Jo Weldon's New York School of Burlesque

"The exciting strippers, the great baggy-pants comics, the shabby straight men, the off-key tenors, the fast-talking candy butchers and the chaotic chorus lines--all of the great moments of america's most colorful theatrical art." So reads the back cover of Ann Corio's history of burlesque, published in 1968. Corio herself was a star in the 1930s and 40s, beginning when she was 15, and her self-deprecating autobiographical chapter is one of my favorite parts of the book. Of her first encounter with burlesque, she said, "Stripteasing was already in full swing when I arrived, and my eyes opened wide. What kind of show business was this? Girls were taking off their clothes and making gestures never seen in church plays....Then I noticed something...I was wearing less clothes in the chorus than the featured stripper at the end of her act....I wrestled with my conscience and my pocketbook and you know who always wins that match." In the opening, titled ...

Burlesque Legend Sherry Britton Dies Above: Sherry and me at the National Arts Club, with one of her favorite pictures on the wall behind us. She loved socializing with her friends and that was a very appropriate picture to be her fave. I know I'm not the only one who's going to miss her like crazy. Sherry's obituary in The NY Times: Sherry Britton, 89, a Star of the Burlesque Stage, Dies

Sherry has been a fine, fine friend to me over the past several years, and she has been coaching me on working on a tribute number to her for the past few months. I just found out that she passed yesterday and I want to acknowledge her charm and magic, and send good thoughts to everyone who adored her as I did (and still do).

For Sherry's 85th birthday, she had a fabulous party, and the invitation was a charming 8 page booklet. She is allowing me to show part of it here, and I'm very excited to share just a bit of how amazing this woman is and how incredible her life is. She is one of the most gracious, outspoken, and hilarious people you'd ever want to meet! I've been really fortunate to get to know her and have her as a friend. When being involved in the burlesque world means you get to know people with soul, brains, and talent like this, you can see why I stay passionate about the community as well as the art form. Some of the best people in the world are in burlesque.

' I write about this glamour lady today because I recently learned she is still around and her heels are still clicking. I remember when she was called "Great Britton, a stripteuse with brains." ' She's still one great Britton You'll love this article! Submitted by Laura Herbert. I've interviewed Sherry and I hope to share that interview here soon. She has been a good friend to me and a great supporter of the shows I've been in. The shoes I wear for my fan dance and HH tribute number were Sherry's--they're pretty fabulous and she made me promise that if she gave them to me, I'd wear them onstage, so I do. Laura, Me, Sherry, and Luke at Liz Goldwyn's screening of Pretty Things One of Sherry's costumes on display at the screening. I'm currently processing several interviews with Burlesque Legends--that means I'm waiting for all the pix to come in. I admit I'm a big sap and every one of these interviews leaves ...