Transgender Day of Visibility: Honoring Marinka
Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility. In the spirit of this event, we would like to honor the late Marinka, Queen of the Amazons, who made herself visible when she came out as transgender in her autobiography titled Marinka, from Havana to Burlesque. Born and raised in Cuba, Marinka,
#MuseumAtHome: National Puzzle Day!
Today is National Puzzle Day! Playing puzzles whether they be crossword, jigsaw, trivia, word searches, brain teasers or Sudoku, puzzles put our minds to work. Studies have found that when we work on a jigsaw puzzle, we use both sides of our brain. Working on puzzles stimulate the brain improving
New in Our Collection: Sheet Music for “I’m Just Wild About Harry”
Sheet music for “I’m Just Wild About Harry” from the musical Shuffle AlongLyrics by Noble Sissle, Music by Eubie Blake (M.W. & Sons, 1921) Shuffle Along was a 1921 Broadway musical comedy. It was groundbreaking in many ways, being the first all-Black written and performed Broadway production. Additionally, it is
Trick or treat! Check out our virtual Halloween tour!
Experience a darker side of BHoF! For a limited time, take a virtual tour of burlesque’s haunted history. Whose ghost dwells in the theater where Sally Rand once performed? What cursed color would burlesque’s legends never be caught undead in? And OMG, what is that thing?!?! Join the staff of
#MuseumAtHome: Burlesque Arrests
From its earliest arrival on US shores, burlesque has posed a challenge to local authorities charged with upholding local standards of “decency”. Whether it was women wearing men’s clothing (which was against the law in many municipalities until well into the 20th century) or women wearing not enough clothing (or
#MuseumAtHome: Happy Birthday to “Miss Exotic World” Creator Dixie Evans
Dixie Evans, “The Marilyn Monroe of Burlesque,” would have been 94 today. After a successful career as a burlesque dancer, Dixie eventually ended up running the Exotic World museum, creating the Miss Exotic World pageant that to this day forms the core of our BHoF Weekender, going on right now
Join Us for a Virtual Tour!
The museum is closed at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it! Join us for a live virtual tour, offered several times throughout the month of August as part of our 2020 Virtual Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender! Each tour will last 30-60 minutes via Zoom (you’ll
NEW ONLINE EXHIBITION – <em>Bump & Grind Beneath the Big Top: Burlesque in Circuses, Carnivals, and Fairs</em>
Step right up, folks. Behind this curtain you’ll find wonders beyond your imagination. See the stars of the midcentury girl show! Learn about the Black revues! Find out how burlesque dancers lived on the road! And watch your wallets, you never know when someone will try to take you for
#MuseumAtHome: Minstrel Shows and Stock Comic Characters in Burlesque
CONTENT WARNING: sterotypical imagery including blackfaceLearn about some of the often troubling roots of burlesque’s stock characters in this #MuseumAtHome entry. Burlesque and minstrelsy were closely related in the late 19th century, and many elements of the minstrel show became part of burlesque’s “bag of tricks”. Understanding this difficult history is essential
#MuseumAtHome: Burlesque Legend Lilly Christine (VIDEO)
Lilly Christine, “The Cat Girl”, burst on the scene in the late 1940s and quickly leaped to the top, headlining Leon Prima’s New Orleans hotspot the 500 Club and eventually strutting her stuff on Broadway. Her belly dance-inspired moves fascinated audiences up until her tragically early death. Learn more about