Rose La Rose - "the original TNT girl"

Vintage Burlesque Dancer Stripper Photos

Just "Click the Pix" to see a larger view.

The Burlesque Babes Blog presents the lovely Rose La Rose, "the original TNT girl".

If it wasn't for the 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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• You can read a chapter about Rose in Jane Briggeman's book, BURLESQUE, here.

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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.

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  • 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.

The Burlesque Babes Blog is published by burlesquebabesshop.com

President's Day Patriotic Pin Up Girl!

American History in the Buff -- A Sexy Lady President!??


Patriotic Pin Up Girl Greeting Card

Happy President's Day from Burlesque Babes

The Burlesque Babes Blog is published by burlesquebabesshop.com

'V' For Valentine

Here's my Valentine Pin Up Girl Greeting Card to all of you!

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Photos Have Disappeared

Sad to say that someone made a complaint and had my pix removed. Years of hard work gone. I am in shock.

New Issue of Burlesque Magazine Online

Burlesque Magazine issue 4 is out now! Read it online -- for free -- it is beautiful!

The Burlesque Babes Blog is published by burlesquebabesshop.com

Fraulein Von Manuela, West Berlin's Exotic Sensation

Just "Click the Pix" to see a larger view.

• From my archives, with newspaper ad. "Click the Pic"
  
• Fraulein Von Manuela -- big 11x17 glossy photo print for sale in my Burlesque Babes Shop.

I could not find any bio/history or other online references to any vintage Burlesque stripper named Fraulein Von Manuela, so if you have any info, memories, or stories to share, please email me. Thanks!

See more of my great prints today in my online shop-- BURLESQUE BABES, with 100's of Sexy Burlesque Stripper photos printed from my huge vintage photograph collection.

The Burlesque Babes Blog is published by burlesquebabesshop.com

Miss FiFi Paree - The Unpredictable

Today's Vintage Burlesque Dancer photos: the lovely FIFI PAREE.

Just "Click the Pix" to see a larger view.

• She was billed as:
• "The Unpredictable Sophisticated Miss FiFi Paree"

• From my archives.
• Be sure to "Click the Pic".
  

When I first posted about Miss FiFi Paree, I couldn't find any bio info online. But one of my readers sent me a nice email with his memories. With his permission, here's what Jeff wrote:

" Nice to hear from you, Marianne. I am a news anchor here in Cleveland who "mis-spent" part of my youth in what were, apparently, the final days of wheel burlesque in the sixties. I have great memories, and you certainly rekindled them with your FiFi Paree mdse. You said you'd been unable to find out anything about her. I'm glad to at least begin a sketch with my memories.

Most of my memories of burlesque are from the old Park Theater on Champion Street in Youngstown. In about 1966 they were still part of a wheel that moved shows from city to city for one-week stands. I believe, from what I've read, it was a small circuit of eight or ten cities in the east.

The units featured a headliner, usually three supporting strippers, a comedian and straight man. At the Park the three piece pit band and candy butcher were local. Headliners I remember seeing advertised in this era included Rose La Rose, Irma the Body, Tempest Storm, Blaze Starr and Busty Russell.

On a holiday trip home from college in about 1966 I went to the Park and saw the sexiest headliner ever, FiFi Paree. She began her act dressed as what looked to me like a southern belle—a to-the-floor hoop skirted gown, very wide brim straw hat and a parasol. Her entrance was as a very proper lady out for a stroll. Her flirtation with the audience began early in her first walk-across number, but it was subtle. It was probably by the end of her entrance number that she revealed heels and hose beneath her skirt and petticoats. Way hot. By the end of her act she had gone from proper to flirtatious to incendiary. Just a great performer.

I had heard that headliners at the Park would sign a picture to "college boys" who asked for one. So, I asked. I was told to wait for her in the lobby. She came out in street clothes. We chatted, she signed an 8 by 10 for me and, believe it or not, I left that night with her real name and address in Toledo. When I returned to Ohio University we wrote a couple of times and that was it.

I can't remember her name or the extent of her career. I know I'd never heard of her before that week in Youngstown. She was youngish for a feature, and I don't remember hearing of her after that until seeing her on your website. I am certain she lived in Toledo, so if you can hook up with a burlesque buff from there, which shouldn't be impossible given Rose La Rose having lived there and operated theaters there, you can probably fill out a biographical sketch, but, as I indicated, it may be brief compared to dancers whose careers crossed decades.

My guess is, if her burlesque career was brief, it's because she came in toward the end of its history. Thanks for doing what you're doing. I'll be ordering something from your shop soon. -- Jeff Maynor "

Thanks, Jeff! And, as always, if anyone has any more info, I'd love to hear it, and share it.

• FIFI PAREE Framed Photo -- 13x16 frame
  
• FIFI PAREE Classic Thong Pantie
  
• FIFI PAREE White T-Shirt
  
• FIFI PAREE Mug

• FIFI PAREE ~ BIG 11x17 Photo Print

• FIFI PAREE Card 5x7 Glossy Photo+Bonus pic inside
  
  
• FIFI PAREE Card 5x7 Glossy Photo+Bonus pic inside

See many more photos and gift items of FIFI PAREE today in my online shop-- BURLESQUE BABES, with 100's of Sexy Burlesque Stripper from my huge vintage photograph collection.

The Burlesque Babes Blog is published by burlesquebabesshop.com

Fascinating Jennifer

Vintage Burlesque Dancer Stripper Photos

Just "Click the Pix" to see a larger view.

• From my archives, with newspaper ad. Click the pic for larger view.
• Billed as THE FASCINATING JENNIFER
• The Epitome of What Men Like Most in Women
  
  
• Jennifer #2 -- big 11x17 photo print for sale

• From the wonderful Burlesque History site:
• "The Fascinating Jennifer — Jennifer was invited to dance in the chorus line of the Casino Burlesque Theatre in Boston when it re-opened in 1954. After learning stage presence, she was asked to do a solo striptease routine, which was of no interest to the young dancer until AFTER Sequin came to the theatre and performed. Watching Sequin's routine, which contained no bumps and grinds, Jennifer began creating her own costumes and routines and frequently filled in on stage when needed thereafter. In 1957, "The Fascinating Jennifer," toured on the Bryan & Engle circuit as a co-feature, and by 1958, performed as a feature, continuing to work in burlesque theatres until her retirement in 1963."

See more of my great prints today in my online shop-- BURLESQUE BABES, with 100's of Sexy Burlesque Stripper photos printed from my huge vintage photograph collection.

The Burlesque Babes Blog is published by burlesquebabesshop.com