Hard to believe there are many people who don't know that the great musical 'Gypsy' is based on a real person and this is her. She was delightful if a little rough around the edges.
Part of the reason for the surprise that a "stripper" would be so loved is that Gypsy Rose Lee might be better described as a singer and dancer who took her clothes off (usually) down to a decent but minimal level before going off stage (as one site says, "rarely included totaly nudity"; apparently being topless is included in that category). In GRL's era, "stripping" would have been teasing, flirting, smiling, batting eyelashes. Today it would be provoking sexually by body movements and nudity.
A good illustration of "stripping," Gypsy Rose Lee style, is from 0.36 to 0.44, when she removes her gloves: the playful way she looks at Daly, then twirls the gloves around, then blows at them as she daintily drops them. Flirting and creating a warm feeling (a strip TEASER, as she says) as opposed to "being nasty". Nonetheless, John Daly seems as uncomfortable as a Calvinist preacher next to her. PS The first time I saw this video, I absolutely adored her. :-)
Hm...I don't think too many "strippers" would've been accepted during the late 50's. I can't say for sure because I was born in the 80's.
Still, if you watch the tv musical movie Gypsy with Bette Midler done in '93 (or any other film productions) it appears that she wasn't a "stripper" but more of a "tease," and sure she did strip a bit but was sharp and used her wit to go about it...and people loved her for it!
I'd still say that the broadway hit of the musical Gypsy really did her good.
Look up Sally Rand, she was the first famous stripper (not counting Lady Godiva of course), she performed for Presidents and Royalty and starred in Sally Rand's Nude Ranch at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939. She was as famous as Gypsy Rose Lee if not more so. By the way the original GYPSY (1962) starring Natalie Wood is the remembered classic (and the one that brought Gypsy fame), you should really see that one.
Sally Rand did indeed appear nude on stage. At first merely behind her fans (she was known as Sally Rand the Fan Dancer) or balloons but then at the end of the act she would gently pull the fans or balloon away from her body. The way she got away with it is she appeared with a strong backlight so her body appeared as a silhouette either in black or very obscured depending on the stage, on smaller stages not so obscured. She was arrested several times for indecency.
@Ramubay that's the one I saw, the 1962 movie musical with natalie wood. I didn't know bette midler remade ii. on a similar note, I didn't know the 1997 Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella movie with Brandy was as remake of the 1965 movie of the same name. I've yet to see the original one but the originals are usually better than the remakes. And I agree with he other comments I saw, about stripping and burlesque being more of a tease back then whereas these days it's nudity all around
@chilvari there was also a rogers and hammerstein cinderella made in 1957 which starred Julie Andrews. There's been Three in all. Personally I favor the third because it had the best script out of all three.
@ romeman01 Flirting and creating a warm feeling (a strip TEASER, as she says) as opposed to "being nasty". -- Well put!!!
JasmineRaven 11 months ago
Wow, so this is the real Gypsy Rose Lee. I saw the movie and it was amazing! She was one sultry burlesque queen!
chilvari 11 months ago 2
I'm surprised she didn't swallow those marbles
PatrickLHawkins 1 year ago
@PatrickLHawkins I know right!
MMfan1997 9 months ago
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As if Her voice would be THAT familiar...'
When that was shot she was on TV and radio quite a bit and she Did have a distinctive voice
normspot 1 year ago
As if Her voice would be THAT familiar...another gimmick,..nice
MPL029 1 year ago 3
@MPL029
Hey! You Gotta Have A Gimmick ;)
westsidestory97 1 year ago
@westsidestory97 lol!
OnCloudNine62 1 year ago
oh I had wished to be
a marble in the mouth
of gypsy rose lee
burrdturgler 1 year ago
Yeah, Gig sure would know Gypsy! Good one!
kyokogodai 2 years ago
Hard to believe there are many people who don't know that the great musical 'Gypsy' is based on a real person and this is her. She was delightful if a little rough around the edges.
chucknyc123 2 years ago
Part of the reason for the surprise that a "stripper" would be so loved is that Gypsy Rose Lee might be better described as a singer and dancer who took her clothes off (usually) down to a decent but minimal level before going off stage (as one site says, "rarely included totaly nudity"; apparently being topless is included in that category). In GRL's era, "stripping" would have been teasing, flirting, smiling, batting eyelashes. Today it would be provoking sexually by body movements and nudity.
romeman01 2 years ago
A good illustration of "stripping," Gypsy Rose Lee style, is from 0.36 to 0.44, when she removes her gloves: the playful way she looks at Daly, then twirls the gloves around, then blows at them as she daintily drops them. Flirting and creating a warm feeling (a strip TEASER, as she says) as opposed to "being nasty". Nonetheless, John Daly seems as uncomfortable as a Calvinist preacher next to her. PS The first time I saw this video, I absolutely adored her. :-)
romeman01 2 years ago 6
"Are you a Female?" "yes, there's never been any doubt before" lol This was such fun! Thanks for sharing this.
ccthebrat 2 years ago
I looked her up on-line and it says she was a stripper. I wouldn't expect that many people to be fans of a stripper during this time period.
Ramubay 2 years ago
Hm...I don't think too many "strippers" would've been accepted during the late 50's. I can't say for sure because I was born in the 80's.
Still, if you watch the tv musical movie Gypsy with Bette Midler done in '93 (or any other film productions) it appears that she wasn't a "stripper" but more of a "tease," and sure she did strip a bit but was sharp and used her wit to go about it...and people loved her for it!
I'd still say that the broadway hit of the musical Gypsy really did her good.
OldTimerGoGetter 2 years ago
Look up Sally Rand, she was the first famous stripper (not counting Lady Godiva of course), she performed for Presidents and Royalty and starred in Sally Rand's Nude Ranch at the Golden Gate International Exposition in 1939. She was as famous as Gypsy Rose Lee if not more so. By the way the original GYPSY (1962) starring Natalie Wood is the remembered classic (and the one that brought Gypsy fame), you should really see that one.
Ramubay 2 years ago
Wow...thank you! Never heard of Sally Rand.
Yeah, thought about mentioning the 1962 film production...but I've never had a chance to watch that one just yet.
...I found Sally Rand on YouTube, I think it's the "real thing." And it was pretty...(not nude, though...she was using a gigantic...balloon of sorts).
Now I'm confused, though...were the more "dainty" types of strippers accepted because...argh! I think I ought to do more research on this one.
Thank you again for the bit about SR!
OldTimerGoGetter 2 years ago
Sally Rand did indeed appear nude on stage. At first merely behind her fans (she was known as Sally Rand the Fan Dancer) or balloons but then at the end of the act she would gently pull the fans or balloon away from her body. The way she got away with it is she appeared with a strong backlight so her body appeared as a silhouette either in black or very obscured depending on the stage, on smaller stages not so obscured. She was arrested several times for indecency.
Ramubay 2 years ago
@Ramubay that's the one I saw, the 1962 movie musical with natalie wood. I didn't know bette midler remade ii. on a similar note, I didn't know the 1997 Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella movie with Brandy was as remake of the 1965 movie of the same name. I've yet to see the original one but the originals are usually better than the remakes. And I agree with he other comments I saw, about stripping and burlesque being more of a tease back then whereas these days it's nudity all around
chilvari 11 months ago
@chilvari there was also a rogers and hammerstein cinderella made in 1957 which starred Julie Andrews. There's been Three in all. Personally I favor the third because it had the best script out of all three.
sweeney60 9 months ago
'You obviously don't ride the trolleys much' haha I loved that.
BethBetteJulie 3 years ago