Minsky's Burlesque refers to the infamous brand of burlesque presented by the four Minsky brothers between the years 1912 and 1937 primarily in New York. Although the shows were declared obscene and outlawed, they were rather tame by modern standards. Photo of the Burlesque Troupe, Chitty Chitty, Bang Bang Burlesque was originally a form of art that mocked by imitation, referring to everything from comic sketches to dance routines and usually lampooning the social attitudes of the upper classes. ...

The eldest brother, Abe, launched the business in 1908 with a Lower East Side nickelodeon showing racy films. His own father shut him down and bought the National Winter Garden on Houston Street, which had a theater inconveniently located on the sixth floor. He gave the theater to Abe and his brothers Billy and Herbert. At first they tried showing respectable films but couldn't compete with the large theater chains. The Minskys tried to bolster their shows by bringing in vaudeville performers, but couldn't afford good acts. 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Categories: Manhattan neighborhoods | Stub ... Nickelodeon may refer to: Nickelodeon (TV channel) Nickelodeon movie theater Nickelodeon jukebox Nickelodeon (movie) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Then they considered burlesque. Burlesque acts were cheaper, and circuits (called "wheels") supplied a new show every week, complete with cast, costumes and scenery. There was the Columbia Wheel, the American Wheel, and the Mutual Wheel. Burlesque during this period was clean; a fourth wheel, the Independent, actually went bankrupt in 1916 after refusing to clean up its act. The Minskys briefly considered signing with a wheel but decided to stage their own shows because it was cheaper and Billy longed to be the next Florenz Ziegfeld. 1928 Time cover featuring Ziegfeld Florenz Ziegfeld (March 21, 1869–July 22, 1932) was a Jewish-American Broadway impresario who achieved fame by perfecting the United States revue. ...

But Minsky's clientel of poor immigrants hadn't been taught to appreciate clean burlesque, and the Minskys were not about to teach them. Plus, their audience needed a compelling reason to trek up to a sixth-floor theater. Billy realized that success in burlesque depended on how the girls were featured. Abe, who had been to Paris and the Folies Bergere and Moulin Rouge, suggested importing one of their trademarks: a runway to bring the girls out into the audience. The theater was reconfigured, and the Minskys were the first to feature a runway in the United States. Billy had the sign out front changed to "Burlesque As You Like It--Not a Family Show," and the Minskys were on their way. Costume, c. ... Moulin Rouge (French for red mill) is a traditional cabaret, built in 1889 by Joseph Oller who already owned the Paris Olympia. ...

The Minskys were raided for the first time in 1917 when Mae Dix absent-mindedly began removing her costume before she reached the wings. When the crowd cheered, Dix returned to the stage to continue removing her clothing to wild applause. Billy ordered the "accident" repeated every night. This began an endless cycle: to keep their license, the Minskys had to keep their shows clean, but to keep drawing customers they had to be risque. Whenever they went too far, they were raided.

Another famous raid occurred in April, 1925, and inspired the book and film "The Night They Raided Minsky's". Madamoiselle Fifi (nee Mary Dawson from Pennsylvania) stripped to the waist and then moved. By this time it was permissible for girls in shows staged by Ziegfeld, George White and Earl Carroll--as well as burlesque--to appear topless as long as they didn't move. George White (August 21, 1872 - December 15, 1953) was a Democratic politician from Ohio. ...

Occasionally a raid was triggered by the comedy material, but filthy comics didn't last long because they were a liability to the management.

Business boomed during Prohibition and the National Winter Garden's notoriety grew. Regular patrons included John Dos Passos, Robert Benchley, George Jean Nathan, Conde Nast, and Hart Crane. In 1924 a fourth brother, Morton, joined the fold and the Minskys expanded to the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The move was validated by a raid during the very first show. Billy's attempt, however, to present classy burlesque at the Park Theater on Columbus Circle failed miserably. Prohibition was a period in the united states when alcohol became illegal. ... John Rodrigo Dos Passos, born January 14, 1896, in Chicago, Illinois, United States - died September 28, 1970, in Baltimore, Maryland, was a novelist and artist. ... Robert Charles Benchley (September 15, 1889 in Worcester, Massachusetts – November 21, 1945) was an American humorist, newspaper columnist, film actor, and drama editor. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Cond Montrose Nast, born March 26, 1873 in New York City, United States, died there on September 19, 1942, was the founder of Cond Nast Publications, a major American magazine publisher. ... Harold Hart Crane (July 21, 1899 in Garrettsville, Ohio, United States – April 27, 1932 at sea) was a U.S. poet. ... Apollo Theater marquee, c. ... View of Harlem from Morningside Heights overlooking Morningside Park Lenox Avenue looking south from the corner of 124th Street. ...

