100 Years of Drag Kings : The Art of Male Impersonation

THE MAKING OF A KING documentary is currently funding on Indiegogo through October 20! Support our campaign to bring drag kings out of the shadows and into the spotlight! igg.me/at/dragkingmovie
This is one history lesson that you won't find in the books! Drag kings and male impersonators have had a rich history performing globally for sold out audiences. Who is your favorite King or Male Impersonator of all time?
CREW
Jazmin Ontiveros, Digital Video Producer
Nicole Miyahara, Documentary Director
Niccole Osborn, Documentary Producer
Kelly Duong, First Assistant Director
Jazmin Ontiveros, Editor
Molly Adams, Photographer
PERFORMERS
Kristine BellaLuna AKA Landon Cider
Rita Elena Olivera AKA Phantom
Cameron Henderson Varney AKA Lucky Johnson
Dominick Cole AKA Miles Long
Sam Berger AKA Havok Von Doom
Melissa De Dios AKA Melvin Urpanz
Mo Fischer AKA Mo B Dick
Leon Wu AKA Trey Sharpe
Alex Duncan AKA Alec N. Humper
Cass Prewett AKA Chris Mandingo
MUSIC
Special Delivery
Hi Fashion
SOURCES
British Music Hall: An Illustrated History
Richard Anthony Baker
Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance
Aberjhani, Sandra L. West
Back in the Day, Lesbian Drag Kings Worked
for the Mafia
Hugh Ryan By Hugh Ryan
Made in Japan: Studies in Popular Music
Toru Mitsui
Long Live the King: A Genealogy of
Performative Genders
Maite Escudero-Alías
SPECIAL THANKS
Craft Services provided by
bagelbroker.com
gigisbakeryla.com
Suites styled and provided by
Sharpe Suiting
sharpesuiting.com/
CRAFT SERVICES PROVIDED BY
Bagel Broker bagelbroker.com
Gigi's Bakery gigisbakeryla.com

[@elizabeth9841]

The king with the blue glitter makeup just killed it

[@Missteree87]

Elizabeth Landon Cider

[@xiiscari317]

IKR Like damn

[@quixotic333]

landon cider he follows me

[@midoriking2102]

He was so hot, that makeup was done so well!

[@volfgang1393]

Landon cider he gonna win dragula

[@thekeke0021]

The first two really looked like guys lol I was confused, I had to double check the tittle.

[@madisonnelson3125]

Mak0021 OMG ME TOO

[@treegleek3565]

Mak0021 trans men

[@treegleek3565]

winterwolf211 yes they transitioned from female to male

[@treegleek3565]

Drag is a performance of gender. There are cisgender and transgender people that perform as the same and opposite gender. If a man wants to perform as a man he has a right to. Plus a lot of these kings realized they were transgender trugh drag. They made a video on this and I'm sure they'll touch on it in the documentary

[@puggles9141]

And they were hot af too

[@georgerogers6348]

I really wanna be a Drag King

[@SomnusPhobos]

@Ruby Rogers Then go for it!

[@breew2732]

Ruby Rogers do it! I really want to be a queen but im nervous cuz im a girl but im gonna try one day 😆

[@poor.wayfaring.strxnger5198]

Strange Side Of The Moon be a faux queen! They are basically female drag queens, they wear crazy makeup, wigs and clothes like drag queens do.

[@thatonegirl1007]

Ruby Rogers me too my friends said if I cut my hair short (I have long hair) and wear contacts instead of glasses I would look like a guy. And do like men's fashion more than female.

[@katet1721]

ThatOneGirl Or wear more thick/darker-framed glasses, as they are usually seen as more masculine, plus they'd help hide some feminine features around the nose and eyes

[@k8g8s8]

Can we PLEASE have a king and queen season of ru pauls drag race. I know not everyone is on board with ru pauls drag race and how it has changed drag culture but whats also a problem is that it has created even more of an imbalance between the drag king and queen communities and statuses as performers, and there fore I want to see a drag king season or a kind and queen season or even a whole new show.

[@heatherlee7123]

k8g8s8 oh my shit... That would be my greatest obsession. I think it's going to have to come from outside the ru-kingdom though. Not because it wouldn't work... Because I think it would, like holy shit, WHOA. but because ru would never.

[@Marymationnn]

I double that. And imagine all of those lesbian jokes instead of gay men's??

