All The News That's Fit To Strip

Playwright Greg Barrios' new play Hard Candy pays tribute to famous Texas stripper Candy Barr. Barrios originally met Barr when he worked as a writer for the Los Angeles Times:

"I was writing for the Los Angeles Times, and I’d just always sort of kept tabs on Candy Barr, because she’d always fascinated me. I told my editor at the time that I was going home to Victoria to spend the holidays with my mother, and that I’d really like to interview [Candy Barr], and my editor said, ‘Well, all right, if you can contact her, Gregg, we’ll run it.’"

Barrios and Barr share the same hometown, Victoria, Texas. Other works by Barrios include Rancho Pancho and Boys of New York.


In other news...

The queer burlesque scene in San Franscisco is alive and kicking thanks to performers like the Kentucky Fried Woman, Alotta Boutte and groups like Twilight Vixens and sfBoylesque.

Critic Katie Roiphe tackles the stripper memoir in her latest essay

Burlesque dancer Lauren Cherryfox uses photography to help women show off their best attributes.

Candy Gram: Vivienne Vermuth

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 Tanya Cheex a line at t.cheex AT gmail DOT com. Today, say hello to Vivienne Vermuth.

What is your hometown?
Dallas, Texas

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I've been performing for a little over a year, and what a year it has been! I hope to travel and perform in other cities in 2009!

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
I have about 15 different pairs. Every time I see a beautiful pair I buy them, regardless of whether or not I have a costume or routine to use them with. I also have some that were custom made for me, my favorite being a pair of pink Swarovski ones by Lady Divina that are designed to look like nips!

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Stardust by Artie Shaw,Boobs by Ruth Wallis and I want to be Evil by Chiewatal Ejiofor.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
1. TOUPEE TAPE!
2. My Swarovski's that I put under my eyes as glitter eyeliner.
3. My signature martini glass rhinestone tattoo!

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
Dirty Martini and John Waters - both have OUTRAGEOUS personalities and I want to embody their raucous spirit!

Who is your favorite burly queen?
Definitely Michelle L'Amour, I had the pleasure of being her panty wrangler in Dallas back in March, and she is the most gracious and humorous performer I have met, and so GORGEOUS! Her husband also provided great backstage banter too, he's hilarious.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Easily my shoes! I have 138 pairs, including my burly girl ones that I sparkled up myself It's an obsession.

What’s the last movie you saw?
Star Trek. I'm a bit of a nerd.

What’s on your must-see-TV list?
I love Big Bang Theory, Penn and Teller's Bull*&%!, Two and a Half Men, anything on the Discovery Channel or BBC. I'm really getting into No Heroics.

What book is on your nightstand?
The Great American Pin Up.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Anywhere that has a warm sandy beach that I could lay on for hours and drink margaritas.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
Super Speed. It always seems like I cant get everything done in a day! Also, it'd make costume making a cinch.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Scarlett James, Tura Santana, Tatah DuJour, Susie Caboose, Gigi La Femme, Kitten on the Keys, Virginia D'Vine, Tamara the Trapeze Lady, Champagne Sparkles, Selia Carmichael, Pyra Sutra, Roxi Dlite, Scarlet O'Gasm, Bombshell Betty, Foxy Moxy, Bambi Galore, Mis Rosie Bitts, Sahara Dunes, Mimi Rockafellar, Baby Le Strange, Rose Darling, Satan's Angel, Ophelia Flame, Panache La Plume, Ginger Valentine, Madame Rosebud, Little Brooklyn, Victoria Veneance, Sauci Calla Horra, Penny Starr Jr., Gemma Parker, Darla DeVine, Sparkly Devil, Vivienne VaVoom, Lux LaCroix, Charlotte La Belle Araignee, Bunny Love, Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, 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.

Video of the Week

All The News That's Fit To Strip

Burlesque dancer Ava Garter offers fashion tips, discusses her favorite designers and provides some valuable advice for aspiring bombshells with a tight budget. She said:

"I don't have endless amounts of money to spend on buying clothes to try to keep up with all the events that happen or my fashionable friends. I am a single mother of two little ones after all. I believe in spending as much as you can afford on the best available to you. I would rather have one or two beautifully fitting little black dresses that have classic style and can be worn over and over again rather than spend less buying the most "in style " dress every season."

In other news...

Pinchbottom Burlesque kicks off Summer with their smash-hit, Pretencion as part of the undergroundzero festival in New York. The show will run for five nights and rotate a cast of 20 of the city's best performers.

