Thelma Todd – The Ice Cream Blonde’s Last Sunday

The Ice Cream Blonde’s Last Sunday By: Femme Vivre LaRouge It was a chilly December night in the Pacific Palisades when an intoxicated “Hot Toddy,” screen actress Thelma Todd, stumbled to her door after dismissing her driver, only to find herself locked out of her own home.  Apparently her lover had had it with her drinking, and thought a night out in the cold might really sober her up.  She... [Read more]

Herstory – Hedy Lamarr

It’s All Hedy Lamarr’s Fault By: Hella Goode Anytime you text during a class, a conversation, a drive or take a picture of me with your phone or drunk dial me from your butt, thank Hedy Lamarr. Hedy Lamarr, known as the “Most Beautiful Woman in Films” was born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler on November 9, 1914 in Vienna, Austria to Gertrud, a pianist and Emil, a bank manager. From early on,... [Read more]

Herstory of the Merkin

Herstory of the Merkin By Hella Goode                 If you thought the merkin was invented to make your lady-business sparkly, colorful or express your religious beliefs, you were wrong! The merkin has a recorded history dating back to at least the 1400’s when it had the less subtle title of ‘pubic wig,’ as documented in the Oxford Companion to the Body.  But hey, weren’t... [Read more]

Dallas Burlesque Gal’s Claim to Fame

Dallas Burlesque Gal’s Claim to Fame by: Femme Vivre LaRouge What Dallas burlesquer has a famous family history??  That would be our very own Appaloosa Red!  And which of Hollywood’s elite was married into Miss Appaloosa’s family during Hollywood’s Golden Era?  None other than The King of the screen, Clark Gable!!  (Pause for squeals and sighs of jealousy.)  Yes, that’s right- and... [Read more]

Burlesque Arrests: Texas Guinan

by: Femme Vivre LaRouge A self-made woman, ‘Texas’ Guinan created a mythology around herself, much like Mae West or The Great Ziegfeld.  It’s hard to tell how much of her autobiographical storytelling is based in truth; as Tex said herself, “Exaggerate the world!”  What is definitely true is that Texas Guinan was a character, a cowgirl, a silent film actress, a syndicated newspaper columnist,... [Read more]

Burlesque Oral History Project

Highlighting the Burlesque Oral History Project: An Interview with Elsa Sjunneson by: Femme Vivre LaRouge Burlesque Legends tell their stories at The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender 2011. We’ve told you a little bit about the Burlesque Oral History Project before, but now we’d like to tell you more – and appeal to this fabulous community for some much-needed assistance.  Founded by Dr. Lukki,... [Read more]

Vintage Costumes of Burlesque

Thanks to Miss Mina Murray, Headmistress of the Boston Academy of Burlesque Education, we found out about an amazing burlesque costume exhibit going on now in Boston!  We’ve got all the info from her right here, and even if you can’t make it to Boston to see it for yourself, she’s provided some lovely photographs so that our readers can enjoy the exhibit right here on the pages of... [Read more]

Lowbrow Lowdown- March 2012

The Lowbrow Lowdown By: Femme Vivre LaRouge This month I’ve decided to make it a double feature…and the theme is the roaring twenties! Film Recommendations: First up for film is 1927’s It, the movie that made Clara Bow the very first ‘It Girl,’ and Hollywood’s first mass-marketed sex symbol.  So, what is ‘It?’  As Elinor Glyn (whose novelette the film was modeled after) defined it,... [Read more]

Legends: Doris Eaton Travis

The Legendary Life of Doris Eaton Travis by: Femme Vivre LaRouge Few of us are lucky enough to enjoy either the longevity or the fullness of life that Doris Eaton did.  Born March 14, 1904, Doris witnessed almost all of the amazing twentieth century, as well as the unfolding of the twenty-first.  In 2010, shortly before she passed away, Doris received her final standing ovation in the New Amsterdam... [Read more]

WWII Bomber Art

Bombshell: Pin-Up and Nose Art of WWII by: Femme Vivre LaRouge While art has always adored the feminine form, the pin-up made her true debut in the 1900s both in the U.S. and Europe.  Ushered in by exoticism, flappers, the French postcard, Ziegfeld, and the Gibson girl (America’s first centerfold), the pin-up really came into her own mid-century.  The embodiment of life, love, joy, and vitality,... [Read more]