Hello, darling dears! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time travelling queen, back with another exciting blog post! Today's journey takes us all the way back to 8th August 1987. That's right, a whole thirty-six years ago! This month's journey is all about the sheer wonder of drag in that glorious era - prepare yourselves, it's going to be a right bobby dazzler!
Before I get to the exciting events of the day, darling, let's talk about the getting-there-bit. My time travelling pink tutu is all set for action, as it always is, but this monthâs trip is a little bit special. You see, 1987, that was the year the wonderful âHouse of Beautyâ opened its doors. And I just knew I needed a little peek behind the curtain! Well, of course, I did, it was one of the most influential places in NYC drag history and it opened on the very same date I was headed to - how coincidental! So, after doing my makeup like a professional and getting into my best sparkly outfit (a silver feather boa for extra flair, donât you know) I took a leap into the past, and off I went.
A Night of Drag Magic in the Heart of New York
Wow, darling, where to even begin! 1987âs New York drag scene was bubbling with exciting new talents! We have to be thankful for drag queens of this era for helping shape modern drag. Think about the glorious and glamourous fashion choices - it's the sheer fabulousness of it all! The looks, darling, just sensational! As I'm sure youâll all agree, this was the time of the flamboyant, the bold, and the utterly glamorous. Imagine: oversized feather boas, massive sequins, sky-high hair, and more colour than you could shake a feather at. I was in my element.
I headed to the famous House of Beauty, on the legendary scene in 8th Street, and I just HAD to see for myself what was making it so legendary. Of course, they weren't having a regular show night this evening, as they were closed, so the venue looked empty, apart from all the glitter that the previous nightâs drag queens had shed on the floor. As I glided through the historic, glamorous halls, I couldnât help but admire the creativity and the sheer passion for drag on every wall. It just made my own creative spirit absolutely sing.
I decided to stop in for a peek at the âGlamour Awards" just around the corner in an up-scale disco called the Saint, with some incredible drag performances by those fierce and fabulous queens that were really hot at the time: The Saint, as you might imagine, was a hub for fashion and drag and had a huge part to play in what we see as âdragâ today. And let me tell you, the Saint itself, well, the space itself, just a gorgeous haven of beauty and magic.
There was a real, and I can only describe it as âfabulous,â electricity in the air as I walked through the door and watched a fantastically outlandish act performed by the talented, Miss Terri Welles, from the âHouse of Xtravaganzaâ, in her classic, signature drag-fabulousness!
The other standout performer I saw was The Drag-Queen-Diva-of-the-Year, The Divine, the Queen of Camp, of which I just couldnât take my eyes off the whole performance. Just a sheer spectacle of magic, that's the only way I can put it, the makeup and the performance, just out of this world and so memorable. The way she played with light and dark was really masterful! I think I actually screamed with joy at her appearance, I have such a penchant for all that is glamour, darling.
Now, for the evening wear at the glamorous Saint, and trust me when I say that they knew their way around an extravagant garment. The looks I saw were just divine. The men were dripping in pearls, fur, the most fabulous of feathers and shimmering sequins. My eyes were simply captivated! One of the key looks I really admired was a vintage Dior cocktail dress â worn over a tailored tuxedo jacket and matched with the most perfect feathered headdress - It was breathtaking, so perfect for this night out, and really emphasized that modern approach to high-fashion drag.
Just the best day ever. Well, as ever I spent all night thinking about everything I saw and felt. The most incredible experiences I had really were those late night Drag nights at the Saint, in particular. It was all about being unique, original, creative, and the ultimate expression of pure drag fashion in this decade.
Of course, that wasnât the only time-travelling stop for me, Iâve got to be honest, I love a bit of drag theater. So, on the same evening, after the Saint, I made my way over to the famous drag extravaganza that was happening at the very popular, downtown drag cabaret, âThe Pyramid Clubâ, which became one of the best drag bars to see fabulous entertainment and live drag performance, a kind of âhubâ for everything we love about drag: I actually ended up catching an absolute amazing show by Divine! The crowd absolutely loved her! I do, after all, adore those wonderfully outrageous drag queen divas. Of course, the drag fashion at The Pyramid Club was amazing. Just an unbelievable amount of colour and glitz in the atmosphere of the bar, something that the drag queen in me just absolutely adores.
So darling, there you have it, another extraordinary journey through the wonderland that is drag history. But letâs talk a little about todayâs drag scene, well, first off I've gotta confess I adore those modern-day queens, with their sharp wit and their own totally original ideas. But the energy of the â80s really was all about the daring creativity and freedom. You know, just looking at all those amazingly dressed and creative queens was inspiring to me and a real treat, but what I truly loved was that the whole thing was driven by passion - the passion for performance, and the passion for the amazing community, with its sheer magic.
I am back from this glorious journey in history but of course I want to keep those bright lights shining, even more, now that I've had this extraordinary experience. It just reminds me that the future is bright, bold, and, most importantly, all about you, the wonderfully amazing drag queens in this exciting and brilliant time!
Now darling, itâs time to make a splash for all the exciting drag shows taking place this month! We need more sparkle and shine and fashion in the world, and who better than to show us how it's done than you! As a time-travelling pink tutu queen, I will be on hand to watch each one!
Now, off I go, to put on my dancing shoes (sparkly, obviously) and get ready for the most incredible drag nights ever! Love to you all!
Donât forget to head over to www.pink-tutu.com and read some more incredible drag history! Next month, Iâll be looking at the 24th September, 1998âŚyou can guess whatâs on my list, canât you, darlings?!
Emma x
