Citizendia
Your Ad Here

For other uses, see Burlesque (disambiguation).

Burlesque refers to theatrical entertainment of broad and parodic humor, which usually consists of comic skits (and sometimes a strip tease). A striptease or Exotic dance is a form of erotic entertainment usually a Dance, in which the performer known as a "stripper" gradually undresses While some authors assert that burlesque is a direct descendant of the Commedia dell'arte, the term "burlesque" for a parody or comedy of manners appears about the same time as the first appearance of commedia dell'arte. Commedia dell'Arte ( Italian: "the comedy of artists" is a form of Improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century

With its origins in nineteenth century music hall entertainments and vaudeville, in the early twentieth century burlesque emerged as a populist blend of satire, performance art, and adult entertainment, that featured strip tease and broad comedy acts that derived their name from the low comedy aspects of the literary genre known as burlesque. Music hall is a form of British theatrical Entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960 Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s Satire is often strictly defined as a literary genre or form; although in practice it is also found in the graphic and Performing arts In satire human This article is about Performance art For other uses see Performance (disambiguation Sex industry is the internationalisation of commercial enterprises which supply Sex workers in various capacities Burlesque is a genre of entertainment also known as Travesty.

In burlesque, performers, usually female, often create elaborate sets with lush, colorful costumes, mood-appropriate music, and dramatic lighting, and may even include novelty acts, such as fire-breathing or demonstrations of unusual flexibility, to enhance the impact of their performance. Safety While not a difficult skill to learn initially it is the most dangerous of all the fire arts and not just due to the obvious risk of serious burns

Put simply, burlesque means "in an upside down style". Like its cousin, commedia dell'arte, burlesque turns social norms head over heels. Burlesque is a style of live entertainment that encompasses pastiche, parody, and wit. The word pastiche describes a literary or other artistic Genre. The genre traditionally encompasses a variety of acts such as dancing girls, chanson singers, comedians, mime artists, and strip tease artistes, all satirical and with a saucy edge. The strip tease element of burlesque became subject to extensive local legislation, leading to a theatrical form that titillated without falling foul of censors.

Contents

Development

Photo of burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee
Photo of burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee

The genre originated in the 1840s, early in the Victorian Era, a time of culture clashes between the social rules of established aristocracy and a working-class society. Gypsy Rose Lee (also known as Rose Louise Hovick and Louise Hovick) (born January 8 1911 &ndash April 26 1970) was Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities Aristocracy is a form of Government, where rule is established through an internal struggle over who has the most status and influence over society and internal relations Originally, burlesque featured shows that included comic sketches, often lampooning the social attitudes of the upper classes and their music (particularly parodies of opera songs), alternating with dance routines. Is a concept in Sociology that refers to the group of people at the top of a Social hierarchy. It developed alongside vaudeville and ran on competing circuits.

In its heyday, burlesque bore little resemblance to earlier literary and musical burlesques which parodied widely known works of literature, theater, or music. Burlesque is a genre of entertainment also known as Travesty. Possibly due to historical social tensions between the upper classes and lower classes of society, much of the humor and entertainment of burlesque focused on lowbrow and ribald subjects—e. g. , in the early years, ducks were revered amongst these folk as gags. For duck as a food see Duck (food; for other meanings see Duck (disambiguation. A gag is usually a device designed to prevent speech, often as a restraint device to stop the subject from calling for help

The popular burlesque show of the 1870s through the 1920s referred to a raucous, somewhat bawdy style of variety theater. It was inspired by Lydia Thompson and her troupe, the British Blondes, who first appeared in the United States in the 1860s, and also by early "leg" shows such as The Black Crook (1866). The Black Crook is considered to be the first piece of Musical theatre that conforms to the modern notion of a " Book musical " Its form, humor, and aesthetic traditions were largely derived from the minstrel show. The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits variety acts dancing, and Music, One of the first burlesque troupes was the Rentz-Santley Novelty and Burlesque Company, created in 1870 by M. B. Leavitt, who had earlier feminized the minstrel show with her group Madame Rentz's Female Minstrels.

Burlesque rapidly adapted the minstrel show's tripartite structure: part one was composed of songs and dances rendered by a female company, interspersed with low comedy from male comedians. Part two was an "olio" of short specialties in which the women did not appear. The show's finish was a grand finale.

