Category: Burlesque in Film


Gypsy Rose Lee’s 100th Birthday!

A multi media event of Song, Dance, Film and Literature just like the lady herself!

The Seattle Burlesque community and it’s supporters will honor Gypsy Rose Lee and the many artistic contributions she made to society with an evening of celebration and fundraising for an organization that keeps the tradition of Burlesque past and present alive, The Burlesque Hall of Fame-  located in Las Vegas, NV.

Hosted by Miss Astrid, performances by two time Miss Exotic World title winner Catherine D’Lish, Legend of Burlesque Joan Arline, Lily Verlaine, Nick Garrison, Miss Inga Ingenue and a reading from “America Rose” by Sarah Rudinoff.

In honor of her 100th birthday, The Swedish Housewife and the Burlesque Hall of Fame invites you to join us in toasting the unique life and legacy of America’s most celebrated Burlesque Icon, Gypsy Rose Lee Born Rose Louise Hovick in Seattle, Washington on January 8, 1911, Ms Lee was an entertainer, author and playwright of significant renown—even before her 1957 memoir, Gypsy, made her the American stage (and screen’s) most beloved stripteaser.

30 years after her death, Gypsy remains a beloved Broadway favorite. In fact, the musical’s 2008 production earned numerous awards, including coveted Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Patti LuPone (Mama Rose), Laura Benanti (Gypsy) and Boyd Gaines (Herbie). However, not every star’s story gets told—much less becomes fodder for a best-selling, beloved memoir, Broadway musical or Hollywood film. And, while there is, was and always will be only ONE Gypsy Rose, there are countless entertainers who graced the stages of America’s “burly houses”—women who led similarly wild, colorful and dramatic lives; the stories and memorabilia from which are in grave danger of being lost to the ages.

In partnership with Random House, publishers of American Rose: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee, the forthcoming biography by best-selling author Karen Abbott (Sin in the Second City), The Burlesque Hall of Fame is proud to announce a series of very special fundraising events, celebrating burlesque’s brightest, most successful “crossover” star.  It is our hope that, in paying tribute to the life and times of this beloved icon, fans will be moved to support the Hall of Fame’s mission to collect, preserve and promote the unique history and heritage of American Burlesque.

Partners:

Random House, Inc. is the U.S. division of Random House, the world’s largest trade-book publisher, and is owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world’s foremost media companies. The reach of Random House is global, with Random House publishing companies in nineteen countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, U.S., and Venezuela. Through Random House International, the books published by the imprints of Random House, Inc. are sold in virtually every country in the world.

About the Burlesque Hall of Fame

The Burlesque Hall of Fame is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to establish a permanent, first-rate tourist attraction and research/exhibition space for our unique collection, in hopes of inspiring, educating and entertaining the public and fostering an appreciation for the unique history and heritage of American Burlesque; including but not limited to the art, artifacts and personal histories of the art’s biggest names and brightest stars.

READ THE SEATTLE TIMES PREVIEW HERE

I find it very exciting that Burlesque is bouncing off the stage and onto the silver screen as well as hitting the printing press!

Historically this is not new news, as Gypsy Rose Lee’s book “The G String Murders” was adapted to the screen in “Lady of Burlesque” starring Barbara Stanwyck and was nominated for an Oscar back in 1944. But currently there are several documentaries being made about the History of Burlesque as a well as the modern continuation of the art form.

What I am enjoying about all these films and books is that each one has a voice unique to the performer or the region where they come from. Burlesque is more diverse today than it has ever been and the beauty of that is there is something for every one to enjoy.

There is no right way it should be done. That is an opinion (and believe me I have opinions, but that is another blog…) Art is Art, it is beyond opinion. You can take it or leave it, what matters is that you find the Art that appeals to you and that you support it!

But I digress; all these documentaries that are coming out collectively create a wonderful overview of the International Burlesque Explosion! I hope for more documentaries on the historical aspect of Burlesque, as so many of the Ladies and Gentlemen who have been a part of the legacy of Burlesque are still alive and we have a golden opportunity to hear their stories before they move on to the great stage in the sky.

Not all the films coming out are documentaries, some Feature Films feature the Stars of our community, like … Dirty Martini, Julie Atlas Muz, Immodesty Blaize, Waxie Moon, Scotty The Blue Bunny, Miss Indigo Blue, Lily Verlaine and so on… while others have Film Industry Stars Burlesquing us… ; )

What you should see:

Documentaries:

“Behind The Burly Q” Written and Directed by Leslie Zemeckis

“ a Wink and a Smile” Written and Directed by Deirdre Timmons

“Dirty Martini and the New Burlesque” Directed by Gary Beeber

“Burlesque Undressed” Directed by Alison Grist

“Waxie Moon” Directed by Wes Hurley

“Pretty Things” Director Liz Goldwyn

“Velvet Hammer Burlesque” Directed by Augusta

“Broad Daylight” Directed by John Michael McCarthy and Victoria Renard

Feature Films:

“Tournée” aka “On Tour” Directed by
Mathieu Amalric

“Burlesque” Directed by Steven Antin
We are all waiting to see what this is all about….

