Drag in Alabama
By: usermattw
Tags: antiques, dog, drag, Montgomery, photography
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What it is:
Four photos (measuring from 2×2.25 inches to 2.5×3.75 inches), all pasted to a single photo album page, two on the front, two on the back. (I have scanned them separately for this post.)
What I know about it:
Both sides of the page are labeled Alabama, while one side is also labeled Montgomery. No other information.
Comments:
This was a gift my friend Christine (“harriedcostumer”) gave me a while ago. As far as I can tell, that’s a man in drag, pretending to be (or maybe actually) holding a baby, while a delighted woman enjoys the moment with him. Am I seeing that right? Is it Halloween? Some private fetish? A production of “Charley’s Aunt”? I have no idea, but the riddle of this image intrigues me, and I love how happy they seem. I’m also sharing the other three photos that were pasted to this album page, partly because I think the woman sharing the moment with the man in drag may also be the woman in the other photos wearing the hat, though I’m not sure. Either way, it seems they knew how to enjoy life. Bonus: there’s a dog!
Pics of Then 
I love her smile–and his deadpan expression! Dressing up in drag must have been “a thing” many people did for fun, because the photos do show up for sale from time to time. Great find, Christine!
I agree, their expressions are one of the best parts of this picture.
The dress style “he” is wearing looks similar to a wrapper, which is kind of like a bathrobe. I wonder if he lost a bet about the baby, like many new fathers do lol.
Good point about the garment. I noticed it looked like something easy to slip on, and the collar and cuffs indicate he’s wearing his normal male clothes underneath, suggesting it was an act of spontaneous whimsy rather than a lifestyle choice. Fun idea about him losing a bet!