Nebraska State Fairs
The Nebraska State Fair goer was no stranger to the bump 'n' grind of the stripteaser. In fact, State and County fairs throughout Nebraska featured exotic dancers and/or stripteasers through out the decades. Any good side show or carnival during the 50s and 60s would feature exotic dance acts.
1930s
In 1937, the Nebraska State Fair featured a fan dancer, Nancy Miller, who performed in the nude with 2 large white ostrich feather fans. Her costume was listed as 'shoes' in the Omaha newspapers. The Lincoln newspapers remained quiet, sticking to the normal fuss of a state fair, while Omaha and surrounding newspapers were pressed to cast judgement on the 'holy city' of Lincoln.
(Fan Dancer at the Nebraska State Fair by John Savage. September 7, 1937. The Durham Museum. Copyright Omaha World Herald)
Censorship of the Image by the Durham Museum
The photographic proof of this nude burlesque dancer speaks volumes to the wide acceptance of this type of entertainment in Nebraska. It should be noted this article was published in the Omaha Evening World Herald. The Lincoln papers have no mention of this fan dancer or the 'trouble' she caused. Lancaster County Attorney, Max Towle, investigated the show before opening and was satisfied that Miss Miller had 'worn tights' when he saw the act. The 'spotters' for the Fair were also not alarmed, nor had they seen any 'indecency.'
(Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. "State Fair Attendants." Page 69. August 29, 1937
Photo Caption: "Nancy Miller and two of her beauties, Aloha Dean and Ginger Austin, in the 'Gay Paree' show.")
Omaha Mayor Butler, reported as "a veteran foe of indecency in theater," went to Lincoln to attend the fair but failed to comment on whether he saw the act, stating, "It's not my problem. Let Lincoln handle it." If it was in his city of Omaha though, he would definitely make it his business.
An article by the Grand Island Daily Independent stated the Nebraska State Fair, actually reported as, "(the) Lincoln Side Show--sometimes called the Nebraska State Fair", had presentations by Hula dancers from Honolulu, Hawaii, and a show by 'black bottom' strip-tease dancers from New Orleans. The author reports "the hula girls abdominally contorted and callipygianly cavorted" on the stage. In 1938, cries from the Columbus Telegram denote a nude dance at the State Fair that year stating, "...the Lincoln Side Show puts on a more or less nude hula dance in the Capitol City."
1940s
Information pertaining to whether or not nude dancers were present at the 1940s NE State Fairs is scarce. We can assume there were none, or at least none worth mentioning, which would align with the current political views of the State. In 1941, indecent exposure laws were put in place in Nebraska.
Indecent Exposure Laws
"It is unlawful to show any immodest or immoral act, scene, play, floor show, moving picture, screen picture, talking picture or any immodest or immoral dance, song or dialogue."
"It is unlawful to appear in a state of nudity, or in a dress not becoming to his or her sex, or in an indecent or lewd dress, or to make any indecent exposure of his or her person, or be guilty of any lewd or indecent act or behavior."
"It is unlawful to commit any indecent, lewd, or filthy act or to utter any lewd or filthy words, or to sing any song, the words of which are suggestive of indecency or immorality."
In this context, lewd is described as, "inclined to, characterized by, or inciting to lust or lechery; obscene or indecent." These new laws made it easier to arrest and prosecute burlesque dancers, drag performers, and exotic dancers.
Sally Rand at 1947 Nebraska State Fair
(Omaha World Herald. "Hastings Visitors Complain Sally Rand Show 'Headache'." Page 1. September 6, 1947)
During the Nebraska State Fair of 1947, famous fan dancer, Sally Rand, performed her fan dance. Two visitors from Hastings disliked her performance so much they wrote a strongly worded letter to Governor Val Peterson. The signers were Gary R. Herbut and Rex S. Haberman. After complaints were heard they were refunded the money for the show. The total attendance of the 1947 State Fair was 225,000 people, apparently 20% higher than the year before. In fact, the Fair Board estimated about 70,000 people attended the fair on Labor Day.
1950s
In 1950 burlesque saw a revival as many dancers were able to skirt the indecent exposure laws by claiming to be an 'exotic dancer'. In 1951, the Nebraska State Fair had a carnival portion that featured a 'nude girlie show.' Public opinions were heated when it came to Nebraska permitting nude dances at the state fair. The arguing bled over to other states, like this submission to the Evening World Herald from George in St. Louis:
(Evening World Herald. "He Missed Girlie Show, Too!" September 29, 1952)
(The Clay County News. "More or Less Personal." Page 5. September 18, 1952)
A short blurb in the Clay County News unveils some interesting acts present at the 1952 Nebraska State Fair. The paragraph reads: "The Old Man of the News agrees with Msgr. Heimann who wrote in the Southern Nebraska Register, Catholic religious weekly, that it seems in poor taste to ban bingo in Nebraska yet permit nude dances at our state fairs. The Msgr. had a friend attend the dance to get the facts. This is what his friend wrote him: '...After they had gotten down to brassiere and panties the audience was told that for another 50 cents the show would go on. The second part saw the girls...get down to nothing but a very small patch of cloth on a portion of the anatomy. Still another show had three strip tease 'artists' billed as dancers, who nearly fell on their faces if they tried any real dancing. One number, done under black light, was as passion arousing as any could be, and a dance called 'Sleepy Time Gal' was accompanied by a suggestive vocal number."
