LIZ GOLDWYN
The spectacularly illustrated book complementing Goldwyn's HBO documentary of the same name focuses on the early--twentieth-century heyday of burlesque in America, especially its stars. The granddaughter of Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn rationalizes that although "raised in the wake of women's lib, schooled to be independent and to downplay sexuality[,] . . . many women [feel] a strong attraction to the burlesque queen persona of self-aware sexuality," and photos of her in vintage stripper costumes bespeak her own attraction. But she sees "burlesque queens as artists and their costumes as examples of great craftsmanship." Book and documentary call attention to the era and the performers "so that their role in entertainment history can be reexamined and 'legitimized.'" Including details on such vital matters as costume construction for the sake of quick, easy divestment; a wealth of pertinent illustrations; great stories of such stars as Betty Rowland, Zorita, and June St. Clair; and snippets on the likes of Gypsy Rose Lee and Mai Ling, this package gives said reexamination a jump start
