The
Burlesque Historical Society of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, established
circa 1950, was mandated to publish the Cavalcade of
Burlesque magazine. The
publication, part trade magazine, part promotion of burlesque was a
wonderful compilation of photographs, comedy sketches, interviews,
promotion and advertising of the trade. Searching for details about BHS turned up nothing
except a contemporaneous version created by former strippers.
Around
the same time BHS began publishing a series of color, chrome postcards
of burlesque stars as you would see them on stage. They are not
performing but posed as for a formal portrait or promotional photo. After years of searching and
compiling to get an idea of what constitutes a complete "set" I've come
up with 62 different postcards, probably not all published.
I assume the postcards were sold at burlesque houses as
souvenirs, possibly by the performers themselves or by the "candy
butchers" walking the theater during breaks in the show. Each card has a
typical postcard back with the performer identified, plus the BHS
copyright and the byline of the photographer, Bill Bennett. They are exceptional and I have not seen them reproduced in any books on the strip-tease.
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