The genre often mocked established entertainment forms such as opera, Shakespearean drama, musicals, and ballet. The costuming (or lack thereof) increasingly focused on forms of dress considered inappropriate for polite society. By the 1880s, the genre had created some rules for defining itself:

Charlie Chaplin in his autobiography gives an interesting account of burlesque in Chicago in 1910:

Chicago. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. . . had a fierce pioneer gaiety that enlivened the senses, yet underlying it throbbed masculine loneliness. Counteracting this somatic ailment was a national distraction known as the burlesque show, consisting of a coterie of rough-and-tumble comedians supported by twenty or more chorus girls. Some were pretty, others shopworn. Some of the comedians were funny, most of the shows were smutty harem comedies—coarse and cynical affairs. (Charles Chaplin, My Autobiography: 125–6)

The popular burlesque show of this period eventually evolved into the strip tease which became the dominant ingredient of burlesque by the 1930s. In the 1930s, a social crackdown on burlesque shows led to their gradual downfall. The shows had slowly changed from ensemble ribald variety performances, to simple performances focusing mostly on the strip tease. The end of burlesque and the birth of striptease was later dramatised in the entertaining film The Night They Raided Minsky's. The Night They Raided Minsky's is a 1968 musical comedy film directed by William Friedkin and produced by Norman Lear.

Famous burlesque stars

The burlesque show on film

The first motion-picture adaptation of an actual burlesque show was Hollywood Revels (1946), a theatrical feature film starring exotic dancer Allene. William (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose Jack Albertson ( June 16, 1907 – November 25, 1981) was an American award-winning Character actor dating to Robert Alda ( February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) born Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo, was an American Mendel "Milton Berle" Berlinger ( July 12, 1908 &ndash March 27, 2002) was an Emmy -winning American Comedian Immodesty Blaize (born Kelly Fletcher in Hertfordshire 1978 is a British Burlesque dancer who performs internationally Fanny Brice ( October 29 1891 – May 29 1951) was a popular and influential American Comedienne, Singer Sherry Britton ( July 28, 1918 - April 1, 2008) was a Burlesque performer of the 1930's and early 1940's Ann Corio ( November 29, 1914 – March 1, 1999) was a prominent American Burlesque ecdysiast and Millie DeLeon (circa 1873 &ndash August 6, 1922) was the stage name of American Burlesque Dancer Millie Lawrence She's alternatively listed in vital records Marie Dressler ( November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934) was an Academy Award -winning Canadian actress Leon Errol ( July 3, 1881 - October 12, 1951) was an Australian born comedian and actor in the United States, popular W C Fields ( January 29, 1880 &ndash December 25, 1946) was an American Juggler, Comedian, and Actor Herbert Walton Gleason Jr, baptized John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason ( February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an Gilda Gray ( October 24, 1901 – December 22, 1959) was a Polish born American actress and dancer who became famous in the US Bob Hope, KBE KCSG ( May 29, 1903 &ndash July 27, 2003) was an American comedian and actor who appeared in Bert Lahr ( August 13, 1895 – December 4, 1967) was a German-Jewish American Tony Award -winning comic actor and vaudeville comedian Gypsy Rose Lee (also known as Rose Louise Hovick and Louise Hovick) (born January 8 1911 &ndash April 26 1970) was Jennie Lee may refer to Jennie Lee (actor (1848-1925 American silent film actress Jennie Lee Baroness Lee of Asheridge (1904-88 British Pinky Lee ( May 2, 1907, Saint Paul Minnesota &ndash April 3, 1993, Mission Viejo California) born Pincus Leff Bettie Mae Page (born Betty Mae Page April 22 1923 in Nashville Tennessee) is a former American model who became famous in the 1950s for Molly Picon ( Yiddish:מאָלי פּיקאָן ( June 1, 1898 – April 5, 1992) was an American star of stage Tracy Phillips is an American Actress, Dancer (particularly Burlesque) and Choreographer living in Southern California. The World Famous Pontani Sisters are a dance act and Burlesque revue based in New York City, consisting of three sisters- Angie Pontani, Tara Rags Ragland (b John Lee Morgan Beauregard Ragland, August 23 1905, Louisville Kentucky; d Sally Rand ( April 03, 1904 &ndash August 31, 1979) was born Harriet Helen Gould Beck in Hickory County Missouri. Phil Silvers ( May 11, 1911 &ndash November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and Comedy actor Richard Bernard “Red” Skelton ( July 18, 1913 &ndash September 17, 1997) was an American comedian who was best known as a top Lili St Cyr ( June 3, 1917 or 1918 &ndash January 29, 1999) was a prominent American Burlesque Stripper Tura Satana, born Tura Luna Pascual Yamaguchi July 10, 1938 in Hokkaidō, Japan, is a The phrase "Blaze Star" was sometimes used for the Recurring nova T Coronae Borealis Blaze Starr (born 1932 is a former Tempest Storm (born Annie Blanche Banks February 29, 1928) is an American stripper Burlesque star and Motion picture Actress Dita Von Teese (born Heather Renée Sweet on September 28 1972 is a popular American Burlesque artist model and actress Lola The Vamp is the only Burlesque performer in theatrical history to perform burlesque for the academic award of PhD Mae West (August 17 1893 &ndash November 22 1980 was an American actress, Playwright, Screenwriter, and Sex symbol. Bette Midler (born December 1, 1945) is anAmerican Singer, Actress and Comedian, also known (as her informal stage name as Much of the action was filmed in medium or long shots, because the production was staged in an actual theater and the camera photographed the stage from a distance.

