Flash

Double entendre.  Flash was a French magazine that featured this cancan photo on the cover of one of its issues.  This photo is from a French site where you can purchase this issue if you wish:

http://www.journaux-collection.com/recherche.php?&qu=FLASH&co=&ti=&num=&da=&ta=&de=&av=&new=&disp=&aff=&pa=9

Cotton Club?

This is from an Etsy sale:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65502557/african-american-women-do-can-can-dance

There is no information regarding the whereabouts of this performance, the time period or the dancers, but it obviously a classic period photo.  The Cotton Club perhaps?  I know there were cancan performances there, so it's a possibility.

The Moulin Rouge in Las Vegas is another, although the background doesn't look right for that.

Joseph Leckie School

A pretty darned good cartwheel for a school production.  The performance was at  the Joseph Leckie School, Walsall,  England.  I think the date was 1966.


Original at the Friends Reunited site:

http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/school-production/Memory/cdb10b96-2230-4e54-9929-a384b76e8848

Nus de Paris

 Nus de Paris was a show produced by Paul Raymond in the UK.  This royal flash photo is from the cancan segment of the show.  The accompanying original description reads, 

"Using the Lord Chamberlain's freedom to have stationary artistic nudes, to the full, Raymond puts on shows with snappy titles, with snappy girls and snappy acts.  This Can-Can is from Nus de Paris."

Snappy indeed.

This photo was offered through an EBay auction by Historical Images - a great source for period photos. Check their store at EBay for current offerings.

http://stores.ebay.com/historicimages02

The auction was at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Keystone-Press-Photo-Nude-Dancers-Perform-at-Paul-Raymond-Can-Can-Show-/190819348217?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item2c6db82ef9

Paul Raymond was a colorful character.  See his bio at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Raymond_(publisher)

The Wikipedia article includes this blurb indicating a film about him is to be released today:

"A film about the life of Paul Raymond, directed by Michael Winterbottom and due for release on 26th April 2013, is currently in production, with Steve Coogan playing Raymond and Anna Friel playing Raymond's wife Jean. In addition to a cast of well-known UK talent, a small number of current Paul Raymond Publications' employees and editors appear as extras or in pseudo-cameos. The film's working title, The King of Soho, has been trademarked by one of Raymond's sons, for the title of his own biopic of the late mogul, and the producers of the first film decided to change their title.^[20] Winterbottom's film is now entitled The Look of Love."


 

The Three Graces

This photo was offered through an EBay auction by Historical Images - a great source for period photos.  Check their store at EBay for current offerings. 

http://stores.ebay.com/historicimages02

This auction was at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Press-Photo-Ilonka-Nagy-Helene-Doret-Monique-Tanguy-dance-the-Can-Can-/350748660294?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item51aa3fd246

The dancers are identified as Ilonka Nagy, Helene Doret and Monique Tanguay.

Paris after Dark

Well, the sign says so, so it must be true.  The photo of this charmingly amateur group in their daring black panties can be had on Etsy at:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/125729773/1950s-ladies-can-can-dancing-snapshot?ref=sr_gallery_27&ga_search_query=cancan+dance&ga_ref=market&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

There is no information about who the dancers were or when it was taken, other than a general reference to the 1950s, which appears accurate.

"Can-Can"

The performers here are from a 1964 Polish production of "Can-Can" staged by Opera na Zamku w Szczecinie.  See their site at:

http://opera.szczecin.pl/repertoire/can-can/

The photographer was Jerzy Borowski.  The dancers are Balet Państwowej Operetki w Szczecinie.

Pioneer City

A photo of the cancan dancers at Pioneer City offered on EBay by argenta-images04 at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-City-Can-Can-Girls-Press-Photo-/111055655537?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item19db6ed271

Unfortunately Pioneer City had a very short run:

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

The Kessler Twins

 

Alice and Elen Kessler were popular German entertainers of the 1950s and 1960s and even later.  They were best known in Germany and Italy, but I can remember them appearing on US television in a non-cancan number on some variety show in the early 60s, I believe.  They performed at the Lido in Paris from 1955 to 1960, where this picture was taken.  It is from BZ-Berlin:

http://www.bz-berlin.de/kultur/buehne/kesslers-schwangen-den-hintern-fuer-elvis-article686568-image2.html
(Google Translates the caption, "Kesslers schwangen den Hintern für Elvis" as" Kessler swung the butt of Elvis.")

See more about the Kesslers at:

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

There are lots of photos of them if you Google, "Kessler Twins", "Gemelle Kessler", and "Kessler zwillenge".  Unfortunately, this is the only cancan photo I have found.  The same goes for You Tube - a number of performances, but no cancan.

