#300338 - Burlesque Martin Collyer Lancer Evelyn West Sherry Britton

Burlesque
The Baubles . . . Bangles . . . Babes
Fully Illustrated
by Martin Collyer
A Lancer Special
Lancer Books, Inc.
New York, New York
1964

digital replica
with photographs and
read-out-loud text

First, this book is a fun read. Mr. Collyer worked as a journalist and historian, with many articles and books to his credit. He also stood on stages and told jokes between dance acts. His skill and experience qualified him to author this tome on an often misunderstood region of popular culture. A Broadway show called This is Burlesque influenced the timing of its publication.

If burlesque were a person instead a species of theatrical entertainment, the book would form up as biography. Unlike an encyclopedia article or history book, a smart biography weaves series of anecdotes involving connections to people and institutions that define the life of its subject.

He tells about men like Florenz Ziegfeld and Harold Minsky, who conceived and realized stage shows. Consideration of cultural context includes municipal interference that tried to stifle these fleshy presentations.

His prose delivers a wealth of details about the lives, opinions and measurements of successful strippers. They came from all walks of life, each with an innovative gimmick or talent that made her popular. His star biographies sometimes include transcripts of question-and-answer interviews, often with surprising ideas, facts and insights.

He divides the women of his saga by time: before and after World War II. With admiration and style, he tells stories from the lives of stellar legends Faith Bacon, Georgia Sothern, Lois DeFee, Margie Hart, Rose LaRose, Ann Corio, Lili St. Cyr, Lilly Christine, Valkyra, Pepper Powell, Delores DuVaughn, Pat Amber Halliday, Sherry Britton, Gypsy Rose Lee, Candy Barr, Evelyn West and others. Many accounts include humble origins, triumphs and follies, husbands and academic achievements.

He also divides the comics of burlesque by time. He attributes the success of entertainers like Jackie Gleason, Lenny Bruce, Red Skelton, Redd Foxx, Phil Silvers, Abott and Costello to their early burlesque theater work. Along with snips of narrative from their business lives, Mr. Collyer provides the on stage dialog of many funny jokes and blackout routines.

This history describes how famous individuals and institutions connected with burlesque performers and shows. Tales refer to Mayor La Guardia, Jack Paar, Walter Winchell, Earl Wilson and the Marx Brothers.

The professional prose has a breezy ease, as if the author had been thinking about writing this down for years. He uses a casual vocabulary to name components of performers and performances. Take-it-offer, undresser, disrober and peeler are among many colorful expressions about the trade in these warm narratives.

The text has been completely re-set for the ebook iteration of this boisterous history. Although some changes were made to spelling, the cheerful prose retains its insider/admirer tone and all careful metaphors about abundant pulchritude.

As an added feature, the text can be searched. With proper hardware, your computer will read the text to you. In Adobe Acrobat Reader, click VIEW > READ OUT LOUD and select your preference. The voice you hear is determined by your own software.

The ebook includes all photographs of the original, placed where located in the paperback. The book was printed on pulp stock, which adds unpleasant textures and graininess to images. Brightness and contrast were adjusted and some shadows reduced.

All new scans.

Mr. Collyer writes about the business of theatrical entertainment of men both as journalist and from the inside, as performer and director. His conscientious narrative expresses respect, affection, even awe, for the work of creative individuals who animate his stories. The volume captures a glittering chronicle of showmanship and evolving culture. For those who feel nostalgia for this 20th century American idiom, the book provides a sweet — and sometimes bittersweet — take on the performers who made men laugh and dream.

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