Short Bus” by John Cameron Mitchell

The Printing Press:

The United States of Americana” by Kurt B Reighley

“The Burlesque Handbook” by Jo Weldon aka Jo Boobs

“Burlesque and the New Bump-n-Grind” by Michelle Baldwin

There are more films and books to add to this list but this is my jab at it tonight. Go rent some movies and buy some books!

The Swedish Housewife Presents

“An evening of Glamour, History, Sizzling Hot Ladies and Celluloid”, Seattle debut performance of Britain’s Crown Jewel of Burlesque - Immodesty Blaize and West Coast Premiere of the documentary “Burlesque Undressed”.

Seattle’s Hottest Traditional Burlesque Show of 2010! A Full on Celebration of Femininity!

The Film Burlesque Undressed” @ 7:00 PM

Burlesque has shimmied itself into the mainstream ever so slyly that now even Cher and Christina are hopping on the bump and grind wagon! But before Hollywood goes all mainstream with their interpretation of the Art of Burlesque, there are now quite a few documentaries on the subject from different view points and perspectives that you should make yourself familiar with starting with “Burlesque Undressed” Directed and written By Allison Grist is a great addition to this growing genera in film and is a loving look into the history, costumes, the current bombastic explosion of Burlesque, with historical film clips and interviews with costumers, historians and several of the beautiful and original Ladies of Golden Era of Burlesque including Joan Arline.

British Reviews about ” Burlesque Undressed”;

“This curiously innocent little British movie is a celebration of the revival of the art of the striptease artist” Phillip French – The Observer

“Cheerfully entertaining” Peter Bradshaw – The Guardian

“Warm, celebratory, cheeky, glamorous and revelatory” – ODEON

The Show @ 8:45PM

This is my only full on traditional Burlesque Show of the year and it is all High Glitz, Glamour and Sex Appeal, it may very well be the sexiest show of the year to hit the Triple Door stage. This is the only show that can boast having 3 Internationally renowned Miss Exotic World title holders and a Living Legend of Burlesque in one night!

The show stars Miss Exotic World 2007 - Immodesty Blaize “Britain’s Crown Jewel of Burlesque” – the hottest British import since Marc Bolan and she is 100% W.O.M.A.N ! Immodesty will have you wiggling in your seats with her Bombshell Va Va Voom and Sass, her costumes as stunning and unless you are planning a trip to London anytime soon this is your only opportunity to drool and see her in the flesh …. in Seattle.

Miss Exotic World 2004 Miss Dirty Martini, is the walking definition of Burlesque, she definitely is tapped into the era of her fore mother Jenny Lee “Miss 44 and Plenty More” just like Lee she is the consummate crowd pleaser. Dirty has been making quite the International splash with performance all over the planet, including film rolls and recently was featured in a fashion spread shot by Karl Lagerfeld for V Magazine! The World Premier of her own film “Dirty Martini and The New Burlesque” is at SIFF Cinemas March 29th.

Just added to the line up is Miss Exotic World 1992 & 1994 Catherine D’Lish there is a reason why this Sex Pot Red Head is a two time winner and we all winners as she recently moved to Seattle. Miss D’Lish is known for her classic Strip Tease and over the top elaborate costumes and oozes like I said S.E.X. and had more titles under her shimmy belt than any other gal working in Burlesque today.

Living Legend of Burlesque Joan Arline “The Sexsquire Girl” now in her 70′s is just finished up her roll as “Electra” in a stage production of Gypsy at The Palm Canyon Theater. She has been in the business of Burlesque since her early 20′s. The Sexquire Girl is known as a walker , her performance is elegant and stunning and remarkably performing in one of her original costumes this evening.

All four of these ladies are in the film “Burlesque Undressed”.

To round out the night are Seattle’s own shakers and movers of The Seattle Burlesque scene Miss Indigo Blue and Miss Inga Ingénue , who both will be performing tribute acts to ladies of yore Wild Cherry and Sally Rand. Hosting the show is The Swedish Housewife.

10:00PM – Meet the Stars, buy some glamourous 8X10′s, DVD’s and get your autographs.
The Immodesty Blaize Channel

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