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Behind the Burly Q: The Story of Burlesque in America
By the director of the hit documentary Behind the Burly Q comes the first ever oral history of American Burlesque--as told by the performers who lived it, often speaking out here for the first time. By telling the intimate and surprising stories from its golden age through the women (and men!) who lived it, Behind the Burly Q reveals the true story of burlesque, even as it experiences a new renaissance.
Burlesque was one of America's most popular forms of live entertainment in the first half of the 20th century. Gaudy, bawdy, and spectacular, the shows entertained thousands of paying customers every night of the week. And yet the legacy of burlesque is often vilified and misunderstood, left out of the history books.
By telling the intimate and surprising stories from its golden age through the women (and men!) who lived it, Behind the Burly Q reveals the true story of burlesque, even as it experiences a new renaissance. Lovingly interviewed by burlesque enthusiast Leslie Zemeckis who produced the hit documentary of the same name, are former musicians, strippers, novelty acts, club owners, authors, and historians--assembled here for the first time ever to tell you just what really happened in a burlesque show. From Jack Ruby and Robert Kennedy to Abbott and Costello--burlesque touched every corner of American life. The sexy shows often poked fun at the upper classes, at sex, and at what people were willing to do in the pursuit of sex. Sadly, many of the performers have since passed away, making this their last, and often only interview. 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 rare backstage photos and candid shots from the performers' personal collections.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Burlesque was one of America's most popular forms of live entertainment in the first half of the 20th century. Gaudy, bawdy, and spectacular, the shows entertained thousands of paying customers every night of the week. And yet the legacy of burlesque is often vilified and misunderstood, left out of the history books.
By telling the intimate and surprising stories from its golden age through the women (and men!) who lived it, Behind the Burly Q reveals the true story of burlesque, even as it experiences a new renaissance. Lovingly interviewed by burlesque enthusiast Leslie Zemeckis who produced the hit documentary of the same name, are former musicians, strippers, novelty acts, club owners, authors, and historians--assembled here for the first time ever to tell you just what really happened in a burlesque show. From Jack Ruby and Robert Kennedy to Abbott and Costello--burlesque touched every corner of American life. The sexy shows often poked fun at the upper classes, at sex, and at what people were willing to do in the pursuit of sex. Sadly, many of the performers have since passed away, making this their last, and often only interview. 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 rare backstage photos and candid shots from the performers' personal collections.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2013
107 people are currently reading
970 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Zemeckis
3 books111 followersI have a popular Instagram account highlighting bestselling authors and their writing tips. I wrote the best selling FEUDING FAN DANCERS and BEHIND THE BURLY Q, GODDESS OF LOVE INCARNATE. ON IG @lesliezemeckis. FFD is about Sally Rand and Faith Bacon, showgirls from the 1930s. I am also an actor and award-winning documentarian. Sign up for my newsletter at www.lesliezemeckis.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 1, 2013
The definitive history of burlesque? Maybe. A well-told story that you can't put down? Sadly, no. In fact I found it extremely frustrating to read about this exciting topic, the tales of trailblazing artists, a piece of American history previously untold, in this way. The author breaks up history by topic rather than chronology, details about characters and events are repeated multiple times throughout. I read the book in a few days (being on holiday) and wish I'd have saved it as one of those I pick up now and then. There were also an unforgivable amount of typos and errors. Simply a second rate book that left me wanting to read some of the others that were referred to throughout.
August 17, 2014
This is a great and interesting subject matter. However, it is absolutely not TWELVE-PLUS HOURS interesting!!! Much of the book is repetitive and unnecessary. I saw the documentary based on this work a couple of years ago. It is much, much better than this book! This is truly a account "better served abridged"! Or see if it is still available on Netflix and save almost 10-1/2 hours of your life!
May 11, 2013
KIRKUS REVIEWS:
The salty reminiscences of participants in the classic age of burlesque enliven this companion volume to a documentary film directed by the author.
