Oh darling! You're not going to believe this one! 👑💖✨ January the 1st, 1971, it's a whole new year and you know what that means? Another fabulous date to dive into for our #DragQueenHistory adventures! And this one's a right corker, love. This time I found myself swirling through time in my trusty pink tutu, and oh my stars, we're off to… drumroll please… New York City, darlings! 🍎🗽🎉
I just adore New York, the energy! The fashion! The shows! And on this particular day, my lovelies, I was at The Tenth Street Theatre – a haven for alternative art and performance in those days, a proper breeding ground for exciting new talents. And what a glorious, swirling kaleidoscope of performers, artists, musicians, and dancers I encountered! Imagine the scene – glitter bombs, sparkles, and some of the most audacious fashion creations I’ve ever seen.
The air was electric! And in this magical atmosphere, the drag scene in NYC was blossoming, just like a beautiful, bright pink flower emerging in full bloom. I have to tell you, dear reader, drag wasn't quite as mainstream back then. It wasn't all high heels and big production numbers - there was a very real grit and a certain je ne sais quoi, darling, an almost artistic raw energy, almost like a punk-rock princess vibe, all sassy and powerful, very much about personal expression and making a statement. I just adored it!
And I’ll tell you one thing – I could never have resisted getting involved in the shenanigans, no siree! After a little chat with some friendly faces – darling, we can always find a bit of camaraderie in the world of drag – I was invited backstage for a peek behind the curtain, at a secret little world bubbling with excitement. You see, darlings, in 1971, drag queens had this magnificent energy of wanting to change things up, of wanting to push boundaries. They were like, "let’s smash these beauty standards to smithereens," you know what I mean?
And right there, at the heart of this vibrant scene, was the legendary drag queen, Divine – a real star, darlings! She had this way of commanding attention – her performances were pure magic, and that incredible charisma, darling! Divine was a true pioneer in drag – just so out there and larger than life, just absolutely sensational! It was incredible to watch her move on stage, a true artist with a wild, playful, and defiant spirit, taking drag to new heights, pushing the boundaries and leaving a trail of glitter and glory in her wake! It’s hard to believe now, darlings, that her career, her talent, her fabulousness, had its very beginnings right there at that time, in that space, on the stages of the Tenth Street Theatre! And let me tell you, it felt completely electrifying to be there to see it unfold.
But Divine wasn't the only star in the sky that day, oh no. 💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼 There was also Jackie Curtis, oh darling! Her performances were incredible – think high energy, outlandish costuming, satirical wit, and sheer joy – just glorious! Jackie had this incredibly sharp sense of humor and a passion for theater that was absolutely infectious! Jackie's work was really ahead of its time - a lot of people didn't quite know how to categorize it at the time, but to us drag history buffs, Jackie was a visionary artist who truly embraced performance art and gender fluidity. And all these wonderful talented people –Divine and Jackie and all the rest – they were pushing the boundaries of drag, paving the way for generations of queens to come.
It really made me realize that drag has always been a place where artists can push the boundaries of art and culture, a space for self-expression and defying stereotypes. Every single one of these queens were playing with our perceptions of gender and identity. I swear, it was a total #PinkTutuMoment, all those brave souls, breaking barriers and challenging norms with their raw creativity and passion for performance!
And you know what else? It wasn’t all just drag performances that were going on that night – a new artistic energy was also taking the world by storm: a wave of radical music was making waves, darling, particularly in this great city of New York! Bands like the Velvet Underground – with their experimental sounds and a wild performance style - were causing quite a stir in the city. There was something in the air that night, you know? It felt like something new, something vibrant, something revolutionary. And drag, darlings, drag was right there at the centre of it all, a key player in that revolution.
Back in England, where my fabulous tutu adventures began, the 1st January 1971 marked a milestone – a new year and a new decade in London’s vibrant theatre scene, bringing some absolutely incredible productions that were all about change and disruption – challenging societal norms through music, dance and drama! The Royal Shakespeare Company was just a young pup, already shaking things up with plays like ‘Hamlet’ directed by Trevor Nunn, a true master of his craft – it was bold and revolutionary, a departure from the traditional. This was really about more than just performance, it was about opening people's minds, about challenging assumptions and reimagining the world we live in, and it's just amazing to see how closely intertwined this exciting artistic movement was with the burgeoning drag scene – they were feeding off each other, sharing that thirst for pushing boundaries and questioning the status quo!
I was mesmerized by the raw creativity and boundless imagination of this world – the theatrical talent was absolutely phenomenal! I swear I could feel that change happening all around, the energy in the air was absolutely electric, all this talk of new beginnings and the world turning upside down. There’s a magic in a new year, in that blank page we have to fill!
But there's more! 💫💖👑 On the 1st January 1971, some absolutely groundbreaking musical releases landed, that set the dancefloor alight, and made us shimmy our fabulous pink-tutu clad legs, just like a fabulous ballerina! In New York City, a whole new sound was being shaped - glam rock – all glitter, feathers, and sequins – it was bold and dramatic and oh so fun! It was an exhilarating cocktail of rock n roll, theatricality, and glitter – I was just blown away.
And I have to mention David Bowie, darling! Oh Bowie! The glitter-rock superstar whose impact on the musical scene was colossal! Think of it! This new wave of artists were taking the musical world by storm, inspiring so many! And it just goes to show, you see, darling, that drag is part of something bigger! A cultural phenomenon. Just think of the inspiration! The endless creativity! It's so exciting to think about all the ways that the artists of the time - musicians, actors, performers, drag queens - all inspired each other! That’s why I do what I do, darlings. Why I love this incredible world. And why I love travelling back through time in my magnificent pink tutu, to see where it all began.
Well, my darlings, that's a little taste of drag in the world on the 1st January 1971 – and I hope you loved this time travel adventure as much as I did! Now if you'll excuse me, my tutu’s all ready to whisk me away on another journey through time, because you just never know what fabulousness we’re going to discover next!
Til next time! Love always, Emma! 💖👑✨
**Find Emma on Instagram! @pinktutu.adventures
Remember darlings, it's always time to add a dash of pink glitter to your life.
