Category: Performer Spotlights

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.
Charmion: The Strongwoman

In the golden age of vaudeville, when corsets reigned and propriety was the law of the land, one woman dared… Read more.
Irish McCalla

In the golden age of television—where cowboys roamed and space rangers soared—there was also a spear-wielding queen who swung through… Read more.
Yolanda Montes AKA Tongolele

In a swirl of sequins and shadowy spotlight, Yolanda Montes—the woman the world came to know as Tongolele—stepped onto the… Read more.
The Dolly Sisters: Burlesque Twins

In the glittering world of early 20th-century entertainment, few performers embodied the extravagance and allure of the era quite like… Read more.
Dixie Evans: The “Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque”

Dixie Evans was more than just a burlesque performer—she was a living tribute to Hollywood glamour, a curator of burlesque… Read more.
Noel Toy

Noel Toy was a pioneer of Chinese American burlesque, known for her stunning fan and bubble dances that captivated audiences… Read more.
Struppi Hanneford aka “Princess Tajana”

The world of circus is built on spectacle—graceful acrobats defying gravity, fearless performers taming wild beasts, and daring equestrians commanding… Read more.
Sirena, the Underwater Ballerina

In the dazzling world of mid-century entertainment, few acts captured the imagination quite like Sirena, the Underwater Ballerina. From 1950… Read more.
Tura Satana

Tura Satana was a Japanese-American actress, exotic dancer, and cult film icon, best known for her fierce portrayal of Varla… Read more.
Sono Osato

In the shimmering world of ballet and Broadway, few figures stand out quite like Sono Osato. A pioneer in dance… Read more.
Anna May Wong

Anna May Wong (born Wong Liu Tsong on January 3, 1905) was a trailblazing Chinese American actress and the first… Read more.
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.
The Cases of Robin S. Hood

On the night of February 11, 1963 members of the Aviation Post 1729, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), gathered at… Read more.
Thida Loy

Thida Loy was a San Franciscan-born Chinese performer began dancing as a burlesque fan dancer in the 1930s. The earliest… Read more.
Neryda

“The Snake Dancer” Neryda was an exotic dancer who performed with a 6-foot python named “Allah.” She danced in night… Read more.
Fay Baker

Marie Amelia Nebel was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 10, 1910. Though she went by Mary, her stage name… Read more.
Vampira

Michelle Devereaux Michele Devereaux was born around 1941 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was an exotic dancer who, like many others,… Read more.
Sally Rand in Nebraska

(Nebraska Daily News Press. “Now Argue.” Page 11. February 8, 1925) [Caption reads: “If you think that Sally Rand isn’t… Read more.
Roxanne Carmine

Roxanne Carmine was born as Golda (or Goldie) Glickman in Chicago to the “Maxwell Street Glickmans”, a Jewish family, around… Read more.