A well-known burlesque performer, Alexandra The Great 48 attracted large audiences with her curvaceous figure, measuring 48-25-42. An international star, Alexandra The Great 48 delivered rousing burlesque shows in, among other far-flung locations, Hawaii before retiring from performing to become a beautician.
Burlesque entertainment has a long history that dates back to the Victorian era. Popular in London theaters beginning in the 1830s, burlesque shows often parodied well-known operas or Shakespearean plays. Soon after, the burlesque style traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and became a regular feature of the New York entertainment scene beginning in the 1840s.
The American burlesque style also incorporated elements of parody performed by women who, according to the standards of that time, were scantily clad. One of the first hits among American burlesque shows was Lydia Thompson’s Ixion, which premiered in 1868 and grossed more than $370,000 in its first season. Over time, female-led burlesque performances incorporated more features, such as comedy acts, magicians, and sketches. Any public outrage over the burlesque content only fueled more demand for tickets to see the shows.
