The Candy Gram: Cherry Bomb

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Cherry Bomb.

What is your hometown?
Right now, Brooklyn, but I am a Southern girl by birth.

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I've been a performer my whole life, but burlesque didn't make it's way into my consciousness until after college. I knew that I wanted to do something scandalous where I could climb up on tables and strip off my clothes, but since the burlesque culture hadn't quite made its way down South, it took me some research and experimentation to figure out this is what I wanted to do.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
I was just given a pair of gorgeous metal and pink rhinestone pasties as a gift from the wonderful people at The Pleasure Chest, so that rounds me out to about 14 pairs.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
I love If Tha Mood... by Esthero, because it's sexy and vindictive and carefree all at the same time. And because of her unabashed use of the word "fuck." I like anything by Reba McEntire to up the camp factor and any version of Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend. With my birthstone being a diamond, that song has special significance to me.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
M.A.C. waterproof black eyeliner, my GIANT camo bag (fits 4 pairs of shoes!) and my knee-high black go-go boots. They are all terrain vehicles.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
One of my oldest friends, Devon, who used to dance competitively with me and taught me almost everything I know about make-up. And Ru Paul.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
I think that Gigi LaFemme is just so stunning. But not only is she beautiful, she puts together these creative and elaborate pieces that are so complete. You just know she thought every detail through, and I think that's the sign of a truly committed burlesque performer.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Garter belts. These days, they are totally unnecessary and are just worn for the vamp factor, but wow, they do the trick.


What's the last movie you saw?
Juno, a very gutsy movie, with one of my favorite people.

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Dexter, although the obsession quickly becomes unhealthy. And Nip/Tuck for the hack education in plastics. A Burly-Q salary doesn't leave much cash for cable, so we Netflix our TV shows in this house.

What book is on your nightstand?
There are three: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, Gangsters & Gold Diggers by Jerome Charyn, about the birth of Broadway, and The Best Sex Writing 2008 by Rachel Kramer Bussel. They are all highly recommended.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Costa Rica, in some very remote area, sleeping in a tree house. The thing about NYC is that it makes you crave peace and quiet among the plants and animals, and that country is blessed with beauty.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I've given this a lot of thought, actually, and I would want to be able to control fire. It seems like one of those elements that could be used for good or for ill, depending on what the situation called for. And I like to be prepared.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Millie Dollar, Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Blonde Ambition

I've thought about Lindsay Lohan's buzzed photo spread in New York magazine far too much this week. And not in the good, titillating kind of way. I kept wondering, is there some connection to be made in the idea that Marilyn Monroe mimicked Lili St. Cyr and Li Lo mimicked Marilyn? Clearly, the fumes from the perfume ads got to my head.

It was this bit from the Los Angeles Times that cleared the fog: "Why do starlets insist on channeling Marilyn Monroe? At some point, every actress decides to have her "Marilyn moment" and dons a platinum wig and a fake mole to prove that she's capable of playing an American icon. ... [It is] rather sad that so many young actresses crib Monroe instead of inventing their own unique images. If you're devoid of charisma and innate sexual appeal, maybe it's time to try beekeeping."

As if to further the point, Lohan swept the Razzies this week, earning a record eight "wins" for her role as a stripper in I Know Who Killed Me.

Video of the Week

All The News That's Fit To Strip

Congratulations to Diablo Cody for her Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay for Juno. After graduating college, she found herself shimmying through a Minneapolis strip club's amateur night. The experience intrigued her and she quit her job to become a full-time stripper. Cody blogged about the experience and then published the memoir, Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper.

When she was interviewed by Esquire about Juno, her first screenplay, she was asked if taking her clothes off was the route to success in Hollywood. Cody told the magazine:

"Listen, kid, nudity is a fine way to secure a guest spot as Splayed Hooker Corpse No. 2 on CSI. But I can't credit my physique for any of my writing success; in fact, I often suspect they're paying me to keep my clothes on these days."

In other news ...

Gothamist chats with burlesque hosts Neil O'Fortune and Clams Casino. Satisfy your appetite for more Clams Casino with this Candy Gram.

Angela Eve Freese kicks off a month-long burlesque festival in Chicago tomorrow that will feature over 80 performers.

Fleshbot teases readers with a video interview with Cherry Bomb.

Leonard Nimoy talked to Stephen Colbert about his new book, The Full Body Project, which features the Fat Bottom Review.

The Candy Gram: Millie Dollar

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Millie Dollar.

