Review: striptease

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s your daily reminder to nominate The Boston Babydolls for Best Burlesque. You can vote once per day per email/IP address. Thank you!

striptease by Libby Jones (1967).

This slim volume is a gem. Subtitled “The one ‘How To’ book no woman should be without”, it covers all the basics a budding stripper could want in a mere 80 pages and boasts of “step-by-step, fully illustrated instructions by one of the most famous practitioners of the art, Libby Jones”. Published in 1967, it has the aesthetic of the era. There’s just something about the typeface of the headers that says “groovy” to me.

Ms. Jones starts off with, as promised, step-by-step instructions for stripping out of specific garments (gloves, dress, chemise, stockings, garter belt, bra, and panties). Each garment section is accompanied by line drawings showing how to remove it. Best of all is that each one is a convenient 2-page spread, for easy reference. Remember what I mentioned about the aesthetic? The illustration for “the dress” shows a maxi-dress with an empire waist with a floral slip (“the chemise”) worn underneath.

After you’ve learned to take it off, come “The Actions”: tassel twirling (the instant gratification method), breast bounce (a way of faking pectoral control a la Carrie Finnel or Donna Denise), shimmy (quivering the bum), bump (which “isn’t really one of life’s classiest gestures”), grind, floorwork, lunge, walks, and props (a pillow and earrings). All are again illustrated and each one is only on one or two pages. There are a couple of different floorwork poses and three walks, from coy to aggressive. I was quite thrilled to see some underutilized props. Now I’m inspired to try an earring remove — it could be quite seductive.

There’s even a section for making your own g-string and pasties. Remember, in 1967 there was no Etsy. ; ) The techniques are remarkably similar to the ones many people use today — if it ain’t broke…

The remaining 20-odd pages are on “beauty”. There are toning exercises for all parts of the body, like “firming and developing the bust”, “slimming the hips and buttocks”, and “reducing thick ankles”. Lastly, there are make up tips, such as conturing the face, making up eyes and lips, and “beauty hints”. Much of this section makes me think of the Virginia Slim’s motto, because we have come a long way.

I like it, part because it is a good how-to (the stripping part), and part because it is a window into its time period.

That’s the last burlesque book on my shelf! Do you have any suggestions for what I should review next?

M2

Published in: on 30 January 2013 at 2:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Teasing

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s your daily reminder to nominate The Boston Babydolls for Best Burlesque. You can vote once per day per email/IP address. Thank you!

And lest I only exhort you to nominate us, here’s a little tease of some upcoming writings.

* I have one last book to review before I’m out again.
* The Bod of Avon opens on Friday. Opening weekend is completely sold out!
* I made some lingerie this weekend. There will be pictures.
* B.A.B.E. had to add a second February class to keep up with demand. It starts next week, so don’t wait to register.
* I’m working on some new costume pieces.

Stay tuned!

M2

Published in: on 28 January 2013 at 12:33 pm  Leave a Comment  

Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

Here’s your daily reminder to nominate The Boston Babydolls for Best Burlesque. You can vote once per day per email/IP address. Thank you!

If your budget only allows for limited rhinestones for your costume, put them close to your face.

M2

Published in: on 25 January 2013 at 11:26 am  Leave a Comment  
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Rehearsing

Dear Constant Reader,

First, I just thought I’d mention that it’s time for nominations for The Boston Phoenix Readers’ Poll. We’d love to be Best Burlesque in Boston again and the first step is for you to nominate us. You can vote once per day per email/IP address. Thank you!

We are about to open our new show The Bod of Avon, so, as you might expect, have been rehearsing that heavily. However, the other night, we took a little time to work on some other upcoming events.

We’re reviving our July Project numbers. First we’ll be performing them at The Mardi Gras Ball (20th anniversary! 2 nights!) and then at a private event. Not only did we need to warm them up, but we had to talk about what changes we’ll make for each event. At the Mardi Gras Ball the stage (not very large to start with) is crammed with musicians, so we have to be fairly compact in our movements. The other event requested “bralesque” (i.e. not going down to pasties), so most of us need to revise our endings a bit to comply.

After running through everything for those shows, we were all a bit draggy and looking longingly at the clock. After all, we’d had a preview show on Sunday, a “Bod” rehearsal on Monday, and now another rehearsal on Tuesday. And Scratch had said we’d go out for drinks after. Then Brigitte said “Come on, bitches! Let’s do it!” (or something like that). And we nodded and all got into our costumes for the finale of The Bod of Avon.

