Well, I Laughed
Out & About pt.2: Swann Dive
Drag is art, drag is exciting, drag is… old? This week, Maia explores the history of drag. From drag in Ancient Greece and Rome and male only casts, to more contemporary artist like the work of Julian Eltinge. Maia shares the life of William Dorsey Swann, who was America’s first drag queen, or at least one of them. Taking us to the Drag Balls of Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance and the extravagant homes of DC that first held drag gatherings. Swann’s life proves that drag has history in America. Take a swan dive in the life of “William Dorsey Swann”!
Photos/Videos Referenced:
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| Divine performing in 1983 - courtesy of Fryderyk Gabowicz/dpa via AP | Ginger Mink - spotify artist picture |
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| Julian Eltinge - silent film superstar | Julian Eltinge - dressed in drag |
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Cake Walk Dance Video (click here to go to Channing's Website) |
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Frederick and Park Duo Left: Stella (left), Fanny (right) |
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| 1888 Raid reported in the National Republican Newspaper - courtesy of Library of Congress/Channing Joseph | Reporting on a raid on a drag ball - courtesy of Library of Congress |
| In Ancient Greece, Children Wearing Drag Was a Religious Obligation! - The blog post Maia reads from at the end of the episode |  |
| Rahul Dubey - courtesy of @kikivonfreaki on X/Twitter |
Sources:
From police raids to pop culture: The early history of modern drag - National Geographic
DC Protesters Hail the Hero of Swann St., Who Sheltered Them from Arrest - NPR
DC Council approves Swann Street Designation bill - Washington Blade
The First Self-Proclaimed Drag Queen Was a Formerly Enslaved Man - Smithsonian Mag\
The District of Columbia Emancipation Act - National Archives
P-532, William D. Swann (Petition for Pardon) - National Archives
'NOW THAT TAKES THE CAKE!' - Channing Joseph
In Ancient Greece, Children Wearing Drag Was a Religious Obligation! - Tales of Times Forgotten
William Dorsey Swann: The first "Queen of Drag" - PBS
The First Drag Queen - The American Academy in Berlin
Once Upon a Time, Ursula Was a Drag Queen - Time Magazine