A long time before RuPaul, Lypsinka and Charles Busch established themselves in the art, there was actor and drag artist Jean Malin. I first learned of him back in 2019 thanks to an article in a British publication called The Guardian. Today, Malin's act would be banned in Tennessee -- if you've been paying attention to recent national news. But, in New York City during the Prohibition era, he was a hit in the Broadway area. Ginger Rogers and Marlene Dietrich were fans of his work. He was a big man, built like an NFL star, who performed in a dress. He went to Hollywood. Unfortunately, his 1930s appearances in a William Powell RKO movie (DOUBLE HARNESS) and in an MGM film starring Clark Gable and Joan Crawford (DANCING LADY) wound up on the cutting room floor. In the RKO removal, it was a clear and documented case of discrimination.
PBS aired a short biographical feature on Jean Malin. Take a look.
Here's a 1932 record that Jean Malin cut.
There you have it. Some LGBTQ show biz history that I found fascinating. History repeats itself. Thanks for your attention.
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