RANSVESTIA

HISTORY

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF VIRGINIA

Like everyone else I was born! Right here in Los Angeles, to a father who became an eminent surgeon and to a mother who was a very capable woman in real estate, investments and other, at the time, rather un-feminine ways. Four years later a sister was born. I don't remember anything of a predisposing nature to my ultimate TV in my early childhood, I was just one of the neighborhood kids, doing my thing and getting into my share of devilment. When my dressing began is a little difficult to pinpoint. All I know was that by the age of 16 it was full blown. The way I can tell that is that in the year, 1929, we went to Europe by boat-that was before the days of transatlantic flights. There was going to be a medical convention in Europe and my father was going to it. The crossing took about eight days. Most of the passenger list was made up of doctors and their wives and families. I got very well acquainted with one of the doctor's wives and when the last night came around and they were going to have a Captain's Party which was to be a fancy dress occasion she was very insistent that I go to the party as a girl and she would fix me up. Why she decided on this I don't know because I didn't give off any evident effeminacy. I was one half of the doubles champions of the ship in deck tennis and I was always tearing around with one of the other sons who was about my age exploring every corner of the ship. Why she picked me I don't know, but I do remember two things very clearly: 1) there was nothing in the world I wanted to do more than get gorgeously fixed up as a beautiful young lady and go to that party,

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