The History of Drag Queens

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

History Hit

Society, Sex, Scandal, Education, History

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 11 April 2024

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The word drag is synonymous with flamboyant, fun performances. But where does the term come from and what does it mean?

This more modern story of playing with gender identity’s dates back to the 1870s, and it’s a history that takes in the wars, censorship and fears. Heaven forbid!

Taking us through this fascinating history of drag as we know it today is Jacob Bloomfield, author of Drag: A British History.

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello my lovely betwixters it's me Kate Lister I am here once more with the
0:06.2	podcast and I'm so pleased that you have been able to drop by I do enjoy our
0:10.3	little chats and here is a chat this chat is the fair dues warning
0:15.3	This is an adult podcast spoken by adults to other adults about adulty things in an adulty way
0:19.7	covering a range of adult subject and you should be an adult too.
0:24.0	Well I certainly feel safer. Do you feel safer? Good, on with the show.
0:29.0	Grab a seat betwixtus. We do not have long before this show starts. And what a show!
0:38.0	It's even better than betwixt, so you're right to be excited.
0:42.0	I am talking about La Rouge Et Noir, the concert
0:45.2	troop of the First Army who are here at the Savoy Theatre in 1919 to stage what
0:51.2	will later be cited as one of the first drag shows to reach and
0:55.0	thrill mainstream audiences. Shh! It's starting! Let's enjoy the show. What do you look for a man?
1:09.0	Oh money, of course.
1:10.0	You're supposed to rise when an adult speaks to you.
1:13.0	I make perfect copies of whatever my boss needs by just turning a knob and pushing the button.
1:19.0	You're right! Now!
1:22.0	You're right! Yes, social courtesy does make a difference.
1:25.0	Goodness, what beautiful dance.
1:28.0	Goodness, there has nothing to do with it during.
1:41.0	Hello and welcome back to betwixt the shades, the history of sex scandal in society with me, Kate Lister. The history of drag is long and fascinating. It's a history that takes in wars,
1:46.4	censorship, and of course the constant fear that it could corrupt and encourage loose morals, heaven for fend.
1:54.6	Taking us through this fascinating history of drag as we know it today is Jacob Bloomfield, author of
	...

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