In 1947, enterprising film producer W. Merle Connell reinvented the filmed burlesque show by restaging the action especially for movies, in a studio. The camerawork and lighting were better, the sound was better, and the new setup allowed for close-ups and a variety of photographic and editorial techniques. His 1951 production French Follies is a faithful depiction of a burlesque presentation, with stage curtains, singing emcee, dances by showgirls and strippers, frequent sketches with straightmen and comedians, and a finale featuring the star performer. The highlight is the famous burlesque routine "Crazy House," popularized earlier by Abbott and Costello. William (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello (born Louis Francis Cristillo performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose Another familiar chestnut,Joey Faye's "Slowly I Turn" (famous today as a Three Stooges routine), was filmed for Connell's 1953 feature A Night in Hollywood. The Three Stooges were an American Vaudeville and Comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous Short subject films

Other producers entered the field, using color photography and even location work. Naughty New Orleans (1954) is an excellent example of burlesque entertainment on film, equally showcasing girls and gags, although it shifts the venue from a burlesque-house stage to a popular nightclub. Photographer Irving Klaw filmed a very profitable series of burlesque features, usually featuring star cheesecake model Bettie Page and various lowbrow comedians (including future TV star Joe E. Ross). Irving Klaw ( November 9, 1910 - September 3, 1966) was an American Photographer and Filmmaker. Bettie Mae Page (born Betty Mae Page April 22 1923 in Nashville Tennessee) is a former American model who became famous in the 1950s for Joe E Ross ( March 15, 1914 - August 13, 1982) was an American actor known for his trademark " Ooh! Ooh! " exclamation Page's most famous features are Striporama (1953), Varietease (1954), and Teaserama (1955).

These movies, as their titles imply, were only teasing the viewer: the girls wore revealing costumes but there was never any nudity. In the late 1950s, however, other producers made more provocative films, sometimes using a "nudist colony" format, and the relatively tame burlesque-show movie died out. As early as 1954 burlesque was already considered a bygone form of entertainment; burlesque veteran Phil Silvers laments the passing of burlesque in the movie musical Top Banana. Phil Silvers ( May 11, 1911 &ndash November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and Comedy actor

New Burlesque

See also: Neo-Burlesque
A burlesque dancer
A burlesque dancer

A new generation nostalgic for the spectacle and perceived glamour of the old times determined to bring burlesque back. Neo-Burlesque (or "New Burlesque" is the revival and updating of the traditional Burlesque performance This revival was pioneered independently in the mid 1990s by Billie Madley's "Cinema" and Ami Goodheart’s “Dutch Weismanns’ Follies” revues in New York and Michelle Carr’s “The Velvet Hammer Burlesque” troupe in Los Angeles. In addition, and throughout the country, many individual performers were incorporating aspects of burlesque in their acts. These productions, inspired by the likes of Sally Rand, Tempest Storm, Gypsy Rose Lee and Lili St. Cyr have themselves gone on to inspire a new generation of performers. Sally Rand ( April 03, 1904 &ndash August 31, 1979) was born Harriet Helen Gould Beck in Hickory County Missouri. Tempest Storm (born Annie Blanche Banks February 29, 1928) is an American stripper Burlesque star and Motion picture Actress Gypsy Rose Lee (also known as Rose Louise Hovick and Louise Hovick) (born January 8 1911 &ndash April 26 1970) was Lili St Cyr ( June 3, 1917 or 1918 &ndash January 29, 1999) was a prominent American Burlesque Stripper

Today New Burlesque has taken many forms, but all have the common trait of honoring one or more of burlesque’s previous incarnations, with acts including striptease, expensive costumes, bawdy humor, cabaret and more. Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring Comedy, Song, Dance, and Theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue &mdash a Restaurant There are modern burlesque performers and shows all over the world, and annual conventions such as the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival and the Miss Exotic World Pageant are held. The Vancouver International Burlesque Festival is an annual event taking place over three days and featuring dancers comedians and musicians The Miss Exotic World Pageant (officially the Miss Exotic World Pageant and Striptease Reunion is an annual Burlesque pageant and convention and is the annual showcase

See also

References

Dictionary

burlesque

-noun

  1. A derisive art form that mocks by imitation; a parody
  2. A variety adult entertainment show, usually including titillation such as striptease, most common from the 1880s to the 1930s.

-verb

  1. To make a burlesque parody of
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic