Leslie Zemeckis

From the exotic dancer reading program. Leslie Zemeckis filmed a documentary on burlesque for Showtime; this is the book version. It’s mostly an oral history – interviews with dancers, comics, and producers. Zemeckis argues that burlesque was a uniquely American art; certainly other countries had exotic dancers and stage comics but it was the US that put them together. The book is organized by short chapters; how dancers started, what the “wheels” (traveling between a series of venues) were like, stage door Johnnies, mutual support versus jealousy among the performers. Zemeckis also contends that burlesque was very much a working class art form; the wealthy went to night clubs and the Follies. None of the dancers volunteered that they were exploited; many saw this as a way to break into show business; only a few were successful (and those that were usually didn’t want to admit how they got started). The comics were a different story; Will Rogers, W.C. Fields, Ed Wynn, Phil Silvers, Danny Kaye, Jimmy Durante and Red Skelton all started in burlesque.

The interviewees proposed a number of theories for the death of burlesque – television; unions; pornography – probably all factored in. Some of the dancers ended in drugs and alcohol; others went on to varying degrees of success in more mundane fields. For more than you may want to know, see Candy Barr, Gilded Lili, Flesh for Fantasy, Stripping Gypsy, and Candy Girl.

Not very well organized as a history; its genesis as a movie shows. However, all the stories are interesting. Well illustrated; none of the photos are all that titillating but you might not want to leave it around where your ten year old can find it. OTOH I wouldn’t be surprised if the average ten year old nowadays has seen more flesh than I have. Short bibliography; rather sparse index.… (plus d'informations)

Behind the Burly Q is the definitive history of burlesque during its heyday and an invaluable oral history of an American art form. Funny, shocking, unbelievable, and heartbreaking, their stories will touch your hearts. We invite you to peek behind the curtain at the burly show.

Includes dozens of never-before seen photographs: rare backstage photos and candid shots from the performers' personal collections.

“A privileged front-row seat to the history of burlesque! Glorious ladies in their heyday . . . their long-ago stripteases still pack a sensual, sassy, what-the-hell punch, while juicy anecdotes run from raunchy to touching to funny to flat-out incredible.” (Ronnie Scheib - Variety)

Opening the pages of this book is like looking through a huge picture window catching a glimpse into the lives and careers of the remarkable and talented Entertainers who graced the stages of the various Clubs and Theaters throughout the US and abroad. The inserts of 'old time comedy skits' are hilariously funny, plus the mention of a few Neo-Burlesque Entertainers that are emulating the originators is very complimentary to the Art and History of Burlesque.

It has the most complete information I've ever seen on the subject and scads of photos, as well. It brings alive a form of entertainment that we'd only heard about. Looking at all the pictures and stories it gives you an idea of the work that went into putting this together. A true labor of love.

I recommend this book to anyone who would like to know the true stories of those who were there. This book contains stories that encompass the entire Burlesque era. Leslie Zemeckis tells the good, the bad, and (most importantly) the humorous things that happened to them during their careers.… (plus d'informations)