Penny Dreadful‘s transgender surprise wasn’t really that shocking to me. I knew that Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney) was in for something extra when he met lady-for-hire Angelique (Jonny Beauchamp) When he shows up at Angelique’s brothel for a Victorian-era paid booty call, the “lady” opens up her dressing gown to show off a lithe body with a penis attached. Dorian seemed pretty okay with that! This got me to thinking about Victorian drag…

So, you thought Lady Bunny‘s drag was old? – here’s a nice collection of historical “drag” dating back to the 19th century and then onwards. “Drag” is in quotes is because it’s not clear if these folks are transgender, cross-dressers, dressed up as women for theatrical purposes or just for the “thrill of it” as Frankenfurter says in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Anyway, they’re all pretty sickeningly gorgeous. Doesn’t that last shot look like it could be Max‘s great great grandmother?