Tribute

The sixth and last installment.   These photos were offered in a Del Campe auction:

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,159542324,var,6-grandes-photos-SPECTACLE-FRENCH-CANCAN-SHIRLEY-MAC-LAINE-AU-PALACE-24X18-CMS-voir-6-photos,language,E.html

The description is typically sketchy, but these seem to have been taken at an event honoring Shirley Maclaine held at the Palace.  The dancers are not identified, nor is the year the event occurred.

Tribute

The fifth installment.  These photos were offered in a Del Campe auction:

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,159542324,var,6-grandes-photos-SPECTACLE-FRENCH-CANCAN-SHIRLEY-MAC-LAINE-AU-PALACE-24X18-CMS-voir-6-photos,language,E.html

The description is typically sketchy, but these seem to have been taken at an event honoring Shirley Maclaine held at the Palace. The dancers are not identified, nor is the year the event occurred.

Tribute

The fourth installment.  These photos were offered in a Del Campe auction:

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,159542324,var,6-grandes-photos-SPECTACLE-FRENCH-CANCAN-SHIRLEY-MAC-LAINE-AU-PALACE-24X18-CMS-voir-6-photos,language,E.html

The description is typically sketchy, but these seem to have been taken at an event honoring Shirley Maclaine held at the Palace. The dancers are not identified, nor is the year the event occurred.

Tribute

The third installment.  These photos were offered in a Del Campe auction:

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,159542324,var,6-grandes-photos-SPECTACLE-FRENCH-CANCAN-SHIRLEY-MAC-LAINE-AU-PALACE-24X18-CMS-voir-6-photos,language,E.html

The description is typically sketchy, but these seem to have been taken at an event honoring Shirley Maclaine held at the Palace. The dancers are not identified, nor is the year the event occurred.

Tribute

The second installment of this series.  These photos were offered in a Del Campe auction:

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,159542324,var,6-grandes-photos-SPECTACLE-FRENCH-CANCAN-SHIRLEY-MAC-LAINE-AU-PALACE-24X18-CMS-voir-6-photos,language,E.html

The description is typically sketchy, but these seem to have been taken at an event honoring Shirley Maclaine held at the Palace. The dancers are not identified, nor is the year the event occurred.

No posting today

In light of the events in Boston, it would be inappropriate to post something frivolous. My deepest sympathy to the victims and their families.

Amazing!

There are six photos in this set.   They are all very nice, but this is one of the best.

These photos were offered in a Del Campe auction:

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,159542324,var,6-grandes-photos-SPECTACLE-FRENCH-CANCAN-SHIRLEY-MAC-LAINE-AU-PALACE-24X18-CMS-voir-6-photos,language,E.html

The description is typically sketchy, but these seem to have been taken at an event honoring Shirley Maclaine held at the Palace. The dancers are not identified, nor is the year the event occurred.

culture.gouv.fr

The file name suggests this photo is from 1968, but doesn't identify the dance troupe or the venue.

See the original at:

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/savimage/phocem/phw/phw-1960-1969/1968/phw-1968-12-95-p.jpg

Do a Good Turn Daily

These Girl Guides perform at the 1971 Horspath Scout Show.  See the story at:

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/community/memorylane/8203094.Dancing_Guides_were_stars_of_Horspath_show/?ref=rss

Lady for a Night

I have lost the information for this photo, although it is from an auction by Jay Parrino's The Mint.  I can tell from the costumes that this is a publicity photo for "Lady for a Night", which features a very good cancan scene.

The Mint is a major seller of older photographic images and has an active store on EBay, where you can find a huge number of stills from the golden era of Hollywood.

Check them out at:

http://myworld.ebay.com/jp-themint/&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2754

Use the search function here for "lady for a night" for other photos from this film.

A superb photo

of a classic period cancan is available at this INA.fr website:

http://photo.ina.fr/volumeLR/ina_volume20101011/51005213_34438362/m_181387858_0.jpg

http://photo.ina.fr/detail/181387858_scene-du-french-cancan-au-moulin-rouge-dans-une-reconstitution-televisee-de-la-vie-de-toulouse-lautrec-par-gilles-margaritis

The caption says it is a French Cancan at the Moulin Rouge for a 1953 television reconstruction of the life of Toulouse Lautrec by Gilles Margaritis.  The photographer was Daniel Fallot.

A Modern Classic

A still photo of the dancers from the Theatre de Monnaie's production of Orpheus in the Underworld.  You've probably seen the video, but it's worth watching again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL9p20loMJ0

This performance is available on DVD and would be a great addition to your collection.