Zemeckis assembled an impressive number of surviving performers from roughly the 1930s through the late ’50s to recount their experiences toiling in this often misunderstood cul-de-sac in American performing arts. An evolution of vaudeville, burlesque added striptease to the program in an effort to lure audiences back from the movies by giving them something unavailable on the silver screen. Such luminaries as Blaze Starr, Tempest Storm and Dixie Evans dish on backstage rivalries, the depredations of the road, the stigma of stripping and all other aspects of burlesque life, providing an engaging behind-the-scenes analysis of an art form most people have heard of but few understand. In fact, the performers themselves contribute contradictory perspectives, describing the shows variously as bawdy but innocent escapism for cash-strapped regular folks or exploitative flesh parades with audiences full of men furtively masturbating behind newspapers. However, the interviewees share a common spirit of toughness and rueful good humor, which jibes with their status as, in the main, poverty-stricken young women who could earn more disrobing than waiting tables. A defiant pride in burlesque's second-rate status in the entertainment firmament—the performers may not have had the goods to make it in “legitimate” venues like the movies or Broadway, but they left the audiences happy—also unites the subjects, who take poignant pride in their brief moments of relative fame. The narrative moves briskly and will engross anyone interested in midcentury Americana. There is much colorful ground-level showbiz detail and descriptions of what it was like to work circuses, carnivals and the rotating theatrical circuit known as “The Wheel,” and the anecdotes are never less than good fun.
An affectionate and historically valuable document of an intriguing, little-served corner of American entertainment.
The salty reminiscences of participants in the classic age of burlesque enliven this companion volume to a documentary film directed by the author.
Zemeckis assembled an impressive number of surviving performers from roughly the 1930s through the late ’50s to recount their experiences toiling in this often misunderstood cul-de-sac in American performing arts. An evolution of vaudeville, burlesque added striptease to the program in an effort to lure audiences back from the movies by giving them something unavailable on the silver screen. Such luminaries as Blaze Starr, Tempest Storm and Dixie Evans dish on backstage rivalries, the depredations of the road, the stigma of stripping and all other aspects of burlesque life, providing an engaging behind-the-scenes analysis of an art form most people have heard of but few understand. In fact, the performers themselves contribute contradictory perspectives, describing the shows variously as bawdy but innocent escapism for cash-strapped regular folks or exploitative flesh parades with audiences full of men furtively masturbating behind newspapers. However, the interviewees share a common spirit of toughness and rueful good humor, which jibes with their status as, in the main, poverty-stricken young women who could earn more disrobing than waiting tables. A defiant pride in burlesque's second-rate status in the entertainment firmament—the performers may not have had the goods to make it in “legitimate” venues like the movies or Broadway, but they left the audiences happy—also unites the subjects, who take poignant pride in their brief moments of relative fame. The narrative moves briskly and will engross anyone interested in midcentury Americana. There is much colorful ground-level showbiz detail and descriptions of what it was like to work circuses, carnivals and the rotating theatrical circuit known as “The Wheel,” and the anecdotes are never less than good fun.
An affectionate and historically valuable document of an intriguing, little-served corner of American entertainment.
July 14, 2015
Fascinating and informative. I especially appreciated Zemeckis's judicious treatment of the lesser known burlesquers, Blaze Starr contemporary T.T. Red for example. An accurate take on an historically risque art form without the romanticism of rose-colored glasses. How refreshing to see classic burlesque treated so candidly in the 21st century.
April 6, 2021
Ugh! Finally finished this book! There is no reason for the length of this book, it could easily be a third of the size. While there is some great information within, this book is highly repetitive, full of errors and typos which breaks up the fluidity of reading and above all was a book I really wanted to enjoy reading but instead wanted it to be over.
July 9, 2014
Disorganized, disjointed, repetitive and confusing. The author did a hell of a lot of research, locating and talking to the women and men who worked in Burlesque, but the book doesn't do the story justice.
July 17, 2018
A really solid overview of burlesque and a great place to start if you want to know about the rise and fall of burlesque and vaudeville. The authors interviews with the dancers and comedians are a treasure trove of stories and information.
October 31, 2020
When people today think of burlesque, they mostly think of strippers. While these exotic dancers evolved to become the main attraction of this form of entertainment, there really was so much more to it. In Behind the Burly Q: The Story of Burlesque in America, Leslie Zemeckis gives a well-rounded account of all that was involved in that scene. She hunted down as many aging burlesque performers as she could and interviewed them so we could learn the story of their profession from their point of view.
Zemeckis gives a detailed account of the history of burlesque. It was always considered a lowbrow art form, mostly because it catered to the working classes and urban poor populations. Similar entertainment was offered in vaudeville and on Broadway but the higher ticket prices elevated the status of these performances to a higher level of acceptance. During the years of the Great Depression, burlesque became a way for the lower class audiences to forget their worries and troubles. It was at that time that burlesque grew and eventually reached its peak of popularity in the 1930s – 40s.
Class plays a major role in defining the boundaries of what is considered burlesque. Not only did it appeal to the common man on the street but it also attracted lower class performers. Many of the dancers were from the rural South and many of them sought careers as strippers to lift themselves out of poverty. While some of the comedians went on to movie-star status and the most famous dancers made tons of money, most of the performers made working class wages and suffered from the grueling schedules and financial troubles that most of the laboring classes have to put up with.
