"Little Egypt" in Nebraska

This article explores the popular "Little Egypt" dancers in burlesque history. There were several performers at the turn of the 20th century that adopted the stage name and performed various Oriental dances, like the hoochee-coochee.

Muscle Dances or The 'Danse du ventre'

The term "muscle dance" became interchangeable with the "hoochee-coochee" which was often used to describe the syncopation of muscles in the torso. "Danse du ventre" or belly dance was a term created by French colonialists and adopted by Europeans to generalize all dances from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

(Southern Algerian Dancer. 19th Century)

The use of the term belly dancing does not justly describe the intricacies and multitudes of the culturally significant dances and their origins. In Turkish, the dance was called Oryantal Tansi. "Belly Dance" was coined by Sol Bloom who booked Little Egypt at the Egyptian Theatre in New York City.

(Egyptian Dancer with musicians. 19th Century)

Another common term was "nautch dances", which specifically denotes to Indian dances performed by young women during the Mughal empire and during British rule. "Nautch" is a British-constructed word from the Hindi verb "Nachna", meaning to dance.

(Nautch dancer in Calcutta c. 1900)

Muscle dances and the hoochie-coochie gave way for the Dance of the 7 Veils and the Dance of Salomé to become popular in American burlesque. The cultural appropriation of these dances and wide acceptance of oriental dances can be credited to choreographers such as Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, who, by the 1920s, were performing across the United States and leading a school of dancers in culturally appropriated dances.

(Moorish Dancer. 19th Century)
(Chengi Dancer with gauze shirt, short jacket, skirt and belt. c. 1890)
(A Chengi troupe. c. 1890)
From the age of antiquity, records of ceremonial dances performed in harems were written about Turkey and other Central Asian countries, as well as North African countries, by European explorers. By the 1890s, these dances were being performed on American stages.
Watch traditional Algerian dancers here.

The First "Little Egypt" - Fahreda Mazar Spyropoulos

(Fahreda Spyropoulos c. 1881)

"Little Egypt" was the nickname of Fahreda Mahzar Spyropoulos who performed a "hoochee-coochee" dance or the "shimmy and shake"at the 1893 World's Colombian Exposition in Chicago. Spyropoulos was Syrian born and actually performed under the name "Fatima Djemille", but because of her size, she was given the nickname "Little Egypt." Her "danse du ventre" (literally meaning 'dance of the belly') caused an uproar among the visitors of the Exposition--propelling her likeness to explode on a national stage, much larger than she anticipated.

(Fahreda Spyropoulos c. 1893)

A newspaper reported on her performance at the World's Fair: “Finally ‘Little Egypt’ lay on her back, placed several glasses, partly filled with champagne, on her ‘tummy’ and by a remarkable coordination of her muscles made the glasses clink in time with the music and without spilling any of the wine.” While her dance was not indecent, lewd, or inappropriate, the majority of white Americans found her dance sensational, if not scandalous.

(Egyptian Dancers from Chicago World's Fair. 1893)
(Little Egypt at the Egyptian Theatre. 1893)

After the 1893 World Exposition, Spryopoulos appeared in two moving pictures: Edison's "Coochee Coochee Dance" (1896) and Fatima (1897).

Watch Spryopoulos perform in Edison's "Couchee Couchee Dance" here.

Watch a peepshow of Spryopoulos in 1896 here.

(Portrait of Fahreda Mahzar Spyropoulos, known as Little Egypt. Photo taken in Dawson, Yukon. c. 1900)

Spryopoulos also performed at the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair at the age of 62. Spryopoulos ended up suing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Company for $25,000 in 1931 for their nude portrayal of "Little Egypt".

Unfortunately, she died in 1937 at age 65, not long after the suit was filed. Unfortunately, I have found no evidence that this "Little Egypt" performed in Nebraska. After the 1893 Exposition, multiple "Little Egypt" dancers began popping up all around the country. Several have called Omaha their home through the decades. To understand who the earliest "Little Egypt" was in Omaha, one must look at the infamous Seeley Dinner of 1896.

