Striparama Striptease Burlesque

Cavalcade of Burlesque Volume 2, Number 1
Burlesque Historical Company
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
1952

a page-by-page digital replica

If Striparama focused on the glamor facet of burlesque, Cavalcade of Burlesque shows us the complete theatrical presentation, paying lots of attention to comedians. The founder and Executive Director of Cavalcade, Jess Mack, had a successful career as straight man to many top bananas in the business.

The publication blends aspects of trade journal and fan magazine, often expressing the respect of performers for each other. More than 50 publicity photos of strippers and dancers appear on the magazine's 52 pages. These leggy lovelies include Lyn Paige, Jezebel, Mara Gaye, Gaby Delys, Montmartre Kitty, Lotus du Bois, Judy Evans, Sheila Ryan, Suzy, Irene Rubakow, Collette, and Margo Jewell. Most photos show the stripper's name.

In her one-page autobiography, burlesque dancer Mildred Strange, who's known onstage as Peaches, says she aspires to appear in a club in Paris. She compares her current life of bright lights, travel, night clubs and the comradery of colleagues to being raised by her uncle, a Methodist minister, “quite an actor.”

One photo-illustrated essay describes Parisian burlesque shows, focusing on the Folies Bergere. The writer claims it's as popular a tourist destination as the Eiffel Tower, but that American burlesque is just as good, even without nudity.

A piece about Sheila – The Peeler – Ryan discloses that her mother was saucy soubrette Stella La Vallee. Sheila's father, a producer, devised her first routine at the Casino in Pittsburgh. Her current terpsichore twirls to Khatchatourian's Sabre Dance.

Probing the Strippers investigates the attitudes of strippers. Although they exhibit and give exhibitions, they deny that they are exhibitionists.

Curtain Time provides the dialog and stage direction for three authentic burlesque comedy sketches. Another article shows what backstage looks like.

Cartoons make muse about strippers. Three comics tell jokes about the business.

Business-to-business advertisers sell costume fabrics, costumes, music arrangements, stage equipment, tickets, posters, talent placement, photography, feathers, footwear, and the onstage services of entertainers. Restaurants, bars and hotels offer their wares to traveling performers.

The ebook is a full-sized, page-by-page digital replica that retains the page sequence of the original. Every word, picture and ad is in the ebook. Many page layouts were revised to present photographs and text at original sizes. Image-editing adjustments improve the clarity of pictures for the digital iteration.

All new scans.

A nostalgic artifact of mid-century bawdiness, Cavalcade of Burlesque pays sincere respect to the performance artists who made audiences dream and laugh. With its view from the wings and dressing rooms, we're privy to the nuts and bolts of an old stagecraft that pleased generations.

One ebook, delivered by download from your 30th Street Graphics account.