Behind the Burly Q is also written like an ethnographic account of the industry. All aspects of the business get examined from the managing companies, most particularly the Minskys, to the buildings, often owned by gangsters, and their locations in run-down neighborhoods. Details are given about the dressing rooms, the stages, the hotel rooms, the musicians, the comedians, the audience, and even the candy vendors and the tricks they used to make money. A complete picture of the places and people of the business is described so the reader can have a good idea of how it all felt.
Most importantly, the women Zemeckis interviewed tell their life stories. Being an exotic dancer had its ups and downs. Life was spent on the road, working hours were long, and the schedule was demanding. Some of them had turbulent family relationships and drinking problems. Stalkers and sexual harassment were common annoyances. The strippers were looked down on by the religious and puritanical moralists of America as well as by the upper classes. They also had to live with the indignity of seeing men in the audience covering their crotches with newspapers so no one could see they were masturbating while watching the strippers perform. But every one of the dancers said they loved their job. The camaraderie and communal bond between them was strong and they took great pride in what they did. They did not think of themselves as being dirty or exploited. They considered themselves artists and professionals who mastered the practice of teasing. Where pornography is about showing as much as possible, the dancing in burlesque is about showing as much as possible without actually showing anything at all. Some dancers went as far as attaching brillo pads to their bikini bottoms to trick the audience into thinking they were showing pubic hair.
Leslie Zemeckis is obviously enthusiastic about her subject matter. Her descriptions are clear and precise. The problem is that her writing is flat and dull. Her passion is never conveyed through the language she uses. This book is easy enough to understand but there are a lot of times when it plods along, making it a chore to keep reading.
Overall, this is a good book that answers any questions you might have about burlesque, where it came from, and why it went into decline. It paints a vivid picture of what ordinary people did for fun after a hard day of working and worrying about paying the bills. It can make the reader wonder what it was like to live in a society where sensual teasing was controversial and bordering on obscene. In the 21st century we have lost our innocence. We can find any sexual act we want filmed for us to be seen for free on the internet. Maybe that is why the neo-burlesque scene continues to thrive in America and Europe. We can’t unsee what we have already seen but for a short time, we can visit a theater and imagine we are more innocent than we really are. That’s what burlesque was all about: appealing to the imagination, making the audience fantasize about what they know is there but can not see.
Zemeckis gives a detailed account of the history of burlesque. It was always considered a lowbrow art form, mostly because it catered to the working classes and urban poor populations. Similar entertainment was offered in vaudeville and on Broadway but the higher ticket prices elevated the status of these performances to a higher level of acceptance. During the years of the Great Depression, burlesque became a way for the lower class audiences to forget their worries and troubles. It was at that time that burlesque grew and eventually reached its peak of popularity in the 1930s – 40s.
Class plays a major role in defining the boundaries of what is considered burlesque. Not only did it appeal to the common man on the street but it also attracted lower class performers. Many of the dancers were from the rural South and many of them sought careers as strippers to lift themselves out of poverty. While some of the comedians went on to movie-star status and the most famous dancers made tons of money, most of the performers made working class wages and suffered from the grueling schedules and financial troubles that most of the laboring classes have to put up with.
Behind the Burly Q is also written like an ethnographic account of the industry. All aspects of the business get examined from the managing companies, most particularly the Minskys, to the buildings, often owned by gangsters, and their locations in run-down neighborhoods. Details are given about the dressing rooms, the stages, the hotel rooms, the musicians, the comedians, the audience, and even the candy vendors and the tricks they used to make money. A complete picture of the places and people of the business is described so the reader can have a good idea of how it all felt.
Most importantly, the women Zemeckis interviewed tell their life stories. Being an exotic dancer had its ups and downs. Life was spent on the road, working hours were long, and the schedule was demanding. Some of them had turbulent family relationships and drinking problems. Stalkers and sexual harassment were common annoyances. The strippers were looked down on by the religious and puritanical moralists of America as well as by the upper classes. They also had to live with the indignity of seeing men in the audience covering their crotches with newspapers so no one could see they were masturbating while watching the strippers perform. But every one of the dancers said they loved their job. The camaraderie and communal bond between them was strong and they took great pride in what they did. They did not think of themselves as being dirty or exploited. They considered themselves artists and professionals who mastered the practice of teasing. Where pornography is about showing as much as possible, the dancing in burlesque is about showing as much as possible without actually showing anything at all. Some dancers went as far as attaching brillo pads to their bikini bottoms to trick the audience into thinking they were showing pubic hair.