[@klowbee5997]

Hell Yeah!! I would absolutely love to see some Kings on screen - especially with all that makes Drag King culture unique :)

[@bgctrinity]

It's why we have Dragula. It's all inclusive.

[@mackenziewachter2508]

Hmmm... If only if there was a spinoff for that.

[@MaidenOfDread]

That moment females make better looking males then some males do.... 😂

[@everything5066]

That's the point -_-

[@adelak]

Then again some drag queens look better than biological females.

[@HarryFrost-qu8th]

To be honest, as a gay guy I did drag a few times but I went as a drag king at a drag party because I didn’t want to be a queen.

[@diy-guyishere7615]

​@@HarryFrost-qu8thHow was it, like was it fun and did you feel pretty, hot, etc.? (No one on is hating but i just want to mention even Dragkings can feel cute, pretty, beautiful, sexy, etc. no matter your gender, sexuality, age, clothes, bodytype, i think the adjectives i mentioned are used less about and by men, i think when people say those are feminine words or whatever, it's bs)i love drag but i didn't try it yet, will try it sometimes

[@faroshscale]

that king with the blue glitter had me SHOOK.

[@quixotic333]

landon cider he follows me

[@europianbob]

Landon is THE MOMENT HUNNY!

[@moon540]

This video has made me wanna be a drag king so bad!! I especially liked the victorian look, so classy and charming! I'd love to go on stage in a suit and top hat and steal all the ladies' hearts!

[@abigailw7146]

Do it! You’ll slay!

[@crazycat2344]

DO IT

[@TheAztecScorpion]

I'm straight and I'm gonna be a King. even for just one day. I didn't know at the time that video with buzzfeed had Landon and Havok (cause I was clueless to who they were) but that was my king awakening. fuck what people think and do it ✌🏾

[@Ms.taacky]

DO IT!! GET THE MAKEUP AND DO IT

[@CrystalNibarger]

some of these ladies really look like guys

[@notrainnwilson6857]

Crystal Nibarger that's kind of the point.

[@manzanillita]

not all of them are women... check a few comments above.... also its not accurate to assume that all drag kings are women and all drag queens are men the history and nuance goes deep

[@etcetera1995]

That's. The point of drag and androgyny. Some of these people are intentionally gender non-conforming.

[@everything5066]

@@etcetera1995 interesting!

[@anonimothy5979]

@@notrainnwilson6857 They're just saying that some of them actually pulled it off.

[@MapleBroook]

can't believe they're all girls lol

[@blubblubboo]

+HADK777 drag queens kinda looks like men. but these drag kings OMG!!

[@Doktorlady]

MapleBrook *women

[@Doktorlady]

They ain't been girls in years

[@hoodphora2702]

MapleBrook right 😩

[@CapTrainT]

Really? They all looked like women to me.

[@AhnastasiaRose]

1:22 The king with blue glitter OMG their whole look is AMAZING

[@TheAztecScorpion]

Landon Cider and yes. He won for the 3rd season of Dragula as the first drag king to win on television. you gotta check his vids. very inspirational person.

[@everything5066]

@@TheAztecScorpion whats their chanel's name

[@mitzicats7219]

Drag kings are so underrated, they are so cool, I hope that someday they are finally allowed to be on drag race, or at least on dragula, they need more recognition and appreciation.

[@raeloy]

im so happy you included takarazuka!!! they are such a pivotal part in japanese culture and eastern drag!!! they were formed as a result of japanese theatre being an 'all boys club' and gained traction along the way

[@Adoribull1312]

I'm 100% ready for a drag king to finally get on rupauls drag race. it would really change things up a bit

[@treym.4940]

yes

[@anonimothy5979]

When I left Detroit, MI almost 10 years ago, stud culture ruled, and I personally think that drag kings would be A LOT more interesting to watch than drag queens (but no offense to anyone).

[@realreptillianjesus]

I feel like they need their own spinoff with a different host as a drag king, because rupaul doesn't know a lot about kings so it wouldn't make sense for him to judge one. So many legendary drag kings could host the show, even the one mention here Mo B. Dick could be a great contender for a host of a season like that.

[@Alagboriel]

I LOVE TAKARAZUKA OMG THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING IT!