What is your hometown?
Liverpool, England

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
As long as i can remember I've wanted to perform! I used to try and teach myself tap dancing in my bedroom when I was young. Then I started to teach myself a bit of strip tease when I was far too young! I don't know why but I've always wanted to get attention that way. I knew of it as burlesque from the age of 16, and only got the confidence to do it at the age of 19.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
I own a few but I keep losing them. I've modeled for a couple of companies including Ruby Rouge, Truly Fallen, and Gothfox Designs so i have been given lots for free. I usually get mine to match outfits handmade by Adora Belle. If I had to say it'd be about 30-40 pairs.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
The Girl Can't Help It
Shiva's Regal
In The Mood

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Makeup, feather fans, and my suitcase.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Sally Rand. We share the same real name and I perform two tribute acts to her, my fan dance and my bubble routine.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
I'd have to say Sally Rand again.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
I buy lots of lovely dresses to wear for after performances and have a great collection building up, but probably my new purple, stop-staring dress.

What's the last movie you saw?
I recently watched the whole John Waters box set so I think I may have messed up my thoughts a bit.

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Shameless! It's fantastic. And Hero is very addictive. I also like a few darker comedies such as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

What book is on your nightstand?
I used to read lots and lots of books but rarely do these days, sadly. I buy books for the pretty pictures now like Pretty Things, which is full of such great information too.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
I'm going to L.A. to perform in June which I've always wanted to do, but I've always wanted to live or holiday in New York.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
Telepathy. I can get quite paranoid so I'd love to know what people really think.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Joanie Gyoza, Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

The Nin Diaries

Listening to Garrison Keillor's The Writer's Almanac this morning, I learned today is the birthday of erotic writer and diarist Anaïs Nin. As Keillor said, "she is best known for her diaries, which she began writing at age 11 and continued for more than 60 years - and which include accounts of her passionate love affair with Henry Miller in Paris. Anaïs Nin said, 'We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection.'"

In one of her diaries, Nin wrote of Lili St. Cyr:

"Great admiration for Lili Saint Cyr. Women should learn from her. She does not express the narcissistic self-eroticism of stripteasers, she conveys the presence of the man, an expression of contact with the man. She uses her body with enormous grace and skill, to invite, to expose, to suggest, to respond, but it is always a gift, an offering. She is a great artist. She is never vulgar. The common men do not like her. ... Women should study with her. She is an artist in erotic lore. ... She stands apart. She does not make up or dress like other stripteasers. In one act she takes a bath. In another she tests her seduction before a painting of a Spanish matador. The man is always present, so it is charged with currents which flow out and around the audience."

Video of the Week

Here's Paris Hilton's birthday tease.

All The News That's Fit To Strip

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson -- you can almost see Jon Stewart's head imploding with punch lines -- dominate our bump 'n' grind news this week.

Sprinkled through the regular Upper Deck 2008 baseball cards are caricatures of each presidential candidate in a baseball role. Hillary Rodham Clinton stars as Morganna, "The Kissing Bandit" -- the "buxom stripper who gained fame" in the '70s and '80s "by running onto the field during games and kissing a player."

Paris Hilton said cheers to her birthday by performing a striptease routine that started off with the heiress in a giant champagne glass.

And Pamela Anderson gave a nod to Brigitte Bardot, when the Baywatch alum performed a racy routine to Bardot's iconic Harley Davidson in two sold-out shows at Le Crazy Horse in Paris.

The Candy Gram: Joanie Gyoza

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Vancouver's Joanie Gyoza, who is working on the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival.

What is your hometown?
Vancouver, British Columbia

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
A little bit of me has always harbored a fantasy of being a larger-than life model or performer of some sort from when I was little: think dressing up in costume and launching full dance numbers to Madonna's Like A Virgin with my sister. However, I grew into a very shy child/teen and didn't start coming out of the shyness until after high school. That was about the time that I started becoming aware of burlesque then it HIT ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS: sexiness, glamor, performance, hilarity, empowered women and crafting! I found burlesque two years ago and have been performing for almost a year.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
Nine in total. I pride myself on collecting and making unconventional pasties like lemon shaped ones, or cucumber slice tassels and ganja leaf pasties crafted by the amazing Melody Mangler.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
David Rose's The Stripper
Java by Billy May
Pentaphobe's I Cash Radii (after watching a Rachel Brice tribal bellydance number)

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
red glitter lipstick, curlers and mints

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
My influences come from far and wide. I'd have to say that the Vancouver burlesque community regularly warms my heart, inspires my hands and fires my loins with brilliant performers such as VaVa Vanderlust and Crystal Precious. Then there are the ladies from the Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society (Melody Mangler, April O'Peel, Violet Femme and Fanny Fabulous) whose Becoming Burlesque Class, zany creativity and warm tutelage did much to help nurture the burlesque babe in me. Finally I'd have to say that the Muppets (Jim Henson in particular) TOTALLY influenced my style too.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
I have so many! I've already named some -- of the contemporary queens I also love love Miss Indigo Blue, The Shanghai Pearl, Diamond Minx, Fuschia Foxx, Precious Metal, Lola Frost, Malaika Millions, Little Woo and Darla DeVine! Of the classic queens I'd say my favs have to be Zorita and I profoundly admire Dixie Evans and Doris Eaton Travis. It's hard not to fall in love with any burly queen after you've seen her perform though.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
I'd have to say it's my sexy curve-enhancing corset. How wonderful would it be to have a seamless flesh-toned one of those suckers for everyday Vavoom.

