Dewey Decimal791.1/0973
SynopsisGirls! Girls! Girls! The carnivals, the girls, and the scams -- a journey back through time to the glory years of traveling adult entertainment. Many of these photos have never been seen before, and no one has published a book exclusively devoted to the women (and men) who performed in Girl Shows. Picture yourself at a carnival in the 1950s. It's summer, and after you wander through the midway, you head towards the sideshow area. There, on stage in front of huge banners, is Tirza -- The Wine Bath Girl. A crowd has already gathered, and the talker is describing the pleasures to be found inside, but only after you've bought your ticket. "See the beautiful Tirza, in the altogether, taking a full bath -- in wine!" Interested? Unfortunately, you can't attend these Girl Shows anymore. The last performances occurred in the mid-1970s. But you can see 200 photos from 1900 onwards in A.W. Stencell's book about this cultural phenomenon. And you can read about their European origins, their American developments, their heyday after World War II, and their ultimate demise in the face of men's magazines, strip clubs, and x-rated videos., A unique photo book which documents the hey-day of the Girls Shows to be found at carnivals and circuses alike. Compiled from the author's collection of photographs, postcards and illustrations featuring circus and carnival from 1900 onward and with text describing the origins of girls shows, their European and American developments, the high point after WWII and their ultimate demise in the face of men's magazines, strip clubs and x-rated videos, this is a valuable insight into a cultural phenomenon which ended in the 1970's., Girls Girls Girls The carnivals, the girls, and the scams -- a journey back through time to the glory years of traveling adult entertainment. Many of these photos have never been seen before, and no one has published a book exclusively devoted to the women (and men) who performed in Girl Shows. Picture yourself at a carnival in the 1950s. It's summer, and after you wander through the midway, you head towards the sideshow area. There, on stage in front of huge banners, is Tirza -- The Wine Bath Girl. A crowd has already gathered, and the talker is describing the pleasures to be found inside, but only after you've bought your ticket. "See the beautiful Tirza, in the altogether, taking a full bath -- in wine " Interested? Unfortunately, you can't attend these Girl Shows anymore. The last performances occurred in the mid-1970s. But you can see 200 photos from 1900 onwards in A.W. Stencell's book about this cultural phenomenon. And you can read about their European origins, their American developments, their heyday after World War II, and their ultimate demise in the face of men's magazines, strip clubs, and x-rated videos.