Long Legs and Tall Tales: A Showgirl's Wacky, Sexy Journey to the Playboy Mansion and the Radio City Rockettes

by Kristi Lynn Davis

Long Legs and Tall Tales is a comic memoir about a naïve, goodie two-shoes, Midwesterner who tosses aside her conservative business suit and college education, leaves the safety of suburbia behind, and hesitantly sets off to become an international, sexy showgirl supreme. Follow her into her dressing rooms around the globe, as she learns to survive and then thrive (in stilettos, no less) in the wild and wonderful world of entertainment. With a virtual VIP All-Access Backstage Pass, readers get a sneak insider peek into two of America’s most iconically sexy and spectacular institutions—Playboy and the Radio City Rockettes—like never before. But wait! There’s more. The book also chronicles highlights of Kristi’s wacky journey from obscurity to fame

*her humble tutu and tiara-loving beginnings at her local “Dolly Dinkle” dance schools
*her awkward stretch into modern dance amid the danger and excitement of New York City
*mortifying corporate party performances (including dancing as half of the Brooklyn Bridge and knocking over patrons with her big buttress)
*musical theatre and movie escapades in and around Hollywood
*homespun fun in the Ozarks as Buddy Ebsen’s hottie Beverly Hillbillies sidekick
*jet-setting and bar-hopping with real live Playboy Bunnies
*her horror at sashaying on stage in a G-string
*going overboard for love on a cruise ship, and
*shaking her tail feathers for President Bill Clinton.

From the sweaty, smoky nightclubs of Singapore to the sizzling Las Vegas strip to the snowcapped mountains of Alaska and beyond, these behind-the-scenes, high-kicking high jinks rival the euphoria of thunderous applause. Having spent over 12 years strutting her stuff as a professional entertainer, including logging in over 1,200 performances (and 240,000 kicks) as a Rockette and touring overseas with the steamy Playboy’s Girls of Rock & Roll, Kristi has juicy secrets and shenanigans to spill. Through stories of her sparkling success despite mortifying missteps, the book aims to inspire readers to light their spark, pursue their passion, and shine brightly as the stars they truly are.

469 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2015

About the author

Having logged in approximately 1,200 performances and 240,000 kicks as a Radio City Rockette, Kristi Lynn Davis learned what it's like to live life as a showgirl supreme. But strutting her stuff for the world's most famous precision dance troupe was just the tip of the iceberg. She also traveled the globe with the steamy Playboy's Girls of Rock and Roll, sailed to exotic ports of call as a singer-dancer on luxurious cruise ships, and graced the stage in musical theatre productions with showbiz icons Susan Anton, Buddy Ebsen, Maurice Hines, Jack Jones, Paige O'Hara, Juliet Prowse, Rip Taylor, and others. She even shook her tail feathers for former President Bill Clinton. In addition to being an author, Kristi is a speaker, entertainer, and Registered Drama Therapist. In her signature one-woman-show keynote, "Kick high! Be spectacular!" Kristi transforms into a "Rockette" right before your eyes as she shares stories of sparkling success and fortuitous "failure" from her journey into showbiz, to assist you in discovering your dreams, getting clear about fear, and becoming the star you truly are. Kristi thrives in the beautiful state of Michigan with her wacky, sexy husband and two spectacular children.

Reviews

[Eva Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so fun to read a book written by someone you know! Kristi has lived an amazing life. I'm thrilled she wrote her memoir!

[Tom Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fast, silly and unexpectedly informative. Back stage is a place that story's often go, but into the rehearsal, the planning, the huge time and practice commitment, the sheer athleticism of dance is new ground revealed here.
Having talent, even over riding talent, is only the ante to get you into the game. Kristi Davis shows how hours of practice on top of talent, along with a few good breaks, can get you to places you never dreamed you could go.
Good style, good movement and a fun vibe make this a book that you can stroll thru and just enjoy.
I never would have picked this up on my own, but I am very glad I did. A new world opens, which is what a good book is supposed to do.

[Marianne Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

As entertaining as an evening with the fabulous Rockettes!! Very enjoyable and definitely for everyone who at sometime in their little girl dreams wanted to be a Rockette. The author's days as a gypsy takes us from her first audition through all the ups and downs and around the world ... one time as a Playboy dancer ... another time as Buddy Ebsen's sidekick in Branson ... to the wild wacky world of Vegas as a Rockette ... Loved every high-kick!!

[Elaine Pasky]

Not available at my libraries.