The Velvet Hammer Burlesque - Modern Pinup Girls in All Shapes and Sizes
The Velvet Hammer Burlesque troupe was founded in Los Angeles by curvy visionary Michelle Carr, in 1995, and is one of the most famous modern burlesque shows in the world.
It has featured appearances by guest pinup models and screen supervixens Kitten Natividad and Tura Satana, of Russ Meyer fame, and Mamie Van Doren.
This modern burlesque troupe has been greatly shaped by vintage burlesque and the vintage erotic, and its burlesque dancers have been an assortment of modern pinups who run the gamut of all shapes and sizes.
It has been observed that their burlesque striptease, which "puts the tease back in striptease", has more in common with vaudeville than the sleazy table dancing of today.
And their cast of burlesque comics, and the burlesque music that provides the backdrop for their bump and grind, is varied and historically accurate.
The burlesque girls which have made up the troupe in the past have included tattooed girls, goth girls, punk rock girls, and the aesthetic vibrancy that goes along with that whole package.
I was fortunate enough to have appeared briefly on stage in a colorful vignette during the 2001 Velvet Hammer show at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, and it is one of my fondest memories.
In a nod to the Irving Klaw/Bettie Page films of the 1950's, yours truly was wearing vintage lingerie and getting a cute "John Willie" style spanking while draped over the lap of Lucha VaVoom founder Liz Fairbairn.
Founder Michelle Carr published an amazing coffee table book in 2008 of this great historic burlesque troupe.
These modern burlesque girls, these assorted beauties, are today's modern pinup models, in this post feminist tribute to vintage burlesque.
It has featured appearances by guest pinup models and screen supervixens Kitten Natividad and Tura Satana, of Russ Meyer fame, and Mamie Van Doren.
This modern burlesque troupe has been greatly shaped by vintage burlesque and the vintage erotic, and its burlesque dancers have been an assortment of modern pinups who run the gamut of all shapes and sizes.
It has been observed that their burlesque striptease, which "puts the tease back in striptease", has more in common with vaudeville than the sleazy table dancing of today.
And their cast of burlesque comics, and the burlesque music that provides the backdrop for their bump and grind, is varied and historically accurate.
The burlesque girls which have made up the troupe in the past have included tattooed girls, goth girls, punk rock girls, and the aesthetic vibrancy that goes along with that whole package.
I was fortunate enough to have appeared briefly on stage in a colorful vignette during the 2001 Velvet Hammer show at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, and it is one of my fondest memories.
In a nod to the Irving Klaw/Bettie Page films of the 1950's, yours truly was wearing vintage lingerie and getting a cute "John Willie" style spanking while draped over the lap of Lucha VaVoom founder Liz Fairbairn.
Founder Michelle Carr published an amazing coffee table book in 2008 of this great historic burlesque troupe.
These modern burlesque girls, these assorted beauties, are today's modern pinup models, in this post feminist tribute to vintage burlesque.
