The frolic, which was respectfully called a “masquerade and civic ball,” is the annual occasion upon which members of one sex who wish to impersonate members of the other group may throw off their inhibitions and assume the roles of their desire. It is also the occasion for Harlem’s social elite, Broadway’s thrill seekers, and all the pseudo-scientists of the metropolitan area to gather and watch the spectacle. And, depression or no depression, Friday night’s affair was no exception...Compared to affair of other years, Friday’s “drag” maintained an almost respectable air until the pageant was finished. After that, though, the lid blew off and the impersonators started making promiscuous “passes” at the spectators. Open, and often encouraged, flirtations were carried on: telephone numbers were passed; and broad shouldered bodies which would grace any football player or truck driver were rubbed suggestively against any man who happened to be standing near. In the same way, scores of masculine-looking women sought to touch the few unattached feminine spectators.