I have been a fan of old-time burlesque and striptease since the first time I saw the movie GYPSY as a preteen. Starring Rosalind Russell and Natalie Wood (in the title role) this was the movie adaptation of the Broadway play based on the autobiography of legendary striptease artiste' Gypsy Rose Lee. Only the last third of the movie dealt with Gypsy's life as a burlesque queen. But it left a lasting impression on me. Burlesque like pro wrestling came across to me as something both glamorous and seedy.
Pro wrestling always seemed like a burlesque of big time sport. Boxing
specifically , though the analogy pro wrestling is to amateur wrestling
as striptease is to ballet works too. Pro wrestling had Ricki Starr and
Gorilla Monsoon.While burlesque had Candy Barr and Tempest Storm. Back
in the 80s I did some work for John Mozzer's underground comic WEIRD
SMUT. I created two (forgive the joke) "strips" for the first two issues
starring ecdysiast, Stella Starlett and Sugar Caine. Both features
were illustrated by pin-up cartoonist supreme Bill Ward.
I had been introduced to Ward's art back in the 60s in the pages of mags like HUMORAMA. These were magazines that featured recycled burlesque jokes , pin-up pictures of Hollywood starlets and strippers in lingerie and swim-wear and pin-up cartoons by Ward and others , like Dan De Carlo. I absolutely loved Ward's work. I think I enjoyed his cartoons even more than the " girlie photos ". But it was funny looking at De Carlo's pin-up cartoons with strippers and bathing beauties that looked like Betty , Veronica and Midge a couple of years after a graduation from Riverdale High School.
We make comics! Currently you can grab JUDO COMICS. We also make comics for this very blog. A few weeks ago you met the Bronze Adonis. In that strip you also met a lovely young lady. And she's back....Miss Ginger Snaps~
We first introduced Ginger in a comic strip a year ago where we also introduced the character of bodybuilder Pharoh Love.Expect to see more of her in the future.
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