1949- This San Antonio drag queen proves that traditional states like Texas could appreciate drag entertainment. UTSA General Photograph Collection1951- The 1950s were more “Leave it To Beaver” than drag-friendly, but queens like Kitt Russell still remained. Queer Music Heritage1950s- And continued to sell out houses night after night. Queer Music Heritage1952- Clubs like Madame Arthur’s French Fun House continued to delight audiences with nightly drag shows. littlethings1955- Though neighbors might whisper if you were seen attending a show. littlethings1952- The “Fun-Maker’s Ball” proves that drag balls continued to flourish in the 1950s. Qualia Folk1952- The art of “female impersonation” continued to evolve as quickly as the make-up quality. Professional drag queens were expected to be passable as actual women. Queer Music Heritage1956- Drag celebrity impersonations, like this one of Marilyn Monroe, began to appear in more and more drag acts. littlethings1957- Here is a photo of 1950s drag queen Robbie Ross in drag. Queer Music HeritageRobbie Ross not dressed in drag. littlethingsLate 1950s- Casa Susanna, a resort-house in the Catskills of New York, was born. Time Magazine1959- Casa Susanna provided a safe retreat for heterosexual men who enjoyed dressing in women’s clothes. littlethings1961- For many of Casa Susanna’s visitors, it was a welcome respite from having to adhere to the usual social norms. Time Magazine1962- Casa Susanna continued to grow through the early 1960s. littlethings1960s- The 1960s were a time of great change and revolution, especially sexually. The era of McCarthyism and Eisenhower was over. littlethings1960s- Drag queens began to gather more regularly and openly in some of the country’s first gay bars, such as the Stonewall Inn. Even this photo from Kansas City, MO, shows that drag entertainment had spread to the Midwest. littlethings1960s- Drag continued to evolve from “female impersonators” and professional performers into a form of creative self-expression for gay men. littlethings1960s- Drag became less about a making a living and more about finding a community. littlethings1960s- Though not emblematic of the “drag scene,” this unique photo shows a 1960s Los Angeles police troop in drag. There were frequent attacks on older women by muggers, so the police dressed in drag as a trap. Retronaut1969- This photo, taken the same year as the Stonewall Riots, shows a similar plan in NYC. This drag-wearing cop might actually have been part of the raids. Retronaut1967- This photo, taken a few years before Stonewall, is emblematic of some trailblazers that paved the way for LGBT rights. littlethings
