Bert Helly's Ballet

From a Del Campe auction:

http://old-paper.delcampe.net/page/item/id,91659069,var,BERT-HELLY-S-BALLET-et-le-magnifique-FRENCH-CANCAN-du-Moulin-rouge,language,E.html

Lynette Rae

 Lynette Rae, an English actress, leads the cancan as her two companions execute a jump split.

This image is available at an EBay auction by Historic Images:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Press-Photo-Lynette-Rae-leads-the-girls-in-the-high-speed-Can-Can-/190789829958?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item2c6bf5c546

Press Photo

Up for auction on EBay, this is a press photo of a cancan line in action.  There is no information about the time, place or the dancers involved.

The auction, by Historic Images is at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Press-Photo-Cancan-Dancers-/350703508968?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item51a78edde8

Can-Can

This appears to be a staging of a cancan, perhaps at a Parisian nightclub.  The costumes and dancing look professional.  I found this in my archives and don't know where it came from originally.  I wish I had full-sized, clear versions of the photos to post, but I don't.

Oh Rosalinda

Who were those masked girls?

A cancan performed in the ballroom scene of Oh Rosalinda as staged by Elstree.  The date is not given.

This is from an EBay auction by Historic Images, which has many more stage and other images for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280902867246?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648

From "Zaza"

More in the Attic is the name of the EBay store offering this at auction, not an editorial comment.   The dancer is identified as Penny Gill and was in the chorus for the 1938 film, "Zaza".  Everyone is probably familiar with the Claudette Colbert photos from the movie, but this shows a different aspect of the film.

Zaza is one of those film that seems to be stuck in Hollywood's vaults.  I've never seen it aired by broadcast or cable, and it isn't available at Netflix.

The auction is at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CAN-CAN-SHOW-GIRL-PARAMOUNT-PICTURES-ZAZA-CANDID-GEORGE-CUKOR-STILL-/330849088743?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item4d082474e7

Cairncross Women's Institutes

The spirit is willing if the flesh is weak.  Five ladies of a certain age gamely lift their skirts for the cancan in a 1956 production of Cinderella.  (How did they work a cancan into that?)

See the story at:

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/9832565.Can_Can_dancing_WI_members__pampered_elephants__a_giant_puffball_and_the_latest_in_home_entertainment___John_Fish_looks_back_at_the_SNJ_archives_of_1956/

La Goulue

La Goulue, as portrayed in John Huston's 1952 Moulin Rouge, in a full spin.  This is a really great photo of a cancan dancer in action.  As you can see it is available from Jay Parrino's The Mint and is on offer at Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350693120604?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Lifting Both Skirts and Spirits

A photo reposted from the Edinburgh Evening News site and their On this Day feature.  See the original at:

https://www.facebook.com/edinburgh.evening.news?ref=stream

and the original of  this photo at:

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/149509_476925255699388_1707008798_n.jpg

The caption reads,

1. "Nurses and staff at Leith Hospital in Edinburgh do the can-can in a concert for patients in January 1978."

The Merry Widow

Maurice Chevalier escorts two of the Grisettes in two publicity photos from the 1934 film, and all the Grisettes pose for another shot. I wish there were more extant photos of the dancers in performance.  The film doesn't show them off to good effect either.

These are from EBay auctions.

Oklahoma

Judd Fry's saloon girls from the dream sequence in "Oklahoma".  I wish it were an in-performance shot, but it is nice none the less.  I am not sure what production this is from, although the costumes do look remarkably like those in the movie version.

This musical has been staged innumerable times, and, whenever it is, there's always the chance that a good cancan will result.

I found this on Tumblr, but have now lost the link.  If I figure out where it came from, I'll post that information.

Pre-Classic

This may not from the "classic" period as that term is used in this group, but it is such a delightful photo I am posting it anyway.  I love the smile and the teasing pose that contrasts with the very demure high-necked dress..

This photos is from the Cancan Dancers Pinterest page of Lizzie L:

http://pinterest.com/zil1/cancan-dancers/

which features photos from the earlier era.

Lizzie L.'s caption for this photo reads.

"Cissy Fitzgerald (February 1, 1873 – May 5, 1941) was an English-American vaudeville actress, dancer and singer who appeared in numerous silent and sound movies."

Lustrum Can-Can 1968

A neat late-60's photo of a cancan performance by some classically clad dancers   My guess is that these are students cutting loose at a party. The photo is from the Flickr collection of SV Arboricultura and is captioned, "Lustrum Can-Can 1968", but I don't know whether that refers to the dancers, the event at which they were performing or something else.

The original is at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arboricultura/3024492669/

I think SV Arboricultura's page is:

http://www.arboricultura.nl/

"Can-Can" with the Rockettes 1988

I think this was perhaps the best performance of the musical "Can-Can" ever, but, of course, I didn't see the 1953 Broadway original to compare it.  The 1988 version starred Chita Rivera and featured the Rockettes as the cancan dancers.   I had an opportunity to see it in person.  The costumes were first rate, and there were two excellent extended cancan segments.

For a grainy video, see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr3B02M1bZg

Perhaps the 2014 version now in planning will exceed it.

This photo is from a EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/360565577970?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Justice is Served

The French actress Lilo in the starring role in the 1953 Broadway version of "Can-Can".  The Judges and Jurors look convinced by her argument.

