·BURLESQUE·

Las Vegas showgirl 1950

Backstage at Charlie Low’s Forbidden City, 1940s

Copa Girls ,Las Vegas  (1965)

Silver Folies Club, Chicago, (1951)

Photo by Peter Stackpole

Though the Americans took burlesque dancing over from the U.K..

They were able to make their own stars.

Harry Steppe was a character comedian during the early 1900’s and was known as: “The Hebrew Gent”.
He had a popular travelling show which played across the U.S. and Canada, from 1911-1938. This formal troupe photo from June 1918 features the “Razzle Dazzle Girls”, (posing with the rest of the cast) outside the ‘GAYETY Theatre’ in Philadelphia, PA.

1955 New York City.

Striptease Dolls & Burlesk Beauties.

A vintage photograph from 1958.

 Features traffic out front of the ‘TIMES Theatre’ marquee, in New York City.

SINNER AMA BURLESK STRIPS around the world.

Julie Gibson appears in the play “WHITE CARGO”as staged by ‘The Kenley Players’.

 The theatre shown here, was located on the boardwalk in Atlantic City-New Jersey.

IZIS BIDERMANAS

A rather shady-looking 60’s

era carnival tent show entitled ‘FIESTA Burlesque’.

Original Girly Show Burlesque Tent 'Naughty Girls of Paris' circa 1880

Bailarina de burlesque de los años 20.

This Folies Bergere dancer in 1925 used tassels to highlight her acrobatic moves.

Bailarinas de burlesque - 1890

Dancers in their dressing room (1920)

Cancan, Paris, c1938 (Brassaï)

This picture shows the women getting ready to go on stage at the Windmill Theatre in 1942.

Showgirls backstage at a nightclub 1950.

Showgirl Linda Lombard getting ready for a show.
 New York City, November 1949.
by GEORGE SILK

Showgirl at NYC’s ‘Latin Quarter’ nightclub prepares for another show.

Lilly Christine applies her make up
before a performance of her famous voodoo inspired ‘Cat Dance’(1955)

Julie Bryan gets made up before a performance, 1948.

Josephine Baker at the Johann Strauss Theatre in Vienna, 1928.

Patti “Crazy Legs” Griffin – Backstage

Lena Horne backstage at a Bronzeville cabaret after a performance, Chicago (1948).
by WAYNE MILLER.

San Francisco topless restaurant.


Sans Souci Club, Havana, Cuba, 1953

This performer appeared in front of American troops to help raise their spirits during war.

This Japanese nightclub stripper uses a 'dakkochan' doll on her leg.

 by PHILIP JONES GRIFFITHS

Hard days work. Three British burlesque dancers sleep in an underground bunker during the Blitz after performing at the Windmill Theatre in March 1942.

 Photograph captures showgirls relaxing in their dressing room, at the ‘RIVOLI Theatre’ in Seattle.

By incorporating foreign themes performers tried to distinguish themselves from one another.

Go go, Las Vegas by SYLVIA PLACHY

Luci performing by VIVIANE MOOS (1992)