11 mothers with children: Dressler, 134. mothers with children: Dressler, 134.
12 75 percent of performers: Zeidman, 143. 75 percent of performers: Zeidman, 143.
13 Each applicant endured: Dressler, 137. Each applicant endured: Dressler, 137.
14 as easy as memorizing: John Richmond, "Gypsy Rose Lee: Striptease Intellectual," as easy as memorizing: John Richmond, "Gypsy Rose Lee: Striptease Intellectual," American Mercury American Mercury, January 1941.
15 She learned that a "skull": Lee, She learned that a "skull": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 196.
16 G-strings might have been named: Briggeman, 34. G-strings might have been named: Briggeman, 34.
17 "catching the b.u.mps": Ibid. "catching the b.u.mps": Ibid.
18 "If you were caught": Goldwyn, "If you were caught": Goldwyn, Pretty Things Pretty Things, 161.
19 "Oh, I like that": Ibid. "Oh, I like that": Ibid.
20 "G-String buyer": Goldwyn, "G-String buyer": Goldwyn, Pretty Things Pretty Things (DVD). (DVD).
21 prost.i.tution thrived: Ibid., 129. prost.i.tution thrived: Ibid., 129.
22 multiple scars from surgeries: Britton, 5. multiple scars from surgeries: Britton, 5.
23 If a girl couldn"t afford: Brandt, 131. If a girl couldn"t afford: Brandt, 131.
24 "early-bird acts": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002. "early-bird acts": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002.
25 "Am I keeping the right rhythm": Goldwyn, 243. "Am I keeping the right rhythm": Goldwyn, 243.
26 "shocking" displays: Gypsy Rose Lee sc.r.a.pbooks, 1930, Reel 1, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. "shocking" displays: Gypsy Rose Lee sc.r.a.pbooks, 1930, Reel 1, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
27 immoral "parties": Ibid. immoral "parties": Ibid.
28 "as big as a horse": Lee, "as big as a horse": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 202.
29 "Close the flap": Ibid., 219. "Close the flap": Ibid., 219.
30 she had murdered a cow: Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 2009. Specifically, Preminger said, "This is more my guess" as to what really happened. she had murdered a cow: Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 2009. Specifically, Preminger said, "This is more my guess" as to what really happened.
31 The cops threw Gladys in jail: Lee, The cops threw Gladys in jail: Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 225. A May 12, 1930, article in Zit"s Weekly Zit"s Weekly claimed that Gladys was sick. claimed that Gladys was sick.
32 "When Miss Clark is showing": Shteir, "When Miss Clark is showing": Shteir, Striptease Striptease, 113.
33 "There isn"t any show": Lee, "There isn"t any show": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 225.
34 "I was a star": Ibid., 226. "I was a star": Ibid., 226.
35 "I have," Gypsy claimed: "Gypsy Rose Lee: Dowager Stripper," "I have," Gypsy claimed: "Gypsy Rose Lee: Dowager Stripper," Look Look, February 22, 1966.
36 a pseudonym to trick Grandpa: Lee, a pseudonym to trick Grandpa: Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 227.
37 when she wore a bandanna: Gypsy Rose Lee sc.r.a.pbooks, Reel 2, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. when she wore a bandanna: Gypsy Rose Lee sc.r.a.pbooks, Reel 2, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
38 "lush, exotic beauty": John Richmond, "Gypsy Rose Lee, Striptease Intellectual." "lush, exotic beauty": John Richmond, "Gypsy Rose Lee, Striptease Intellectual."
39 her ability to read tea leaves: Richard E. Lauterbach, "Gypsy Rose Lee: She Combines a Public Body with a Private Mind," her ability to read tea leaves: Richard E. Lauterbach, "Gypsy Rose Lee: She Combines a Public Body with a Private Mind," Life Life, December 14, 1942.
40 "Now stand up and show them": Lee, "Now stand up and show them": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 230.
41 "They would always be so embarra.s.sed": Frankel, 19. "They would always be so embarra.s.sed": Frankel, 19.
42 "Well," she said: "Well," she said: Daily News Daily News (New York), September 15, 1936. (New York), September 15, 1936.
43 "She was never an ingenue": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002. "She was never an ingenue": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002.
44 "There is a year my mother": Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 2009. "There is a year my mother": Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 2009.
45 "Well, don"t stay": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002. "Well, don"t stay": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002.
46 "Would you like a cup": Ibid. "Would you like a cup": Ibid.
47 My G.o.d, she thought: Ibid. My G.o.d, she thought: Ibid.
48 "I couldn"t stand it": Ibid. "I couldn"t stand it": Ibid.
49 Mother dropped a coat: Havoc, Mother dropped a coat: Havoc, More Havoc More Havoc, 157.
50 a vegetable "essence": Lauterbach, "Gypsy Rose Lee: She Combines." a vegetable "essence": Lauterbach, "Gypsy Rose Lee: She Combines."
51 "You should have told me": Lee, "You should have told me": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 240.
52 "gave him a lesson": Gypsy Rose Lee sc.r.a.pbooks, 1930, Reel 1, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. "gave him a lesson": Gypsy Rose Lee sc.r.a.pbooks, 1930, Reel 1, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
53 "You"d ought to read": Ibid. "You"d ought to read": Ibid.
54 helped themselves to June"s history: Author"s interview with Tana Sibilio, January 2010. helped themselves to June"s history: Author"s interview with Tana Sibilio, January 2010.
55 "No filth": "No filth": Zit"s Weekly Zit"s Weekly, March 23, 1931.
56 "brunette of unusual face and form": Ibid. "brunette of unusual face and form": Ibid.
