Today - though she is, alas, no longer with us - is the 101st birthday of Gypsy Rose Lee, actress, entertainer, authoress, playwright, extremely popular lady, and ecdysiast extraordinaire. 'Ecdysiast', I should explain, is a fancy word coined by H.L. Mencken for a striptease artist with class. Gypsy's routines were famous for their relaxed, casual style and wit, both visual and verbal. She slowed down the pace (concentrating on the 'tease' rather than the 'strip'), performed with real artistry, and enjoyed a cheerful, joshing rapport with her audience. Or so I have read - and so I can infer from this footage of Gypsy in action. It's an abbreviated routine, and drastically cleaned up - don't get too excited, gentlemen - but her quality as an entertainer shines through. What charm, what finesse, what espieglerie - what a dame!
Monday, 9 January 2012
Ecdysiast Extraordinaire
Today - though she is, alas, no longer with us - is the 101st birthday of Gypsy Rose Lee, actress, entertainer, authoress, playwright, extremely popular lady, and ecdysiast extraordinaire. 'Ecdysiast', I should explain, is a fancy word coined by H.L. Mencken for a striptease artist with class. Gypsy's routines were famous for their relaxed, casual style and wit, both visual and verbal. She slowed down the pace (concentrating on the 'tease' rather than the 'strip'), performed with real artistry, and enjoyed a cheerful, joshing rapport with her audience. Or so I have read - and so I can infer from this footage of Gypsy in action. It's an abbreviated routine, and drastically cleaned up - don't get too excited, gentlemen - but her quality as an entertainer shines through. What charm, what finesse, what espieglerie - what a dame!
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What a funny, relaxed and charming entertainer - wonderful timing and facial expression. All innocence really! Those were the days...
ReplyDeleteAnd I loved that word espieglerie, Nige. Must find an opportuntiy to use it this week before it slips out of my mind again.
ReplyDeleteI heard a feature on Gypsy Rose and her life on a podcast a few months ago and fell a little in love with her. One hell of a woman!
ReplyDeleteFunny you should say that Kate because I felt a bit like that about her seeing that clip!Certainly think Nige was being very narrow in his thinking when he warned the gentlemen not to get too excited. What about me!
ReplyDeleteWell said Tricia!
ReplyDelete