Burlesque Double Feature: Kiss Me, Baby (1957)/A Night in Hollywood (1953) (DVD)

"Burlesque is a form of entertainment that is distinctly American..." Kiss Me, Baby and A Night in Hollywood are priceless filmed records of the bygone days of the Hollywood burlesque show. Both feature singing, dancing, baggy pants comics...and incredibly beautiful women stripping down to pasties and a g-string.

KISS ME, BABY (1957): Six strippers -- including Taffy O'Neil ("The Candy Kid of Burlesque"), Debby Ray ("The Vivacious Redhead"), Midnight ("The Enchanting Hour Girl"), Gina ("The Lovely Latin Beauty") and Pat Flannery ("Miss Dublin of 1954") -- get down to their bare essentials in this 1957 burlesque classic. Kiss Me, Baby was filmed at the Follies Theatre. The last burlesque house in Los Angeles, it was demolished in 1974 to make way for a parking lot. Behind the camera are cinematographer W. Merle Connell (Test Tube Babies), editor Phil Tucker (Robot Monster) and make-up man Harry Thomas (Frankenstein's Daughter).

A NIGHT IN HOLLYWOOD (1953): A Night in Hollywood features two songs, four comedy skits, and six striptease acts. The star attraction is Tempest Storm, billed as both "The 4D Girl" and "The Girl With The Fabulous Front" due to her 40DD bra size. One of the best known performers during the Golden Age of Burlesque, the voluptous redhead appeared with Bettie Page in Irving Klaw's Teaserama (1955). Director William C. Thompson was Ed Wood's cinematographer, and shot his three most famous films: Glen or Glenda (1953), Bride of the Monster (1955), and Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959).

• mature