Description

Eminent queer historian Connell O’Donovan will explore the vibrant stories of Utah’s drag history. Highlights include the remarkable Florence Hines, a Black “drag king” who dazzled audiences at the New Grand Theater in Salt Lake City in 1900. Known as “the Black Vesta Tilley,” Hines captivated the US with her persona “The Dandy,” a wealthy playboy. Her life was a fascinating blend of public performance and private relationships, including a noted intimate partnership with fellow performer Maria Roberts. Additionally, the session will cover the MissFits, a 1960s drag troupe based out of the Tin Angel bar, which left its mark on Utah’s drag scene with memorable performances, including a New Year’s Eve show in 1967 at Ogden’s Gimlet Lounge. These stories and so much more await to disrupt what we think we know of Utah’s relationship with drag.

Speaker
Connell O’Donovan