"Derkas ?", dressed in drag, on stage. Photographic postcard, 1928.

Date:
1928
Reference:
2045006i
Part of:
The James Gardiner Collection.
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view "Derkas ?", dressed in drag, on stage. Photographic postcard, 1928.

Contains: 2 images

In copyright

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Credit

"Derkas ?", dressed in drag, on stage. Photographic postcard, 1928. In copyright. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Description

"Derkas?" wears the towering feathered showgirl headdress pioneered by Gaby Deslys in the 1910s, and developed by Mistinguett in the Folies Bergères shows of the 1920s. Long afterwards It remained an integral part of costuming in spectacular revues, particularly in Paris and Las Vegas. The question mark following Derkas printed on the postcard suggests they perform with an androgynous gender expression. As this card is autographed and inscribed London 1928, it shows that there was sufficient interest in this form of entertainment in the 1920s for successful drag acts to be imported.

Publication/Creation

[Spain?] : [publisher not identified], 1928.

Physical description

1 photographic postcard ; 13.5 x 8.9 cm

Lettering

Derkas ? Imitador de estrellas Españolas. Sinceramente Derkas. London - Mayo 1928 Lettering printed in black and written in blue on bottom recto

Notes

This work is untitled: the title has been supplied by the cataloguer.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 2045006i

Languages

Where to find it

  • Photograph album labelled ‘Drag'

    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

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