Billy realized that while burlesque couldn't be classy, it could be presented in classy surroundings. In 1931 he proposed bringing the Minky brand to Broadway, amid the respectable shows. The brothers leased the Republic Theater on 42nd Street and staged their first show on Feb. 12. The Republic became Minsky's flagship theater and the capitol of burlesque in the United States. (The theater is now called the New Victory and, oddly enough, specializes in children's entertainment.) Other burlesque shows were inspired to open on 42nd Street at the Eltinge and Apollo Theaters. For the film of this name, see 42nd Street (film). ...

The Great Depression ushered in the greatest era for burlesque, and Minsky burlesque in particular. Few could afford to attend expensive Broadway shows, yet people craved entertainment. Furthermore, there now seemed to be an unlimited supply of unemployed pretty girls who considered the steady work offered by burlesque. By the time they finished expanding, the various Minskys controlled over a dozen theaters--six in New York and others in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Albany, and Pittsburgh. They even formed their own "wheel." The Great Depression was a global economic slump that began in 1929 and bottomed in 1933. ...

Minsky's nourished the careers of such later headliners as Phil Silvers, Abbott and Costello, Jackie Gleason and Robert Alda, as well as legendary strippers Gypsy Rose Lee, Georgia Sothern, Ann Corio, and Margie Hart. These women made between $700 and $2,000 a week. Phil Silvers TV Guide cover Phil Silvers (May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985) was an American entertainer and comedy actor. ... Abbott and Costello (William (Bud) Abbott, 1897-1974); Louis Cristillo, 1906-1959), American comedy duo whose work in radio, film, and television made them one of the most popular and respected teams in comedy history. ... This article or section seems not to be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... Actor Aldas record release of Italian songs Robert Alda (born Alphonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto DAbruzzo on February 26, 1914, died May 3, 1986) was an Italian-American actor. ... A striptease dancer performing. ... The Screaming Mimi (1958) Gypsy Rose Lee (February 9, 1911 - April 26, 1970) was an American actress and burlesque entertainer. ... Ann Corio in YANK magazine, 1943 Ann Corio (November 29, 1914 - March 1, 1999) was a prominent American burlesque dancer and actress. ...

With burlesque thriving in New York (there were now 14 burlesque theaters, including Minsky's rivals), competition was fierce. Each year, various license commissioners issued restrictions to keep burlesque from pushing the limits. But convictions were rare, so theater managers saw no need to tone down their shows.

In 1935, irate citizens groups began calling for action against burlesque. The city's license commissioner, Paul Moss, tried to revoke Minsky's license but the State Court of Appeals ruled that he didn't have grounds without a criminal conviction. Finally, in April, 1937, a stripper at Abe Minsky's New Gotham Theater in Harlem was spotted working without a G-string. The conviction allowed Moss to revoke Abe's license and refuse to renew all of the other burlesque licenses in New York. (It was this raid that should have inspired the movie, since it led to the demise not only of Minsky burlesque, but of all burlesque in New York.) See Thong for other meanings. ...

After several appeals, the Minskys and their rivals were allowed to reopen only if they adhered to new rules that forbid strippers. The owners went along, hoping to stay in business until the November election when reformist mayor Fiorello LaGuardia might be voted out. But business under the new code was so bad that many New York burlesque theaters closed their doors for good. By the time LaGuardia was re-elected, the word "burlesque" had been banned and, soon after, the Minsky name itself, since the two were synonymous. With that final blow, burlesque and the Minskys were finished in New York. Politicians across the country soon followed suit, and burlesque passed the way of the horse and buggy. Fiorello Henry LaGuardia (December 11, 1882–September 20, 1947) was the Mayor of New York from 1934 to 1945. ...

Of all the Minskys, only Harold, Abe's son, remained active in burlesque. In 1956 he brought the Minsky name to a Las Vegas revue, where it could exist without apology. This article is about the city of Las Vegas in Nevada. ...