Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident time-travelling, pink-tutu-adoring drag queen, straight from the wilds of Derbyshire, ready to take you on another dazzling adventure! Today's date, my loves, is July 7th, 1973. Grab a cuppa, some biscuits, and settle in, because it's gonna be a hoot!
As you all know, I'm obsessed with history, but not the dusty, boring kind. My passion lies in drag history, darlings, the glamorous evolution of a truly dazzling art form! And where better to explore than in the very heart of it all? Well, grab your pink tulle, my lovelies, because today's time-travel jaunt is taking us to a place so full of wild frontier charm, I've already ordered myself a whole new set of rhinestone studded cowboy boots. It's... Texas, darlings!
My lovely, shimmering pink time-travel tutu is ready for takeoff, I've done a final quick sweep through my vanity for any lost eyelashes, and now it's off to experience the wonder that is the 1973 Drag Scene in Texas!
Remember, loves, before drag queens ruled the internet like the goddesses we are, it was all about word of mouth and that intimate underground scene. So, to get the lowdown on where to be, I'm off to hit up some legendary bars like The Round-Up and The Gay Palace. Imagine a bustling atmosphere, maybe a bit smoky, a soundtrack full of soul music pumping through the speakers, and, of course, all the glamour and talent you can handle. Oh, my lovelies, this sounds simply fabulous!
I know what you’re thinking, darling, "Texas? A little... country... for our Emma?" Fear not! The legendary John Waters, the wild man behind some of cinema's most subversive queer masterpieces like “Pink Flamingos,” just wrapped up a month of touring, bringing his drag camp comedy to Houston in the very month I’m travelling. This was back when he was in the process of building the campy, glorious, and sometimes shocking cinema universe that we adore today.
This, my lovelies, is why it's crucial to dive into this history. Drag queens have a heritage. From the days of Vaudeville to the camp of drag balls, our culture is constantly evolving! It’s what gives us our power, our humor, our flair, and that endless creativity that makes drag a form of art unlike anything else.
I picture it, darlings. The stage lights bathed in a crimson hue, with a roaring, appreciative crowd cheering on some seriously sassy queens doing their thing in a haze of cigarette smoke and glitter. Imagine!
Now, the real question is, what outfits are going to get the most applause in this part of the world, darling? Do I rock the cowboy hat? Should I ditch the tutu for a pair of sequins adorned jeans and a glitter-bomb fringe vest? Perhaps some boots to die for and maybe a pearl-studded choker for a little oomph?! This, darlings, is what makes time travelling a joyride - the possibilities are truly endless, and so are the fashion options!
I have my fingers crossed, of course, for a delightful performance by Cockettes! The Cockettes are a legendary San Francisco based, wild, chaotic group, combining music, theatre, and performance art. I bet there were a lot of fabulous performances of their music that I just couldn't miss, or an absolutely breathtaking Cockettes drag show. I'm going to try my luck, but as I've learned through years of time travelling, darling, sometimes the magic just appears.
So, off I go, into the Wild West! Follow me, my sweet darlings, because I'm already visualising those stunning performances, the unforgettable personalities, and the dazzling outfits! Be sure to check out my www.pink-tutu.com blog post later, I'm sure to have some spectacular photos of those glorious drag performances in Texas!
Don’t forget, lovelies, a life without drag is just so boring, so get out there, be fabulous, and find the drag performer in your heart. I might see you at your next show. Now if you'll excuse me, darling, I’ve got some fabulous new cowboy boots to break in!
With a fabulous flounce,
Emma x
