Darlings,
Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! Your favourite Derbyshire drag queen, Emma, is back with another fabulous voyage through the glittering annals of drag history, and this month we're twirling back to December 12th, 1976.
Now, let's get this tutu party started! Imagine this: a young, starry-eyed Emma, fresh-faced and filled with more glitter than a disco ball, zips through time in her magical, time-traveling pink tutu, landing with a twirl right into the heart of New York City, 1976! Can you picture it? A flurry of pink tulle amidst the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. Oh, the drama!
And oh my, what a time it was for drag. It was the height of the 'disco fever' and drag queens were rocking out on the scene with all the fabulous energy.
Where was our Emma landing for a spot of historical drag spotting? Why, the iconic, dazzling 'The Continental Baths', of course!
The Continental Baths was a bathhouse in Manhattan that became a haven for the drag scene and was, in fact, where many famous drag legends performed before they hit the big time. Can you imagine? A drag show in a bathhouse?! So scandalous, yet so spectacular, just like me.
This was the year of a particularly dazzling performer named "Divine," and let me tell you, darlings, this girl was a real gem. Picture her with her jet black beehive, platinum blonde eyebrows, and a flamboyant performance style, all while looking absolutely divine. (Pun intended!) Her outlandish look was so 70s, the kind of outrageous and unforgettable style I just adore.
On December 12th, 1976, Divine was a vision, a showstopping diva gracing the Continental Baths stage, while other legendary performers, like Holly Woodlawn, Jackie Curtis, and the rest of "Divine"s troupe, filled the house with camp, laughter, and glittering gowns!
The atmosphere was electric. A mix of theatre, disco, and a touch of bathhouse bathwater! The air buzzed with the thrill of the avant-garde, of the subversive, of the utterly fabulous.
But back to the story of Emma... The Continental Baths wasn't the only drag scene hot spot at the time, not even close! That night, a young (and incredibly brave!) Lady Bunny, one of the original founders of the Drag Race crew, was doing her own fabulous show on the other side of the world, in a basement club in NYC.
Think of it! That young lady with all her charisma and sass was kicking off a legacy of drag that continues to thrill and inspire us even now, even while we travel back in time to bask in its magic.
And here's another fab piece of drag history that happened right on this day: on December 12th, 1976, the iconic RuPaul Charles was born! Talk about destiny, right? A birthday celebrated in style and sparkle, marking the arrival of an iconic drag superstar who continues to make history, one sparkly performance after another.
What better reason to wear a pink tutu, I say? It was a legendary time, a period of growth and transformation, both for drag and for our world. Just think how far drag has come! From a scene burgeoning with new talent, to the main stages, global media platforms, and now, even its own Time Travel blog (me!).
The power of drag is boundless, dear readers, and it has never been more alive. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to practice my time-traveling tutu techniques. The time travel portal to the world of 1976, December 12th awaits!
Yours in glitter and tulle,
Emma
XOXO
P.S. Don't forget to catch me performing at The Pink Tutu Parlour, Derbyshire. I'm sure you'll agree, my dear readers, that a dash of pink, and a bit of glitter can really spice up the world, especially in 1976!