What's the last movie you saw?
Kill! directed by Kihachi Okamoto which is a classic Japanese samurai movie. It's HILARIOUS, beautifully filmed with a lovely blend of limb-slashing action and moral drama. If you're in Vancouver the Pacific Cinemathique has a festival of Samurai movies.

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Hands down, So You Think You Can Dance. I am a huge fan of Mia Michaels and often the performers are amazing. The Office, BBC Version too.

What book is on your nightstand?
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. It's a total kindred spirit, heart-song book and hilarious as all hell. Also Lonely Planet books to Vietnam and Japan.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Vietnam and Japan. Vietnam because it's in my blood and I want to know my parents' stories better -- I also would love to refresh my Vietnamese. Japan because I'm totally fascinated by the culture.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
Right now in particular, I would love to have the power to sleep only for recreational purposes. In my other life I'm a nurse and though I love the job, switching from night to day shift and cultivating a rich life with burlesque-y flavors can sometimes be hard.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Bonbon Vivant, Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Valen-Tease

Apparently, nothing says "I love you" like a burlesque show. Here are a few that will add a little sass to the holiday. Know of others? Add 'em into the comments or send them to kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com.

The Pontani Sisters team up with hula-hoop whiz Miss Saturn, hostess Dulche de Leche and others for Burlesque-A-Pades at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Va. I'll be there before the show signing copies of Gilded Lili.

The Boston Babydolls prove love is a carnival at T.T. the Bear's in Boston.

Blue Light Burlesque presents La Fête de l'amour at La Tulipe in Montreal. The show features both male and female performers, live 1950s-style Chicago and Arkansas blues music and audience members are encouraged to dress up.

photo by Ted D'Octavio

Video of the Week

The 1980s hit series Knight Rider returns to TV in a two-hour movie special on NBC this Sunday. And that's just another excuse to share one of my favorite burlesque videos.

All The News That's Fit To Strip

Dita Von Teese stops teasing and bares all for the Spanish edition of Playboy. You can see more pix here, but they're definitely NSFW.

In other news ...

An Englishman in New York checks out the Big Apple's saucy side.

Is Paris Hilton celebrating her birthday with the Pussycat Dolls?

Make your own LED pasties.

Hang Fire Books discovers Lili St. Cyr's panties.

The Candy Gram: Bonbon Vivant

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Bonbon Vivant.

What is your hometown?
Brunswick, Maine, Boston, MA and Austin, TX. I haven’t lived in Maine or Boston for quite awhile, but I still consider them home.

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I first became interested in burlesque while I was roaming around the old theater district in Boston. I’m an architectural historian and I like to look at old buildings. Most of the theaters down there have been closed for years, but it was a big red light district for awhile. I found one place called The Gaiety (it has since been torn down to make way for million dollar condos), which was a vaudeville house during the teens and twenties. Around the back side of the building were the painted remains of a very old sign that said “The Gaiety Burlesque, Three Shows a Day, 10 cents.” I didn’t really know much about burlesque, so I started doing some research and saw a few neo-burlesque shows. I fell in love with the art. I’ve been involved with theater since I was a little girl, so it seemed to be the next logical thing for me to do. I did my first show in 2003 and haven’t stopped since.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
Right now about eight or nine. I have a set of pasties to match each costume. My favorite pair are my handmade Confederate flag pasties…I use them with my Harlot O’Hara southern belle act. They seem to be quite popular here in Texas.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
This changes frequently, but right now I really like Candy by Big Maybelle, Comanche by the Revels and pretty much anything by Duke Ellington.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Hairpieces. I like big fabulous hair, but I was cursed with fine hair that doesn’t like to be big. I also must have my glue gun with me at all times in case of last-minute costume malfunctions. Finally, iTunes makes it so much easier to find music to dance to! I don’t have to raid my friends’ record collections anymore.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Without a doubt, it has been the ultimate sinsation, Miss Cardinal Cyn. She’s offered invaluable critiques about my routines and more importantly is an all around wonderful person and a really good friend.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Oh, that’s a tough one. For old time acts, I’ll have to go with my hometown Boston girl, Rose la Rose (The Original TNT Girl), not only because she was stunningly beautiful, but because her act was apparently so jaw-dropping that the Boston police
department perpetually tried to shut down the theater she worked at.

