May 22, 2012

Have Feather Boa Will Travel

A look back at the colourful history of burlesque in Toronto

RECENTLY, ONE OF the area’s long-standing strip clubs, Yonge and Eglinton’s Mystique (formerly Cheaters) shut its doors — to the delight of neighbourhood residents. While adult entertainment dens of this nature are frowned upon, especially in suburban areas with young families, dancing girls have been a part of the city for a century albeit of the safer and far more entertaining burlesque variety. Indeed, while strip clubs continue to close or come under attack, authentic burlesque is returning to mainstream popularity.

In the early 20th century, burlesque developed in the United States side-by-side with other vaudeville acts and migrated north to Toronto and the rest of Canada. It originated in 19th century England. This variety was more humorous, theatrical and suggestive than outright sexy. Burlesque stars during its heyday are still household names: Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee and Bettie Page, for example.

Around 1910, of Toronto’s seven live theatres, two were used exclusively for burlesque performances: the Gayety on Richmond Street and the Star, a notorious burlesque house that would also book a wrestler once a week to “take on all comers.” The theatres were under continuous attack from the morality squad of the day.

The growth in burlesque continued nonetheless, appealing to some working men who weren’t allowed into other live theatres. Even venerable institutions such as Massey Hall, which had originally banned burlesque performers, got into the act in one way or another. Theatres such as the Lux and Shea’s Vaudeville lead the burlesque charge into the future. Even Forest Hill’s Eglinton Theatre, in 1935, though a movie house, showed King of Burlesque on its opening night.

Today, one could stroll down to Yorkville and find burlesque in the store window of Holt Renfrew, attend a Burlesque Festival, or a performance by a group such as Skin Tight Outta Sight. Burlesque is being reborn as the new exotic, even in Toronto the Good.

This article appears in the August 2009 issue of Post City Magazines

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