Darlings,
It’s your favourite Derbyshire drag queen here, Emma, and I'm ready to transport you back in time with a whirl of my magic pink tutu. This month, we're stepping back to the glitz and glamour of June 6th 1931! Let's get ready to sashay!
Now, before I spill the tea on what the fabulous queens of 1931 were up to, let me tell you, finding information about early drag history can be a bit like finding a pristine pair of pink feather boas at a car boot sale. Precious, but hard to find! However, this is what makes time-travelling such an exciting experience, darling! Discovering those hidden gems, those little moments of magic, those glittering pearls in the history of our fabulous drag community.
This month, I wanted to show you the beauty of how early drag, particularly theatre-based, could be a way for men and women alike to express their individuality and to entertain and uplift audiences in unexpected ways.
Now, imagine, dear readers, if you will, a world before Drag Race. 💅🏻 A time when the only platform for expressing your inner diva was through the lens of performance art and musical theater! It's a fascinating time, my darlings, where cabaret and the thrill of spectacle became the primary mode for bringing drag to the masses.
I must tell you, stepping back into that time period with my time-travelling tutu, the excitement was positively electric. Imagine the sheer awe and spectacle, the sheer extravagance. They really were something else, these early performers, truly paving the way for our own drag dynasty today!
What Did June 6th 1931 Hold?It seems, on this date, there wasn’t much news related to drag or trans performance in the main press, but this was all the more exciting as I could truly be incognito! So, what did a stylish queen do back then? They simply turned to what they did best – to entertain, to delight and to offer audiences a slice of pure fantasy and escapism!
While 1931 wasn’t bursting with readily available historical archives related to the flamboyant world of drag, I was determined to make this journey worthwhile! I'd heard tales from the older, seasoned queens back home in Derbyshire – stories about a particular vaudeville circuit that had some dazzling performers in the '30s, particularly those specialising in theatrical drag.
Of course, one couldn’t travel to the past and ignore the historical context of 1931! It was a world with deep-seated social structures and expectations, yet, within this environment, the flamboyant and creative souls were making their own history! I spent hours in the old theatrical districts of London, getting a glimpse into what these entertainers might have faced.
I’d found out from those grand, ageing ladies back in my local drag scene that theatrical drag was often a stepping stone for many of these performers - some going on to become screen stars, others even setting up their own variety theatre circuits. A bit of a drag dynasty, as it were, but on a very different scale.
My travels landed me at the iconic "The Coliseum," in London, on June 6th, and you could just feel that magical, electrifying energy of performance! Imagine, darlings, a magnificent, sparkling Art Deco theatre filled with vibrant personalities, glamorous women and the intoxicating aroma of the finest spirits!
The Art of the Cabaret Show:To me, it's so clear – cabaret wasn't just entertainment in the '30s; it was an art form, a carefully constructed show full of exquisite costuming and musical spectacle. I felt a huge debt of gratitude to these early pioneers, for they were the ones setting the stage, literally, for drag’s rich history and evolution. Their work, I knew, would impact everything we see on the runway today, including that amazing pink tutu I travel in!
They performed in an age of restriction and conformity, and to create their own little worlds of pure fantasy, they often did it using theatrical illusion, transforming the mundane into a glittering, whimsical extravaganza! The way they integrated these transformations with song and dance truly embodied the art of drag – showcasing wit, audacity and undeniable talent!
To me, what makes the story of early drag so appealing, is that it highlights a community finding a platform to express themselves within often harsh conditions. The audacity of early drag artists is truly something to behold, reminding us how the power of performance and artistry has always existed within drag.
The World of Entertainment and Beyond:I also stumbled upon some interesting facts about drag’s presence in mainstream entertainment at that time! It was remarkable how early performers influenced films and theatrical productions - using makeup, styling, and performance to redefine gender norms!
Imagine this: June 6th 1931, and there I was, witnessing a scene I’d read about - a London vaudeville theatre filled with men dressing in exaggerated feminine attire, using it to make audiences erupt in laughter and applause. The joy in these acts was infectious. You can't imagine the sheer magnetism of this type of performance - there’s just something so magnetic, and even daring about these performances, don’t you think?
One act I loved seeing was a series of comedians with their unique ways of embracing female characters in sketches and songs, adding this cheeky humour that left the audiences in stitches. There was such a playful sense of exploration – truly showcasing drag as an expressive art form beyond simply dressing up.
These were drag performers paving the way, showing what it meant to express themselves creatively. The art of early drag, for many of them, served as a gateway to careers in entertainment, influencing the world of cinema and stage for years to come. The brilliance, I believe, of what they did lay in their fearlessness - they dared to challenge conventions and norms, showing their audiences a glimmer of freedom and possibility within performance and artistry.
Ending Our Time-Travelling Adventure:As I left that theatre, leaving those fabulous memories behind, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the profound history behind us, and I also realized just how much our modern drag world owes to those early pioneers!
We've come so far, haven’t we?
Yet, looking back, it reminds me how those pioneering performances brought us closer to the amazing drag world we see today. This history isn't about simply admiring past trends, darling, it’s about seeing those fearless queens and embracing their contributions to making drag the force of entertainment, fashion and self-expression that it is today.
The magic of 1931, just like the beauty of the present day, reminds me, as a pink tutu-wearing time traveller, that we all have a story to tell, a reason to stand tall and a purpose to share our dazzling selves. That's why I’ll keep travelling, keep sharing stories and inspiring more people to embrace their own inner fabulousness, perhaps in a little pink tutu too.
I love sharing my time-traveling stories with all of you, so don't forget to pop over to my site at www.pink-tutu.com every month for a fresh serving of drag history! Remember, darlings, it’s never too late to be glamorous. Until next time, keep shimmering!
Much love, Emma. 💖
