British servicemen in drag playing characters in a play. Photograph, ca. 1918.

Part of James Gardiner Collection: photographs of military, naval, and prisoner-of-war camp drag.

Men in drag playing the Pasha and his wives. A British concert party somewhere in the Middle East towards the end of World War I. A crude stage set has been erected on bare earth, with a central folding screen placed centrally, within which are enthroned one man in drag and another wearing an Ottoman costume: one may assume they represent the Turkish leader Sultan Mehmed V Reshad and his fifth wife. Six further 'wives' are seated on the ground, and are attended by a belly dancer and servant holding a fan. Represents 'The giddy Pasha and his wives. Also Martha' (according to inscription on verso of print catalogued)

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View At: https://wellcomelibrary.org/item/b2043067x
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Item Information:

Identifier: dv13zt48m
Collection: James Gardiner 20th Century Drag Postcards
Institution: Wellcome Library
Date Issued: Jan. 1, 1918
Genre: Photographs
Prints
Topic(s): Female impersonators
Resource Type: Still Image
Analog Format: 1 photograph : photoprint ;
Rights: Copyright undetermined
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