Hello darlings! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu wearing time traveller and proud Derbyshire girl. Welcome to Pink Tutu Time Travels, where we dip into the glittering, sequined, fabulous history of drag and remind ourselves of the beauty, boldness, and pure unadulterated JOY that makes drag what it is. Today, I'm taking us back to August 8th, 1968 - a time when bell bottoms were a thing, disco balls were a twinkle in a DJ’s eye, and drag queens were putting on some truly iconic shows.
As usual, my magical pink tutu (which, let me tell you, is even more glamorous this month with added glitter and diamanté, all sourced from a little vintage shop in Covent Garden – can you believe the deals?!) whisked me back in time to witness what was happening on the world's drag scene! This month’s journey took us to some really fabulous locations… let's get to it, lovelies!
First stop: New York City - Where the Queens Rule!
New York was buzzing, and drag was definitely part of the beat! You know how much I adore seeing the energy on the street scene. It was the height of the counterculture movement, and, believe me, those Queens were right in the heart of it all. Drag was still fighting for its rightful place on the stage, so finding queens who were doing it big in NYC was like finding a perfectly sized vintage feather boa! And I did - they were performing in drag bars, gay clubs, and, believe it or not, even in local parks and streets! Imagine a whole park buzzing with colourful performances, it’s almost enough to make me want to get my own feather boa out for a performance… maybe next time!
This particular night, I stumbled into The Stonewall Inn - a bit of a historic spot. Honestly, it's hard to go anywhere in New York City in the '60s and not feel history, but this place... it's charged with something special! Think of it like this: Stonewall Inn is a whole Drag Hall of Fame crammed into a basement. We are talking drag, music, dancing and general merriment… The queens were performing for a crowd of about 150, making for a gloriously intimate atmosphere - everyone had that special sense of community that you get when you are all part of a fabulous secret. This was, as the phrase goes, a night out to remember.
But remember, darling, there were real challenges happening then. Think police raids, discrimination, and a lot of fear for expressing who you truly are. But seeing those Queens strut their stuff - in feathers, sequins, and glitter - you can truly feel their defiance, their power, their beautiful resistance against all that ugliness. It gave me all the goosebumps and even inspired a new pink tutu idea... pink and glitter of course. The real life experiences of the time influenced and inspired a new range of tutus I plan on showcasing at my upcoming fundraiser for the ‘Dress Your Dreams’ initiative, which encourages the use of vintage clothing for theatrical performances.
A bit further afield: The international scene
I then found myself jetting (and I do mean jetting, honey - those vintage time travel flights are not for the faint of heart!) over to London for some seriously exciting drag events. This time I went to a few of the big theatres to take in some legendary shows, so exciting.
Let’s rewind a little - I think of this period of the '60s as the golden age of drag shows. I’m not sure the world of drag has seen its likes since then. Every night in London was just bursting with talented performers, many pushing the boundaries and questioning what drag could be. I mean, the world’s biggest pop stars would be lucky to have that much freedom! One show that had all the buzz in London, in those fabulous theatres that shimmer with golden age glamour, was "The Last Chance Saloon" - what a name for a drag show, I’d definitely try and catch it in my timeline. The crowd was mesmerized by the performance of the main queen – they told me she was some type of divine entity and called her… hold on… “Aphrodite”! The sheer talent of this performer (and you know I am all about celebrating the performers!), combined with that air of scandal, was electric. Oh, and I just love the names of some of these vintage drag stars. How fabulously, magnificently outrageous!
Remember the story about drag Queens from this era working day jobs and using every spare minute for perfecting the art of drag – it makes what we do in our lives look pretty mundane! Now, don't get me wrong, I love the glamorous fashion we see in drag these days, the intricate make-up, and the stunning costumes… but for me, seeing drag born out of passion, out of sheer need to be seen, to express, that's the most magical aspect of all.
My time travel discoveries
This month, I had a few really amazing discoveries while on my pink tutu journey to 1968. I can’t mention some of them, as we are all about keeping that beautiful, joyous feeling about drag front and centre - you know, nothing too controversial! Instead, here’s what you can take away from this particular time in history:
1. It's always been about acceptance and community
Look at the pictures of the people in the streets of New York, in the shows in London – that genuine expression of individuality in a world that wasn’t quite ready to see it, that is inspiring, empowering and something to truly celebrate. We’re so lucky to have such amazing LGBTQ+ trailblazers and those who pave the way for us, in whatever way they see fit, so thank you.
2. Fashion! Always Fashion!
The costumes – some I could wear today without a single change – just pure glam.
3. Never Stop Trying.
In 1968, you couldn’t get more flamboyant than what was going on in drag - what is possible? There are no rules - be bold, express your passion, and your beauty.
Pink Tutu Tip: 4. Get Involved
If you're into drag (and let's face it, who isn't? That's why you are here!), don't be shy – go and support the scene. That local drag club is full of talented, inspiring queens and kings. Or maybe get into costume yourself, make up a performance, find out about the clubs and get involved with the world of drag.
Well, there you have it! It's always a joy diving back in time, seeing how drag has changed and evolved – and yes, we can see our progress through the years. Now, what are we going to talk about in a year's time? I’ll need a few ideas from my lovely followers, so get those ideas brewing in your little heads! Get out those vintage feathers and head out to your nearest drag performance, just as I will do when I’m back from my latest jaunt on Pink Tutu Time Travel.
Have a beautiful day, darling!
XOXO
Emma
*Pink Tutu Time Travels Website: www.pink-tutu.com *
- Please note this post is fictitious and any resemblances to historical figures or actual events is coincidental
