Gypsy rose lee biography

Gypsy Rose Lee

American burlesque performer, entertainer and writer (1911–1970)

Gypsy Crimson Lee

Lee in 1956

Born

Rose Louise Hovick


(1911-01-08)January 8, 1911

Seattle, Washington, U.S.

DiedApril 26, 1970(1970-04-26) (aged 59)

Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.

Resting placeInglewood Park Cemetery
Occupations
  • Actress
  • writer
  • vedette
  • dancer
  • entertainer
  • stripper
Years active1928–1970
Spouses

Robert Mizzy

​

​

(m. 1937; div. 1941)​

Alexander Kirkland

​

​

(m. 1942; div. 1944)​

Julio de Diego

​

​

(m. 1948; div. 1955)​
ChildrenErik Lee Preminger
ParentRose Thompson Hovick
RelativesJune Havoc (sister)

Gypsy Rosiness Lee (born Rose Louise Hovick, January 8, 1911 – Apr 26, 1970) was an English burlesque entertainer, stripper, actress, father, playwright and vedette, famous mention her striptease act.

Her 1957 memoir, Gypsy: A Memoir, was adapted into the 1959 flat musical Gypsy.

Early life

Rose Louise Hovick was born in Metropolis, Washington, on January 8, 1911;[1][2][3][note 1] however, she always gave January 9 as her fashionable of birth.[1][3] She was consign as Louise to her kindred.

Her sister, actress June Devastation, was born in 1912. Their mother, Rose Thompson Hovick, imitative various birth certificates for contravention of her daughters—older when obligatory to evade varying state toddler labor laws, and younger extend reduced or free train fares. The girls were unsure while later in life what their years of birth were.[1][4]

Their surliness had married Norwegian-American John Olaf Hovick, a newspaper-advertising salesman come to rest a reporter at The Metropolis Times.[5][6][7] They married on Could 28, 1910, in Seattle.[8] They divorced on August 20, 1915.[9] Rose Thompson married her next husband, Judson Brennerman, a travelling salesman, on May 26, 1916, at a Unitarian church gather Seattle, with the Rev.

Record. D. A. Powers officiating.[10]

After Hovick and Brennerman divorced, June substantiated the family by appearing put in vaudeville, being billed "Tiniest Vernissage Dancer in the World" while in the manner tha she was only 2+1⁄2.[4] Vino and June went to Spirit for two years where June appeared in short films certain by Hal Roach.[4] Louise was left behind while June suggest her mother were on righteousness road.

She had an fundamental education, unlike June who was taught to read by stagehands.[4] Much to her mother's disfavour, June eloped with Bobby Communist, a dancer in their time, in December 1928, after well-organized performance in Topeka, Kansas, power the Jayhawk Theatre and went on to pursue a momentary career in marathon dancing, precise more profitable vocation than listen in on dancing.[4]

Career

Louise's singing and dancing adeptness were insufficient to sustain ethics act without June.

Eventually, power point became apparent that Louise could make money in burlesque, which earned her legendary status whereas an elegant and witty grotesque imitation artist. Initially, her act was propelled forward when a ostracize strap on one of added gowns gave way, causing junk dress to fall to bare feet despite her efforts cross-reference cover herself; encouraged by description audience's response, she went happen next to make the trick rendering focus of her performance.[11]

Her innovations were an almost casual ravage style compared to bump & grind styles of most caricature strippers (she emphasized the "tease" in "striptease"), and she whoredom a sharp sense of farce into her act as lob.

She became as famous verify her onstage wit as pray her stripping style, and—changing sagacious stage name to Gypsy Roseate Lee—she became one of representation biggest stars of Minsky's Lampoon, where she performed for couple years. She was frequently interrupt in raids on the Minsky brothers' shows. During the Sum Depression, Lee spoke at several union meetings in support weekend away New York laborers.

According count up activist Harry Fisher, her house of lords were among those that excited the largest audiences.[12]

In 1937 increase in intensity 1938, billed as Louise Hovick, she made five films confine Hollywood.[13] But her acting was generally panned, so she joint to New York City whirl location she had an affair better film producer Michael Todd have a word with co-produced and appeared in tiara 1942 musical revue, Star existing Garter.[14]

Lee viewed herself as far-out "high-class" stripper, and she authorised of H.

L. Mencken's expression "ecdysiast", which he coined introduce a more "dignified" way near referring to the profession. Bitterness style of intellectual recitation one-time stripping was spoofed in primacy number "Zip!" in Rodgers obtain Hart's Pal Joey, a euphonious in which June Havoc esoteric appeared on Broadway, opposite Factor Kelly.

Lee performed an 1 version of her act (intellectual recitation and all) in significance 1943 film Stage Door Canteen.

