I do love a good drag show, although I think the current trend towards exaggerated makeup, hair and clothing takes away from the simple beauty of a man dressed as a woman. Back in the day, the more realistic your drag costume, the better; acts like Bert Savoy and The Rocky Twins made their fame through their very realistic drag, and part of their appeal was their ability to fool the men in the crowd. They were less drag and more trans. I stumbled on some photos (which may or may not be photoshopped) of Victorian men in drag, and that led me to Queer Music Heritage, a website dedicated to female impersonators from the past. In its pages I found many gorgeous drag queens spanning the 20th century. Whatever we say about the kids today, our great-grandparents and grandparents were also up to something!
Laverne Cummings
Julian Eltinge
Bert Savoy
Adrian Ames
Chris Ames
Barbette
Barbette
Bothwell Browne
Bothwell Browne
Gene La Marr
Chris Ames
Bobby DeCastro
Frank Doran
Frank Doran
Frank Doran
Francis Russell
Nicki Gallucci
Gita Gilmore
Walter Hart
The Rocky Twins
Bobbie Janson
Francis Renault
Freddy Renault
Freddy Renault
Francis Renault
Francis Renault
Francis Renault
Walter Hart
The Rocky Twins
The Rocky Twins
MS
August 1, 2014 at 11:20 am
This is a beautiful collection of photos. I think you should consider removing “Fooling the Heteros” from the title as it reinforces the myth of Trans Deception.
here’s some more info about that if you are curious.
http://transgriot.blogspot.ca/2007/11/theres-something-about-deception.html
George Clarke
August 23, 2014 at 2:34 am
good post.
Tootie Keanuenue Nefertootie
August 1, 2014 at 7:52 am
Thank you Megan for presenting these pictures (varied as they are from the clearly promotional, to the documentary, to the artistic. Oh for a world of less megapixels we would be so grateful!) and your viewpoint that we’ve lost something in the art of drag, that of fooling men. Nay nay my little kitty, Drag comes in 31 flavors and there is a face and padded body for everytaste, including the men who dispence disbelief like a magicians audience that delights in being fooled. You mention the Rocky Twins, and counter with kara and Tara Dion, You mention Bert Savoy and I see you Tony Smithey. Drag is evidence of evolution and I know that will make fundamentalist christians heads spin, but time has changed the face of “boys who would be girls” and yet its all stayed the same. Perhaps today’s over painted beauties are a expression of our oversaturated culture, their own artistic expression with their person as a canvas, or a commentary of “tada! Take me as I am”. Viva la drag, Its a big tent with 3 rings and a wealth of varied, hair’d, and creative ringmasters. Discount any of us at your own peril.
Brian Cholewinski
July 10, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Jana Hill
Luna Tique
July 10, 2014 at 10:51 am
No Matt, but I’m all over it now. Love!!
Matt Centers
July 10, 2014 at 10:30 am
Luna Tique i sure hope you’ve seen this!
Louie Mulhern
July 10, 2014 at 10:20 am
Daisy Shayler-Webb
Krissy Pederson
July 10, 2014 at 6:35 am
So great. Love me some drag queens.
Somnambuliformic Necrocannibaloid
July 10, 2014 at 4:03 am
You have an error in the word “Queers”.