Indecent Dances at Seeley's Dinner | NYC | 1896

On the evening of December 19, 1896 Herbert Seeley (a wealthy and young socialite) hosted a dinner banquet celebrating his brother's recent wedding. The dinner was covered extensively in the newspapers as the party was raided by morals police without a warrant. 

9 performers and 4 musicians were booked to entertain the guests for the dinner. As for the performers, most were dancers with a few comedians. The dancers were Lottie Mortimer, Minnie Renwood, Cora Routt, Annabelle Moore, Kathleen Warren, and Ashea Wabe ("Little Egypt"). When Seeley was indicted, the dancers were called as witnesses. However, Cora Routt's and Ashea Wabe's testimonies were reported on the most.

According to Routt's testimony, Lottie Mortimer proposed a filthy toast but nothing about the morality of her costume was mentioned. Minnie Renwood wore signs (or placards) on her ballet costume which read, “Held by the Enemy”, “Milk Below”, “Secret Service”, "Santa Clause up to date" and “the Heart of Maryland”. Newspapers reported the signs were arranged in a way that suggested immorality (though none of the witnesses stated they were). Renwood handed out Christmas presents to the guests--3 out of 22 gifts were said to be immoral according to Chapman's lawyer. "Souvenirs that are usually given at college dinners by boys." Minnie Renwood also read verses while handing out the gifts. Two verses were suggested as immoral, but when they were read aloud at trial the judge dismissed this.

Ashea Wabe | "Little Egypt" of Seeley's Dinner Fame

(Ashea Wabe "Little Egypt" c. 1896. NYPL Digital Collections)

At the time of the Seeley trial, Ashea Wabe was performing at two theaters in New York City as "Little Egypt". At the Seeley Dinner she danced on the stage and on the floor in front of the guests' tables. She testified she performed a "coochee-coochee" dance. Lottie Mortimer said she danced up to just two feet in front of the musicians. Little Egypt's costume was deemed immoral even though all witnesses agreed that only her arms were bare. She wore "gauze" body stockings under a skirt and short jacket and top. Her waist wasn't covered, revealing the gauze body stocking. Mortimer continued to testify against Wabe, stating she saw one of the men grab her waist as she was dancing around their table--perhaps the most scandalous act.

Here is the affidavit Wabe wrote, which was read in court:


"I am known as ‘Little Egypt.’ My name in my own language is Wabe. I was born in Algeria. I was employed to dance at the dinner given by Mr. Seeley. I was to do two dances, both nautch dances. In the first I was to dance in slippers and stockings, with no tights. My thighs were to be covered with thing gauze from above the knees to the loins, through which my body could be seen. From the loins to the lower part of the bust was to be bare. For an encore I was to dance entirely naked except for silk stockings and slippers. I arrived at Sherry’s at midnight. I was let in by an employee of Sherry’s and was taken up three flights of stairs to a big blue room. Champagne was brought to me by men whom I did not know.  One was a guest of the dinner and one an employee. When I had been there for some time, two employees of the place, one of whom wore knickerbockers and the other, who, I was told, was Sherry’s son, being a young man with smooth face and light hair, of about 20 to 22 years of age and speaking good French, took me by the hand and rushed me from the big blue room two flights higher to a small ante-chamber. They told me to sit there and said there was a little trouble below. The man who I was told was Sherry’s son came up three or four times with some more wine. At about half past 3 am I danced my first dance, as arranged, and during the dance I was practically nude. I did not dance the encore, as I was told that there was danger of the police coming again.” Signed “Egypt”

A New York newspaper reported, “She [Wabe] performed tricks that are common in houses of the tenderloin percent, but nowhere else. In a second statement she made to Commissioner Parker she said that she danced in her stockings and garters, and as otherwise nude.” She later denied ever performing the dances.

Cora Routt | Vaudeville Performer Turned "Little Egypt"?