Bal Tabarin 1953

The dancers of Bal Tabarin perform a synchronised grand écart.  This photo is from a brief article about the fire that gutted the historic music hall:

http://www.news.com.au/world-old/fire-rips-through-200-year-old-paris-dance-hall/story-e6frfkyi-1226026466715

Lilo as La Mome Pistache

convinces the Court with Defendant's Exhibit 1 in the original 1953 Broadway production of "Can-Can".   This great photo is from an EBay auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1953-Dancer-Actress-Lilo-Broadway-CAN-CAN-Courtroom-Photo-by-Darby-4-/160956100895?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2579bb311f&nma=true&si=9Ttr1DXsKbN5NpksiRGsfrtSpSI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Be sure to go to the above EBay listing for the full-sized version of the photo.

The photographer was Eileen Darby.

Strictly Amateur

... but no less delightful for that.   This performance was for the Walthamstow Carnival in a home grown show called "Maypole":

See the story at:

http://widgeripoo.net/artwork/archive_seventeen

More Sorority Hi-jinks

This time it's the Kappa Deltas of Southwestern College during a rush week skit at the "Pink Garter" saloon.

The full story can be found at:

http://stage.commercialappeal.com/photos/2008/sep/25/79234/

1930s Sorority Hi-jinks

The sisters of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority chapter at Indiana spell out their cheer for the football team, and add some cheer for us too.

This is another gem from the Google Cultural Institute.

This shot was found at:

http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/MgEPKeywBiXOjA?hl=en#!asset-viewer:l.id=FwEUROlSoo_zsw&hl=en

Myron Davis was the photographer for this photo.

See the posting at 3-29-13 for more information about Google Cultural Institute.

I Sense Someone Is Watching Me

A private moment captured forever.  This photo graced the cover of the January 1948 edition of Noir et Blanc magazine.

See the auction at Del Campe:

http://www.delcampe.net/page/item/id,108329718,var,NOIR-ET-BLANC-152-7-Janvier-1948-French-Cancan-Charlie-Chaplin-Cinema-en-France,language,E.html

Moulin Rouge 1950s

A dancer from the Mouilin Rouge in the 1950's wearing one of the awful wigs they fitted them out with for one of their numbers.  The stockings have been discarded in favor of tights too.

From a Del Campe auction:

http://collections.delcampe.net/page/item/id,178404860,var,Photographie-argentique--French-Cancan--18-x-24-cm--Danse--Music-Hall--Erotisme--Charme--Pin-Up,language,E,adult,accept.html

A Classic Performance

I'm not sure of the venue of this performance though.  The stage looks different from the Bal Tabarin.  The photo is from a French EBay auction that does not provide much background information about the photo:

http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Denis-Stock-FRENCH-CANCAN-Un-spectacle-de-French-Cancan-17-5-x-25-cm-Tirag-/350606367524?pt=FR_SK_dvd_Photo&hash=item51a1c49b24

If anyone can tell us more about this, please post or let me know.

Google Cultural Institute - Bal Tabarin

Yet another example of what's available at the Google Cultural Institute.  These shots are from the Bal Tabarin of 1947.  The bottom photo is the original and gives a sense of the layout of the famous music hall. The top photo is cropped to emphasize the dancers.

This shot was found using the search term "Bal Tabarin":

http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/MgEPKeywBiXOjA?hl=en#!browse:f.text=bal%20tabarin&hl=en

The site does not provide the name of the photographer for this photo.

See the posting at 3-29-13 for more information about Google Cultural Institute.

Google Cultural Institute

Another example of what's available at the Google Cultural Institute if you broaden your search.  She's not doing the cancan per se, but this really is a great image of a ballet dancer from a period when what was underneath the costume was itself part of the costume.

This shot was found using the search term "Ballet Russe":

http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/asset-viewer/MgEPKeywBiXOjA?hl=en#!asset-viewer:l.id=CwEOZrW8TmWt4Q&hl=en&urlStub=Ballet%20Russe

The site does not provide the name of the dancer or the photographer for this photo.


See the posting at 3-29-13 for more information about Google Cultural Institute.

Cartwheels

 A better version of the photo posted on 3-22-13, this time from:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-c-1960s-Can-Can-Dancers-Do-Cartwheels-Press-Photo-/350749642292?pt=Art_Photo_Images&hash=item51aa4ece34&nma=true&si=Fy3%252F4hGHt5eFUjcowOgYT8JqvPM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Women's Institute Goes Wild

Let the good times roll

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxL-26tbvLGBZupw2iZLZPbnx6hIJOz_aWiMCMGXkbVlpRVY7F9vAYLihXAHdX7U_-W4CSyTPs705gl6-0XjsQLPOf1l4cScm0uOoibKmlC7FxH98zBPrNPbh6YBBz34uxpSbpRninJDA/s400/april+fool's+day.jpg