Presenting historical images that celebrate the Golden Age of Burlesque and Striptease..
Keith Linforth’s CABARET REVUE
Keith Linforth operated a touring Burlesque company during the 40’s and 50’s.. This formal troupe photo features the entire cast from his “Original CABARET REVUE”.. The photo was found in the archives of Seattle’s ‘RIVOLI Theatre’; where his show would’ve (undoubtedly) once performed..
Jean Carroll (aka. Mary Henrici)
Jean began her career dancing in Burlesque with her sister JoAnn, in the 1930’s.. But soon proved herself an effective “Talking Woman”; a showgirl that could perform in comedy skits.. She did this for many years with her 1st husband: Bob Carney.. By 1958, she’d met her 2nd husband: comic Billy “Zoot” Reed, and the tradition continued ‘til 1964..
Harry Steppe’s BURLESQUERS
Harry Steppe was a character comedian during the early 1900’s and was known as: “The Hebrew Gent”.. He had a popular travelling show which played across the U.S. and Canada, from 1911-1938.. This formal troupe photo from June 1918 features the “Razzle Dazzle Girls”, (posing with the rest of the cast) outside the ‘GAYETY Theatre’ in Philadelphia, PA..
Sherry Britton
A press photo (complete with editorial crop marks) from September 11 - ‘60 features Sherry posing (as “Miss Adelaide”) alongside fellow actor: Joey Adams (as “Nathan Detroit”).. The pair were scheduled to appear in a staging of: “GUYS And DOLLS” ; opening at the ‘Painter’s Mill Theatre’, in Baltimore..
Jean Carroll (aka. Mary Henrici)
Vintage 50’s-era press photo features Jean performing with her husband: baggy-pants comic Bob Carney.. The pair excelled in Burly-Q comic sketches; and toured regularly together.. By ‘48, they’d bought a house in the San Fernando Valley; and stuck closer to home. But could still be found working nightclubs like the ‘COLONY Club’ in Gardena; as well as L.A’s ‘FOLLIES Theatre’, during the mid-1950’s..
Florida Fuller (aka. Floride Fuller)
Vintage promotional photo, personalized: “Sincere Personal Regards to my good friends Vicky & Charlie — from Florida — July 20, 1950..” Florida (sometimes spelled “Floride”) was married to Burly-Q comic Bob Lee; who later became the Backstage Manager of Boston’s famed ‘Old Howard Theatre’..
Burly-Q comic Willie Howard appears sandwiched between lithe-and-lovely showgirls: Lee Walker (Left) and Lynn Powers (Right); in a publicity still from the 1944 Chicago-edition of Mike Todd’s popular ‘STAR And GARTER’ show.. Willie began his Burlesque career with his brother Eugene in 1902. He would pass away in ‘49 at the age of 62..
Cover design to the 1944 Souvenir Program for Michael Todd’s ‘STAR And GARTER’ burlesque show, which opened 2 years earlier at the ‘Music Box Theatre’ in New York City..
Emcee/comedian “Red” Forrest is featured on the cover of the August ‘56 issue of ‘NIGHT LIFE in Chicago’; a free entertainment guide offered to tourists and travelling businessmen.. It promotes his appearance at ’ The L & L Club’ on Chicago’s West Side..
April 1955 program ad for the ‘EMPIRE Burlesque Theatre’, featuring “Brazilian Bombshell” Rita Cortes.. As well as Bartlett and King! Comedian Billy “Cheez’n Crackers” Hagan provides the laughs..
