press@burlesquehall.com
(888) 661-6465
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE BURLESQUE HALL OF FAME REOPENS IN LAS VEGAS
New Site Offers Tourists a Peek Into the History and Future of The Art of Striptease
Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for April 17, 2018
BHoF Weekender, 28th Miss Exotic World Competition, May 31 – June 3

April 10, 2018–A half-century in the making, the Burlesque Hall of Fame (BHoF) has pulled back the curtain on its new location at 1027 South Main Street, Suite #110, in the heart of the Las Vegas Arts District. It is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving the history of striptease. We are proud to offer:

• Vastly expanded exhibitions:
  • The history of burlesque, from the late 1800s to today
  • The rise of neo-burlesque and Exotic World’s role in connecting the new generation and the old
  • Costumes, props and other artifacts from burlesque’s history (including Board member Dita Von Teese’s martini glass/bath, Gypsy Rose Lee’s traveling trunk, and costumes from Sally Rand and Lili St. Cyr)
  • A changing exhibition space, currently displaying theater marquees, posters, and other materials from our collection that have not been seen in decades
• The Bawdy Shop Studio, a learning space for hosting classes, exhibitions, lectures, readings, and film screenings
• Onsite cataloged storage and preservation of our unique collection, accessible by researchers

“BHoF isn’t only about burlesque. Our history is shared with that of vaudeville, comedy, theater, dance, fashion, underground art, feminism, labor movements, the military and the USO, LGBTQIA communities and more,” notes Executive Director Dustin Wax. “Visitors will enjoy over-the-top costumes and props, rare photos of vintage performances, stories of celebrities and scandal, and of course, information on the art’s history.”

The museum began nearly three decades ago as a small, dusty roadside attraction, a collection of memorabilia gathered by its founder, striptease artist and labor activist Jennie Lee, from her colleagues in the business of tease. After Jennie’s death, her friend Dixie Evans, “The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque,” founded the annual Miss Exotic World Pageant, now in its 28th year, as a way to draw more attention to the museum.

“People who visited Exotic World when it was in Dixie’s home—when it was Dixie’s home—always talk about the experience of being treated to an informal tour by Dixie herself,” said Wax. “We’re recreating that experience for our visitors through hands-on play with fun ‘tools of the trade’ like feather boas and gloves and via interaction with our staff and volunteers who are delighted to share stories about the collection.”  

Media are invited to our Big Reveal event on April 17, 12-3pm, featuring performances by Miss Exotic World winners Michelle L’amour, Kalani Kokonuts, and Dirty Martini, appearances by local burlesque legends, and ribbon cutting by Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman.

Press passes for the BHoF Weekender at The Orleans can be requested online at www.BHoFWeekend.com/press

BHoF is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-6pm. Admission $15 ($12 with Nevada ID; $10 for students, military, and seniors).

###

The Burlesque Hall of Fame and the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving, celebrating and inspiring the art of burlesque. BHoF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Burlesque Hall of Fame is a member of the Nevada Museum Association, Western Museums Association, American Alliance of Museums, and holds a Bronze certificate in Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations from the American Association of State and Local History.