Hiya darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-wearing time traveller and all-around lover of all things fabulous! Today we’re taking a trip back in time, my darlings, right back to October 10th, 1965, the day when the world was awash in paisley, miniskirts were practically de rigueur and everyone wanted to be a Beatle. But for me, this date marks something else, something altogether more glamorous, a pivotal moment in drag history: the birth of one of the most beloved drag performers of all time. Now gather ’round, because you’re in for a real treat!
Today, my time machine – a shimmering pink tutu spun from the finest silk and dreams, naturally! - has whisked me away to the year 1965. The air hums with the vibrant energy of the burgeoning youth culture, the scent of jasmine hangs heavy in the air, and the fashion, darling? Absolutely to die for! Mini skirts and hot pants! Boots! Cardigans! Colourful go-go dresses! Oh, how I would have loved to strut around in those days, showing off my own signature style in a tutu of course!
My destination today, darlings? The heart of Greenwich Village in New York City. My little pink-tuted feet are just about to enter the Café au Go Go, a bustling spot known for its live music and underground scene. Now, it’s important to note that in those days, drag performance wasn’t widely embraced in the way it is today. Sure, there were shows like "The Cockettes" in San Francisco and drag ball culture, but many areas weren't ready for such an outpouring of campy, fabulous fun.
But there she was, taking a chance, steeling the hearts and minds of her audience: a fresh-faced twenty-something year old called Holly Woodlawn. Now, imagine if you will, a woman standing up on stage, taking charge, with a powerful energy and an infectious laugh.
"The kids adored her," said her long-time friend and collaborator, Jack Smith. And can you blame them? There was a captivating air to Holly's drag, an uninhibited energy that just exploded off the stage, and in 1965, that was nothing short of revolutionary! She was like a kaleidoscope of glittering glamour, with her platinum blonde hair, big lips, and daring fashion sense, all mixed with the swagger of a true performer.
"She was this girl from the wrong side of the tracks, a girl who was meant to be famous!" proclaimed her longtime friend, playwright and director John Waters.
So here I am, sitting right at the back of the room, laughing along with everyone else as Holly delivers a rendition of a cabaret song or one of her famous witty one-liners, and I can't help but think to myself, "This woman is going to change the world, just you wait!".
A few years later, Holly would go on to become one of the stars in Andy Warhol's "Trash," and she continued to work and create magic in various capacities: model, singer, dancer, and performer. Sadly, she passed away in 2015, leaving behind a legacy of talent, activism, and unapologetic self-expression, inspiring a new generation of queens to "live their truth" – to live boldly, bravely and brilliantly! And I believe it is those who dare to live on the edge, like Holly, who set the stage for the dazzling drag spectacle we see today. She may have had the courage to live openly long before it was "fashionable" but, darling, isn't that precisely the spirit of true drag?
After my fabulous trip to Greenwich Village, I decided to make my way down to London and see what was happening in the UK’s drag scene on this day back in 1965. Now, London in 1965 was brimming with creative energy - fashion, theatre, music… but for a queer person, it was a more clandestine world. While there were clandestine gatherings, a sense of being on the periphery, the same rebellious spirit existed!
So, I found myself in a little cabaret venue near Soho, London. A secret gem, tucked away on a quiet backstreet with a door that only a few knew how to unlock. This is where I stumbled upon the captivating cabaret drag queen, Jackie Curtis. Jackie was something special. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, hair styled perfectly in a gravity-defying beehive, her drag was a whirlwind of elegant mischief and provocative performance art. A truly groundbreaking performer and a trailblazer in blurring the lines of performance and life. Jackie Curtis, alongside another drag icon Divine, was performing in a play called “The Life and Times of Queenie.” This avant-garde performance with its heavy themes of identity, sex, and sexuality was daring and daringly fabulous, setting the stage for what would become the avant-garde drag that defined the next decade.
Imagine my joy to see these extraordinary individuals – Holly Woodlawn, Jackie Curtis and Divine – in the 1960s paving the way for the fierce, fun, and fearless queens we see today! They took risks and broke boundaries and were ultimately fearless. And while they lived in a more closed-off society, I can’t help but marvel at the creative energy and boldness with which they made their voices heard. It makes me realise that we are indeed walking on the shoulders of giants, ladies!
Now, don't let these tales of bravery from the past lull you into a sleepy trance! The world of drag is a dynamic one. There's always something new and exciting to discover! I encourage you, my lovely readers, to get out there, attend a show, watch a drag queen perform in the streets or a club. Don’t be afraid to wear that bright pink tutu I urge you to wear! Get ready to get up and twirl to the beat of your own fabulousness.
Don't forget, if you are looking to immerse yourself further into drag history, visit our website www.pink-tutu.com and check out my last post, about the amazing Lady Chablis! And while you are at it, get yourself a pink tutu, because as I always say – if you can dream it, you can twirl it. Stay tuned for the next installment in my pink-tuted journey through time, as we unravel even more drag history. And until then, keep on twirling and dazzling, my darling divas!