Miss Exotic World 2005, Michelle L'amour debuted her new couture line over the weekend. The Hollywood-inspired collection, L'amour Couture includes hair pieces and fashion accessories with authentic vintage pieces, all designed by Chicago designer, Agnes B. Miles and her company, Love Lulu Mae.

Candy Gram: Scarlett James

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 Tanya Cheex a line at t.cheex AT gmail DOT come. Today, say hello to Canadian, Scarlett James is spearheading the first Annual Montreal Burlesque Festival Sept. 18th-20th.

What is your hometown?
I was born in Quebec and grew up in France

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
All my life, not knowing it was called Burlesque! I have been a full time performing artist for two years now.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
I can't count anymore!

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
Hard to say, every sound is an inspiration to me, they all have something to
offer.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
At one point or another it has to be feathers.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
At 14 Madonna, at 20 Marylin Monroe, now, Lili St Cyr and my husband.

Who is your favorite burly queen?
I have to say that Kalani Kokonuts is a very charming performer.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
Corsets, hats and gloves

What’s the last movie you saw?
Lady of Burlesque: The G-string Murder.

What’s on your must-see-TV list?
24

What book is on your nightstand?
Love and Louis IX: The Women in the Life of the Sun King

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Hoo! A couple of places! I would go back to Bora Bora for Scuba Diving.

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
Travel in Time to see Alexandria, the suspended garden of Babylon, watch a play of Moliere with him in it, visit Venice and it's Courtisanes for the time of the carnival, take the Orient express to the far east and the list goes on.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Tura Santana, Tatah DuJour, Susie Caboose, Gigi La Femme, Kitten on the Keys, Virginia D'Vine, Tamara the Trapeze Lady, Champagne Sparkles, Selia Carmichael, Pyra Sutra, Roxi Dlite, Scarlet O'Gasm, Bombshell Betty, Foxy Moxy, Bambi Galore, Mis Rosie Bitts, Sahara Dunes, Mimi Rockafellar, Baby Le Strange, Rose Darling, Satan's Angel, Ophelia Flame, Panache La Plume, Ginger Valentine, Madame Rosebud, Little Brooklyn, Victoria Veneance, Sauci Calla Horra, Penny Starr Jr., Gemma Parker, Darla DeVine, Sparkly Devil, Vivienne VaVoom, Lux LaCroix, Charlotte La Belle Araignee, Bunny Love, Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, 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.

Video of the Week

Desire D'Amour is a divine devil in a blue dress at the closing night gala for Miss Exotic World 2009.

All The News That's Fit To Strip

Former Spice Girl and recent showgirl, Mel B has called it quits from the burlesque-influenced show, Peepshow, currently running at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. Before returning to her home in Los Angeles, she said: "I've loved every moment of being a part of the Peepshow family - this has been an incredible experience."

In other news...

Asheville, Ala. revealed its blossoming burlesque scene this past weekend at The Americana Burlesque and Sideshow Festival. In addition to burlesque shows, the festival also included interactive classes such as learning to strip while you work a hula hoop.

Welsh burlesque dancer, Foo Foo La Belle dishes on her life as a mother and busy showgirl and producer.

Candy Gram: Tura Satana

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 Tanya Cheex a line at t.cheex AT gmail DOT come. Today, say hello to iconic star of Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, Tura Satana.

What is your hometown:
Chicago, IL

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing:
Since 1953

How many pairs of pasties do you own:
I used to own 25 pairs, but I gave away all but one pair. I had two pairs for every costume I owned.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to:
Lure Of Tura, Go Tura Go, Tura's Song. Besides those Blue Moon, Night Train, Midnight in Moscow.

What three items could you not live without as a performer:
A good stage, a great audience and a great orchestra.

Who had the biggest influence on your career:
Stunning Smith

Who is your favorite burly queen:
Lili St. Cyr

What is your favorite item of clothing:
My Kimonos

What’s the last movie you saw: Twilight

What’s on your must-see-TV list:
Moonlight, NCIS, Charmed, House.

