Girls in Giant Champagne Glasses

Today I received this question from a reader:

"[I] was wondering if you might know where one could purchase an oversized champagne glass, like the one dita von tease or catherine d'lish uses????"


Venus Delight in her Giant Champagne Glass circa 1989-1994. Photo Property of Venus Delight.


Catherine D'Lish in her champagne glass at Tease-o-rama 2002. Photo Copyright Jo Weldon.

Honestly, I probably can't afford a giant champagne glass, and if I could afford it, I probably couldn't afford to store or transport it, and even if I could, I couldn't afford stage hands to get it onto the tiny stages I usually occupy.

It just so happens, however, that I do know how to purchase one. What I know is that you have to have one made, unless you can find one used, as they are not mass-produced. If you want to have one made, you first have to locate a prop maker or custom acrylic fabricator. The same prop makers who make props for movies, theater, and events are the ones who make props for burlesque performers. For instance, you can look at the credits for Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and find out who designed the sets and props, and through that find who made the giant glass Cameron Diaz used (note that Dita is credited, as her number and the prop designed with Catherine D'Lish inspired the number in the movie and her permission had to be acquired to use it), or find out who's doing the props for the Pussycat Dolls show in Las Vegas. That is how it's done!

If you want to try one out before you decide to invest, you can rent one from 20th Century Props. They can probably tell you where to get one made, for a fee.

If, like me, you love the image but you can't really imagine owning the prop itself, you might be interested in these:

Caeser's Pocono Resorts, where you can rent a hotel suite with a 7-foot Champagne Glass Whirlpool Bath-for-Two with Celestial Ceiling.

A Figurine of the Playboy Femlin in a Champagne Glass. When I was a little kid I used to wonder if it was a really big champagne glass or a really tiny woman. I LOVE the Femlin and I would love to see someone do a Femlin act.

An Art Print of a Woman in Front of a Giant Champagne Glass, reproduced from a print I'm guessing is from the 1890s.

Or, you can buy a fabulous signed, color photo of Dita in her martini glass, a prop designed by Catherine D'Lish, from her website. If you join her website, you can see video of her and Catherine performing their amazing cocktail duet at Teaseorama.


Dual champagne glasses at an event staged by Rock Events. Photo used with permission.

Somewhere I have a photo of the painting Rik did for his table at the New York Burlesque Festival, of a life-sized woman in a champagne glass, with a hole cut for your head like those boards at the beach where you can stick your head on top of a body builder's body. When I find it, I'll add it. We still have the painting and the board and you'll find it turning up at some of our events, so you can stick your head in there and get your picture taken too!

If you do intend to have your champagne glass made, these people will do it for you:
Set Masters
Just Plastics

Finally, if you have read this article, don't email me and ask if I know where to get one. Duh! read it again! But if you know more about where to get one, feel free to let me know.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Ha! Femlin was a character in a piece I wrote for a writing workshop just last week and no one knew who she is! I was shocked and appalled. Kids these days... ;)
Anonymous said…
Or you could hire me to do a show... I have one!! I have 2 different numbers designed around the giant 250 lb. prop, a Martini number and a Champagne number. Yes, I had it custom made by a metalworker and an acrylics company and the metal flake paint job was done at an auto body shop.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i117/misskeebler17/stirpromocopy.jpg
Anonymous said…
Actually, if you're on the fence about going through with it, I would definitely suggest taking Miss Maulie up on her offer. My wife and I had the pleasure of seeing her Martini Time performance at Gamecock's EIEIO 2008 Video Game event in Austin, Texas and we were both highly impressed with her act. I'm researching how to purchase a martini glass of our own because my wife said it looked like it might be fun and it's obviously quite a workout.
Basically, as I meant to make clear in this article but may not have done, you usually don't purchase them unless you find someone who's tired of theirs; you have them made, and I've provided links for people who make them and suggestions for ways to find people who make them. There is no "burlesque prop" or "giant martini glass" shoppe.
Anonymous said…
btw Jo, you're the best. You provided so much information here! whippie!
Anonymous said…
20th Century Props in North Hollywood has 2 6 foot tall Champagne Glasses that such people as Beyonce have danced in. see her on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7WUeXc6mCA
Anonymous said…
I can make anyone one of these large glasses. I am based out of Dallas, Texas. Give a call at 972-365-2523. Also, check out some of my other pieces at rwohlfeld.blogspot.com

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