(Cora Routt. Vaudeville Singer and Dancer. 1896. NYPL Collection. This is the only photograph I could find of Cora, taken from a song book cover. Was she the "Little Egypt" in Omaha?)
Cora Routt was a vaudeville performer from Cincinnati, Ohio who was at the center of the Seeley dinner. She was hired to dance and sing at the Seeley dinner. She had been performing for a decade before on vaudeville stages throughout the Midwest and East coast.
When the morals police raided Sherry's Diner, Routt was undressing in the dressing room, having just finished her act. That night she sang ‘Somebody Has My Heart”, “Pebbles on the Beach”, “Things That Can Not Be Explained”, and “Little Tottle”.

"Sherry’s Diner was raided by a vulgar police captain and several of his men in citizens’ clothes."

Captain Chapman, of the police morals squad, was tipped off by someone who had heard there would be indecent performances at the Seeley dinner. When he barged into the back of house without a warrant, he went straight to the dressing room where he found Cora Routt undressing. Routt testified Captain Chapman berated her with insults and she began to cry. No men were in the dressing room, but Chapman testified three men were in the room. Eventually the police found nothing immoral occurring and left, making no arrests that night. However, when they heard "Little Egypt" had performed her muscle dance afterwards, they brought an indictment against Seeley and the proprietors of Sherry's Diner.

"Silly's Dinner" Burlesque Show | NYC | January 1897

On January 1, 1897, a burlesque stage show called "Silly's Dinner" premiered at the Olympia Theatre. Ashea Wabe (Little Egypt) and Cora Routt starred in the variety show. This production was taken to court for indecent exposure. "Little Egypt" wore "fleshings" or full body stockings that blended with the color of her skin. Only her head, shoulders, and arms were exposed bare. Her fleshings were revealed just above her waist. She wore a black skirt and a short jacket over the fleshings and a cloak that reached her knees. She performed for about 5 minutes on the stage, and then came to the floor and danced between the audience and the stage.

Des Moines' Recreates Seeley Dinner with Three "Little Egypts" | June 1897

On June 5, 1897, 60 men boarded a steam boat on the Des Moines River for a stag party featuring three dancers, who performed the hoochie-coochie. Of the three women, two were local and the other was a "visiting dancer".

The dancers were reportedly dressed as "Little Egypt" where they disrobed and performed muscle dances. It's unknown whether they wore fleshings or body tights. Regardless, several preachers in the newspapers announced they would preach about immorality the next day. The men who attended the party threw their beer bottles in a park, which eventually led to the exposure of the "indecent" dances by authorities. These repeated "productions" of the Seeley Dinner highlights how sensationalized "Little Egypt" and her dance was.

"Little Egypt" is Arrives in Omaha | August 1897

On August 23, 1897 a group of men were arrested at a train station in Omaha for carrying concealed weapons. When taken to jail, it was discovered one of the young men was actually a woman in men's clothing. The woman first stated her name was Zarapha Scharba and that she was the "original" dancer from Seeley Dinner fame. She stated she was dancing in Chicago, earning $100 a week. She left Chicago due to her step father's abuse and poor handling of her money. She was just 19 years old when she arrived in Omaha. She claimed she was born in Cairo, Egypt and had come to the US as a child.

The police telegraphed the Chicago theatre where she said she performed, they wrote back stating, "Our Egypt here all right."

This is where Scharba explained her "English name" was Cora Routt and she was one of the scandalous dancers from the Seeley dinner party. Multiple Nebraska newspapers reported on her arrest and her English name. Was this performer thee Cora Routt? It's possible, as she did perform multiple times with Wabe post-Seeley dinner.

After arriving in Omaha the woman tried to arrange an immediate showing at a beer garden--many tried to say this was the reason she wasn’t the original, but many wanted to help her reach Kansas City (where her mother was) by putting her on the stage, giving her an opportunity to make money. She convinced the Matron at the police station she was the "original", while others were very skeptical. She was released from police custody on bond and walked off into the night.

