A journey back to the glory years of traveling adult entertainment, this book chronicles the carnivals, the scams, and, of course, the women (and men) who performed in girl shows. Featuring 200 photos to help illustrate this cultural phenomenon, the book details girl shows' European origins, their American developments, their heyday after World War II, and their ultimate demise in the face of men's magazines, strip clubs, and X-rated videos.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Author
A.W. Stencell (born of normal parents) owned and operated his own circus for 19 years. Always an avid collector, he has found thousands of photos and illustrations of circuses, and interviewed hundreds of ex-carnival people.
About the Author
A. W. Stencell owned and operated his own circus for 19 years.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fan Dances and Fantasy,
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This review is from: Girl Show: Into the Canvas World of Bump and Grind (Paperback)
For anyone who is old enough to have seen a "Girl Show" on the midway of a traveling carnival, this book is a great piece of nostalgia. For those who have never seen or heard of these titilating venues, this book is a look at a forgotton age. The profuse illustrations and photographs are priceless glimpses of our societies changing moral compass, and the interviews and transcripts of early ballyhoos are a hoot.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Favorite! Totally Titillating!,
By Jo Weldon "Striptease Expertise" (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Girl Show: Into the Canvas World of Bump and Grind (Paperback)
I teach burlesque dance and lecture on burlesque and striptease, and this is one of the books I always recommend--I consider it absolutely essential for students of the genre. It's a fabulous history of girl shows, and it's fun and informative for anyone with any kind of interest in the subject. It goes beyond stagnant discussions of the place of striptease in society, and gives the reader an opportunity to understand that there is too much variety in the field to ever settle for one definition of what constitutes real burlesque. The text is a pleasure to read, with plenty of detail that is bound to be news to both scholars of the leisure arts and folks seeking a little breezy entertainment. It includes descriptions of other people involved in the Girl Shows, including the producers, the patrons, the variety artists, and more. And the pictures are amazing--what a collection Stencell has!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cotton Candy and Peanuts anyone?,
By C.G. Gambit (Woodland Hills, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Girl Show: Into the Canvas World of Bump and Grind (Paperback)
D'you ever wonder where all the stars of Burlesque went during the hot summer months before air conditioned theaters? Well, they went on the road in carnival shows, and this is the story of that world. This is a lovely, delightful, very informative book!I was enthralled by the stories of these plucky men and women who travelled across the country bumpin and grindin. This is a great book to read after watching "The Greatest Show On Earth". I especially enjoyed the sections on Burlesque performers, and the chapter on "Hooch" dancers was interesting too (kinda gives you some insight on why Vera Ellen was so horrified to be discovered as a hooch dancer by Gene Kelly in "On the Town"!) This book is an absolute must buy/must read!!!
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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carnival girl shows, candy pitch, cooch shows, carnival revues, posing show, feature stripper, bally girl, bally platform, girl revue, carnival business, prize candy, revue show, feature dancer, carnival owner, wine bath, ticket box, burlesque theaters, carnival midways Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Royal American, Sally Rand, Jack Norman, Leon Miller, World of Mirth, Club Lido, Joe Boston, Coney Island, Strates Shows, Val Valentine, Georgia Sothern, Gene Vaughan, Raynell Golden, John Moss, Joy Fleenor, Hennies Bros, Cole Bros, Gypsy Rose Lee, Gayle Madden, Pagan Jones, New York, Amusements of America, Bambi Lane, Cavalcade of Amusements, Roland Porter Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
carnival girl shows, candy pitch, cooch shows, carnival revues, posing show, feature stripper, bally girl, bally platform, girl revue, carnival business, prize candy, revue show, feature dancer, carnival owner, wine bath, ticket box, burlesque theaters, carnival midways Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Royal American, Sally Rand, Jack Norman, Leon Miller, World of Mirth, Club Lido, Joe Boston, Coney Island, Strates Shows, Val Valentine, Georgia Sothern, Gene Vaughan, Raynell Golden, John Moss, Joy Fleenor, Hennies Bros, Cole Bros, Gypsy Rose Lee, Gayle Madden, Pagan Jones, New York, Amusements of America, Bambi Lane, Cavalcade of Amusements, Roland Porter Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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