57 "daytime person living in": "Gypsy Rose Lee: Dowager Stripper," "daytime person living in": "Gypsy Rose Lee: Dowager Stripper," Look Look, February 22, 1966.
58 "Darling! Sweetheart!": Davis, "The Dark Young Pet of Burlesque." "Darling! Sweetheart!": Davis, "The Dark Young Pet of Burlesque."
CHAPTER 25: NEW YORK CITY, 19301931.
1 "You can become a winner": Quoted in Petras and Petras, 287. "You can become a winner": Quoted in Petras and Petras, 287.
2 The founder of a coal firm: The founder of a coal firm: The New York Times The New York Times, October 30, 1929.
3 The president of the Rochester Gas: The president of the Rochester Gas: The New York Times The New York Times, November 14, 1929.
4 The head of a major brokerage firm: The head of a major brokerage firm: The New York Times The New York Times, November 24, 1929.
5 A man slit the throats: A man slit the throats: The New York Times The New York Times, December 17, 1929.
6 The owner of a wholesale produce firm: The owner of a wholesale produce firm: The New York Times The New York Times, November 17, 1929.
7 A Scranton man doused himself: A Scranton man doused himself: The New York Times The New York Times, November 18, 1929.
8 In the Bronx: In the Bronx: The New York Times The New York Times, December 12, 1929.
9 "improper schemes": "improper schemes": The New York Times The New York Times, October 26, 1929.
10 "that will reinstate courage": "that will reinstate courage": The New York Times The New York Times, October 30, 1929.
11 More than four hundred leaders: More than four hundred leaders: The New York Times The New York Times, December 6, 1929.
12 "work": Ibid. "work": Ibid.
13 "where all that money": "where all that money": The New York Times The New York Times, October 28, 1929 14 A sixteen-year-old messenger boy: A sixteen-year-old messenger boy: The New York Times The New York Times, Nov. 17, 1929.
15 $5.50 for legitimate theater: Minsky and Machlin, 94. $5.50 for legitimate theater: Minsky and Machlin, 94.
16 The number of productions declined: Atkinson, 286. The number of productions declined: Atkinson, 286.
17 "By 1930": Shteir, "By 1930": Shteir, Striptease Striptease, 134.
18 Built in 1900: Built in 1900: The New York Times The New York Times, January 29, 1931.
19 By the time the show closed: By the time the show closed: The New York Times The New York Times, October 22, 1927.
20 shot in the groin: Mitgang, shot in the groin: Mitgang, Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time, 10.
21 "Who shot you?": Ibid., 12. "Who shot you?": Ibid., 12.
22 "Arnold Rothstein has just been shot": Ibid., 2. "Arnold Rothstein has just been shot": Ibid., 2.
23 for twenty long years: for twenty long years: The New York Times The New York Times, January 29, 1931.
24 "Three years it took me": Lee, "Three years it took me": Lee, Gypsy Gypsy, 257.
25 "Remote Control Girl": Corio, 74. "Remote Control Girl": Corio, 74.
26 "She has trained": Ibid. "She has trained": Ibid.
27 horizontal coochers: Shteir, horizontal coochers: Shteir, Striptease Striptease, 137.
28 "The only trouble": de Camp, 119. "The only trouble": de Camp, 119.
29 "In the unnatural blaze of lights": Kazin, 8788. "In the unnatural blaze of lights": Kazin, 8788.
30 "dazzling and superabundant"; "Minsky-ized": "dazzling and superabundant"; "Minsky-ized": The New York Times The New York Times, September 13, 1933.
31 The producer came at him: Minsky and Machlin, 101. The producer came at him: Minsky and Machlin, 101.
32 "b.u.mp so vigorously": Zeidman, 156. "b.u.mp so vigorously": Zeidman, 156.
33 "strips like she just had dynamite": Mitch.e.l.l, 57. "strips like she just had dynamite": Mitch.e.l.l, 57.
34 If she took too long: Sothern, 19. If she took too long: Sothern, 19.
CHAPTER 26: ENGLAND, 1952.
1 "Once I chided her": Murray, n.p. "Once I chided her": Murray, n.p.
2 a "big lesbo": June Havoc to Gypsy Rose Lee, undated, Series I, Box 2, Folder 12, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. a "big lesbo": June Havoc to Gypsy Rose Lee, undated, Series I, Box 2, Folder 12, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
3 "I hate like h.e.l.l": Ibid. "I hate like h.e.l.l": Ibid.
4 "I"d like you even if": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002. "I"d like you even if": June Havoc, interview with Laura Jacobs, 2002.
5 Christopher Walken: Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 2009. Christopher Walken: Author"s interview with Erik Preminger, November 2009.
6 Erik swallowed: Author"s interview with Rosemary "Dardy" Minsky, a former wife of Harold Minsky (the son of Abe Minsky) and sister of the famous burlesque star Lili St. Cyr. Erik swallowed: Author"s interview with Rosemary "Dardy" Minsky, a former wife of Harold Minsky (the son of Abe Minsky) and sister of the famous burlesque star Lili St. Cyr.
7 "I"m a woman alone": Preminger, 45. "I"m a woman alone": Preminger, 45.
8 "liberating": Ibid., 138. "liberating": Ibid., 138.
9 "Honey, I wasn"t even born": Ibid., 50. "Honey, I wasn"t even born": Ibid., 50.
10 someone hurls a rock: Series II, Box 10, Folder 3, diary entry for August 13, 1952, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD. someone hurls a rock: Series II, Box 10, Folder 3, diary entry for August 13, 1952, Gypsy Rose Lee Papers, BRTD.
11 "Rehearsal in three languages": Ibid., entry for April 30, 1952. "Rehearsal in three languages": Ibid., entry for April 30, 1952.