The complaints from religious politicians and clergy continue in the 1950s and by 1955 the 'striptease' was replaced by a 'girlie show' to appeal to censors. The Fair remained quiet on nude dancing until the 1960s.
(Chez Paree Girlie Tent at Nebraska State Fair. circa 1962. Mary L. Maas. "Images of America; Nebraska State Fair" Arcadia Publishing. 2011)
1960s
In 1961, Exotic dancers Janik and Arnaut were advertised as entertainers at the Nebraska State Fair in the Evening World Herald. Not much else was mentioned in the papers that year. However, in 1963, a stripteaser named Bon-Bon received a shining article by Ron Gibson of the Lincoln Journal Star of her performances at the State Fair. This show included strippers but was still called a 'girlie show.'
(Lincoln Journal Star. "Stripping Should be Fun Thing, Star Stripper States, Briefly." September 5, 1963)
In 1966, the Nebraska State Fair had a 'Folies Bergere Nightclub' presented by 'Big City Burlesque.' A brief article accompanied the photo in the Omaha World Herald, "Blinking colored lights make the buxom lassies more colorful, and there are some lulus...It's a better show than usual, although there has been no calls for the morals squad. Maybe even strippers have to keep pace with the new alley cat stomp. But bi-focaled oldtime connoisseurs were heard lamenting the passing of the good old days. Those were the days of the slinky Vienna Waltz, and Bon Bon, the Yum-Yum Girl."
(Folies Bergere Nite Club- Big City Burlesque At Nebraska State Fair. History Nebraska. August 25, 1966)
(Yvonne D'Angers. Fremont Tribune. August 15, 1967)
The theme of the 1967 Nebraska State Fair was 'A Blast with the Past'. Yvonne D'Angers was an exotic dancer from San Francisco.
1970s
Stripteasers didn't stop at the turn of the decade, but the instances they were recorded at the NE State Fair are scarce. In 1974, the Chez Paree 'girlie show' appeared at the Nebraska State Fair. It was run by Buzz and Angel Barton. Ruby Booby performed a tassel twirling act, while Misty Nite performed an 'elimination dance' where, "the more you applaud, the more she eliminates." Jennifer Parker performed 'dance of three gardenias', reportedly only wearing three gardenias! Buzz Barton, the show manager, attempted to keep a 'dying art form' alive, 'With everybody running around without brassieres and going nude at rock festivals, my show looks like a Sunday School play."
(The Lincoln Star. "Burlesque Business is Slow at 1974 State Fair." Liane Guenther. September 7, 1974)
In 1975, an interesting article was written by Holly Spence of the Lincoln Journal Star, stating three burlesquers (Claude Mathis, a comedian, Sandy O'Hara, an exotic dancer, and Dave Hanson, a stuntman) took on the crusade to bring burlesque back to the Fair. The troupe set up a stage at the east side of the midway and performed four or five shows a day. Hanson stated, '(the show) is heavy on the baggy pants comic, it's not lewd or dirty and there is a tasteful strip tease.' Sandy O'Hara was interviewed by the Scottsbluff Star Herald where she spoke about their efforts to bring burlesque as it was to the youth of today, 'With only four shows remaining, its very difficult for the whole country, especially young people, to see burlesque as it used to be...Burlesque to me is a show, including novelty acts, exotic dancers, comedy, comedy skits, chorus girls and all this combined together makes a burlesque show."
1980s
The 1980 Nebraska State Fair saw dancer Christy Lawyer perform at Bob 'Rubberlegs' Tanenbaum's 'Club Vegas.' The club was located on the midway near the 'Last of the Tree People'. Christy was billed as "Miss Nude Teen-ager" as she was only 19 years old and danced in the nude. A lengthy article in the Lincoln Journal Star interviewed Christy. She considered herself a novice stripper, earning $30 a day ($112.21 today). She performed on a 5 by 15 foot stage and stripped down to pasties and a g-string. Two patrol officers watched Christy's opening show but decided she was not violating indecent exposure laws. Christy performed at the Missouri State Fair the same year in Sedalia, MO. The 1980 State Fair also saw Ann Bauer's Belly Dancers on the south stage.
(Christy Lawyer. "Miss Nude Teen-ager." Lincoln Journal Star. September 2, 1980)
Caption states, "Christy Lawyer, 19, dreams of the bright lights of Las Vegas. For now, she's "Miss Nude Teen-ager" with a state fair burlesque show."