Leslie Zemeckis is obviously enthusiastic about her subject matter. Her descriptions are clear and precise. The problem is that her writing is flat and dull. Her passion is never conveyed through the language she uses. This book is easy enough to understand but there are a lot of times when it plods along, making it a chore to keep reading.
Overall, this is a good book that answers any questions you might have about burlesque, where it came from, and why it went into decline. It paints a vivid picture of what ordinary people did for fun after a hard day of working and worrying about paying the bills. It can make the reader wonder what it was like to live in a society where sensual teasing was controversial and bordering on obscene. In the 21st century we have lost our innocence. We can find any sexual act we want filmed for us to be seen for free on the internet. Maybe that is why the neo-burlesque scene continues to thrive in America and Europe. We can’t unsee what we have already seen but for a short time, we can visit a theater and imagine we are more innocent than we really are. That’s what burlesque was all about: appealing to the imagination, making the audience fantasize about what they know is there but can not see.
May 13, 2013
I was one of the lucky ones to receive an early release copy of this wonderful book. Mrs. Zemeckis does an artful job of not only giving an accurate history of American Burlesque but also inviting you into the intimate lives of the performers during that time!!I was completely captivated from beginning to end as details were revealed about a history that was almost lost and or never acknowledged. I found the topic at hand fascinating and the first hand stories and experiences a treat to read. I am sure everyone that reads this story will share my positive experience. Enjoy!!!!
June 10, 2021
An interesting read
I liked this book quite a lot, but it did seem rather scattered and jumping around was sometimes hard to follow. The pictures we amazing and helped bring the era of burlesque to life. In all it was interesting and factual based on those who actually were working in the business. Worth reading if you're interested in the subject matter, and I am.
I liked this book quite a lot, but it did seem rather scattered and jumping around was sometimes hard to follow. The pictures we amazing and helped bring the era of burlesque to life. In all it was interesting and factual based on those who actually were working in the business. Worth reading if you're interested in the subject matter, and I am.
June 18, 2018
Great book for anyone interested in the history of live theater.
Should be required reading for theater people.
Tells the history of early variety theater and how we got where we are today.
Should be required reading for theater people.
Tells the history of early variety theater and how we got where we are today.
December 29, 2013
Very repetitive and scattered. Written more as a bunch of quips rather than a cohesive telling.
May 11, 2014
This book was poorly written. It read in parts like a book report an obsequious child wrote- seemingly hurried and uncaring.
The information was interesting, but hard to follow.
The information was interesting, but hard to follow.
November 21, 2014
I really enjoyed this fascinating book. A neat look into the lives of the people in Burlesque. I really enjoyed hearing what the performers had to say.
January 5, 2017
The real deal, what went on, goes on . The whole merry-go-round.... undercover, of course. Just makes it all the more fascinating... a read for all ages, all women... oh, and deserving men......
October 13, 2020
(3.5 stars) To be honest, I never gave a lot of thought to Burlesque, but this book is a labor of love from the author, and one that will offer a lot of insight and history of a key form of entertainment over the past century. The strength of this work is the amount of research the author did, spending years obtaining photographs, letters, correspondence, and even a myriad of personal interviews with key players. For something that could generate a large amount of attention, there is not really a comprehensive history of Burlesque. This book, based on a film documentary, offers the reader a change to learn about the history, the rise, the personalities, the life and the eventual downfall of the art form. While it is trying to make a comeback of sorts, it will never regain its previous place.
While the research behind this project is incredible, the organization of the book lacks focus and a logical pattern. It jumps around in chronology and subject matter, and it can be hard to keep track of when you are and where you are going in this book. If this was mean to be an encyclopedia of sorts, then the organization makes sense. However, the writing leans more toward narrative, and thus, it comes across as too disjointed, thus lowering the readability and rating of this book.
It is overall decent, but the lack of coherent organization at times hurts the overall impact. If nothing else, you will learn a great deal about burlesque, but you may have to leverage the index multiple times to get the full picture that the text was mean to convey.
While the research behind this project is incredible, the organization of the book lacks focus and a logical pattern. It jumps around in chronology and subject matter, and it can be hard to keep track of when you are and where you are going in this book. If this was mean to be an encyclopedia of sorts, then the organization makes sense. However, the writing leans more toward narrative, and thus, it comes across as too disjointed, thus lowering the readability and rating of this book.
It is overall decent, but the lack of coherent organization at times hurts the overall impact. If nothing else, you will learn a great deal about burlesque, but you may have to leverage the index multiple times to get the full picture that the text was mean to convey.
