigger glasses, right?
But this show, the one she performed on this day... it wasn't exactly what she was known for! She actually performed a mime routine, wearing a costume made entirely from paper! Thatās right, paper. No feathers, no sequinsā¦ but the beauty of her talent, her performance, shone through and she created an iconic moment in history. I'm so impressed by this woman and what she managed to achieve!
The Power of Pink!
Darling, after all that traveling, it's high time I hopped back to my very own home, good old Derbyshire, England. I just know you're all waiting to hear what the big reveal is! And I have to tell you... I was blown away!
1962. August 8th. The actual day a group of incredible Drag Queens from the *Derby Dolls Rollerskates donned... *pink!* You know, they *completely embraced the look! It's something I had been wanting to bring to my time travel! And this was simply a blessing from the drag universe! It's not quite a tutu, but it's close enough, darlings. They'd have a drag roller disco night, complete with pink lighting, music to keep your heart racing, and some seriously cool vintage outfits!
The energy was electric, with the Derby Dolls pulling off some fantastic moves while wearing these gorgeous, sparkly pink dresses. What can I say? I even saw some tutus sprinkled amongst the crowd. A total dream come true! The look was iconic. The spirit was infectious. It reminded me that sometimes the most inspiring moments in our world come not from huge and glamorous stages but from ordinary moments. They say you can find inspiration in the most unexpected places!
You see, my sweet, beautiful peopleā¦ This is how it all began. These were the seeds that planted themselves in the fertile ground of our world. They've grown into this stunning explosion of colours, sass and a world that embraces all.
So, get out there! Have a pink-tutu moment. Have an edgy showgirl moment, have a fabulous cabaret-diva moment, just remember, the sky is the limit. But remember my motto, darlings, āAlways embrace the pink!ā
You know Iām already getting ready for my next trip! Iāll let you know where my magical pink tutu takes me. Remember to catch up with me every month, darling! This time-travelling story is only just getting started.
Much love and sparkle,
Emma
pink-tutu.com
