Abstract
Drag became a gay bar staple in the 1960s as a shared audience expression of gay sensibility; the relationship between the performers and their fans marked these bars as gay. The terms female impersonation and drag have historically been used interchangeably, but this chapter traces their differential meanings to distinguish between acts performed for predominantly straight audiences (female impersonation) in theatrical settings and those for predominantly gay ones (drag) in the contexts of private parties and bars. Focusing on the Jewel Box Lounge and the Colony Bar in Kansas City, located one block apart during the 1960s, this chapter examines how show venues made these distinctions legible while gay bars were emerging as visible and politicized spaces. This chapter connects these 1960s venues with their prehistories in vaudeville, touring acts, and cabarets and extends this chronology to the present. The subsequent interlude examines the concept of gay bars as safe spaces in Detroit.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
