Ewww, That's Dirty.... or is it???

We all love a good stand up comic, someone that makes fun of our society, its rules, politics, and the current media. We raise some of these performers to all star status, i.e. past cast members of "SNL" and "In Living Color." By today's standards its the social norm to enjoy this kind of entertainment of social jest, but that wasn't always so. This kind of comedy has its roots in a form of variety act known as Burlesque.

Burlesque was spawned from Vaudeville, a variety show incorporating many types of theatrical talents, in the 1840's. Burlesque, like its Vaudeville relative, utilized multiple types of acts forged from clown type routines, like singing, stand up, and more slapstick humor, to entertain the lower and middle classes. Where burlesque differed from its relatives was two things: First, Burlesque used social commentary to poke fun or create parades of the upper class media of the time, such as opera of traditional European theater, to appeal to the lesser classes. Secondly burlesque made use of scantly clad women( for the time peroid) performers in their variety show, giving rise to the empowerment of women and the later woman's movement of the 1940's and 50's.

Valerie Parks, a Burlesque preformer
show as a "Pin Up"

Although the term Burlesque is most commonly associated with the more derelict acts of modern strip clubs, and the "strip tease" did originate from Burlesque,the roots of Burlesque fall far from what it's descendants have become. Burlesque made use of the seductiveness of the female form to draw viewers in to see the comedic acts, wonderful singing, and extensive dancing. But because of the negative connotation both this and the spoofs of high society, Burlesque was considered to be dirty and beneath those of good moral standing. Most Vaudevillian performers declared Burlesque to be only for the washed up or vulgar, though many preformed in them under assumed names when Vaudeville bookings were scarce. You see, Vaudville performers had to find jobs as individuals where as Burlesque toured as a group in specific circuits, making Burlesque much more stable as far as employment goes. Dispite society's negative views, Burlesque spawned some superstars such as Millie DeLeon, Jackie Gleason, Fanny Brice, Leon Errol, Bert Lahr, W.C. Fields, Bobby Clark, Red Skelton, Phil Silvers, Joey Faye and Bob Hope, and former vaudevillian Rose Lousie Hovick – better known as the comically intellectual Gypsy Rose Lee. 
Begging in the 1880's Burlesque began to fallow a particular three act pattern in its routine. Act one consisted of the entire ensemble singing and doing stand up gags to music. Act two was the meat of the short skits and variety acts. Act three was a one full mini one act Burlesque show, typically a racy spoof of some other media.

Dita Von Teese emulating the Burlesque
tradition of the "Pin Up"

So what is Burlesque like today? Well with the advent of pornographic media types becoming mainstream in the 1960's, Burlesque in its true form went the way of the Dodo. What was left was the "strip tease" which became less about entertainment and more about exposing the female form, hence we have what we know as strip clubs today. However there is a shinning light, in the past 20 or so years there has been a revival of the true form of burlesque. Performers such as Dita Von Teese became enchanted with the entertainment value of Burlesque, and shook of their stripper roots and formed Neo Burlesque.

Neo Burlesque stays true to its ansester by providing an entertaining "show" instead of just sex. This new form is becoming ever more popular, especially with women; Many feel that this art is very empowering to women. Fortunately more and more clubs are opening or are featuring in the Neo Burlesque style. There has been so much of a social explosion in this form many movies are being produced giving praise to Burlesque, the most recent being, "Burlesque." No longer is Burlesque though of as the negligent parent of modern pole dancing, but is renewed in the discovery of variety act entertainment value.

"Burlesque Performers in Opera Gloves, Gallery 7." The General Index of For the Love of Opera Gloves. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.operagloves.com/Classic/BurlesqueStars/burlesque-07.html>.

"History of Burlesque - Part I." Musicals101.com - The Cyber Encyclopedia of Musicals. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.musicals101.com/burlesque.htm>.

"Neo-Burlesque." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Burlesque>.

The World of Theater. New York: Scholastic, 1995. Print.

"YouTube - Lannie's - Off The Clock - Burlesque Clock Tower Clocktower." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a1AU2Z7yDQ&feature=related>.

"YouTube - Official BURLESQUE Trailer - In Theaters 11/24." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2r_8l1c2nQ>.