Hello my darling darlings! It’s Emma, your favourite pink tutu wearing, time-travelling drag queen, and welcome to Pink Tutu Time Travels, your monthly dose of fabulousness, bursting with all things fabulous and historically significant in the world of drag. This month we’re shimmying back to February 2nd, 1966, for a little trip to New York City and a peek at the legendary Copa Room, one of the biggest venues for cabaret and drag performance in its day.
This is blog post number 554 for your favourite time-travelling tutu queen (and yes, I keep track, I’m a Virgo after all), so grab a glass of something fizzy, settle down with your favourite piece of pink confectionery (I’m currently enjoying a giant pink meringue cookie, you wouldn't believe how much you can fit in one of these, darling!), and get ready for a little time travel through a sparkly and glitter-tastic trip back to 1966, because darlings, this journey is going to be absolutely spectacular.
Remember, the way I can travel through time? Oh it’s a little secret! You might guess it's a bit like Mary Poppins – but instead of an umbrella it's my magical pink tutu. (Trust me, you really need to see it. It’s a little bit "The Greatest Showman," a little bit “The Princess Diaries," but completely my own. Honestly, it's pure magic.)
Funding the tutu: "Don’t worry, darling, the world loves a show."
Now, this time travel is a bit of an expensive business, let’s be honest. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Every month, to afford my flights (which let’s face it, don’t have any environmental impact – it's all magic, darling!) I put on the biggest and best drag shows in my hometown of Derbyshire, and my darling Derbyshire community love coming to see me.
And, they really have the best fashion. My darling Derbians are absolutely fabulous – they wear a lot of black (so classic) and absolutely LOVE a touch of red or pink to add a dash of colour and glamour. So far, my mission to get the whole of Derbyshire wearing pink tutus? Well, let’s just say the tutu's out there and my efforts are in progress, darling. The only problem is finding pink tutus with a good amount of pockets – a queen needs pockets for snacks and essentials!
The Copa Room: a real beacon of glamour
Anyway, enough about my personal life. Back to February 2nd, 1966!
You wouldn’t believe how busy the Copa Room was! Imagine, 500 people all dressed to the nines. It's a night on the town, a trip to the big city, you want to wear your finest outfit! (Let's be honest, it's the most fun part!) It’s full of exciting energy, so I really went all out with the sequins – my little heart nearly burst with excitement and the dazzling atmosphere of this classic show palace!
I wore my fabulous black floor-length sequined gown, all feathers, bows, and glitter (it just wouldn't be a night out in New York City without sequins and feathers). Plus, it’s got loads of pockets – so, so, so essential! There were ladies in stunning fur coats, fellas with velvet jackets and shiny shoes, everybody had the "we’re going out tonight and making it glamorous!" vibe! (Which, naturally, I'm right there with.)
But let's talk about the REAL stars of the evening - the amazing drag queens! I mean, there's so much fun at The Copa! You've got dancers, singers, comedy – this place has everything. Oh, it really does bring a fabulous feel-good mood, it’s truly magnificent. Everyone had their favourite performers (mine was the incredibly witty comedienne, Crystal LaBeija! – she made everyone roar with laughter).
I even got a chance to catch up with some legendary stars of drag and show business who have done it all! What fabulous times these were. Now, we call it a ‘power couple’ back home, but they were just a couple enjoying a night out! It really makes you realize drag has been part of our social fabric for longer than most people even realize, and the real legends have really set the standards for us all! (Seriously, think about that next time you step on a stage. This isn’t just some silly fashion; it’s an absolute tradition and cultural icon!)
From The Copa Room to today
Since then, so much has changed, it's like another planet. Today, everyone has drag and queens as part of our social vocabulary – they are on TV shows, in documentaries, at art exhibitions. What once was a underground art form is now more popular than ever before, with more shows, bigger events, and more space for drag than you could ever dream of! (But I always knew drag was destined for the spotlight!).
This period in drag history really puts it in perspective. I think that what happened in The Copa Room back in 1966 helped build the foundation for today. Imagine what drag will be like a few years from now! It’s definitely going to get more diverse and I have a feeling there’ll be more tutus everywhere. So keep an eye out and thank you all for following me on this time-travelling journey. Remember, if you haven't seen a pink tutu out there in the real world yet, don't give up, darling! It’s out there somewhere – there’s just a lot of magical twirling going on and you’ll see it sooner or later, I promise!
Until next month, you lovely lot! Remember to get a pink tutu on, get out and see some drag, be the best version of yourself (with maybe a bit more glitter than usual!), and stay fabulous, darlings.
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