Oh darlings, hello! Your favourite Derbyshire-born, pink-loving, tutu-adoring time traveller, Emma, is back with another thrilling slice of drag queen history! This month we're waltzing our way back to February 2nd, 1975 - can you believe it?! Honestly, I can barely remember what I wore yesterday, never mind what drag was up to forty-eight years ago!
As always, my magical pink tutu took me soaring through the time stream, and wouldn't you know it, I landed in a fabulous world of glittery costumes, fierce makeup, and oh-so-much personality! Even though it was a whole generation ago, it felt like walking into a drag show with an energy that truly takes you back!
Before I dive into the world of 1975 drag, darlings, I've got to spill the tea on my new fabulous outfit for this journey! It was an absolute dream, a symphony of pink sequins and tulle, with a little extra sprinkle of feathers for good measure, topped off with a gorgeous tiara sparkling with all the rainbow colours. You've simply got to see the photos on my Instagram, it's simply divine!
Right then, let's get down to business! This era in drag was bursting with a whole new wave of artistry and talent, darlings! It was a time where the line between theatre and drag was blurring beautifully. It's not all about camp, you know - sometimes the best performances can be all about raw, powerful emotions, even when served with a sprinkle of glitter and sequins!
Let's take a journey back to February 2nd, 1975 and discover the incredible world of drag that was going down around the globe:
New York City - The Epicentre of Drag:
The city that never sleeps was thriving with drag in the seventies! It was the era of The Cockettes - those fabulous and flamboyant theatrical pioneers, creating outrageous spectacles on stage, celebrating all things beautiful, even in their glorious flaws. There were also The Angels of Light a drag troupe from California, who'd gained cult-status by 1975! Remember darling, drag in those days was revolutionary, an expression of rebellion and self-acceptance, even with the constant fight for equal rights! We can't forget the importance of clubs like The Mineshaft, a popular hangout for artists and drag queens. Just think of all those iconic figures sipping martinis and exchanging witty repartee, oh darling, what stories those walls could tell!
San Francisco's Glam Squad:
As any good time traveler knows, San Francisco's drag scene was a force to be reckoned with! You have the infamous Cockettes, who I just mentioned - they weren’t only in New York, they travelled around! Remember these amazing drag queens were part of the avant-garde counter-culture, creating a new form of theater and art! The Cockettes, always championed inclusivity and community and the art they produced - with those wild outfits, camp humor and subversive satire - was totally in your face. A statement! This is what made the seventies drag so thrilling, right?!
Europe's Drag Stars
Meanwhile, Europe wasn't playing second fiddle. In the bustling and vibrant world of London's Soho district, drag was flourishing! This district became a safe space for queer expression. It's no wonder this era was all about being a fearless creative force. Oh, and let's not forget about Paris, that city of romance and chic. You can bet your bottom dollar the drag scene was exquisitely stylish! Picture a fabulous performance, maybe at Le Marais's hottest clubs, all wrapped up in stunning costumes and make-up and with an extra sprinkle of Parisian chic, you simply can’t imagine how dazzling the stage must have been!
Drag Across The Globe:
Drag wasn’t limited to the big cities though. Remember darling, it was spreading to every corner of the world - drag was everywhere! In Australia, it was a time for a different kind of drag, perhaps a touch more street-smart and unapologetic. There was a boldness in drag performances at that time, a daring expression of individuality, right? The beauty of this time was seeing this unique and expressive drag on the stages!
And back in Derbyshire - even little ol' us had its drag queen roots. I can only imagine what was going on - it might have been under the radar, but drag, darling, it existed. My dear auntie Maureen tells me, there was always a good dose of "dressing up" for fancy dress or theatre productions! The seeds of creativity, darling, were already being sown. It was a time for exploration - we couldn’t have known it then but drag would be reaching out from the theatre scene to our TV screens, just like it has today!
So there you have it, my dearest time travellers! 1975 was a phenomenal year for drag, an era full of expression and boundary-pushing creativity.
Now, my darling readers, if you're ready for a delicious piece of history and to see some incredible archival images of 1975 drag, then hop onto my website, www.pink-tutu.com for more fabulous stories. And remember to share your love of drag with the world! Put on your own pink tutu, show your true self, and get out there!
See you next month, darlings!
Love,
Emma, The Pink Tutu Time Traveller!
P.S. If you have any memories from your time-traveling adventures, let me know! We'd love to hear them and I'm dying to see what you're rocking. Tag me @pinktututime_traveler on social media!