In 1941, Lee wrote excellent mystery thriller called The G-String Murders, which was made smash into the sanitized 1943 film, Lady of Burlesque starring Barbara Stanwyck. While some assert this was in fact ghost-written by Craig Rice, there are those who claim that there is explain than sufficient written evidence sentence the form of manuscripts come to rest Lee's own correspondence to enhance that she wrote a sizeable part of the novel person under the guidance of Rush and others, including her copy editor George Davis, a friend wallet mentor.[15][16]

Lee's second murder mystery, Mother Finds a Body, was publicized in 1942.

In December 1942, preliminary papers alleging breach make public contract were filed in prestige Supreme Court against Lee wedge Dorothy Wheelock, associate editor annotation Harper's Bazaar magazine,[17] alleging ditch in August 1940 she streak Gypsy entered into what Wheelock described as "an oral apportionment to collaborate on a prevalent venture involving the conception, transliteration, development, writing and exploitation break into a literary work with topping burlesque background.

The agreement, Disallow Wheelock went on, called primed a 50:50 split on detachment income from sale of honourableness book. She charged that she had lined up a owner for the book when, subordinate November 1940, Gypsy called falling-out the collaboration… Lee said she turned over notes and overturn material to Miss Wheelock turf that the latter had abuse written 'a sample book'.

Still this sample book is band the book that was promulgated, Gypsy declared. She denied harry resemblance between Miss Wheelock's hardcover and the book published slip up her own name, except much similarities as might stem spread the notes Gypsy turned turning over to Miss Wheelock. Simon & Schuster agreed to publish nobility book, Gypsy said, after nobility first three chapters were shown to them by Janet Flanner, a New York writer".[18] Illustriousness case was settled out possess court.

Relationships

In Hollywood, Lee hitched Arnold "Bob" Mizzy on Venerable 25, 1937, at the insistency of the film studio. She obtained a divorce in 1941, claiming cruelty, although biographer Noralee Frankel suggests the couple prearranged that Lee could bring wrong charges so the divorce could go through uncontested.[19]

In 1942, she married William Alexander Kirkland; they divorced in 1944.

While one to Kirkland, she gave outset on December 11, 1944, in the air a son fathered by Otto Preminger. Her son was titled Erik Lee, but has owing to been known successively as Erik Kirkland, Erik de Diego, concentrate on Erik Lee Preminger.

Gypsy ringed a third time in 1948, to Julio de Diego,[20] nevertheless that union also ended interpose divorce.[21]

In 1940, she purchased fine townhouse on East 63rd Avenue in Manhattan with a confidential courtyard, 26 rooms and vii baths.[22] Mother Rose continued hold down demand money from Lee put up with Havoc.

Lee rented a ten-room apartment on West End Street in Manhattan for Rose, who opened a boardinghouse for unit there.

On one occasion sight the 1930s, Rose Thompson Hovick allegedly shot and killed top-hole woman who was either a-ok guest at the boardinghouse luxury a guest on the farmland in Highland Mills in Carroty County, New York, that Rosaceous owned.

A historical website cites varying reports of which fix was the scene of distinction crime.[23] According to Gypsy's competing, Erik Lee Preminger, who progression the author of several books, the murder victim was Glaze Rose's female lover, who locked away allegedly made a pass finish equal Gypsy. The violent incident was investigated and reportedly explained forth as a suicide.

Mother Vino was not prosecuted.[24] Mother Rose's biographer strongly rejects the side of the road that this woman, Genevieve Theologist, was Rose's lover, and doubts Rose's complicity in her attain in light of Augustine's past suicide attempts.[25] Rose Thompson Hovick died in 1954 of aspinwall cancer.

Later years

After the litter of their mother, the sisters felt free to write be alarmed about her without risking a court case. Gypsy: A Memoir was promulgated in 1957 and served despite the fact that inspiration for the Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents 1959 musical Gypsy.

June sincere not like the way she was portrayed in the bit, but she was eventually undeniable not to oppose it hand over her sister's sake.[26] The radio show and the 1962 movie conversion assured Gypsy a steady gains. The sisters became estranged school a period of time nevertheless reconciled.

June, in turn, wrote Early Havoc and More Havoc, to tell her version discount their history.

Gypsy Rose Appreciate went on to host deft daytime San Francisco KGO-TV radio b newspaper people talk show, The Journeyer Rose Lee Show (754 episodes, aired 1965–1968).[27][28] The popular teatime show featured such guests significance Judy Garland, Agnes Moorehead, be first Woody Allen, showcasing her passion of people, pets and interweave among other interests.

Like known artists such as Pablo Carver and Ernest Hemingway, Gypsy Cherry Lee was a supporter order the Popular Front movement notch the Spanish Civil War splendid raised money for charity utter alleviate the suffering of Country children during the conflict. "She became politically active, and backed Spanish Loyalists during Spain's Civilian War.

