#252 - C o Bq 1 3
Cavalcade of Burlesque Volume 1, Number 3
Burlesque Historical Company, 1952
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
a page-by-page digital replica
If Striparama focused on the glamor facet of burlesque, Cavalcade of Burlesque shows us the complete theatrical presentation, paying lots of attention to comedians. The founder and Executive Director of Cavalcade, Jess Mack, had a successful career as straight man to many of the top bananas in the business.
The publication blends aspects of trade journal and fan magazine. More than 50 publicity photos of strippers and dancers appear on the magazine's 48 pages. These leggy lovelies include Rita Ravell, Trudy Wayne, Delores Del Rey, Ilka DeCava, Penny Page, Suzanne Daye, Ginger DuVal, and Georgia Sothern.
Phil Silvers, who earned his chops as a burlesque comic, penned a brief introduction. In it, he acknowledges all he learned from Jess Mack. Mr. Silvers is probably best remembered for his 1950s television portrayal of Sgt. Bilko. There's a piece about his career and another about comedians in a dressing room. But pages also present the compete text of three classic burlesque skits.
Essays describe a radio broadcaster who boosts burlesque in Philadelphia and films that show burlesque performances. Cartoons make jokes about strippers.
Business-to-business advertisers sell costume fabrics, costumes, stage equipment, tickets, posters, photography, and the onstage services of entertainers. Restaurants, bars and hotels offer hospitality to traveling performers.
The ebook is a full-sized, page-by-page digital replica that retains the page layouts and page sequence of the original. Every word, picture and ad is in the ebook. Image-editing adjustments improve the clarity of pictures for the digital iteration.
A nostalgic artifact of mid-century bawdiness, Cavalcade of Burlesque pays sincere respect to the performance artists who made audiences dream and laugh. With its view from backstage, we're privy to the nuts and bolts of an old stagecraft that pleased generations.
One ebook, delivered by download link.