(Omaha World Herald. "Little Egypt Disappears. Dons Women's Attire and Skips--The police Puzzled. Page 2. August 23, 1897)

"Little Egypt" at Private Stag Party | Omaha | May 1898

On the evening of May 30, 1898, a private stag party was hosted with entertainment by a dancer named "Little Egypt." The Nebraska State Journal reported, “The original Little Egypt of Seeley dinner fame was there, and her last night’s performance discounted anything that ever took place in the Atlantic metropolis.” This performer's name is unknown, but it was not Wabe, who was performing in New York City at the time.

"Little Egypt" at the 'Trans-Mississippi & International Exposition' | North Omaha | 1898

The "Trans-Mississippi & International Exposition and Indian Congress" was held in North Omaha from June to November of 1898. Learn more about the amusements one could see at Exposition here.

A visitor of the fair had the opportunity to see oriental dancers at not one, but two different "streets" on the Midway. The "Streets of Cairo" and the "Streets of All Nations" were concessionaires that hosted similar amusements such as camel rides and oriental dancers. "Little Egypt" was employed as a dancer of the "Streets of Cairo". It advertised 7 camels and 8 donkeys, the danse du ventre, snake charmers, and fortune tellers.

The "Streets of Cairo" at the Exposition:

The Streets of Cairo were a French invention and first seen at the 1889 Paris Fair. Little Egypt brought the dance to the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and (apparently) to the 1898 Trans-Mississippi & International Exposition.

(Streets of Cairo Entrance. 1898. Omaha Public Library Digital Archives)
(Streets of Cairo with oriental dancer. 1898. OPL)
(Dancing Girls at the Streets of Cairo. 1898. North Omaha. Omaha Public Library Digital Archives)
("Little Egypt" from the Trans-Mississippi. Omaha World Herald)

The "Streets of All Nations" at the Exposition:

(Streets of All Nations Entrance. 1898. Omaha Public Library Digital Archives)
(Performers at the "Streets of All Nations". 1898. North Omaha. Omaha Public Library Digital Archives)
(Costumed Performers at the "Streets of All Nations". 1898. Omaha Public Library Digital Archives)
(Oriental Dancer from the "Streets of All Nations." Trans-Mississippi Exposition. 1898. Omaha Public Library Digital Archives)
The Omaha Public Library labeled this photograph as "La Belle Fatima".
(Two performers from the Streets of All Nations. 1898. North Omaha. Omaha Public Library Digital Archives)
The woman to the right of Fatima is "La Belle Rosa".

There was also an illusionist show inside the Moorish "Palace of Mysteries" that featured an oriental dancer, but that's for another time. Exposition visitors could also watch another "Little Egypt" (probably of Ashea Wabe) in a moving picture called "In Gay Paris" or "Paris By Night". The movie was advertised as a picture of "Little Egypt as she danced at the famous Seeley dinner in New York"--of course!

Judge Scott Against Muscle Dances

On June 1, 1898 a stag show was hosted by the Pikers' Club at the Pabst Beer pavilion. “All of the characteristics of the midway were assembled into it, the houchee-couchee and all the kindred diversions that will from this time on be operated to garner the coin of the curious.” This prompted action from the authorities.

On the evening of June 11, 1898, "Little Egypt" was performing at the "Streets of Cairo" when the Chief of Concessions cancelled their contract, shutting the amusement down immediately. This action started a legal process to determine who had the rights to 'orientalism' at the Exposition. An injunction was issued in favor of the "Streets of Cairo". The Judge denounced the 'muscle dancers' and he refused to write an injunction for the "Streets of Cairo" until they stopped all oriental dancing. Of course the popularity of the dancing did not sway, and therefore they kept dancing.

"Little Egypt" Performs in Lincoln, NE | 1899

The Funke Opera House was located in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was originally built as the Hallo Opera House in 1873, but after a fire in 1875, was rebuilt and renamed the Centennial in 1876. Frederick Funke bought the theater in 1882, renaming it the Funke Opera House or the Funke. Before it closed in 1902 it hosted a full course of talent on its stage. Tickets were 10 cents, 20 cents, and 30 cents.

