Tantalizing tidbits

While burlesque focuses on teasing the mind of viewers, making them curious about what is left hidden, the history of this form of entertainment is less focused on keeping secrets. Jacqueline Hyde, who will be giving the lecture on the history of burlesque at the Jim Thorpe Burlesque Festival, said that it was originated in Victorian-era Britain and was introduced in America by Lydia Thompson in 1868. Here, it became connected with vaudeville entertainment and later incorporated female dancers performing modest stripteases as a way to entice people to come to shows in a time when motion pictures began dominating the scene.

Although modern burlesque shows range from the classical-style performances to sometimes more rowdy performances, it is essentially about having fun and providing tasteful, quality entertainment.

So here are some fun tidbits about burlesque, provided by Madame Corsetiere and Jacqueline Hyde to tease your mind a little.

1. The Burlesque Hall of Fame is located in Las Vegas and features such performers as Jennie Lee, Bettie Page, Mae West and Jayne Mansfield.

2. Toupee tape, spirit gum and liquid latex are your best friends.

3. Burlesque etiquette dictates that you never spread your legs to the audience, clothed or unclothed.

4. Pasties are not edible.

5. Make sure that you have a lint brush for glitter, it gets everywhere.

6. Rhinestones will be found everywhere — in your car, in your carpet, in your bathroom.

7. If you are going to be a burlesque performer, make sure to cut the tags out of your costumes.

8. If you plan to do fire tassels, make sure you have no glitter on and are in an open area that isn’t too close to the audience.

9. Tassels spin because of a fishing-lure type piece that has a small ball-bearing part that allows the tassel part to twirl properly.

10. Merkins, which covers a lady’s genitalia, can be made out of almost anything.

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