Sally Rand

Rather than write one history post about burlesque, I'm going to feature artists that have added to the inspiration for this show individually.  First up is the fantastic Sally Rand!

Sally Rand

Born Helen Beck in 1904, Rand left her home in the Ozark region of Missouri to join a circus in her teens.  She went on to be a cigarette girl, model, chorine, and performer with Ringling Brothers!  In 1927, after performing in a series of stage shows and silent films, she was selected to join Cecil B. DeMille's company for feature films.    Her career as a film star ended with the onset of 'talking pictures' because of her lisp.

A lot of wit and creativity led Rand to create her most famous dance, involving two feather fans (and not much else)! Her teasing 'fan dance' gained her great success in the burlesque world, and a steady job as a performer at the Paramount Club in the 1930s.  In 1933 she even appeared at the World's Fair-and was arrested multiple times in one day for indecent exposure!
Rand continued her success with other acts, including a 'bubble dance' with a huge transparent bubble.  In all of her acts, Rand embodied the tease as a central part of her dance--something I consider a huge part of the modern art of burlesque.  Rand also performed in traditional plays in the 1930s as Sadie Rand, and even starred opposite Humphrey Bogart.
Still probably one of the most well-known burlesque stars, Rand performed several times after her retirement, including in the 1978 show This Was Burlesque.  She died a year later in 1979.

A lot can be done with simple props and good lighting.  Sally Rand knew that-and it's evident in her lovely 1934 fan dance.  What you don't show is often more exciting than what you do!

And finally, a celebrity game show that also featured Gypsy Rose Lee (stay tuned, I'll post it) called What's My Line?: