Lili St. Cyr

Lili St. Cyr was an American burlesque dancer and striptease artist whose elaborate performances made her a prominent figure in mid-20th-century Hollywood nightlife.

The Bubble Dance: A striptease routine in which a performer dances with a large transparent bubble. St. Cyr made this elaborate routine one of her best-known performances.
Gypsy Rose Lee: An American burlesque performer known for witty, theatrical striptease. Lee's verbal sophistication offers a contrast to St. Cyr's emphasis on elaborate visual staging.
Striptease: A performance in which clothing is gradually removed for theatrical or erotic effect. St. Cyr's act made striptease a carefully choreographed stage form.
Censorship in the United States: The suppression or restriction of expression by governments and other authorities in the United States. Burlesque performers such as St. Cyr faced rules policing public displays of sexuality.
Minsky's Burlesque: A New York burlesque operation associated with theatrical striptease and the Minsky family. St. Cyr performed in the burlesque circuit that the Minsky name came to represent.
Sally Rand: An American dancer and actress known for fan dances and other costumed performances. Rand was another prominent performer whose signature props made striptease a visual spectacle.
Tease (performance): The use of delay, suggestion, and controlled revelation to build anticipation in a performance. Her measured pacing made anticipation central to the act.
United States v. Roth: A 1957 U.S. Supreme Court case that established a constitutional test for obscenity. The case captures the legal climate surrounding erotic entertainment during St. Cyr's career.
Moulin Rouge (Los Angeles nightclub): A Los Angeles nightclub that presented burlesque and variety entertainment. The club was among the venues where St. Cyr developed her stage career.
Harold Minsky: An American burlesque impresario who operated theaters and promoted striptease performers. Minsky helped shape the commercial stage circuit in which St. Cyr performed.

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Tempest StormRelated: A contemporary headliner whose theatrical style also helped define postwar American burlesque.