(Lincoln Journal Star. Advertisement for The Funke Opera House. Page 8. April 1, 1899)
The above clipping showcases the exceptional talent: The Great Flint, a hypnotist; A dance competition between Loie Fuller, Carmencita, and Little Egypt.
"Nothing like the scenes presented this season."
"Grander and Greater than ever."
"Special: On Monday, the opening night, one lady will be admitted FREE with each paid 30 cent ticket, if purchased in advance. Seats now on sale."
(The Courier (Waterloo, IA). Advertisement for the Funke Opera House. Page 9. April 1, 1899)
This advertisement from Iowa lists a slew of performers on the bill: "See Carmencita, Loie Fuller, Little Egypt, the Monkeys, the Roosters, the Cuban War, Professor Herrmann, Singers and dancers and a hundred other scenes."
(Funke Opera House. History Nebraska Collection)

A "Little Egypt" Dies in Omaha | 1899

On August 6, 1899, a performer named "Little Egypt" died in a boarding house in Omaha. The Omaha World Herald reported she had arrived a year before in a box car, dressed in men's clothing. Once she disappeared from the police station, she performed at the Nebraska Music Hall and in July had performed at the White Front Theater in Omaha. It was reported she was Assyrian descent and was absolutely the dancer of Seeley dinner fame. She took ill a week before her death. She was married to Ham Carter and was originally from Pontiac, Illinois.

"It is stated, on good authority, that she [Little Egypt] traveled all over Michigan and visited several other places in male's attire and appeared here in that garb, that she had been a 'hop fiend' and her attempt to quit it brought on a disease that caused her death. She was regarded...as a rare attraction in her line which was similar to Hawaiian Hoola Hoola dance, or the Oriental Hooche Kooche." - The Daily Tribune. August 7, 1899

300 people called to view "Little Egypt's" remains, before the remains were moved to Illinois. The Magic City Hoof and Horn gave a the name Minnie Carter, as her government name.

By September, another "Little Egypt of Seeley Dinner Fame" was advertised at the Hastings Street Fair in Hatch's Oriental dancing girls attraction. The show also featured "Garmena" who also had appeared at the Chicago World's Fair.

Spyropoulos "Little Egypt" Dies | 1937

The original "Little Egypt" of Chicago World's Fair fame (Fahreda Spyropoulos), died at the age of 65 from a heart attack on the East coast. She performed in the 1933 Century of Progress, attempting a comeback. Right before her death she presented affidavits that she was the "one and only" Little Egypt, suing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for its interpretation of her likeliness in the motion picture "The Great Ziegfeld" for $25,000 ($547,397.57 today)

"Little Egypt" the Film | 1951

("Little Egypt" Film Poster starring Rhonda Fleming. 1951)
By the 1950s, Little Egypt became a popular trope that is evident in the 1951 film "Little Egypt." The American burlesque stage had literally stripped the name and dance from its origins. Mark Stevens and Rhonda Fleming starred in the film "Little Egypt". The poster states,
"The scandalous tale of the spectacular gal who rocked the great Chicago World's Fair with that famous Hoochy-Koochy Dance!"
(Omaha World Herald. Advertisement for the Muse Theater. Page 4. November 10, 1951)
(Omaha Morning World Herald. September 22, 1951)
The Muse Theater and the Orpheum Theater showed the film in Omaha.
(The Shape that Shook the World! "Little Egypt" Film Poster. 1951)
(Fleming as "Little Egypt" Film Still. 1951)
(Fleming as "Little Egypt" Film Still. 1951)

"Little Egypt" in Omaha | 1963-1969

 A sensational "exotic" dancer named "Little Egypt" performed at the Colony Club in September 1963. The Colony Club was located at 1914 Farnam Street in Omaha, Nebraska.