What book is on your nightstand:
The Tartan Warrior

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go:
Canada or Europe

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why:
To be like Wonder Woman, So that I could fly to all my engagements and be strong enough to dance to thrill the audiences. Without a good audience you have to make them come alive and then you can perform your best. But the job is for you to keep all of the audience interested in you as long as you are on that stage.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Tatah DuJour, Susie Caboose, Gigi La Femme, Kitten on the Keys, Virginia D'Vine, Tamara the Trapeze Lady, Champagne Sparkles, Selia Carmichael, Pyra Sutra, Roxi Dlite, Scarlet O'Gasm, Bombshell Betty, Foxy Moxy, Bambi Galore, Mis Rosie Bitts, Sahara Dunes, Mimi Rockafellar, Baby Le Strange, Rose Darling, Satan's Angel, Ophelia Flame, Panache La Plume, Ginger Valentine, Madame Rosebud, Little Brooklyn, Victoria Veneance, Sauci Calla Horra, Penny Starr Jr., Gemma Parker, Darla DeVine, Sparkly Devil, Vivienne VaVoom, Lux LaCroix, Charlotte La Belle Araignee, Bunny Love, Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, 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.

Video of the Week

Michelle L'Amour at this year's Burlesque Hall of Fame spices up this week's video.

Learning Burlesque from Films

Many of the performers of the neo-burlesque movement in the 1990s didn't have many live burlesque shows to go to, and often learned burlesque moves by looking at vintage photographs and watching old clips of burlesque performers.

Performers who've learned from those films frequently comment that they had to learn to adjust the timing. It's a caveat of watching these old clips that the dancers are rarely performing to the music in the clips, which is usually overdubbed. The reasons for this vary, but are usually related to either the technology of silent film recording or the expense of acquiring music rights.
Performers also did their best to contact legends and ask for their advice and coaching, and to attend the Burlesque Hall of Fame Striptease Reunion when it was at Exotic World in the middle of the Mojave Desert. (See Michelle Carr's interview with Liz Renay http://velvethammerburlesque.com/home_the_shows_artist/interview_04/liz_renay/liz_1.html.)


Fortunately, today we have opportunities to see these classic ladies of burlesque perform live in the more easily accessed city of Las Vegas, and to take classes with them at events such as this past weekend's Burlesque Hall of Fame Striptease Reunion (http://www.burlesquehall.com) and October's Burlycon (http://www.burlyconseattle.com). We can see their exquisite timing and ability to respond to the audience in person, in a way we can never see on film, whether the music is right or no.

So this is my teacher tip for June: When learning burlesque moves from film, always remember that your choice of music will affect your timing and the way you do the moves. As with all other aspects of burlesque performance, individuality and audience awareness are key, even when tributing the classics! Always take the time to rehearse and make those moves your own.

--Jo Weldon
Headmistress
New York School of Burlesque
http://www.schoolofburlesque.com

All The News That's Fit To Strip

The biggest event in the burlesque world, the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend, rocked Las Vegas this weekend. Big winners at the pageant include Kalani KoKonuts as the Reigning Queen of Burlesque, Roxi Dlite (1st Runner-up), Perle Noire (2nd Runner-up), Hot Toddy (Boylesque), NANDA (Group), Gigi & Pop (Variety) and Melody Mangler (Debut). The Las Vegas Weekly and Las Vegas Sun dish on the weekend.

In other news...

Immodesty Blaize discusses her new role as steamy novelist.

The Guardian takes a peek at two new books on Gypsy Rose Lee.

Burlesque Hall of Fame on Twitter

Above: One of my twitpics of the Gotham Glitter Balls Bowling Team from last night's Bare Cats Burlesque Bowling Tournament.

The gang is twittering like crazy here in Vegas. The twitter tag to search is #BHOF.

My Twitter:
http://twitter.com/joweldon


Posted by Jo Weldon

Candy Gram: Tatah DuJour

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 Tanya Cheex a line at t.cheex AT gmail DOT come. Today, say hello to Tatah DuJour, who will be competing for the title of Miss Exotic World at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas this weekend.

What is your hometown?
Key West, FL

How long have you been interested in burlesque/performing?
I've been interested in burlesque for well over 10 years - performing on and off for 9 - but seriously performing full time for the past 4 years.

How many pairs of pasties do you own?
Wow! I should totally know this because I just packed all of them into the Key West Burlesque mobile today for our summer tour. I would have to say there are about 15 pairs and maybe 2 or 3 strays.

What are your three favorite songs to perform to?
I love more Bumps and Grinds and Stardust. However, we just did this funny group number to Poison by Bel Biv Devo - it was a blast.

What three items could you not live without as a performer?
My amazing partner and co-producer Marky P. My bottle of Channel #5. Sally Hansen air brush legs... I use it on my entire body. I love that stuff!

Who had the biggest influence on your career?
That's a tough one. Eleanor Bucci, my agent from when I was a feature entertainer, had a tremendous influence on my career. She taught me a lot about classic burlesque and putting shows together while I was working for her. Now more then anything I am influenced by the members of my troupe. They are amazing and truly inspiring!

