Burlesque Reading: The Hidden Gems
A couple of weeks ago I posted some weekend reading for burlesque performers and lovers alike. It was definitely like the ‘greatest hits’ of the burlesque book world. Or the stuff that you shouldn’t overlook.
Consider this entry the sequel to the original post. Where I cover some of the books that I think any burlesque buff should beg, borrow and steal - that might not be the best seller.
Ann Corio - This Was Burlesque: I was lucky enough to be gifted a second hand copy of this. One of the finest performers of the ‘golden era’ of burlesque, this is a fantastic personal account of its history.
Leslie Cunningham - Brown Skin Showgirls: Like so many other parts of history, burlesque can be ‘white washed’ with these performers often on the tips of our tongues when we talk about the icons that made the industry. This book celebrates women of colour who shaped much of this art form in the United States.
Neil Miller - Banned in Boston: A great read if you want to understand more about the censorship in the United States, which impacted on how and what performers could undress to.
Richard Wortley - A Pictorial History of Striptease: The pictures alone are worth it! A rare glimpse behind the scenes at striptease across both US, UK and Europe. I picked this up for about $5 at a secondhand store, luckily. As it is a bit of an unusual find, so watch out on Ebay or other sites for cheaper copies.
Rachel Shtier - Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show: A much more detailed look than some others in my collection about the history of burlesque - and the challenges and opportunities it offered women. The author has also written a great biography of Gypsy Rose Lee that is worth a read.
Jessica Glasscock - Striptease: From Gaslight to Spotlight : This book will give you a more well rounded understand of the connection between burlesque and other artform areas, and its influence on them. As someone who is really influenced by contemporary dance, I particularly find the parallels between Isadora Duncan and Loie Fuller super interesting!