Douglas County Fairs
Muscle Dancers at the Trans-Mississippi Expo - 1898
In 1898, Judge Scott "sat down hard" on "muscle dances" (i.e. belly dancing) at the Trans-Mississippi Expo (Later called the Douglas County Fair). The Midway hosted 'The Streets of All Nations" where the "Streets of Cairo" featured belly dancers. The Judge is quoted in the Lincoln Nebraska State Journal,
"This court will not recognize the existence of such a dance by issuing an injunction to restrain its production by other concessionaires than the one to whom the right to produce appears to have first been sold. This dance must be stricken out of the order. That dance in Omaha must stop if I have to tear down the walls of the Streets of Cairo to stop it." (Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. 1898)
1950s
The 1955 Douglas County Fair was held in Waterloo, NE and featured a 'girlie show'. For 50 cent admission, fair goers could watch the main stage burlesque show and then pay another 50 cents for an 'after show.' The sheriff's office eventually ordered the girls to 'keep a little more on in the future' though no arrests were made.
(Evening World Herald. "Lawmen Undecided on Girlie Show Action." September 12, 1958)
In 1958, the Douglas County Fair had a burlesque show with no interference from law enforcement. The article above states, "A 'girlie show' scheduled for the Douglas County Fair apparently will not undergo the wary scrutiny of Sheriff's officers. Road Patrol Capt. R.H. Walter, who has closed such performances in the past when they 'went too far,' reported Thursday the current show hasn't even opened."
1960s
(Doulgas County Fair. Man sets up signs for dance show. Paskach, Robert. The Durham Museum Archives. August 26, 1965)
Although I wasn't able to find written proof of stripteasers at the 1965 Douglas County Fair, I was able to find the photographic proof. Notice the 'Go-Go' behind the stage behind the man holding a large sign of a dancer.
Ak-Sar-Ben Carnival - 1913
Muscle dancers were a featured attraction at the 1913 Ak-Sar-Ben Carnival. An article in the Omaha Daily News recorded that the censors (two Christian reverends) were questioning the lewdness of Turkish belly dancing, "The Rev. H.J. Kirschstein, pastor of the Northside Christian church, is not very strong for the muscle dances as demonstrated by the Turkish maidens in the oriental show on the carnival grounds. He does not question that the dances may require skill and of their kind are all that could be wished, but he would not invite his congregation to a muscle dance party."
Washington County Fair - 1940
In Arlington, NE an exotic dancer performed at the 1940 Washington County Fair. The performed used the stage name "Little Egypt", denoting to the "Little Egypt" belly dancer that performed in the 1890s-1920s (though by 1920 there were at least 5 performers billed as "Little Egypt"). The "Little Egypt" who performed in 1940 was actually Sally Barnett, who was dressed scantily clad on the Midway. Sally Barnett was featured in Life magazine for her "Little Egypt" act.
(Omaha World Herald. "'Horn of Plenty' Features Washington County Fair." Page 6. September 18, 1940)
"The fair's "Little Egypt"...Sally Barnett (right)."
Sources
- Fan Dancer at the Nebraska State Fair by John Savage. September 7, 1937. The Durham Museum. Copyright Omaha World Herald
- Grand Island Daily Independent. "What Other Newspapers Are Thinking" September 13, 1937
- The South Omaha Sun. February 25, 1965
- Omaha World Herald. "Girlie Show Goes A-go-go." September 5, 1966
- Fremont Tribune. "A Fair Start." August 15, 1967
- Lincoln Journal Star. "Burlesque Comes to State Fair." Holly Spence. August 29, 1975
- Christy Lawyer. "Miss Nude Teen-ager." Lincoln Journal Star. September 2, 1980
- History Nebraska Archives
- The Lincoln Star. "Burlesque Business is Slow at 1974 State Fair." Liane Guenther. September 7, 1974
- Omaha World Herald. "Girlie Show Told: 'Keep More On'." September 17, 1955
- Evening World Herald. "Lawmen Undecided on Girlie Show Action." September 12, 1958
- Evening World Herald. "He Missed Girlie Show, Too!" September 29, 1952
- The Clay County News. "More or Less Personal." Page 5. September 18, 1952
- Doulgas County Fair. Man sets up signs for dance show. Paskach, Robert. The Durham Museum Archives. August 26, 1965
- The Omaha Daily News. "Ministers See Muscle Dance." Page 1. September 28, 1913
- Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. "Down on Muscle Dance; Judge Scott Takes Occasion to Denounce It." Page 5. June 9, 1898
- Omaha World Herald. "'Horn of Plenty' Features Washington County Fair." Page 6. September 18, 1940
- Lincoln Nebraska State Journal. "State Fair Attendants." Page 69. August 29, 1937