[@asahi4250]

I wasn't the only one who loves takarazuka!~ Yay

[@tiberiussugarplum9780]

could you not confuse my sexuality?

[@rogerinataylor1393]

Bloody Crowley・King Of Hell ~Kiriko~ ikr?

[@dogsaretheworsttheyarenotm9647]

Tiberius Sugarplum+ Could you not deliberately click on videos that say Drag Queen or Drag King and then complain about it in the comments?

[@Sheisdreaming06]

Its 2018 we r all bi

[@MarsTheBar9]

someone not being gay or bi in 2018? weird

[@schr4pnel]

bi/pansexuals: 😎

[@HappyLilac16]

Wait, you mean to say that the person dressed as Gladys Bentley isn't actually a man? Are you sure?? I mean most of these were convincing portrayals of men but if you didn't tell me that the person dressed as Gladys Bentley was a drag king I'd have %100 assumed she was a man.

[@treegleek3565]

KtheBae He is a trans man (female born) that chooses to keep doing drag

[@FeministCatwoman]

Both are wrong. Gladys Bentley was a lesbian woman who dressed as a man sometimes during stage performances. She later claimed she was "cured" and married a man and partook in interviews about how happy she was with heteronormative domestic gender roles in the home. There is a small possibility she did this to protect herself from the newly established right wing conservative mccarthyism of the 40s and 50s. Back in the 20s, alternative sexuality was more or less accepted especially in the world of entertainment.

[@GinNara15]

they didn't mean the actual Gladys, they meant the one who dressed like her in the video

[@anonimothy5979]

Ikr, the illusion was just TOO good

[@rayrae204]

Is that DRED?!?

[@luzgoodman-estrada6590]

I've thought about being a drag king for a long time. I'm very gender fluid and I'm happy with that, but I have always been very boyish. I have male features and there were times I was cold a boy or boyish and I was okay with that. I know trans isn't who I am. I love my female bit and all the shit that comes along with it, but i definitely have a boy side. A masculine side and I have thought about it. I will try and see

[@abigailw7146]

That’s almost my exact story! It’s really cool to connect with people like that

[@katherinezheldak1295]

The King with the blue glitter just screamed Magnus Bane

[@treegleek3565]

They all look cool but phantom is killing it 👍🏻

[@deathlyman]

The first two are so hot. I thought they were real guys o_o;;;

[@galileeo]

Tree Gleek they are drag kings, not trans

[@anonimothy5979]

@@galileeo They didn't say they thought they were trans.

[@larissareyes2111]

1:33 so dope! that make up is awesome!

[@burn1ngsh0pp1ngcart]

Thats Landon Cider. He is so awesome!

[@izzaghassani7187]

I wanna try drag now

[@mj2625]

I love all of these. My favourite is probably the Victorian king in particular. So classy!

[@Ansa42]

This makes me feel so good as a trans guy and budding drag king

[@AtlanticGiantPumpkin]

As great as the makeup was for the early kings, the actual early kings were nowhere near as "fishy" (I have no idea what the King equivalent of fishy is). The ones in this video looked like me, so bravo, but the actual kings just put on average, gender neutral makeup, and looked like a woman still.

[@RinKagamineIsAmazing]

imagine if it was 'dicky'. 'cocky'. ew haha

[@rahbrt]

the word is "butch" not "fishy"

[@heatherlee7123]

Hazel Grey that would be Butch. Or butchy. (The male equivalent of 'fishy'.)

[@MichaelHoldaway]

GO boys!! Super video.

[@chanelspencer8261]

Michael Holdaway There actually girls dress as boys there Drag Kings like Drag Queens are Boys dress as girls just wanted to clear that up

[@emilybrooks1886]

XMaiaii iiRobinX they're usually referred to as they're persona though

[@katet1721]

XMaiaii iiRobinX They're usually referred to a boys or gentlemen, just like Queens are talked to as Ladies

[@CaitlinKoi]

That blue glitter make-up though. I've always found the difference between drag and cross-dressing is the outrageous and flamboyant factor. How far can you take the glam and push the envelope of the gender stereotype? Awesome video.

[@elyduemila]

magnus bane is that you

[@ClockwerkAngel]

Eli Eli I was just thinking that! lol

[@elyduemila]

lmao

[@flyingcabbit]

So no drag kings existed through the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s? come on...

[@crazycat2344]

It was probably more underground because of laws.

