March 28th, 2013 at 12:01PM
Hope Diamond      aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”.. Cover to her late-50’s promo press book..

Hope Diamond      aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”..

Cover to her late-50’s promo press book..

12 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1950s#1960s#showgirl#stripper#promo press package#magazine cover
January 27th, 2013 at 6:01AM
Hope Diamond     (aka. Leona Beldini)

Hope Diamond     (aka. Leona Beldini)

21 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1950s#showgirl#stripper#promotional photo series#promotional photo#Murray Korman#New York City
January 4th, 2013 at 12:01PM
Hope Diamond       aka. “The Gem of Exotics”..

Hope Diamond       aka. “The Gem of Exotics”..

35 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1950s#1960s#showgirl#stripper#promotional photo#Gene Laverne
December 9th, 2012 at 12:01PM
Hope Diamond      aka. “The Gem of Exotics”.. A promo poster salvaged from the 1978 demolition of the ‘ROXY Theatre’ in Cleveland, Ohio..  After retiring from Burly-Q, Hope (aka. Leona Beldini) entered politics and eventually became the Deputy Mayor of Jersey City.. In July of 2009, she was arrested in a massive FBI sting that nabbed public officials taking bribes.. Hope was convicted on 2 counts of bribery; and is currently serving a 3-Year sentence in a Texas prison. You can read more here..

Hope Diamond      aka. “The Gem of Exotics”..

A promo poster salvaged from the 1978 demolition of the ‘ROXY Theatre’ in Cleveland, Ohio..  After retiring from Burly-Q, Hope (aka. Leona Beldini) entered politics and eventually became the Deputy Mayor of Jersey City.. In July of 2009, she was arrested in a massive FBI sting that nabbed public officials taking bribes.. Hope was convicted on 2 counts of bribery; and is currently serving a 3-Year sentence in a Texas prison.

You can read more here..

63 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1960s#1970s#1978#showgirl#stripper#marquee#painting#lobby poster#ROXY Theatre#Cleveland#politics#prison term
July 1st, 2012 at 11:51AM
Hope Diamond    aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”.. More pics of Hope can be found here..

Hope Diamond    aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”..

More pics of Hope can be found here..

11 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1960s#showgirl#stripper#promotional photo
May 19th, 2012 at 11:21AM
Hope Diamond    aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”..

Hope Diamond    aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”..

18 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1950s#1960s#showgirl#stripper#promotional photo#portrait photo
April 6th, 2012 at 3:28PM
Hope Diamond   (aka. Leona Beldini)

Hope Diamond   (aka. Leona Beldini)

15 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1950s#1960s#showgirl#stripper#promotional photo
April 6th, 2012 at 12:05PM
Vintage 50’s-era photo showing a rainy evening at Cleveland’s ‘ROXY Theatre’.. Showgirl Hope Diamond (“Gem Of Exotics”) is featured on the marquee.. Photo courtesy of the Janelle Smith collection..

Vintage 50’s-era photo showing a rainy evening at Cleveland’s ‘ROXY Theatre’.. Showgirl Hope Diamond (“Gem Of Exotics”) is featured on the marquee..

Photo courtesy of the Janelle Smith collection..

29 notes #ROXY Theatre#Cleveland#marquee#burlesque theatre#vintage#1950s#Hope Diamond#showgirl
January 18th, 2012 at 2:37PM
Hope Diamond   (aka. Leona Beldini) During the 1950’s, Ms. Beldini wowed Burlesque audiences from Buffalo to Topeka.. After retiring, she became a successful real estate agent. Later, she entered politics in Jersey City, and rose to the office of Deputy Mayor.. Once there, she met Solomon Dwek: an FBI informant and wannabe real estate mogul. Envelopes exchanged hands. Assurances were given. Favorable treatment was expected, and granted. Meanwhile, everything was being recorded on video by the FBI. In July of 2009, Ms. Beldini was arrested in a massive sting that snared dozens of public officials. Most of her co-conspirators pled guilty. But Leona decided to take her chances with a jury. In February 2010, a jury convicted her of 2 counts of bribery. She’s 76 now. And this April 3rd, will begin serving a 3-Year prison sentence.. You can read more here..

Hope Diamond   (aka. Leona Beldini)

During the 1950’s, Ms. Beldini wowed Burlesque audiences from Buffalo to Topeka.. After retiring, she became a successful real estate agent. Later, she entered politics in Jersey City, and rose to the office of Deputy Mayor..

Once there, she met Solomon Dwek: an FBI informant and wannabe real estate mogul. Envelopes exchanged hands. Assurances were given. Favorable treatment was expected, and granted. Meanwhile, everything was being recorded on video by the FBI.

In July of 2009, Ms. Beldini was arrested in a massive sting that snared dozens of public officials. Most of her co-conspirators pled guilty. But Leona decided to take her chances with a jury. In February 2010, a jury convicted her of 2 counts of bribery.

She’s 76 now. And this April 3rd, will begin serving a 3-Year prison sentence.. You can read more here..

11 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1950s#1960s#promotional photo#arrest#prison term#politics#New Jersey
December 3rd, 2011 at 6:27PM
Hope Diamond aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”..

Hope Diamond aka. “The Gem Of Exotics”..

11 notes #Hope Diamond#burlesque#vintage#1950s#1960s#showgirl#stripper#promotional photo