Post #539190 by Baron von Tiki on Sat, Jun 26, 2010 7:22 PM

On 2010-06-24 08:26, Zeta wrote:

On 2010-06-23 23:30, Baron von Tiki wrote:

On 2010-01-19 10:38, Zeta wrote:
The most famous exotic dancer in America.

Famous ? Yes. Most famous ? That'd probably go to Lili St. Cyr or Gypsy Rose Lee. Even so, Tongolele's nothing to dismiss.

Those two dancers you mention Mr. Baron where burlesque acts (according to wikipedia). Besides, Togolele was and still is famous in all America. North America, Central America and South America too. That name, "The most famous" is how she used to be called, not by me, but by everyone... And how she sold her act. Did those two dancers you mention where ever called "The most famous exotic dancer in America"? I don't think so. But thanks for the feedback anyway.

I know "burlesque" means something different in Europe but, in America, "burlesque" and "exotic dancer" mean pretty much the same thing: a strip tease act. So, Tongolele was pretty much considered one of the same ilk as Lili St. Cyr, Gypsy Rose Lee, Tempest Storm, and even Bettie Page.

As for the phrase "The most famous exotic dancer in America:" That's likely an old carny trick used on posters, flyers, and tickets to promote her performances. Everyone in America used tricks like this to gather a paying crowd. It doesn't necessarily mean it was true. It could have been but fame is so hard to calculate, an act could use the phrase without having to prove it.

Perhaps Tongolele has greater cache in other countries; I don't know. But I would still assert that she was not the most famous in America. Let's put it this way: I'm 40 years old and I heard the names "Gypsy Rose Lee" and "Lili St. Cyr" while I was still a teenager and the name "Bettie Page" in my early 20s. And this was decades after all of them had retired and burlesque itself was dead. I'd never heard of Tongolele until I'd joined this forum.

But none of this really matters. Everybody has their favorites and level-of-fame really doesn't make a difference to the fans.