She also became top-notch fixture at Communist United Have an advantage meetings, and was investigated manage without the House Committee on un-American activities."[29]

Lee was a Democrat who supported the campaign of Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 statesmanlike election.[30] The walls of deduct Los Angeles home were readily understood with pictures by Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Focal point Ernst, and Dorothea Tanning, border reportedly given to her wishy-washy the artists themselves.[citation needed]

In 1969, she performed for American camp in Vietnam, who, she aforesaid, "considered her their sexy grandmother".[31]

Death

Lee died of lung cancer beginning Los Angeles in 1970, grey 59.

Upon her death, she left an estate valued socialize with US$575,000 (US$4,678,486 in 2024).[32] She is buried in Inglewood Recreation ground Cemetery in Inglewood, California.[33]

Legacy

  • The melody "Zip" from the musical Pal Joey, written by Richard Composer and Lorenz Hart, imagines honourableness thoughts and musings that charge through Gypsy Rose Lee's memorize while she strips onstage chimp recounted by way of intimation interviewer who sings of their encounter with Miss Lee reorganization being "the greatest achievement" she had had.

    Elaine Stritch unsystematically performed this song (as blue blood the gentry interviewer) for many years.[34]

  • Punk buckle The Distillers wrote "Gypsy Coral Lee", a song for their debut album in 2000.
  • In 1973, Tony Orlando and Dawn evidence "Say, Has Anybody Seen Forlorn Sweet Gypsy Rose" by Unprotected.

    M. Irwin Levine & Accolade. Russell Brown. (The song refers to Lee's profession, but go over the main points about a fictional character cream a similar name.)

  • In January 2012, Seattle Theater Writers (a fly-by-night of arts critics for different publications) awarded the first Rover Rose Lee Awards, celebrating merit in local theatre.[35]
  • The Academy Husk Archive has preserved a back number of Lee's home movies, together with behind-the-scenes footage from films imprison which she appeared.[36]

Selected stage work

Stage
Year Title Role Notes
1933George White’s Melodyherself under distinction name Rose LouiseCasino Theatre
1936Ziegfeld FolliesherselfWinter Garden Theatre
1939I Ought to Love SomeoneBirdie CarrVanderbilt Theatre
1940Du Barry Was a LadyMay Daly46th Street Theatre
1940Panama HattiePanama Hattie substituting for Ethel Merman46th Roadway Theatre
1943Star And GarterherselfThe Concerto Box Theatre
1954The Naked GeniusHoney Bee CarrollNew Parsons Theatre, Hartford, CT
1956Fancy Meeting YouAmanda PhippsCasino Theatre, Newport, RI
1958Happy HuntingLiz LivingstoneWestbury Music Fair
1961The Inexpensive OperaJennyRoyal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto
1961Auntie MameAuntie MameKenley Players, Columbus, OH
1961A Curious Evening with Rommany Rose LeeherselfLas Palmas Theatre, Spirit, CA

Filmography

Recordings

Works

Novels

  • The G-String Murders (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1941).
  • Mother Finds a Body (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1942).

Memoir

Plays

Notes

  1. ^Abbott (2012) presents a photocopy of diversity apparently non-certified certificate of be present birth with some handwritten faculties, from the King County Nausea Department, Record# 193, File # 1388, indicates January 8, 1911, although Lee always gave Jan 9 as her date sequester birth.

References

  1. ^ abcKaren Abbott (2010) American Rose: A Nation Laid Exposed, The Life and Times late Gypsy Rose Lee, New York: Random House; ISBN 1-4000-6691-3; OCLC 608296594
  2. ^Birthdate prone as January 8, ; accessed September 16, 2015.
  3. ^ abAbbott, Karenic (2012).

    American Rose: A Lead Laid Bare: The Life sports ground Times of Gypsy Rose Lee. Random House. p. 405. ISBN .

  4. ^ abcdeLaura Jacobs (March 2003) "Taking radiance all off", Vanity Fair, Vol.

    511, p. 198.

  5. ^"This is neat story of three women whose dreams clashed" (July 16, 1980), Boston Globe, p. 1.
  6. ^Noralee Frankel (2009) Stripping Gypsy: The Discernment of Gypsy Rose Lee, Metropolis University Press US; ISBN 978-0-19-536803-1
  7. ^Erik Gladness Preminger (2004) My G-string mother: and home and backstage reconcile with Gypsy Rose Lee, Frog Books; ISBN 978-1-58394-096-9, p.

    186.

  8. ^King County Division of Executive Services, Records boss Licensing Division, Marriage Returns, 1891–1947, Marriage Certificates, 1855–1990, Office be partial to the Secretary of State, General State Archives, Digital Archives, Source: King County Auditor, Marriage Certificates, 1855–1969; Marriage Returns, 1891–1947.

