Review: Burlesque: Legendary Stars of the Stage

Dear Constant Reader,

Please click and nominate the Boston Babydolls for “Best Burlesque” and Naked Girls Reading for “Best Literary Gang”. Thank you!

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Burlesque: Legendary Stars of the Stage by Jane Briggeman (2004).

Jane Briggeman founded the Golden Days of Burlesque Historical Society to find retired burlesque dancers and let them reconnect. The result of these contacts was this book of profiles of dancers (and a couple of comics). The profiles are often verbatim from interviews with the dancers themselves. The book is also full of photographs, magazine covers, and other ephemera.

There is no doubt that the subjects of this book are very close to Ms. Briggeman’s heart. In fact, it’s a little too personal from time to time. In most of the performer essays, she specifies the extent of her relationship — did they meet, just write letters, talk on the phone, or have no contact at all.

There’s now a second edition available. I’m interested to see how it differs from the first.