Interview with Judith Stein
In honor of Women’s History Month, and inspired by the #5WomenArtists project led by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, we are asking burlesque artists to share with us their thoughts on their art form. First up is Judith Stein, “The Lady Divine”, who performed throughout the 1970s
Featured Artifact: Gypsy Rose Lee’s Pincushion
Gypsy Rose Lee was practically born into show business, touring the vaudeville circuits with her sister, Jane Havoc, from before she was old enough to go to school. Their successes were fleeting and hardships enduring, and it behooved the young vaudevillian to learn to sew. Throughout her stage career, both
Who’s Who in BurlyQ: Toni Elling
The elegant and classy Toni Elling is a burlesque icon who broke down many barriers as an African-American woman performing in the 1960s and 1970s. Born in 1929 and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Elling worked as a telephone operator for nine years before her big career switch. Reportedly fed up
Featured Artifact: Val de Val One-sheet
Val de Val (1917-2000), billed as “The Liberator” and “The H-Bomb of Burlesque”, began performing in the 1940s. She made two films, French Follies (which also featured our founder, Jennie Lee) and Burlesque in Hawaii (also released as Oriental Vanities) before retiring from performing when she got married in 1957. She went
Liz Renay Manuscript Restoration Project Finished
The Burlesque Hall of Fame offers our sincere thanks to the archive team at the Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas, for their invaluable assistance in restoring a bundle of Liz Renay manuscripts acquired from her estate. Liz Renay published a number of books in her lifetime, including titles like My Face
Who’s Who in Burly-Q: Sally Rand (1904-1979)
Not many performers come to burlesque after having had a successful career elsewhere, but that’s exactly what Sally Rand did. Rand started in the theater as a teenager in Kansas City and enjoyed some success. Deciding to make her name in Hollywood, she joined the Ringling Bros. Circus and traveled
2017 Weekender Recap by Sparkly Devil Memorial Scholarship Winner Raven Virginia
Our 2017 Sparkly Devil Memorial Scholarship recipient, Raven Virginia, shares her experiences studying with the legends of burlesque at the BHoF Weekender. I arrived in Las Vegas in the blistering heat ready to take on the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend. It was exciting, daunting and totally amazing! Sparkly herself made
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER: Tales of the 2016 BHOF Weekender by 2016 Sparkly Devil Memorial Scholarship Winner Egypt Blaque Knyle
As I sat at work contemplating if I should even write the essay for the Sparkly Devil Memorial Scholarship I remember saying to myself “Why is this scholarship important to you and you have never even met Sparkly Devil in person”? I stared at the computer all day just thinking
“At Toni’s Side”: Lessons from the 2015 BHoF Weekender by Sparkly Devil Memorial Scholarship winner Tessa von Twinkle
Along with so many others in our community who haven’t yet experienced it for themselves, I’ve been e-creeping on The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender for years. Whether Facebook-feed binging, watching hours of YouTube videos, or partaking in the many other fantastic modern marvels of social media, I’ve annually soaked
RIP Novita, The Pixie of Burlesque (1932-2015)
We are saddened today to announce the passing of Novita, The Pixie of Burlesque. Novita was one of the founding members of the Exotic Dancers League (EDL) in 1955, a section of the American Guild of Variety Artists (which Novita had been a member of since age 13) dedicated to