We went to Central Station yesterday for Ray's Camp Drag, an evening of archive footage of drag queens and gay comedians as part of LGBT History Month. What a bona evening it was, too!
Although I don't actually remember many of the artists featured, we have always maintained a collection of vinyl classics from the early drag era - Lee Sutton, Danny LaRue, Mrs Shufflewick - and it was just fab to see them brought to life on screen, even if some of the recordings were (understandably) a bit scratchy.
There were cine recordings from the Black Cap and Vauxhall Tavern of (very young) Regina Fong, Sandra, Phil Starr and Lily Savage, some vintage scenes from old films, and TV clips including the Two Ronnies, Jules & Sandy and the infamous "Weakest Link Drag Queen Special".
Here is a clip of the fabulous Disappointer Sisters (Regina Fong with her partners in crime Rory and Gracie) filmed in 1975:
And a scene from Over the Garden Wall, featuring the brilliant Norman Evans:
And this is a rare recording of the awesome Mrs Shufflewick, appearing in a revue in 1964 at the Watermans Arms in East London called The Entertainers: Pubs, Pearlies & Pints, which we have in our collection.
Listen to Mrs Shufflewick in all her glory
When you see or hear these wonderful performers you realise just how much we "fortunate", emancipated queens of the 21st century owe to the pioneers of the drag world. After all, they were performing their outrageous acts in an era when you could be imprisoned just for being gay...
LGBT History Month
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