Friday, January 17, 2014

Burlesque Brixx #2 - A few words from Walter Winchell



Jan 15, 1937
Walter Winchell - On Broadway
Columnist Walter Winchell shares these tasty burlesque tidbits in his syndicated column:
"The first real “nekkidness” on Broadway was not shown in a burlesque show, but in the 1923 Artists and Models. Earl Carroll Followed it, and soon after, burlesque adopted it to the practical exclusion of everything else."

"Stripping: There are four strip classifications: Slow, fast, swing, and there are two girls doing a dramatic strip (but this is a family newspaper)..."

"Gypsy Rose Lee Department: When in burlesque the glamour girl used to arrive at the theatre with her own maid, her chauffeur and  jewelry…in her spare time she would sew costumes for next week’s show…If Gypsy liked a strip woman in the show she would make her a costume."

"Gypsy introduced pasting of bows and ribbons on the skin and started “pinning” (Costumes held together by pins which were taken out one by one and thrown to the audience)...When a rival star of equal importance joined the show to be co-featured, Gypsy went out and bought a $2,500 ermine coat to use in her strip act. The rival quit."


Gypsy in her gorgeous fur. I don't know for certain if this is the coat of record, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were!



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