God Bless Burlesque

We trot out our Americana archetypes every Fourth of July — the apple pie and the ice cream; the fireworks; the pickup trucks and “God Bless America.” We see them paraded in Chevy ads and mattress sales and actual parades. And those are all good things. But they’re a pretty...

By Jennifer Davis-Lamm

July 5, 2012

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We trot out our Americana archetypes every Fourth of July — the apple pie and the ice cream; the fireworks; the pickup trucks and “God Bless America.” We see them paraded in Chevy ads and mattress sales and actual parades. And those are all good things. But they’re a pretty tame bunch of images, missing some of the more provocative pieces of our American heritage — like the burlesque tradition. The tricks of the burlesque trade are deeply imbued in our national culture, and those tassels are every bit as American as all those other beloved icons. Sure, they’re not backyard-barbecue material, but there’s no denying that the ladies in pin curls and corsets are the girls next door and that the Viva Dallas Burlesque Salute the Troops event is as good a way as any to see fireworks (sis boom ba!). Patti La Plae Safe hosts an evening of curves, cleavage and classy broads featuring Austin’s The Jigglewatts and Dallas’ own burlesque troupe, The Diamond Bettys. The landmark Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Road, houses the twirling tassels and slinky stripteases beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $34 and may be purchased at lakewoodtheater.com.
Fri., July 6, 9 p.m., 2012

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