(South Omaha Sun. "Little Egypt" Page 39. September 12, 1963)
"She quivers, she shakes...Colony Club patrons will see this lovely lady displaying belly dancing artistry starting this evening. Carrying the stage name Little Egypt, she starred in the Broadway play 'Gideon' and was a feature attraction at the Seattle World's Fair. She also appeared recently on the Tonight Show. Women note: Little Egypt has a new album out 'How to Belly Dance for Your Husband'."
(Evening World Herald. "Egypt Says Strippers Aren't 'Belly Dancers'." Page 5. September 21, 1964)
Little Egypt continued to perform in Omaha, gracing the stage of Pee-Dee's Supper Club (72nd and Pacific Streets, Omaha). In 1965, she was 23 years old, born in Brooklyn, and (at the time) had the legal right to the stage name "Little Egypt" due to court decree. She claimed to be the great-grand daughter of Spyropoulos who performed at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. She stated in an interview with the Omaha Evening World Herald that she disliked the term 'belly dance' because many strippers were calling themselves belly dancers, though no bumps or grinds are in belly dancing.
(Omaha World Herald. "I've Killed Him." Page 6. June 26, 1969)
Little Egypt continued to perform in Omaha. According to the blurb above, she performed at the Colony club "a few years" before 1969. She is called a belly dancer, and the author revisits a prank Mike Caldwell and the club owner, Skee Fisher, pulled on Little Egypt.

"Little Egypt" by the Coasters | 1961

Lyrics:
Step right up folks and see Little Egypt do famous dances of the pyramids!She walks, she talks, she crawls on her belly like a reptileJust one thing dime, one thing flip a dimeStep right up folks!
I went and bought myself a ticketAnd I sat down in the very first row, whoa-whoaThey pulled the curtain but then whenThey turned the spotlight way down low, whoa-whoaLittle Egypt came out struttingWearing nothing but a button and a bow, whoa-whoa
Singing, "Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah"
She had a ruby on her tummyAnd a diamond big as Texas on her toe, whoa-whoaShe let her hair downAnd he did the hoochie-koochie real slow, whoa-whoaWhen she did her special number on a zebra skinI thought she'd stop the show, whoa-whoa
Singing, "Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah!"
She did a triple somersault and when she hit the groundShe winked at the audience and then she turned aroundShe had a picture of a cowboy tattooed on her spineSaying, "Phoenix, Arizona, 1949"
Yeah, but let me tell you peopleLittle Egypt doesn't dance there anymore, whoa-whoaShe's too busy moppingAnd a-taking care of shopping at the store, whoa-whoa'Cause we got seven kidsAnd all day long they crawl around the floor, whoa-whoa
Singing, "Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah!"Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah!

Listen to the Coasters perform "Little Egypt" here.

The Film "Routsabout" & Elvis Presley's "Little Egypt" | 1964

(Promotional Photo for Routsabout Film "Little Egypt". 1964)
By the 1960s, the Little Egypt trope was completely white washed and the dance stripped of its original cultural significance. Elvis Presley stole the song "Little Egypt" from the Coasters and performed it in the film Routsabout in 1964.

Watch Elvis Presley sing "Little Egypt" in Routsabout here.

 

The Middle Eastern Dance Association of Nebraska | 1978

Formed to fight the stereotypes and provide re-education to the Nebraska public regarding belly dancing, the Middle Eastern Dance Association of Nebraska was formed in 1978.

(Lincoln Journal Star. "Group's veiled purpose: art of belly dancing." Linda Ulrich. Page 12. November 2, 1978)

Ann Bauers, president, was interviewed by the Lincoln Journal Star in November of 1978,

"It's as serious to us as ballet is to a ballet performer. You wouldn't think of asking a ballet dancer if she takes her tutu off. They (general people) think it's like go-go dancing."

Ann Bauers taught belly dancing in her own studio at 3230 S. 13th Street and lead a belly dancing troupe of 7 dancers. Her performance name was "Ashiya". The association published a bimonthly newsletter. Nancy Carey was the vice president, Jackie Kripps was the Secretary-Treasurer.

