Historic Male Burlesque!

we3 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-18-2006, 09:07 AM

Hi there,

I'm on the serch for any links to historic references to male burlesque acts, and images. I'm interested particuarly in strongmen, and alternative variety acts as i'm looking to develop a new act.

Also does anyone know where i can get a waist clincher corset?

Many thanks,

Dan.

Kittie · #2 (**permalink**) 10-18-2006, 10:37 AM

www.eternalspirits.com

Susi there, does male corsets and waist cinchers- just contact here and ask:

info@eternalspirits.com

As for historical info, i'm not sure. Probably a good idea to search for Music Hall stars as well as Vaudeville rather than burlesque specifically.

Places like the Glasgow, Britannia Panopticon Theatre has acts like Harry Lauder and Stan Laurel (before he went to the US and met Oliver Hardy). Worth looking in to that.

I'd be interested to see what you find though!

sylvander · #3 (**permalink**) 10-18-2006, 03:05 PM

be interested in any info you dig up too

Warren · #4 (**permalink**) 10-18-2006, 03:39 PM

Susi fitted me into a few male corsets for the BBC programme they made on me, but they never used the footage!

All that pain and suffering I went thru for nothing !

The pink one did however look rather good under my pinstripe suit - shame I could barely move in it tho.

How you ladies wear them for hours I will never know !

If you find any interesting links, Dan, post em on here for sure.

I'm sure Google must have quite a few references to circus strongmen etc

heathersweet · #5 (**permalink**) 10-19-2006, 12:29 PM

In the U.S Burlesque seen you have people like Tiger and Gorilla X.
But for the most part men in BQ tend to be M.C , hoast, and illusionists.
Like Count Smokula or the great Fredini.

For current U.K men click on a couple of profiles.

* Warren where are the pictures of your corset bondage?

My current fixation being follies burgeree.
Two interesting acts are
( Dwarf weight lifters )

Aundreu and Rivels who worked inb the 20's

or les soeurs guy.

a black male who would lift other acts.

i will try to find info on brit weight lifters .

xxxxxxxxxx H x

Warren · #6 (**permalink**) 10-19-2006, 02:16 PM

I dont think we took any pictures, but I'll see if I can get the unused TV footage . . . .

Altho if it looks dreadful I might be a diva and burn it !

CharlotteThomson · #7 (**permalink**) 10-20-2006, 10:35 PM

Id try ebay for a cincher, ive been looking for one myself (though my curves are already in the right places, they just need some controlling! lol) and have ended up getting one made but there are definately ones designed for male figures on ebay.

The Moulin Rouge had several male performers, La Petomane, Chocolat ,Valentin le Désossé (the 'boneless') also called L'Homme du Quadrille (the Quadrille man whatever that means). Take a look on the moulin rouge official website for some more historical stuff.

Nottingham Troupe the Deville Dolls have regular male performers, though as heather said, one is uber camp compere/host/narrator. They do have a sailor boy in one act and 'Bruiser' who is the hunky one they all swoon over for comic effect. I do think its great to get male performers in the mix, makes it all the more colourful!

Maybe looking up the history of sideshows, circuses, even freak shows and places like Coney Island might bring in some results? Heres a website about freakshows which is quite interesting http://freaks.monstrous.com/famous_freaks.htm probably not what youre looking for but good reading!
And also like Kittie said vaudeville and music hall stars of the past is a great place to look!

Good luck with your search!
xCharlotte

edbarnas · #8 (**permalink**) 10-21-2006, 08:57 PM

Some reading matter that may be of use to you in your search:

Robert C Allen's "Horrible Prettiness: Burlesque & American Culture" (University of North Carolina Press, 1991) - a good history of the development of American burlesque within the context of 19th century theatre and it's development thru mid-20th century; extensive bibliography

Trav S. D.'s "No Applause - Just Throw Money, the book that made Vaudeville famous (Faber & Faber, 2005) - recent title focusing on vaudeville history and development; also has a good list of sources

J Dee Hill's "Freaks & Fire: The underground reinvention of Circus" (Soft Skull Press, 2004) - a series of interviews and descriptions of a number of modern alternative sideshow/circus troupes including the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Circus Contraption which I've had the pleasure of seeing.

More men have been taking to the stage in New York of late outside the role of MC. At a recent Pinchbottom's Burlesque, Delirium Tremens and Nasty Canasta did a duo fan dance to "Sisters" (from the move White Christmas) - and were followed shortly by Clark Westfield and Jonny Porkpie also doing their own duo fan dance to the same song.

- Ed

DivaHollywood · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2006, 01:53 PM

Hi
If you are in Liverpool next week i am performing a piece with 3 guys and one of them is even going to twirl with me. Its a comedy number we have worked out for Liverpool Live art festival, we are performing on the Walk the Plank theater boat, potting shed cabaret night.
I have met Tigger and performed with him once in New York he is lovely and I am sure if you mailed him he would be happy to chat to you about it all. He mixes alot of comedy/singing into his acts.
Diva x

Wild Card Kitty · #10 (**permalink**) 10-23-2006, 02:47 PM

Hmmm, historically, I agree wih Kittie, kicking it old school and going to the library and looking for books (I know!) about Vaudeville and Music Halls is the best plan. Looking up Variety Shows too to check out all the old performers. Going down the circus route is a good plan too. Names off the top of my head: Houdini (may throw up some interesting links for whom he performed with?) Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and ya, Laurel and Hardy would be worth a look I think for their physical comedic style (Bookworld type shops sometimes sell DVD box sets of their works for dirt cheapness) and that perhaps look up that famous Wrestler Giant Haystacks? xx