Whizzer
Gig'em
One of the glories of getting older are memories that make us smile.
During my high school years, I recall the guys who went to the National FFA convention in Kansas City and upon their return, regaled us all with tales of the burlesque show.
This became a big deal for youngsters growing up in a rural dairy farming community and consummated with a trip to Minsky's when they turned eighteen.
On my eighteenth birthday, a group of my friends showed up and took me to Minsky's Burlesque Theatre in Newark. At the time, burlesque was considered quite risque and obscene. Compared to the standards of today, burlesque was no more obscene or risque than what some youngsters are wearing (or not wearing) to the mall.
An occasional "hell" might be thrown into the dialogue, but obscene, dirty (whatever that means) or profanity was not a part of burlesque.
The humor was subtle, mostly double entendres, and really quite funny. As for the strippers, well, they were interesting. The judgement of quality performance by a stripper and what might be considered "good" is left to the viewer.
The ladies never removed all wearing apparel, ending the act of pseudo-seduction wearing a pair of pasties and a g-string.
The finest and funniest performances were given by the comedians with their sight gags and monologue.
Sadly, burlesque became a thing of the past. Minsky's Newark closed in the early sixties and a theatre in Allentown, PA continued shows on weekends but that too, eventually closed in the late sixties.
A fun night of entertainment for several married couples was to travel to Allentown, have dinner and take in the burley-que.
I suppose most would think the entertainment slow and by the standard of today, prefer stand-up comedy filled with the seven words you can't say on television. Although I have no objections to those who prefer that type of comedy choose to avoid it.
There is no replacing humor from the days of burlesque, filled with double entendres. It is just too funny.
Anyway, the reason I thought about this topic was the article by Kathleen Hennessey, a reporter for AP, who wrote the story on the website below and it brought a smile and reminder of the days of burlesque.
/www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/702091.html
During my high school years, I recall the guys who went to the National FFA convention in Kansas City and upon their return, regaled us all with tales of the burlesque show.
This became a big deal for youngsters growing up in a rural dairy farming community and consummated with a trip to Minsky's when they turned eighteen.
On my eighteenth birthday, a group of my friends showed up and took me to Minsky's Burlesque Theatre in Newark. At the time, burlesque was considered quite risque and obscene. Compared to the standards of today, burlesque was no more obscene or risque than what some youngsters are wearing (or not wearing) to the mall.
An occasional "hell" might be thrown into the dialogue, but obscene, dirty (whatever that means) or profanity was not a part of burlesque.
The humor was subtle, mostly double entendres, and really quite funny. As for the strippers, well, they were interesting. The judgement of quality performance by a stripper and what might be considered "good" is left to the viewer.
The ladies never removed all wearing apparel, ending the act of pseudo-seduction wearing a pair of pasties and a g-string.
The finest and funniest performances were given by the comedians with their sight gags and monologue.
Sadly, burlesque became a thing of the past. Minsky's Newark closed in the early sixties and a theatre in Allentown, PA continued shows on weekends but that too, eventually closed in the late sixties.
A fun night of entertainment for several married couples was to travel to Allentown, have dinner and take in the burley-que.
I suppose most would think the entertainment slow and by the standard of today, prefer stand-up comedy filled with the seven words you can't say on television. Although I have no objections to those who prefer that type of comedy choose to avoid it.
There is no replacing humor from the days of burlesque, filled with double entendres. It is just too funny.
Anyway, the reason I thought about this topic was the article by Kathleen Hennessey, a reporter for AP, who wrote the story on the website below and it brought a smile and reminder of the days of burlesque.
/www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/702091.html
