The History of Burlesque

Many people associate late era strip tease artists as the definitive symbol of what burlesque was on the stage. In actuality burlesque has a whole often unrecognized history commonly not associated in today's re-creation, and with focus mainly on the striptease era of the theatrical entertainment. From its ancestry before, to its origins in the 1800's, from comedy and dancing girls, to the late era burlesque strip tease, here are a few websites to gratify your curiosity and have you speaking like a burlesque historian in no time!

Burlesque I – For the Beginnings of Burlesque History
http://www.musicals101.com/burlesque.htm

Burlesque II – When Strip Tease Ruled the Burlesque Stages
http://www.musicals101.com/burlesque2.htm

From History.com - Burlesque
http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?vendorId=FWNE.fw..bu208400.a#FWNE.fw..bu208400.a

Folly Burlesque – From the Folly Theater
http://www.follytheater.com/history_burlesque.html

Jazz Age Chicago - Burlesque Theater History
http://chicago.urban-history.org/ven/ths/burlesque.shtml

Burlesque in the French Quarter - 1940-50

French Quarter History – Blog


From the Burlesque Guide

http://www.burlesqueguide.net

And we can't forget Wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlesque_(genre)

Did you know…comedy clubs of today are very much this era's vaudevillian-burlesque houses? Beginning in open mic forums (and often failing in open mic forums), stand up comedians climb with perseverance, determination, and drive up the comedy stages, proving they can tickle your funny bone and claim "top banana" (headliner) status.
And we can't help but take this moment to shamelessly plug our brand new classic burlesque show, Sugar Moonlight, premiering at Hyena's Comedy Club in Dallas! Visit Hyena's (with Arlington, Fort Worth, and now Dallas locations) for a bit of a comedic burlesque experience today.