Behind The Burly Q

By the director of the hit documentary Behind the Burly Q comes the first ever oral history of American Burlesque--as told by the performers who lived it, often speaking out here for the first time. By telling the intimate and surprising stories from its golden age through the women (and men!) who lived it, Behind the Burly Q reveals the true story of burlesque, even as it experiences a new renaissance. Burlesque was one of America's most popular forms of live entertainment in the first half of the 20th century. Gaudy, bawdy, and spectacular, the shows entertained thousands of paying customers every night of the week. And yet the legacy of burlesque is often vilified and misunderstood, left out of the history books. By telling the intimate and surprising stories from its golden age through the women (and men!) who lived it, Behind the Burly Q reveals the true story of burlesque, even as it experiences a new renaissance. Lovingly interviewed by burlesque enthusiast Leslie Zemeckis who produced the hit documentary of the same name, are former musicians, strippers, novelty acts, club owners, authors, and historians--assembled here for the first time ever to tell you just what really happened in a burlesque show. From Jack Ruby and Robert Kennedy to Abbott and Costello--burlesque touched every corner of American life. The sexy shows often poked fun at the upper classes, at sex, and at what people were willing to do in the pursuit of sex. Sadly, many of the performers have since passed away, making this their last, and often only interview. Behind the Burly Q is the definitive history of burlesque during its heyday and an invaluable oral history of an American art form. Funny, shocking, unbelievable, and heartbreaking, their stories will touch your hearts. We invite you to peek behind the curtain at the burly show. Includes dozens of never-before seen photographs: rare backstage photos and candid shots from the performers' personal collections. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Lili St. Cyr was, in the words of legendary reporter Mike Wallace, the "highest paid stripteaser in America." Wallace was so fascinated by Lili that out of all the presidents and celebrities he interviewed over a long career, towards the end of his life, she was the one he remained fixated on. Her beauty had that kind of effect. Lili St. Cyr, the one time queen of burlesque, led an incredible life –six marriages, romances with Orson Wells, Yul Brenner, Vic Damone, a number of suicide attempts, all alongside great fame and money. Yet despite her fierce will she lost it all; becoming a recluse in her final decades, she eked out a living selling old photos of herself living with magazines taped over her windows. Goddess of Love Incarnate will be the definitive biography of this legendary figure, done with the cooperation of Lili's only surviving relative. But the book does more than fascinate readers with stories of a byone era. St. Cyr was ahead of her time in facing the perils and prejudices of working women, and the book offers a portrait of a strong artistic figure who went against the traditional roles and mores expected of women at that time St. Cyr was the first stripper to work in the swanky nightclubs on Sunset Boulevard. She was the first stripper to work Las Vegas. She was at the top of her game for over thirty years. And though she would feel conflicted by it, as do many women who feel the push/pull of careers – especially controversial, button–pushing careers – Lili would dismiss what she did as having no importance. But she wouldn't give it up – not for millionaires and most certainly not for love. Based on years of research, Goddess of Love Incarnate contains information and memorabilia that was almost lost forever. As an award winning documentary filmmaker and expert writer, Zemeckis brings St. Cyr back to life the way no other writer can, restoring Lili to her rightful place in American history.

Discover two forgotten icons from the golden age of entertainment: the lost stories of Sally Rand and Faith Bacon—women who each claimed to be the inventor of the notorious fan dance in this "detailed, deeply researched, and compelling" feminist history (Chicago Tribune). Some women capture our attention like no others. Faith Bacon and Sally Rand were beautiful blondes from humble backgrounds who shot to fame behind a pair of oversize ostrich fans, but with very different outcomes. Sally Rand would go on to perform for the millions who attended the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, becoming America’s sweetheart. Faith Bacon—the Marilyn Monroe of her time who was once anointed the “world’s most beautiful woman”—would experience the dark side of fame and slip into drug use. It was the golden age of American entertainment, and Bacon and Rand fought their way through the competitive showgirl scene of New York with grit and perseverance. They played peek-a-boo with their lives, allowing their audiences to see only slivers of themselves. A hint of a breast? A forbidden love affair? They were both towering figures, goddesses, icons. Until the world started to change. Little is known about who they really were, until now. Feuding Fan Dancers tells the story of two remarkable women during a tumultuous time in entertainment history. Leslie Zemeckis has pieced together their story and—nearly one hundred years later—both women come alive again.

The only film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize, Roger Ebert collects his reviews from the last 30 months in Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2012. Forbes Magazine described Ebert as the "most powerful pundit in America." In January 2011, he and his wife, Chaz, launched Ebert Presents at the Movies, a weekly public television program in the tradition that he and Gene Siskel began 35 years earlier. Since 1986, each edition of Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook has presented full-length movie reviews, with interviews, essays, tributes, journal entries, and "Questions for the Movie Answer Man," and new entries in his popular Movie Glossary. Inside Roger Ebert's Movie Yearbook 2012, readers can expect to find every movie review Ebert has written from January 2009 to July 2011, including The Social Network, Waiting for Superman, Inception, The King's Speech, My Dog Tulip, The Human Centipede, and more. Also included in the Yearbook are: * In-depth interviews with newsmakers and celebrities, such as John Waters and Justin Timberlake. * Memorial tributes to those in the film industry who have passed away, such as Blake Edwards, Tony Curtis, and Arthur Penn. * Essays on the Oscars and reports from the Cannes and Toronto Film Festivals.

Roger Ebert’s “criticism shows a nearly unequaled grasp of film history and technique, and formidable intellectual range. . . .” —New York Times Pulitzer Prize–winning film critic Roger Ebert presents more than 600 full-length critical movie reviews, along with interviews, tributes, and journal entries inside Roger Ebert’s Movie Yearbook 2013. It includes every movie review Ebert has written from January 2010 to July 2012. Also included in the Yearbook: In-depth interviews with newsmakers and celebrities Tributes to those in the film industry who have passed away recently Essays on the Oscars, reports from the Toronto Film Festival, and entries into Ebert's Little Movie Glossary

"Detailed, deeply researched, and compelling." —Chicago Tribune Historian Leslie Zemeckis reveals the lost stories of Sally Rand and Faith Bacon—icons who each claimed to be the inventor of the notorious fan dance. Nearly one hundred years later, both women come alive again.

"The Burlesque Hall of Fame reunion has been an annual tradition since 1955, when the League of Exotic Dancers (LED), one of America's earliest unions for women in exotic entertainment, held its first meeting. Today, situated in downtown Las Vegas, often called "Old Vegas" or "50s Vegas," The Burlesque Hall of Fame reunion now takes the form of a social club and support group, where these late life dancers perform their half-century-year-old routines from the golden age of burlesque to a rally of counter culture neo-burlesque fans"--