It’s a 6-person number with some precision group moves. Lots of moving parts. It looks good now, but we know we can do better, so we ran it. Several times. Drilled it. Checked on small things, like positions of hands and feet. Made sure we were all closing our parasols in sync. Etcetera, etcetera.

You’ve voted us the Best Burlesque in Boston for several years now, and we work like heck to earn it. Even when we’d rather be having cocktails.

M2

Published in: on 24 January 2013 at 12:19 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Tea Time

Dear Constant Reader,

I’ve mentioned before my great love of tea. Let’s talk a little about that favorite topic today, particularly some on the items one needs to make tea.
tea-comparision_8402878476_oThese are both tea. On the left is tea from a Lipton tea bag — I don’t drink it, I merely keep it on hand for tea-dying. It’s basically dust. On the left is some good quality loose tea. In this case, Earl Grey from MEM Teas (sponsor of my tea party last year at The Expo). Look at those lovely large leaves. That’s the one I want in my pot.

kettle_8402878666_oThis is a tea kettle. It’s used for boiling water. And the water should be boiling for black tea. There are different guidelines for green teas and for herbal infusions (they’re not tea, but that’s an epistle for another time). This particular kettle whistles, which is nice & cheery.
teapot_8402878852_oThis is a tea pot. It’s where the tea is brewed. This pot is ceramic, which I prefer over metal. I do have a silver tea service, but that may be a story for another time. Warm the pot first by swishing a little hot water around it and then pouring it out. Add your tea. Pour the boiling water on top of the tea and let steep for a few minutes (how long depends on the type of tea). Some say to use one spoonful of tea per cup and one for the pot. I find this makes a very strong brew and prefer less tea in my pot.

cozyThis is a tea pot wearing a tea cozy to keep the contents warm. My mother knit the cozy for me. Isn’t it charming? This is called a bachelor tea cozy, because one does not have to remove the cozy to pour. Apparently Victorian bachelors were lazy. Other tea cozies look like quilted hats and cover the entire pot. There are some mighty whimsical tea cozies out there too.

These are all ways of getting the tea in the pot, while keeping the leaves out of your teeth. From left to right:
implements_8402879082_o

A tea filter or sachet. It’s like making your own teapot-sized tea bag. Scoop the loose tea into the bag and seal it shut. Easy!

A tea spoon. Excellent for making a single cup. Fill with tea, close and stir into a cup of hot (and by hot, I mean boiling) water. There are also tea balls. Similar to the tea spoon, only it holds more tea. Use a little tea for one cup or a lot for a pot. Mine appears to be camera shy.

A tea strainer. I love this one. Put the tea loose in the pot. Set the strainer across the mouth of a cup and pour through it. It will catch the leaves, leaving you with a clear cup with just enough tea leaves to read later. And the tea left in the pot doesn’t get bitter sitting on the leaves.

Tea can be drunk with sugar and milk (never cream) or lemon. Never milk and lemon or you get a nasty curdled mess in your cup. Personally, I like just lemon, no sugar, which is why I prefer a lighter brew.

I’ll be throwing a tea party again Sunday afternoon at The Expo. We’re still finalizing the details, but it looks like Jacqueline Hyde will be sponsoring the party and providing the tea!

M2

Published in: on 21 January 2013 at 12:43 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

It’s Friday! Time for a tip!

Nude fishnets or sheer-to-the-waist pantyhose worn under your undies instantly improves your legs.

They’ll smooth and shape and even out the color. And from stage, they’re basically invisible.

You’ll want to snip the waistband to avoid muffin top, and pin the hose to your under-g to make sure everything stays in place.

The Boston Babydolls really like Capezio fishnets. They’re very sturdy and can be mended. Brigitte sewed hooks onto her under-thong and just hooks into the net.

M2

Published in: on 18 January 2013 at 11:48 am  Leave a Comment  
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Review: Ambition

Dear Constant Reader,

Book Review Wednesday returns!

Ambition by Immodesty Blaize (2010).

Previously I reviewed Tease, the first novel from burlesque superstar Immodesty Blaize.

Immodesty’s second book focuses on Sienna Starr, striving for fame and fortune in Las Vegas on her own merits, rather than riding the coattails of her famous name. When the book begins, she has it all — a role as a showgirl in the fabulous revue “Venus in Furs”, Tiger’s luxurious mansion to nest in, a billionaire boyfriend, and loyal friends.

It’s not as good as the first one. Although I want to give it one bit of praise right off: April March, The First Lady of Burlesque is name-dropped alongside Lili St. Cyr and Tiger Starr.