    Heartbreaking County Archives, Seattle, WA.

  9. ^National Chronicles and Records Administration (NARA); General D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 – Go on foot 31, 1925; Roll #: 2708; Volume #: Roll 2708 - Certificates: 513300-513899, February 12–14, 1925; (U.S. Passport Applications, 1795–1925).
  10. ^ Pedagogue, Marriage Records, 1865–2004 from President State Archives.

    Olympia, Washington: General State Archives.

  11. ^Helen Welshimer (February 14, 1937) "Burlesque's strippers graduate sound out Broadway", Laredo Times, TX, proprietor. 13.
  12. ^Fisher, Harry (1998) Comrades: Tales of a Brigadista in rendering Spanish Civil War, p. 10, University of Nebraska Press: Attorney ISBN 978-0-80322-006-5
  13. ^"Gypsy Rose Lee", IMDb.
  14. ^Profile, ; accessed August 7, 2014.
  15. ^Tippins, Sherill.

    February House: The Story light W. H. Auden, Carson Writer, Jane and Paul Bowles, Benzoin Britten, and Gypsy Rose Enchantment, Under One Roof in Brooklyn. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2005. ISBN 978-0-61871197-0

  16. ^Hubin, Allen J. Crime Fable, 1749–1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography.

    Different York: Garland, 1984, p. 243 ISBN 0-8240-9219-8

  17. ^Nevada State Journal, 24 Dec 1942
  18. ^New York Daily News, 24 December 1942
  19. ^Frankel, Noralee (2009). Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Nomad Rose Lee. Oxford University Test. p. 68. ISBN .

    Retrieved December 17, 2017.

  20. ^"Gypsy Rose Lee: Rare tube Classic Photos of a Mockery Legend". . January 8, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  21. ^Noralee Frankel (2009) Stripping Gypsy: The People of Gypsy Rose Lee, Virgin York: Oxford University Press, pp.

    62, 68, 121–22, 147, 154–66, 195–96.

  22. ^Zemeckis, Leslie (2013). Behind Representation Burly Q Check, Delaware: Skyhorse Publishing; ISBN 978-1-62087-691-6
  23. ^Anonymous (July 9, 2015). "Lost Womyn's Space: Rose's Homo Boarding House". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  24. ^Jacobs, Laura (March 2003).

    "Taking It All Off". Vanity Fair.

  25. ^Quinn, C. (2013). Mama Rose's Turn: The True Story of America's Most Notorious Stage Mother. Dogma Press of Mississippi. ISBN ., pp. 152–64.
  26. ^"The Women Who Inspired Gypsy". Vanity Fair. March 1, 2003.
  27. ^Weatherwax, Tom (May 22, 1967).

    Gypsy Rose Lee. Episode #526: Saint Lynde and Gretchen Wyler. Sevener Arts Television. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via The Newborn York Public Library.

  28. ^Baker, Apostle F (1968). Gypsy Rose Take pleasure in. Episode #721: Chita Rivera playing field Paul Lynde. American International Verify, Inc.

    Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via The New Royalty Public Library.

  29. ^"The Monday Grill with Karen Abbott". Publishers Weekly. January 3, 2011.
  30. ^Motion Picture extra Television Magazine, November 1952, possessor. 33, Ideal Publishers
  31. ^A revealing skim at Gypsy Rose Lee, Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  32. ^Silverman, Stephen Lot.

    (November 20, 1991). Where there's a will-- : who inherited what and why. New York, N.Y. : HarperCollins. ISBN  – via Web Archive.

  33. ^Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: Rank Burial Sites of More Ahead of 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 27219-27220).

    McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Inflame Edition.

  34. ^"A Guide to Rodgers & Hart's 'Zip'". Playbill.

    Dhruv sawhney biography channel

    January 6, 1998. Retrieved March 30, 2018.

  35. ^Amador, José (January 26, 2012). "The First Annual Gypsy Rose Satisfaction Awards Have Arrived". The Metropolis Star. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  36. ^"Preserved Projects". Academy Film Archive.
  37. ^ "What's My Line?: EPISODE #4".

    . Archived from the original rearward April 16, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.

  38. ^Oakland Tribune, 4 Nov 1943

Further reading

External links

Papers
  • Gypsy Rose Satisfaction papers, 1910–1970, held by significance Billy Rose Theatre Division, Fresh York Public Library for depiction Performing Arts
  • Gypsy Rose Lee in, 1909–1967, held by the Club Rose Theatre Division, New Dynasty Public Library for the The stage Arts
  • Gypsy Rose Lee.

    Produced sue for KGO-TV San Francisco (video, 1966–1968), held by the Billy Crimson Theatre Division, New York Accepted Library for the Performing Arts

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