Sources

Newspapers

  • Hayes County Republican. "World's Fair Letter." Page 6. August 24, 1893
  • Chicago Tribune. Ad for Cora Routt at Oxford Theatre. Page 5. March 23, 1896
  • New York Tribune. Ad for Tony Pastor's, Al Reeves with Cora Routt. Page 11. August 25, 1895
  • The Boston Globe. Ad for B.F. Keith's New Theatre. Cora Routt. Page 19. September 15, 1895
  • The Cincinnati Post. Ad for People's Theatre; Cora Routt. Page 2. March 27, 1897
  • The New York Times. Ad for Koster & Bial's Theatre. Cora Rout. Page 7. December 30, 1895
  • The World. Ad for Pastor's with Cora Rout. Page 7. September 13, 1896
  • Hull Daily Mail. "Social New York; The Great Sherry Raid; Captain Chapman's Trial." Page 4. January 28, 1897
  • The Evening Gazette (Norwalk, CT). "The Seeley Debauch." New York City. January 14, 1897
  • Brooklyn Eagle. "Little Egypt's Dancing Dress." Page 1. January 13, 1897
  • David City News. "'Little Egypt' as a Tramp." Page 2. August 26, 1897
  • Evening World Herald. "Des Moines' Seely Dinner." Page 2. June 5, 1897
  • Evening World Herald. "Is Little Egypt in Omaha." Page 1. August 21, 1897
  • Evening World Herald. "Little Egypt's Say." Page 1. August 23, 1897
  • Hayes County Times. "Unfortunate Little Egypt." Page 2. September 2, 1897
  • Lincoln Evening Call. "Little Egypt; Girl in Omaha Boasts That She Danced at Seely Dinner." Page 1. August 24, 1897
  • Nebraska State Journal. "'Little Egypt' Under Arrest." Page 3. August 22, 1897
  • Nebraska State Journal. "Little Egypts Galore." Page 3. August 24, 1897
  • Omaha World Herald. "Little Egypt is in Omaha." Page 5. August 22, 1897
  • Omaha World Herald. "Little Egypt Disappears; Dons Woman's Attire and Skips--the Police Puzzled." Page 2. August 23, 1897
  • Omaha Evening Bee News. "Was At the Seeley Dinner." Page 2. August 21, 1897
  • The Chicago Chronicle. 'Little Egypt is in Jail." Page 1. August 22, 1897
  • The Cincinnati Enquirer. "'Biscuits' Bad Luck." Page 4. June 14, 1894
  • The Cincinnati Enquirer. "The Seeley Dinner." Page 18. March 21, 1897
  • The Cincinnati Enquirer. "Manager Fennessy of the People's." Page 7. March 26, 1897
  • The Cincinnati Enquirer. "People's Matinee To-Day." Page 18. March 28, 1897
  • The Cincinnati Enquirer. "Indefinitely Postponed." Page 8. June 11, 1897
  • The Cincinnati Enquirer. "Miss Cora Rout." Page 8. January 7, 1898
  • The Inter Ocean. "Casino." Page 37. May 28, 1895
  • The Morristown Gazette. "New York's Giddiest Ball." Page 1. March 3, 1897
  • The New York Times. "Proctor's Theatre." Page 12. December 15, 1895
  • The New York Times. "Music Hall Notes." Page 5. April 14, 1896
  • The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. "Sherry Scandal." Page 1. December 26, 1896
  • New York Tribune. "It was no Sunday-School; Mr. Seeley's Expressive Description of his Famous Dinner." Page 14. January 9, 1897
  • New York Tribune. "Oscar Hammerstein's Affairs." page 14. January 16, 1897
  • Omaha World Herald. "Like Her Picture." Page 5. August 22, 1897
  • The Atlanta Journal. "Seeley Indicted by Grand Jury." Page 1. January 26, 1897
  • The Boston Globe. "See No Evil." Page 5. January 14, 1897
  • Evening World Herald. "Texans Arrive in Omaha." Page 6. August 17, 1898
  • Nebraska State Journal. "They Humbugged?" Page 6. June 1, 1898
