RIP Kitty West (1930-2019)
Burlesque legend Kitty West, also known as Evangeline the Oyster Girl, passed away Sunday (8/18/19) at the age of 89. Born Abbie Jewel Slawson in Mississipi, Kitty ran away to New Orleans at age 16, where she began dancing. Her signature act, rising out of an oyster shell like Venus
NAC Operating Support Grant Received!
BHoF has been awarded a $21,000 Operating Support Grant by the Nevada Arts Council. Paid out over two years, this competitive grant is intended to help build Nevada’s arts infrastructure by providing unrestricted operating funds to non-profit organizations throughout the state. 35% of the funding of this grant comes from
Thank you Dr. Lawson!
Thank you to Dr. Jeffrey Lawson for his donation of $10,000 received by us this month. Dr. Lawson’s donation will allow us to launch a marketing and networking campaign intended to spread the word about BHoF and drive new traffic to the museum. We are deeply grateful for Dr. Lawson’s
Pre-Order NOW! BHoF Holiday Ornaments Featuring Jennie Lee
Decorate for the holidays with style this year. For the first time, BHoF is offering a gorgeous crystal holiday ornament featuring “Miss 44 and plenty more!” Measuring 2 5/8″ x 3 5/8″, this oval-shaped ornament will dazzle your family, friends, and guests (including jolly elves of all ages). Hang one
Volunteers Needed: Remote Data-Entry
BHoF is looking for people anywhere in the world who can help us type up our handwritten inventories so we can import them into our database. To volunteer, sign up at bhof.link/data and we’ll send you your first sheet. Each sheet contains about two dozen entries, and data is entered
Join us July 5 for Liber-TEASE!
The Burlesque Hall of Fame is proud to present its Independence Day weekend show Liber-TEASE! In partnership with Ron Decar’s Event Center, the show will feature top burlesque performers from Las Vegas and beyond, including the 2018 Miss Exotic World Runner-up Jessebelle Thunder, performing alongside legends of the classic burlesque
Who’s Who in Burly-Q: Jean Idelle
Jean Idelle, often called “the Sepia Sally Rand,” was the first black exotic fan dancer. She was active from 1950 – 1963 and performed internationally during a time of intense segregation. Jean was instrumental in integrating whites-only dance clubs. Her famed fan dance broke racial barriers long before the 1964
New exhibition Explores the Feminist Side of Burlesque
40 years ago, when the women’s movement attacked burlesque clubs for their objectification and exploitation of women, it did not seem that the protesters and the performers had much in common. But the ideals of feminism are found throughout the history of burlesque. The Burlesque Hall of Fame’s new ongoing
Free Admission for Active Military and Their Families This Summer
The Burlesque Hall of Fame is proud to join museums nationwide in participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer. The 2019 program runs from Saturday, May 18, 2019, Armed Forces Day,
Who’s Who in Burly-Q: Bettie Page (1923-2008)
As the “Queen of Pinups,” Bettie Page rarely needs an introduction. Her trademark jet-black hair, blue eyes, and bangs influenced generations of pinup models and burlesque performers to come, and her physique still inspires countless artistic renditions. Much of Bettie’s life has become pop culture history. She was born on