[@davidozity]

Thoe blue-gradient galaxy eyebrows / sideburns i was like DAMN.

[@somethingthatexists4797]

I wish drag kings had more exposure so I get to consume more content from them 😭😭

[@katemcconnell5220]

THIS IS THE FISRT IM HEARING ABOU DRAG KINGS IM SHOOK THIS IS SO COOL HOLY CROW

[@fruitbatfox]

These are all fantastic, I love them so much 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@HiNinqi]

A bunch of these are perfect omg. Well well well done!

[@thecuttlekid2758]

THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS

[@vinniethemagician3020]

If this could be turned into a documentary that would just be divine.

[@lucybowen8693]

This is what I needed today

[@Celepalooza]

The one with blue make up had me like WHOA.🤤🤤

[@thenormalpotato8451]

I loved the Mad Hatter ones -- actually, I loved ALL of them! Great job! :D

[@johnfritz4096]

Landon! This looks amazing I cannot wait to see this!!!

[@manzanillita]

omfg, didn't know drag troupes were a thing!! i totally would've been in one of them

[@user-vq5sr2hd4p]

Victorian era !!!! Yass

[@C_And_P]

Wow, a lot of them look amazing.

[@Mjlovechild15]

this is so bomb!!!!!!!!! I need to go to a show and drag Kings need to explode like today in Miami.

[@DANI-vt2tw]

I loved the Mad Hatter one😍❤️

[@Lyw1234567890]

So cool! The magic of makeup, man

[@ChiiXxTohru]

This was amazing

[@aranzapenaloza2522]

Omg in so proud of my friend!!

[@gobl1ng1rl]

I’d love to be a fantasy themed drag king, like doing looks inspired by Characters like Oberon from A Midsummer Nights Dream or Jareth from Labyrinth. The King dressed like the Mad Hatter is so amazing 💜💜💜

[@avian1]

I'm not actually sure how I got to this video, but they look cool as heck.

[@weemallard]

This is everything.

[@ricdwe]

Cool video. Like the beat too.

[@TheAztecScorpion]

I love drag kings. I didn't know this much about them before this video. I love the modern crews but I gotta say that Mo B Dick is a pioneer. I've been knowing about Landon and Havok and everyone else but I had no clue to who he was before this and it's amazing to see in drag someone who paved the way. 🙌🙌 YOU RULE KING 👑

[@elomoagu]

I like this video just for the takarazuka part ahahah XD love it! ❤️

[@andressa3366]

Adoro esse canal 😢

[@rogerinataylor1393]

wow i cant believe i never heard of this i love it

[@t0xicr1ot]

THe 2010 blue DUdE LOOKS PRETTY HOT 👌🏻

[@HM-id5fr]

Awesome.

[@sergiosalcedo5111]

We need more drag kings show.

[@BlueYeti321]

these looks are.amazing

[@natha.foreverybody]

Damn, I want to be a drag king one day of my life And we know that we need a drag king season on RuPaul drag race.

[@the10sign]

If I did my Drag King, I would choose to be a 19th century man. 🎩🤵🏻‍♂️

[@mackenziewachter2508]

Even though I'm straight, I am part of the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) ever since 10th grade. It would be so cool for me to become a drag king one day. Imagine the drag kings and queens will see me have my fashion and looks stand out. And just recently on Twitter earlier today, I posted a comment on PixelsByNight's new post that I loved his latest gameplay footage of Disney Magical World 2 Enchanted Edition. And then, my comment was liked by an actual drag queen. And I was very happy for that.

[@killjoy6666]

I wouldn't mind being a drag king

[@raynemichelle2996]

I performed as a queen in the 2000s with a couple different drag king troupes. They were popular because of the boy band craze at the time.

[@MrPolyalert]

Very cool they look amazing 👍

[@royalstudies7367]

I'm questioning my sexuality after seeing these Kings. ❤

[@brendenmarks4023]

I did not know drag kings were a thing until this video!!

[@neapolitanice-cream8363]

I was here for Landon only

[@laylagarcia3365]

SO INSPIRING

[@AnabelBatesCorrea]

So obsessed with Ladon Cider!!