September 16, 2019
Burlesque Was Much More Than Women Strippers
My knowledge about Burlesque was limited to the movie Gypsy which was Hollywood’s version of this entertainment genre. I greatly enjoyed the book and learned a great deal about it. I didn’t know that at it’s height, Burlesque had chorus lines, comedians, novelty acts and live music. I was amazed to find out that many big time comedians had worked in Burlesque.
I heartily recommend this book because it gives the whole story of Burlesque and tells the life stories of many of its performers.
My knowledge about Burlesque was limited to the movie Gypsy which was Hollywood’s version of this entertainment genre. I greatly enjoyed the book and learned a great deal about it. I didn’t know that at it’s height, Burlesque had chorus lines, comedians, novelty acts and live music. I was amazed to find out that many big time comedians had worked in Burlesque.
I heartily recommend this book because it gives the whole story of Burlesque and tells the life stories of many of its performers.
May 14, 2021
I'm not going to lie; I couldn't finish it. Yet I still think I deserve this to count towards my yearly book challenge because it was torturous. It's a shame because this could have been a fascinating book, but unfortunately it's an unorganised mess that in no way paints a picture or keeps the reader interested. This book desperately needs re-editing.
If you're interested in this book I recommend instead Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show by Rachel Shtein. So far it is easy to follow, far more informative and paints a wonderful story in my head.
If you're interested in this book I recommend instead Striptease: The Untold History of the Girlie Show by Rachel Shtein. So far it is easy to follow, far more informative and paints a wonderful story in my head.
February 4, 2018
As friend to a number of burlesque-revival performers, I picked up this book for a look at the way the art form began and evolved. What I found was a sometimes-titillating, sometimes-sad tale of a populist variety show gradually dragged down by audiences less willing to be entertained instead of just aroused. This is THE book on burlesque, so any enthusiasts or performers are strongly recommended to pick this one up.
July 7, 2024
The Introduction was rather promising and even though I gave up not even half way through I can say I learned a lot about the history of Burlesque. The problem was how disorganized the book was and how after awhile it felt like a Who's Who of different Burlesque stars. One reviewer commented that it would have been better to go chronologically than by subject matter and I have to agree. I got a quarter of the way through it when I decided it wasn't worth continuing. Skip.
May 25, 2017
Only in America
Thank you Blaze and Leslie for a fascinating and highly entertaining history of Burlesque. This book is carefully researched. The material contained in the interviews of the women and men who gave us
a vital and uniquely American stage form gives the story authenticity
and liveliness. Bava! ladies.
Thank you Blaze and Leslie for a fascinating and highly entertaining history of Burlesque. This book is carefully researched. The material contained in the interviews of the women and men who gave us
a vital and uniquely American stage form gives the story authenticity
and liveliness. Bava! ladies.
March 12, 2018
If you are interested in burlesque at all, you should really check this book out! Many legends are included, and it’s fascinating to learn how this art touched each one of their lives. And FYI- many of these players (as well as the wonderful Leslie Zemeckis) are still around and attend the Burlesque Hall of Fame weekend in Las Vegas, and you can meet them and hear their stories in person!
March 20, 2021
As a writer and former burlesque performer, I LOVED this book! I couldn't put it down. The story shines a light on this important part of American history, and the fascinating, funny, and tragic stories of these incredible performers. Zemeckis is a witty writer, making this formerly unkown history spring to life.
April 13, 2020
Colorful history of the bawdy days of burlesque. I particularly enjoyed the interviews with the stars in this forgotten bit of American entertainment. Very well researched and easy to read. I couldn't put it down
March 14, 2021
Although I gave the book only a moderate rating, I recommend it for its information but give it lower marks because it needs to be more thoroughly edited. I enjoyed knowing more about the lives of burlesque performers and the behind-the-stage activity.
April 25, 2023
A fascinating and accurate book that made a difference for me while researching Burlesque, its origins, and evolution. I couldn't say if I loved the book or the DVD more, but for sure both have been fundamental to my research.
August 11, 2024
Not that great. I agree with a lot of similarly starred reviews that express their opinions more clearly & eloquently than I could. I upped my rating to 3 stars to be generous, I really consider it to be a 2.5 star read. For someone who worked so hard to gather so much information, this author was unable to write a book that did her subjects justice. Quite disappointing.
January 14, 2019
These folks gave some fascinating interviews about a vanished part of performance culture that were unfortunately assembled into a clunky, disorganized book.
September 28, 2021
quite the story but there was so much repetition that after a while I couldn't wait to finish the book.
April 16, 2024
This was fun book. Interesting how much burlesque intersects with other aspects of American history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews