If it wasn't for lovely Rose, this blog wouldn't exist. She owned a couple of Burlesque Theatres in Toledo, Ohio, and fortunatley for us all, she had the foresight to save all the promo pix from all the girls who performed on her stages. And I was lucky enough to acquire most of those archives. So, "Thanks, Rose!"
- From my archives. Rose's promo flyer from when she performed at the Folly Theater (Kansas City, MO ) in 1956.
- The Folly Theatre's history website writes about Rose's performances:
- "Traditionally, burlesque houses kept a red light in the footlights to advise their dancers of a censor's presence in the house. If things were taken too far, the theater was raided and the exotic dancers arrested for indecency. The Folly Burlesque was raided on and off for years. Favored talent Rose La Rose was continually arrested around the country because she took the red light as her personal cue to take things too far."
- From my archives. Rose performed in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. She had some great costumes.
- This book, Big Town, Big Time By Daily News Books, Jay Maeder mentions one of Rose's costumes in particular:
- Apparently she had a special TRICK DRESS that she wore when she sang 'Who Will Kiss My Oo-La-La?!', that exposed some of her "Oo-la-la".
- From my archives.
- Rose doing a commercial/promo for Pepsi Cola.
- From my archives.
- Another book, TOLEDO, by William Speck, has a nice passage that you can read which has pix of Rose's theatre in Toledo, the TOWN HALL. Well worth a look.
- The WEIRD WILD REALM site has an article about Rose, and some flicks she was featured in...
- (pix above from their site).
- Exerpted from their article:
"Rose la Rose was a performer at Minsky's along with Gypsy Rose Lee.
Miss La Rose has an uncredited role as a stripper in the Herman E. Webbe directed The Wages of Sin (1938) about an impoverished young woman forced into prostitution, with a cameo for sexploitation mini-mogul Louis S. Sonney.
She also has a supporting role in Sam Newfield's Queen of Burlesque (1946), which includes a murder mystery involving lesbianism.
When asked why she got in the business, Rose said, "I didn't want to stand behind a counter & serve people."
She eventually owned a veritable chain of burlesque theaters in Toledo, Ohio, & made extra on the side teaching housewives how to strip for their husbands.
She became (according to Walter Winchell) the highest paid stripper in America.
A typical act would be her singing of a song called "Who Will Kiss My Oo La La?" -- she'd dance frequently slapping her "oo la la" fanny.
- They go on to say:
Rose la Rose also brought about the final death-blow to live burlesque. The burlesque houses she owned in Toledo were the first to switch entirely to "nudie cutie" feature films, so that she no longer had to deal with the egos of burlesque queens & comics & drunken musicians & stage hands.
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- This Time Magazine article from 1970 tells of Rose's last performance:
- "Fiftyish but still game... persuaded Rose La Rose to come out of retirement... Rose held court in a silver gown, signed men's shirttails with "Teasingly Yours, Rose La Rose" ..."
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- Here's some biographical info about Rose:
Born 1919, NY -- Rosina DePella - left school at 15 - worked as cashier at Minsky's Theatre - lied about her age to start performing...
...they gave her stage name of Rose La Rose - she didn't like it, but it stuck - (she tried to switch to Connie Rae, but word got out she was really Rose, and audiences flocked to the theatre) - had name legally changed...
...was 1st striptease dancer to make more than $2000 a week -- good with money - 1958 bought Town Hall in Toledo...
...In 1968 the city closed the theater (urban renewal), so she bought the Esquire Theater and continued there.
Sadly, Rose passed away from cancer in July 1972, at only 53 years old.
- Rose La Rose 13x16 Frame Photo Print for sale in my Burlesque Babes Shop.
- Rose La Rose BIG 18x18 Throw Pillow for sale in my Burlesque Babes Shop.
- Rose La Rose Photo Framed Tile for sale in my Burlesque Babes Shop.
- Rose La Rose Big 11x17 Photo Print for sale in my Burlesque Babes Shop.
- Rose La Rose Card 5x7 Glossy Photo+Bonus pic inside for sale in my Burlesque Babes Shop.
See more Rose La Rose prints today in my online shop-- BURLESQUE BABES, with 100's of Sexy Burlesque Stripper photos printed from my huge vintage photograph collection.