  • Nebraska State Journal. "Cairo Has Fallen." Page 2. June 12, 1898
  • Omaha Daily Bee. "Amusements." Page 8. October 30, 1898
  • Omaha World Herald. "Opening the Midway." Page 1. May 31, 1898
  • Omaha World Herald. "Glimpses of the Midway." Page 2. September 27, 1898
  • The Benkelman Chronicle. "The Judicial Mind." Page 2. June 17, 1898
  • The Mead Advocate. "Midway Judge Scott." Page 4. June 23, 1898
  • Omaha World Herald. "Danish Mask Ball." Page 6. February 26, 1899
  • Omaha World Herald. "Peace Menu." Page 32. June 4, 1899
  • Evening World Herald. "South Omaha World-Herald." Page 8. August 7, 1899
  • The Magic City Hoof and Horn. "Minnie Carter." Page 4. August 10, 1899
  • Henderson Evening Journal. "Little Egypt Dead." Page 1. August 8, 1899
  • The Daily Sun. "White Front Theatre." Page 3. July 19, 1899
  • The Daily Sun. "Miscellaneous Paragraphs." Page 3. August 7, 1899
  • The Daily Tribune. "Little Egypt." Page 1. August 7, 1899
  • The Hastings News. "The Street Fair; The Dancing Girls." Page 1. September 22, 1899
  • Kearney Hub. "When Little Egypt Quivered Her Way to Fame as the Sensation of the 1893 World's Fair." Page 3. June 14, 1934
  • Omaha World Herald. "'First' Little Egypt Sues in Defense of Wriggles." Page 1. April 30, 1936
  • Omaha Sunday Bee News. "From 'Little Egypt's' Hootchy-Kootchy to the 'Strip-Tease'." Page 45 & 65. May 9, 1937
  • Omaha World Herald. "'Little Egypt' Dies; Comeback Failed." Chicago, IL. Page 4. April 5, 1937
  • Morning World Herald. Advertisement for "Little Egypt" Movie at the Orpheum Theatre. September 22, 1951
  • Omaha World Herald. Advertisement for "Little Egypt" Movie at the Muse Theatre. Page 4. November 10, 1951
  • Evening World Herald. "'Cooch' Dance Film Feature." Page 12. September 22, 1951
  • Omaha World Herald. "World's Fairs: Do's and Don'ts." Page 113. July 10, 1960
  • South Omaha Sun. "Little Egypt." Page 39. September 12, 1963
  • Evening World Herald. "Egypt Says Strippers Aren't 'Belly Dancers'." Robert McMorris. Page 5. September 21, 1964
  • Omaha World Herald. "I've Killed Him." Page 6. June 26, 1969
  • Lincoln Journal Star. "Group's veiled purpose: art of belly dancing." Page 12. November 2, 1978
  • Omaha World Herald. "The Early Years: Ak-Sar-Ben and the Trans-Mississippi Expo." Page 113. December 9, 2007
  • The Banner Press. "Nebraska Timelines; Little Egypt in Omaha." Page 11. May 21, 2009

Other Sources

  • Cora Routt. Song Book. 1896. "My Little Polly's a Peach." New York Public Library Digital Collection
  • Photographs of Trans-Mississippi Expo from Omaha Public Library Digital Archives. Taken by Frank Rinehart, 1898

Websites

  • http://filmblog.robert-zion.de/tag/fahreda-mazar-spyropoulos
  • https://worlddanceheritage.org/usa-belly-dance-history/
  • http://www.shira.net/streets-of-cairo.htm
  • https://suhaila.com/the-legend-of-little-egypt/
  • http://theoldrecordgal.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-little-egypt-affair-of-late-1896.html
  • https://danzaorientalenegipto.com/2017/03/24/katherine-devine-la-little-egypt-del-vodevil/
  • http://filmblog.robert-zion.de/tag/fahreda-mazar-spyropoulos
  • https://history.nebraska.gov/publications_section/funke-opera-house/

 

Back to blog

Leave a comment