This is from a EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160956100895?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

I recommend going to the site for a huge version of the photo.

Berounsti Mestane (Burgers of Beroun)

A retro photo from the site of Berounsti Mestane, a Czech agency supplying performers of various types, including several cancan troupes.

Unfortunately, this particular troupe is not identified by name.

http://www.berounstimestane.cz/index.php?SMid=377&act1=m1&lang=en&bmsess=bcb0550a82a363e1a4762793eaa0bb78

http://www.berounstimestane.cz/index.php?SMid=464

Album Cover Collection

Before there was the internet, one of the best (and only) places to display cancan photos and drawings was record album covers.  There were some real classics from the 1950's and numerous others later.  Album covers are now an endangered art form, but I have gathered together those that I could find on the web in a collection at my Tumblr site:

http://barbebleu.tumblr.com/

There are a hundred entries at present with more to come.

The Tumblr pages roll over as new material is added, so if you don't see the postings search "record album".

Classic Golden Horseshoe

A bit of retro nostalgia is provided by this sepia-toned photo of a cancan dancer performing in the current Salute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue.  This photo was taken by Jade Monster and is part of a set located at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53289341@N03/sets/72157632528125900/with/8383171604/

For additional links related to the Salute, see

http://clubccd.blogspot.com/2013/01/salute-to-golden-horseshoe-revue.html

Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo

Wish I'd been there to see a performance.

Among the sights to be seen:

http://barbebleu.tumblr.com/image/32553817316

http://barbebleu.tumblr.com/image/31178923745

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9zkkz3Tae1rg2tj8o1_500.jpg

Knott's Berry Farm

Another early Knott's Berry Farm photo - Calico Saloon Dancers

I do not have the source for this photo any longer.

Golden Horseshoe Revue

In light of the Salute to the Golden Horseshoe Revue now playing at Disneyland, a photo of the cast in an early version of the show seems to be in order.

For more about the Salute see:


http://dapsmagic.com/news/2013/01/10/a-salute-to-the-golden-horseshoe-revue-a-rip-roarin-good-time-in-frontierland/?show=gallery

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6hUO4yA9Ng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0mCk_hlfag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMb10o_iVnE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr2lkSvpPxQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qziUWA7uQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLshHG7fCLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK5qAtPJC_Q

http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/dancers-382946-bozikis-original.\
html

Ballets en Wallonie

Dancers from Wallonia in Belgium.  See the Ballets en Wallonie archive site maintained by Jocelyn Alizart and Emmanuel Pire at:

http://www.ballets-wallonie-archives.be/

This photo can be found at:

http://www.ballets-wallonie-archives.be/images/327/CAN%20CAN.jpg?PHPSESSID=f79a0d03a5a727d4249048b4cfdc3d95

Others can be located with some searching

Memories

The Chelmsford IFL Cancan Girls from the mid-60s

From the site of Trevor Hornsby:

http://trevor.hornsby.free.fr/

http://trevor.hornsby.free.fr/MEMORY_LANE/IFL/IFL_ALBUM.html

http://trevor.hornsby.free.fr/MEMORY_LANE/Album7/IFL_ALBUM_SEVEN.html

Monika Knap

Monika Knap is a dancer and choreographer of the cancan par excellence.  This photo shows her executing a perfect spin in a performance during her heyday as a dancer.  Her career is ongoing as a choreographer and teacher.

You can find out more about her and see additional photos at:

http://www.lefrenchcancan.com/

http://spectacledefrenchcancan.fr/

http://www.facebook.com/spectacledefrenchcancan

She Shall Have Music

A 1935 British film with a creditable cancan.  Worth a look.

See:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029550/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_Shall_Have_Music

Knott's Berry Farm

Wheel of Good Fortune.   Two cancan dancers demonstrate their moves at Knott's Berry Farm.

From the Pinterest site of Jesscia Cangiano:

http://pinterest.com/pin/86201780338953160/

Another Part of the Forest

I've never seen this film, but now it's on my list to look out for.  This is likely a publicity still, but it gives hope for a nice dance routine in the film.

This is from a EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SEXY-Leggy-dancing-CAN-CAN-Girls-Another-PART-of-the-FOREST-Original-1948-Photo-/330782170811?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d04275ebb

Lady Greys

It's not a true period photo, but I liked it even of it is a bit grainy.  Found at the Flickr site of Siberfi:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/siberfi/2236762374/

It is part of a collection of burlesque photos with additional cancan shots:
.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/siberfi/sets/72157603728028572/with/2236762374/

See also the relevant part of his photostream for more Lady Greys:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/siberfi/2235973333/in/photostream/

The Lady Greys site:

http://ladygreys.com/

Spanish Cancan?

I love the smile, and I don't miss the castanets one bit.

Unfortunately, I have lost the provenance of this photo, which I collected years ago.  If someone can identify the source I'd like to give credit.

Lady for a Night

Another publicity photo for Lady for a Night.

From an EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOAN-BLONDELL-original-SEXY-movie-photo-1942-LADY-NIGHT-/330639916309

The Dolly Sisters

Ruritanian cancan by Betty Grable and June Haver as they grow up in The Dolly Sisters.

From the Tumblr blog of Valentino Vamp:

http://www.valentinovamp.com/post/12185537837

The real thing:

http://cesbaisersinfinis.tumblr.com/post/31531576667