Who is your favorite burly queen?
There are so many amazing burlesque queens that it would be a shame to name just one. I do just love Sally Rand though.

What is your favorite item of clothing?
My D&G pink poodle coat. I've had it for years and I still just adore it and look forward to wearing it when I travel up north.

What’s the last movie you saw?
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I just watched for the 10,000th time the other night. It's my all time fave.

What’s on your must-see-TV list?
I don't have a TV anymore so I have to watch everything online. I'm kind of addicted to Hulu.com right now. As far as what I'm watching? Dollhouse, Family Guy, Flight of the Concords, and I'm dying to see more episodes of Big Love.

What book is on your nightstand?
The Art of Happiness by the Dali Lama and The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics. I would love to be macro, but it is way too hard.

If you could go anywhere for vacation, where would you go?
Spain! I Love Spain!

If you could have any superpower, which one would you want? Why?
The power of unconditional love - it sounds so easy - yet is so hard to obtain. I think it would heal the world if there was any one able to possess that power.

Satisfy your appetite for more Candy Grams: Susie Caboose, Gigi La Femme, Kitten on the Keys, Virginia D'Vine, Tamara the Trapeze Lady, Champagne Sparkles, Selia Carmichael, Pyra Sutra, Roxi Dlite, Scarlet O'Gasm, Bombshell Betty, Foxy Moxy, Bambi Galore, Mis Rosie Bitts, Sahara Dunes, Mimi Rockafellar, Baby Le Strange, Rose Darling, Satan's Angel, Ophelia Flame, Panache La Plume, Ginger Valentine, Madame Rosebud, Little Brooklyn, Victoria Veneance, Sauci Calla Horra, Penny Starr Jr., Gemma Parker, Darla DeVine, Sparkly Devil, Vivienne VaVoom, Lux LaCroix, Charlotte La Belle Araignee, Bunny Love, Amber Topaz, Amelie Soleil, Red Hot Annie, HoneyLu, Kimberlee Rose, Vicky Butterfly, Dominique Immora, Yasmine Vine, Cherry Bomb, 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.

Video of the Week

To get you ready for Exotic World, we'll be featuring clips from past performances as we lead into the weekend.

Revealing Images: Angie Pontani

In Revealing Images, photographer Don Spiro dishes up sweet photographic treats and the stories behind them. Today, Don aims his lens at 2008's Miss Exotic World Angie Pontani.



A lot of the work I’ve described in past columns involves shooting costumes, situations, and even some men. To get back to the tongue-in-cheek title of “Revealing Images” I’ll examine a photo that implies what everyone really wants, a beautiful nude young woman. In this case, the subject is one of my favorite models, Miss Angie Pontani, Miss Exotic World 2008, and continual Miss Cyclone.

This shot was done in Angie’s apartment in Brooklyn. She had a tiara and had meticulously rhinestoned a sash that read “Miss Cylcone” and wanted some shots with those items and little else but make up and a smile. She already had a bright blue backdrop that that just fit her living room, all I needed to do was set it up, light it, and shoot some photos.

For each pose I would adjust the lights, raising and lowering them and moving them around depending on where Angie was facing and how she positioned her body to the camera. I shot everything from full body shots to tight close-ups, determined by what looked best through the lens.

This shot was created with a digital camera and three strobe lights. One was placed as a key light high and to the left of camera, bounced into a reflector. Angie turned her face right to it. A second soft source was placed close to the camera to soften the already soft shadows and highlight her tiara, eyes, rhinestones and smile. A third light was set further back and aimed just at the background to eliminate any of Angie’s shadows and to create a uniform tone of blue.

Angie discreetly positioned the sash and her hand to make the image suitable for all ages. I checked through the lens to make sure the framing was just right, and happy with the work, snapped another portrait of Miss Cyclone.

~Don Spiro

All The News That's Fit To Strip

Britan's Got Talent Star Ab Fabia has got women all over the United Kingdom cheering for her energetic burlesque performances which got her as far as the semi finals. Before her first performance, Ab Fabia said that she hoped her performance would inspire others. She said:

"The reason I'm here today is to pursue my dream - to give people back their confidence. It doesn't matter about age. If I can dance, I'm going to do it - I'm going to go for it."

In other news...

Brooklyn-based burlesque dancer Veronica Varlow is suing the Learning Annex after she was labeled a "porn star" in burlesque videos she made for the company last year.

Pink Box Burlesque brings striptease down south to Tuscaloosa, Ala.