[@IsaFinchelLove]

I want to start doing drag but I don't really know how to start

[@DarkxdolLx]

isabel vazquez Contouring! learn how to contour

[@lukerose4650]

i would definitely recommend talking to other kings about it, as well as trans men! trans men aren't inherently kings (although some are), but we do know how to pass as a cis man, and how to do so safely. especially when it comes to binding! binding is a key part of being a drag king and being a trans men, but it's often best to take safety tips on that from transmasculine people, because many of us bind every day!

[@TinyWarrior1468]

I got lucky. My local drag scene actually started a group for aspiring drag performers and they have a monthly night where we can perform for fun.

[@anonimothy5979]

It's the first two and most of the members of the troupe for me. But especially the first two (no one would've guessed).

[@Dj2anime]

Was that Magnus Bane?!?!? XD Ohhh the blue glitter look was soooo good!!!

[@xlenaqz]

I thought the video was about Drag Queens and that the first men just didn't wore as much as now or something, then I read Drag King and couldn't believe they're women lol Amazing job

[@lilyaretzy669]

YASSSS!

[@leon-lg7cb]

The first 2 were convincing as fuck

[@neondoesstuff8849]

I like how females technically tuck too

[@schujust9919]

studied abroad at a school near the takaradzuka. i strongly recommend looking into it - there's an associated school of performing arts, their performances feature women acting as both men and women. the regular leading men are drowned in love notes and flowers from fangirls. but maybe it would be different post-covid... sad

[@howdoyoucomeupwithusername855]

The blue glitter drag king and the mad hatter drag king made me feel things.

[@scoutinc3160]

Watch dragula on Netflix for more Landon Cider, (aka blue glitter beard king))

[@rayrae204]

Dred in NYC in the 90s was my KING!

[@rushalighosh8028]

0:35 that smile

[@Florathedragoness]

WHO ELSE SCREAMED WHEN LANDON CIDER CAME ON???? ♡♡♡

[@spec_ulorum]

ahhh id recognize the makeup of landon cider anywhere i had a feeling it was him

[@matthewwalker3131]

as a guy im weirdly interested in this, like i find drag queens weird but for some strange reason i can totally get behind the drag king movement

[@C_And_P]

I'm a female and I find drag queens weird, haha. For some strange reason I like drag kings better.

[@mmddubstepcanbefree6277]

I think it is like that because drag queens exaggerate femininity but drag kings don't exaggerate masculinity (or yes, but masculinity is more demure)

[@anonimothy5979]

@@C_And_P Tomboys of every sexual orientation and stud culture (involving masculine Black lesbians) has often been admired, but there's always been a stigma to being an effeminate man in any community. So it makes sense for most people to prefer drag kings over drag queens. I know I do.

[@C_And_P]

@@anonimothy5979 With females, that tends to be the complete opposite. They get very uncomfortable and disgusted (primarily if they're straight women even when those women are straight too). So I'm not surprised most females prefer drag queens over drag kings.

[@everything5066]

Probably because you still believe that femininity is bad/dumb and masculinity is cool . Subtle subconscious mysoginy

[@louislumos1879]

Yeeeaaah 💜

[@lisapinfold506]

Loving the Mad Hatter 😊

[@IamwhatIam2012]

God I LOVE this… in my 60s, but GONNA DO IT!! Working on my persona 😝👏🏼👏🏼🌈💙

[@evi1aa]

I honestly want to be a drag king.

[@mastersdollie9818]

1:32 the person is gorgeous!! looks like one of the "guys" that did buzz feeds drag-kings

[@namelastname7434]

LANDON ILY

[@KillJoy_Since2017]

If theres a show about drag queens (rupauls drag race) there's needs to be a show about drag kings

[@djjayjay6017]

When ever I saw the present day one, I was like: " OHMIGOSH, it's Magnus Bane!!! " 😂😂😂

[@endorathewitchwriter1712]

I was this many years old when I learned there were Drag Kings!

[@father6760]

OMG I'M ONLY 13 BUT MY GOAL IN LIFE IS TO BECOME A DRAG KING AND AN ARTIST!!!!!!!!!

[@jelen6647]

Landon Cider is my RELIGION!!

[@JapaneseYaumi]

omg! where can i sign up!?

[@cputv6219]

HI FASHIOOOON!

[@heatherlee7123]

Ahhh BBCTHREE.. I see you've found my kryptonite... My Achilles hill.... My greatest weakness... Drag Kings.... *Melts*