Behind the Burly Q: The Story of Burlesque in America by Leslie Zemeckis, 360 pages

This was an extremely fascinating read covering Burlesque from it's early start in the 1880s up to it's dying breath in the 1960s. A lot of famous comedians got their start doing burlesque shows, including Abbot and Costello and Red Buttons, with Alan Alda even growing up offstage watching his dad be a straight man to comedians. This indepth look includes a multitude of interviews with former dancers, strippers, comedians, singers (one type was even called a tit singer), and club owners. Burlesque was considered an act or art form, until flashing become the norm and it started a downhill slide. Shows were a cheap entertainment, especially during the Depression where a man could get hours of variety entertainment for very little money. I hadn't realized that circuses of the time featured burlesque shows as well. I have a new appreciation for a truly American art that has started to feature a comeback, but will never enjoy a heyday like it did in the early 1900s.