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.