As far as new performers go, I think that Immodesty Blaize, Kitten DeVille and Cardinal Cyn are pretty darn fabulous.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Besides my pajamas? It’s a toss up between my vintage silk kimono (so comfy!) and my ridiculously huge collection of vintage shoes from the '30s and '40s.

What's the last movie you saw?
Jean Pierre-Melville’s Army of Shadows. It’s a 1969 film about the French resistance against the Nazi occupation of France during WWII. It’s one of the
great films of the period, so check it out if you haven’t seen it.

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Unfortunately I don’t have cable, but I do get a lot of shows from Netflix. I recently recovered from my addiction to Deadwood.

What book is on your nightstand?
There are two. Einstein’s Dreams by Alan Lightman. It’s a beautiful book and everyone should read it. And Architecture and the Crisis of Modern Science by Alberto Perez-Gomez. I wouldn’t recommend that one unless you are an architectural history nerd like me.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Oh, I would definitely go to Peru. I want to see Machu Picchu.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
I would really like to be able to breathe underwater, and by extension, have cold water not bother me so I could explore all of the oceans. There is an entire, amazing world down there that so few people get to see. And fish are my favorite animals -- I could spend hours watching them.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Lola Martinet, Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Behind the Burly-Q

Leslie Zemeckis recently finished shooting a documentary on old-time burlesque and has over 150 hours of interviews with past performers or their surviving relatives. She's looking for additional film footage or personal photos of anyone you know that worked in burlesque. If you have such material, please e-mail Leslie.

Video of the Week

Super (Sassy) Tuesday

It's Super Tuesday and even The Candy Pitch is wonking out so here's a political tease. In the picture below, which former president is watching Lili St. Cyr shimmy out of her clothes at a Vegas nightclub? Here's a hint: Tomorrow would have been his birthday.

All The News That's Fit To Strip

Dita Von Teese shimmied with high society in Vienna last week. The burly queen, who dazzled in a silver gown, was the guest of Austrian mogul Richard Lugner who brings a celebrity to the Opera Ball each year. Past guests have included Carmen Elektra, Sophia Loren and Andie MacDowel. Lugner said he invited von Teese because his daughter begged him to.

In other news ...

Baywaytch alums Pamela Anderson and Carmen Elektra just can't keep their clothes on.

The L.A. Times looks at Hollywood's glamorous hot spots, including Ciro's where Lili St. Cyr made a splash.

A grad student wonders about stripping to earn a PhD.

Shanghai Pearl and Miss Indigo Blue teach one writer that, "Burlesque is not just stripteases, it's a way of life, an attitude."

The Candy Gram: Lola Martinet

In our ongoing Q&A series --"The Candy Gram"-- we ask the same quirky questions of burlesque's various performers. If you want to be added to the mix, drop us a line at kellydinardo AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Lola Martinet.

What is your hometown?
Chicago, IL

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I've been performing since I was little but didn't discover burlesque until 2003 when I saw my first burlesque show. After that, I knew I *had* to do it!

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
Not enough! I'm up to 6 regular sets and two remote controlled twirling sets (my patent-pending robopasties!).

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Delire et Passion by Gabin, Mr. Roboto by Styx and Illusion by Soulstice

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
Krylon medical adhesive, red glitter, my favorite eyelashes

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
My husband. It's amazing to have someone who is so involved and rolls with my crazy ideas.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
That's difficult, there are so many amazing ones to choose from! I think currently my favorite is Liz Renay - ever since I saw her amazing entrance at MEW Cleopatra-style. Amazing!

What is your favorite item of clothing?
My red flowy Brazilian pants

What's the last movie you saw?
Enchanted

What's on your must-see-TV list?
Law and Order (with Jack McCoy), Law and Order SVU and The Cobert Report

What book is on your nightstand?
None right now.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
I've always wanted to go to Fiji and stay in a tree house.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
To freeze time. I could get so much done then!

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Frankie Boudoir, Vixen Violette, Ravenna Black, Veronica Lashe, Amber Ray, Beatrix von Bourbon, Angie Pontani, Tanya Cheex, Bloody Belle, Clams Casino, Trixie Little, Michelle L'Amour, Margaret Cho, Miss Dirty Martini, Princess Farhana, Miss Delirium Tremens, Paris Green, Jo Boobs, Jack Midnight, Heidi Von Haught, Diamond Minx, The Titillation Twins, Scratch, Creamy Stevens and Gina Louise.

Photo by Mike Goat