Friday, May 3, 2019

"Hollywood Revels"


"Hollywood Revels" (Roadshow Attractions, 1946) is a filmed burlesque show shot at the Follies Theatre, 337 S. Main St. Duke Goldstone directed. The Follies was at one time called the Folies (one "l") Bergere. It was in the mosaic tile entrance flooring in front of the boxoffice.



The cover of a VHS release of the film. Both images appear on IMDb. 

See the page about the Follies Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for many photos as well as a history of the building. It opened in 1904 as the Belasco and was demolished in 1974.

The film is available from Something Weird Video. Their notes: 

"This classic, which may be the grand-daddy of all burley flicks, presents you with a complete show from L.A.’s famed Follies Theatre, with shot-from-the-audience camerawork. They’re all here, the chorines ('The Folliettes') and soubrettes, the comics and comediennes, the vocalists, plus an orchestra with music composed (with a little Tchaikovsky thrown in) and conducted by famed band leader BILLY ROSE. (Remember his hit 'The Stripper'?)

"But, of course, the gals are the show, starting with 'The Golden Girl of Burlesque,' MICKEY KIDWELL, doing some tepid torso twisting, followed by LOTUS WING, 'Sweetheart of the Orient,' whose hard looks don’t detract from her unique bump and-hula peel. There’s the 'statuesque beauty' of HILLARY DAWN, whose steamy style will melt your candy, while PEGGY BOND, 'The Peg O’ My Heart Girl,' and PATRICIA DORSEY, 'The Titian-Haired Charmer,' puts real pizazz (and plenty else!) into their routines.

"Naturally, there are also the wacky antics of comics like RAY PARSON and HARRY ARNE, plus the Folliettes doing everything from hoedowns (I don’t think they rehearsed this one!) to the can-can, as well as some crooning by DON LAMONT. Closing 'Hollywood Revels' is top-billed raven-haired beauty ALEENE DUPREE, 'The Sweetheart of the Follies Bergere,' doing some of the slinkiest, sultriest stuff you’ll ever see, in or out of Tinseltown! From a 16mm bump-and-grind print. -- David Cary, A Bit of Burlesque, A Brief History of Its Times and Stars."

On IMDb: "Hollywood Revels

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