Renee Andre claims to be one of the first strippers to have a breast enlargement. It almost killed her. I read this in a book review (Chatelaine magazine) for Pretty Things, about burlesque queens and vintage glamour shots, by Liz Goldwyn.
I couldn’t find anything about Renee Andre, just mentions of her in regards to other burlesque stars and movies. I thought that’s kind of sad.
So, invent her life. Who was she from her humble beginnings, through her torrid youth and on into her creaky old age? Write up a biography for a vintage burlesque star.
The Burlesque Women’s Institute
The Burlesque Guide
Glossary of New Burlesque (from the BBC News article)
- Neo-Burlesque: A wide range of performance styles, from classic striptease to modern dance, from satirical comedy to theatrical mini-dramas.
- American Burlesque: Originated in 19th Century music hall entertainment. In the early 20th Century it re-emerged as a populist blend of comedy, theatre and striptease.
- Male Burlesque: Acts who have become popular in recent years include Bearlesque and the Dream Bears.
- Guerrilla Burlesque: When a burlesque act happens spontaneously at a show, or when burlesque performers descend upon a show uninvited.