TIgger performs "Emperor's New Clothes" at 2014 BHoF Weekender

New Display: Fans from Tigger!’s “Emperor’s New Clothes” Act

With his characteristic generosity, 2006 Besy Boylesque winner Tigger! has allowed us to display this exquisite set of fans from his famous “Emperor’s New Clothes” act, as performed on stage at the BHoF Weekender in 2014. Dancer, actor, and burlesque artist Tigger! began incorporating striptease into their performances in the

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#MuseumAtHome: Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month 2021

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Burlesque Hall of Fame has partnered with burlesque historian and performer Bella Sin to highlight the careers and contributions of performers throughout the Latin burlesque world. New material will be released daily on our Instagram and Facebook pages, and this page will be

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Jennie Lee and other dancersprotest in front of the LA Herald-Examiner, 1959

#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

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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

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Black and white photo of burlesque dancer Zorita, nude save high heels and a corset held against her chest, laying on a teardrop-shaped settee which has been colored orange over the original image.

#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

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Detail of photo of Dixie Evans wearing boa

#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

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Banner for 2020 Virtual Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender, featuring purple background and rhinestoned crowns

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

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Bally at Jennie Lee's Canadian National Exhibition pavilion

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

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Detail from 19th century printed matter entitled "Jim Crow Jubilee"

#MuseumAtHome: Minstrel Shows and Stock Comic Characters in Burlesque

CONTENT WARNING: sterotypical imagery including blackface⁣⁣Learn 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

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Lilly Christine

#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

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