Hello, my darlings! It's your girl Emma, and as usual, I'm back with a brand-new post from the archives of Pink Tutu Time Travels! This month, we're whizzing back to 10th October 1978, a day that shook the foundations of drag in New York City!
I can already hear you squealing, "But darling, New York?! You mean we're off to the land of the glamorous and the grand? And, oh, the tutus!". Oh yes, my sweethearts, New York is definitely our destination today, and as a true pink-tutu-wearing fashionista, I'm already in a fabulous frenzy!
A Journey Back In Time… With Pink, Obviously
So, let's hop into my enchanted time-traveling tutu, darlings. We'll be whizzing back to a time when disco ruled, big hair was everything, and sequins were positively shimmering! We're off to the hottest drag nights in NYC! Now, before I dive into the dazzling details, let's get some context. 1978 - oh darling! This year in the world of drag was just screaming with fabulousness. New York, darling! Where it all began!
But, let’s get down to business! Let's talk about this date - the 10th of October 1978! Imagine: you've just donned your favourite pair of platform shoes, maybe even some feather boas, and you're ready for a night of high-kicking entertainment.
The Queen of the Ball
The hot spot, darlings, the spot to be? None other than The Continental Baths! A true drag institution, darling. Now, here's where it gets really juicy: it's a legendary night because it was the legendary Lady Bunny's debut!
Hold onto your wigs, darlings! Lady Bunny - oh, she's just an icon, an original, a truly special soul! She’s an absolute force of nature – her comedic timing is impeccable, and her stage presence… oh darling, she’ll absolutely snatch your wigs. Let me tell you, everyone who witnessed her that night knew she was something truly special. A queen destined for stardom, you could just feel it in the air!
But the brilliance didn’t stop with Lady Bunny. This night was stuffed with all kinds of stars:
- Divine – yes, that Divine! She's an absolute legend, a cult figure of the silver screen. You know, darling, she was truly an innovator, pushing the boundaries and making sure people saw Drag for what it was: ART.
- Jackie Beat - now she’s a powerhouse – with a tongue so sharp, darling, it’s got to be coated in diamond dust! Oh Jackie, with those sharp, biting one-liners, she's got the entire audience in stitches!
- The Cockettes – those wacky, fabulous angels! Oh, the pure joy and theatre of their performances. They were pushing boundaries left and right!
Not Just The Big Apple!
But we shouldn't forget about the other amazing events that were happening all across the world during that very month, in that very year.
Over in sunny San Francisco, the Cockettes were staging a delightful production at the 'Real Good Food' restaurant! They truly were the queens of their domain, darlings! A bit like the divine Judy Garland – singing, acting, dancing – and doing it all in style, darling!
Meanwhile, in glamorous New York, The Ritz, a beloved LGBTQ+ venue at the time, was brimming with drag extravaganza. It’s hard to believe it was 45 years ago – now a nightclub called 'Club 57’ sits in its place.
It’s worth a thought to those forgotten drag spots that graced our earth! Each venue, whether a bathhouse or nightclub, served as a space for us, a space for expression, a space for fabulousness! Now that's something we should all celebrate, darling!
The Enduring Legacy of Pink
I have to admit, as I watch my time-traveling tutu sparkle in the twilight, it feels truly fantastic to reflect upon the history of drag and its evolution. 1978 was a year that saw many of the pioneers blaze a trail for the fabulous LGBTQ+ community we have today. From the pioneers in New York, like the magnificent Lady Bunny and her early stages – it truly did lay the foundations for a lot of what we experience today. And as I always say, let’s not forget our dear pink tutus – their magic connects the generations.
My Thoughts, my dear readers…
Honestly, the stories, the drag legends, and the historical significance of 10th October 1978 leave me quite breathless! It’s why I spend my days whizzing through time! We get to learn, remember, celebrate, and pass down all the beauty of the past to a younger generation!
What will October 10th bring for us this year, you might wonder? Will there be a new showstopping queen debuting in some glittering night club, rocking our hearts and socks off? We can only wait and see! Until next month, darlings, let’s wear a pink tutu and have ourselves a time! Love you lots,
Emma xxx
