Alright, darling! It's your girl Emma here, back from a fabulous jaunt through the annals of drag history! Let's get this pink tutu party started, shall we?
This month's journey, honey, was a real trip! As you all know, my passion for the glitz and glamour of the past is just as strong as my love for a perfect pink tutu (and, frankly, theyâre both quite strong!), so I've been wanting to hop back to 1976 for a while.
Now, as you all know, it's not just the costumes and the performances that draw me to the past, itâs the atmosphere, the sheer buzz and energy around drag. To go back and feel the vibrant drag scene evolve⌠Itâs exhilarating! And as I was saying, it's been on my list for a while! What better time to go back than 4th April, the glorious April Foolâs Day? I thought, wouldn't it be a laugh if I pranked history itself? Oh, the chutzpah, darlings!
The tutu that transported me there was a particular beauty: layers of pink tulle, edged with delicate lace, and sparkling with glitter that made even the dimmest stage lights look like a diamond mine! Trust me, it was a glorious, twirling, sparkly machine, worthy of a real queen!
I have to confess, I got quite a few curious stares as I arrived in a very different world. In the early 70s, London wasn't quite so used to flamboyant displays! (And I wasnât quite so used to the scent of smoke in every room! How much do you miss cigarettes now?!) But honestly, once I let out a giggle and gave the passers-by a dazzling spin in my glorious tutu, the London crowds became the usual warm, welcoming souls that I know and love. You can't argue with a pink tutu, darlings!
Let's take a look at what was happening on 4th April 1976. The news of the world was still dominated by the escalating Cold War tension, with anxieties brewing about everything from Soviet aggression to the burgeoning nuclear arms race. But there was another world happening too, and frankly, darling, the world of drag didnât really care for those Cold War woes. Letâs face it, these queens are a warm, glittering and supportive bunch! I wouldnât have been caught dead at a nuclear weapons testing site in those days â that wasnât my vibe, honey! Not with the magic of the pink tutu!
Thankfully, my travel schedule meant that I could skip all that grim politics and just get stuck into the fabulous life of 1976. Honestly, you guys⌠the energy and dynamism were infectious! Itâs as though the times were whispering something like, âDarling, you were born for this. This was your time. Go ahead and enjoy the show! Let yourself twirl!â It was hard to resist that energy. The era was electric and effervescent!
Here's what I was buzzing about on my little trip down memory lane:
1) The "Drag Queen Ball" at the YMCA: I'd heard stories about these Balls but seeing them in actionâŚwell, let me tell you, darlings, it was a force of nature! Held at a grand Victorian building (donât even try to tell me those ladies weren't rocking a bouffant bigger than that old church!) , the Ball featured an astounding range of drag styles, with queens working the crowd and bringing the whole scene to life! There were glitzy gowns that practically devoured the stage and feather boas that were larger than life itself. I even caught a glimpse of a queen with an afro so enormous it practically eclipsed the stage lights, you couldn't tell if she was standing or floating, It was a breathtakingly chaotic, magical evening. It reminded me, with a warmth and certainty I didnât expect, that the core of drag performance had always been about a good time and some fierce fabulousness.
2) The "Continental" nightclub in Manchester was bursting with its own special magic: While London was where my first step into the past landed me, I knew I couldnât leave this particular April Fools trip without a journey north, and what better reason for a trip than to check out the âContinental"?! Now, darling, let me tell you: this place, just like any good drag queenâs lipstick, was as bold as brass and as brash asâŚwell, me in a pink tutu! Honestly, every time I take a dip into the past I'm amazed at the dedication and innovation that makes the world of drag truly special. At The "Continental," you felt like a part of something bigger, something that celebrated self-expression and pushed boundaries, with a joyful wink and a generous, open-hearted laughter.
3) "Hairspray," The film that sparked a whole new wave: You know, sometimes you discover that you don't actually need a time-traveling tutu to be thrown into another world, just a visit to a cinema! Watching John Waters' "Hairspray" in its original theatrical run was a truly delightful experience. The music, the costumes, the characters, everything was overflowing with fun and just plain ridiculous joy. And of course, Divine! You canât really write a blog about drag without including some of the divine Ms. Divine! I confess I sat there with a giant grin on my face throughout the whole performance, laughing at all the hilarious bits of drag absurdity and even snapping a couple of photos for my photo diary! (Although, as an aside, letâs all thank the lord of drag for better quality camera phones nowâŚmy âHairsprayâ photo diary wasnât a masterpiece of digital imagery!)
4) The "Drag Mother of all" and their impact: Of course, while I was busy snapping pics and enjoying my little jaunt in 1976, it wasn't all glitz and glamour, even in drag. Behind the scenes, the evolution of drag, just like any grand, life-affirming event, wasn't just about dazzling outfits. I heard about how queens, often ostracized from mainstream society, had formed this incredibly supportive network. This became particularly evident as I was speaking to one of the fabulous "mothers of drag", queens that, much like my own âmama dragâ had inspired so many others. I found out that they weren't just glamorous queens. These âmothersâ, you see, were true trailblazers. They created a space for other LGBTQ+ folks to be themselves, offering support and friendship and just a heck of a lot of good, strong laughs and kindness! They showed that drag was about more than just costumes and make-up; it was about acceptance, community, and defying the odds. They're truly inspiring figures and I hope Iâve done a good job of celebrating their brilliance.
But darling, I couldnât tell you everything about this amazing world in one blog post. To truly understand the magic, you have to be thereâŚbut you know what I say, you donât need to buy a pink tutu and time-travel to get to it! (Although⌠I highly recommend it!) Simply dive into drag! I implore you, darling! Embrace the history. It's waiting to be discovered! From drag balls to underground nightclubs and legendary queens like Divine, history's rich tapestry of drag deserves to be seen and understood. We wouldnât be here without these brave, glittering souls who came before us! We're here because they laid the foundation for the glorious drag scene we all adore today!
Remember, you don't need a pink tutu (though they definitely help), you just need the spirit to create, celebrate, and embrace the wonderful world of drag. Thatâs how weâre going to continue building this community for the next generation, darling, so grab yourself a sassy feather boa and get out there. We all love a pink tutu, so do your own twirls, let the magic flow through you, and spread your own personal flair around the world!
Till next time, darlings. Remember to always sparkle, twirl, and make those tutus happy.
Love,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