I think my biggest gripe it that here is no mystery surrounding Sienna, unless you count the mystery of when she will open her eyes and see that she’s surrounded by liars and backstabbers. The lavish descriptions of costumes and acts that filled the the previous book are lacking. Some of the characters border on ridiculous (near-identical brother-sister twins?) and the Americans hilariously talk like Brits (bedsit, holdalls, trash skip, &c.). Everything is tidily wrapped up in the last couple of chapters with the virtuous rewarded and the wicked getting what they deserve.

As my friend Red would say, I read this so you don’t have to. I do wonder what happened between books; the first one was fun, but the second is lackluster.

M2

Published in: on 16 January 2013 at 5:18 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Friday Tip!

Dear Constant Reader,

If you stick on your pasties with liquid adhesive, don’t store them edge to edge like a clamshell.

I’ve seen more than one frantic stripper trying to pry her pasties apart backstage!

M2

Published in: on 11 January 2013 at 11:20 am  Leave a Comment  
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Happy Birthday, Gypsy

Dear Constant Reader,

My apologies, this goes out a day late, but your faithful correspondent was at the dentist yesterday and her entire schedule went keflewie (that’s a technical term) as a result.

A very happy 102* to the greatest Lady of Burlesque, Gypsy Rose Lee!

For your pleasure, here’s a little picture of Gypsy:
gypsy inside
This is the program from her 1949 tour, from The Boston Babydoll Collection. And here’s a photo of her autographing one of those very same programs!
116129866.jpg

And just for fun, here’s Devora Darling, all dressed up for her Gypsy tribute act, “A Stripteaser’s Education” during the Madame Burlesque tour and the photo that inspired the costume.**

devora as gypsy grlsmaller

For more Gypsy goodness, you could read her famous memoir, Gypsy: Memoirs of America’s Most Celebrated Stripper, her novels, The G-String Murders and Mother Finds a Body, or listen to her on the albums Gypsy Rose Lee Remembers Burlesque and That’s Me All Over. Not to mention all the movies inspired by her writings: Gypsy, Lady of Burlesque, and Doll Face.

There’s also her son’s memoir Gypsy and Me: At Home and on the Road With Gypsy Rose Lee (also called My G-String Mother: At Home and Backstage with Gypsy Rose Lee).

And then there is a plethora of other books about her: American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare: The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose, Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy: The Art of the Tease, and Lady of Burlesque: The Career of Gypsy Rose Lee.

Not bad for someone who described herself as “no talent”!

M2

*Probably. Her mother had a fluid relationship with the truth and thought nothing of forging birth certificates to raise or lower her daughters’ ages when the situation arose.

**That’s not actually Gypsy; it’s Burgundy Brixx as Gypsy. Our costumer didn’t look too closely…

Published in: on 10 January 2013 at 1:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Babydollmas

Dear Constant Reader,

This past Sunday the troupe celebrated Babydollmas. It was a little late, but everyone had scattered hither and yon for various family obligations and wild trips to Vegas (I’m looking at you, Evie Sphinx!).

We assembled for a festive meal (at a restaurant near B.A.B.E. — Scratch wasn’t cooking a third holiday feast) and exchanged gifts. Everything was rather appropriate to the gift-givers personality: Evie gave everyone wine, Brigitte handed out gift cards to that very restaurant (it’s a favorite for Babydolls to retire to for drinks after extra rehearsals), Betty picked out fun books, Devora stuffed cute socks with all manner of whimsical (yet useful) items, I made lotion bars & lip balm, Scratch selected vintage or handmade items from local artists, Stella made us all nuts*. Ba-dum-dum.

And what did I wear to this festive occasion? I know you’re all dying to know, O Reader.trousersThese lovely 1941 trousers in navy wool twill. Sadly, because it’s a dark color you can’t really see all the charming details, like the pleats in front (darts in the back) or the side zip (balanced by a pocket on the other side). You might just be able to make out the wide belt loops because of the contrast against the leopard belt. And they’re not vintage, I made them my very self. Hence the pleased aura that surrounds me. That and they make me feel like Katharine Hepburn.

You have requested more photos in my missives and I’m going to try to make that happen. My camera is a bit of a relic these days and the flash is balky. Still, I will do what I can to make you happy, Dear Reader.

M2
*As much as I’d like to leave it at that, and Stella does make fine spiced nuts, these were actually from a local company, and Stella picked the perfect flavor for each of us.

Published in: on 8 January 2013 at 9:42 am  Comments (1)  
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