LAS VEGAS, NV.- The Burlesque Hall of Fame has acquired more than 150 rare burlesque films and shorts, most created between 1946-1958, from the collection of the famous (and infamous) exploitation film distributor Something Weird. The acquisition of the complete Something Weird/Sonney Amusement Enterprises/Broadway Roadshow Productions Burlesque Film Collection represents a milestone in the museum’s ongoing mission to preserve and share the history of burlesque.
“Something Weird has long been recognized by B-movie film aficionados for its collection and distribution of rarely seen and even more rarely preserved cinema,” said BHoF Executive Director Dustin Wax. “We’re honored that the company’s owner, Lisa Petrucci, has entrusted us with this enormous assortment of unique films, and are grateful for her generosity and foresight in making sure these films are preserved.”
Of the 30-plus feature-length films and 120-plus shorts, few have been transferred and released to the public, and none has been digitized at today’s high definition standard. Accordingly, the digitization of the complete collection will become an ongoing project for BHoF.
“We expect to launch an annual burlesque film festival where we’ll showcase these unique moments from burlesque’s heyday,” said Wax. “It will take time; there’s literally miles of film to work on.”
To give a sense of the collection’s scale:
• There is an estimated 97,000 ft of 36mm film and 15,000 ft of 16mm film, which is just over 21 miles.
• That’s enough films to stretch from one end of the Las Vegas Strip to the other and back five times.
• If stood on its end, it would be 100 times taller than Las Vegas’ landmark “Stratosphere.”
Countless performers from the Golden Era of burlesque are featured, including:
• Tempest Storm (Las Vegas resident and “The Tempest in a D-Cup”)
• Bettie Page (Pinup and fetish model)
• Val de Val (“The H-Bomb of Burlesque”)
• “Pigmeat” Markham (African-American comedian, popular on the burlesque circuit)
• Jennie Lee (founder of The Burlesque Hall of Fame)
• Sunny Knight (“The Golden Girl of the Golden West”)
• Taffy O'Neill (“The Original Garter Girl”)
• A series of outtakes from rare sessions by pin-up photographer and model Bunny Yeager.
