Category: Black Burlesque
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The Legacy of the Dreamland Theatre in Tulsa
The Dreamland Theatre stood at the heart of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, a community built through Black entrepreneurship, mutual support, and… Read more.
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Sam T. Jack: Pioneer of Black Burlesque in America
In the late 19th century, American burlesque was evolving from Victorian parody into a bold, risqué form of variety entertainment.… Read more.
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Iretha “Pepper Pot” Tucker
Born in 1926 in Kansas City, Missouri, Iretha Tucker—née Greer—was a firecracker on stage and a force in midcentury Black… Read more.
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The Ebony Dancers of Kansas City
In the heart of Kansas City’s vibrant Black entertainment scene, a dazzling troupe emerged in 1950 that blended rhythm, spectacle,… Read more.
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Sahji: Queen of the Shake Dancers
In the golden age of jazz and burlesque, Madeline Jackson, professionally known as Sahji, emerged as one of the most… Read more.
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Aida Overton Walker: Queen of the Cakewalk
Aida Overton Walker (1880 – 1914) was a transformative figure in American performance history. As a dancer, singer, choreographer, and… Read more.
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Uncovering the Lost Legacy of Saidie Sellyna
In a sepia publicity portrait dated circa 1911, a poised young woman named Saidie Sellyna (Thompson) gazes confidently at the… Read more.
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Maya Angelou: The Calypso Dancer
Long before the world knew her as a poet, memoirist, and civil rights champion, Maya Angelou was a nightclub performer.… Read more.
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Lola Falana: Showbiz Trailblazer
Lola Falana was a force of nature, transforming every stage she touched into a showcase of glamour, grit, and brilliance.… Read more.
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La Toya Jackson
The Moulin Rouge Era In 1992, La Toya Jackson became the lead revue performer at the famed Moulin Rouge in… Read more.
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Harlem in Havana
Leon Claxton’s Afro-Cuban Revue Leon Claxton’s “Harlem in Havana” was a groundbreaking traveling revue that showcased Black and Cuban performers… Read more.
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The Hot Mikado: A Black Burlesque
The Hot Mikado was a 1939 musical adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera The Mikado (1885). Produced by Mike… Read more.
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Burlesque Dancers of Color
The art of burlesque has long been a stage for bold self-expression, dazzling creativity, and fearless individuality. Yet, beneath the… Read more.
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“Burlesque in Harlem” 1949
“Burlesque in Harlem” was a 1949 movie showcasing black entertainers. The film was also released under the titles “Rock &… Read more.
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Vampira
Michelle Devereaux Michele Devereaux was born around 1941 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was an exotic dancer who, like many others,… Read more.
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Burlesque at 2410 Lake Street, North Omaha, Nebraska
Early Beginnings – Club Harlem | 1933 Although the entertainment history of 2410 Lake Street did not begin with Club… Read more.
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Tarza
Tarza was a Black burlesque dancer from the 1940s through the 1960s. She was born Pauline Young in Detroit, Michigan,… Read more.
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Burlesque at the Carnation Ballroom | North Omaha, Nebraska
Before the Carnation Ballroom (Mildred Brown with her three carnation corsage pinned to her coat. c. 1960. Omaha World Herald)… Read more.
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Amy Spencer | The Lady with the Fan
Amy Spencer was a Black actress and fan dancer born around 1909 in East Orange, New Jersey. Her father was… Read more.