Tag: victory burlesque

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The Standard Theatre: Pasties & g-strings at the Victory Burlesque

Eric Veillette

Faced with declining attendance, films took a backseat at the Victory Theatre in September of 1961 when it became the Victory Burlesque, featuring striptease artists, Catskills comedians and musical acts. Despite competition from neighbouring burlesque houses like the Casino and the Lux Theatre, the Victory’s opening weekend still packed them in. Headliner Little Star, “the blazing gal from outer space” – whose stage-name and tagline sounded not unlike that week’s Lux headliner, the iconic Blaze Starr – played continuous shows from 1pm until closing. (A film, Portrait of a Mobster, was also shown. On Sunday, free hotdogs were served courtesy … Continue reading The Standard Theatre: Pasties & g-strings at the Victory Burlesque

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Tura Satana twirls at the Victory Burlesque, 1963

Eric Veillette

Tura Satana, star of Russ Meyer’s Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! died on February 4 of apparent heart failure. Before she became the tough-girl phenom of cult film, however, she was a big star on the Burlesque circuit, often swinging her tassels on Toronto stages. One such occasion was on April 19, 1963, when she peeled off at the Victory Burlesque located on the north-east corner of Spadina and Dundas. On April 18, the day the above ad was published, the Toronto Star reported the “statuesque Eurasian” was set to retire in two weeks. The Star added: “Tura Sharon Satana earns … Continue reading Tura Satana twirls at the Victory Burlesque, 1963

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Toronto’s Burlesque Legacy

Eric Veillette

Don Evans, of Meaford, On, wrote a great letter in response to a piece I wrote for the Toronto Star on the Victory Burlesque: “Re: Less sleaze, more tease, July 18 During the 1930s the south side of Queen St. between Bay and York St. had two burlesque houses: the Roxy and later, around 1936, the Casino theatre. The Roxy was converted into a regular Hollywood second run or older movie theatre before the Casino opened. I can recall seeing Burlesque stars such as Gypsy Rose Lee, Sally Rand, Rose La Rose with straight men like Rex Doyle and Robert Alda [father … Continue reading Toronto’s Burlesque Legacy