~Violetta Beretta Presents~

The 3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue!

At the Beautiful Honolulu Museum of Arts Doris Duke Theater!

Friday, June 20th 2014

&

             Saturday, June 21st 2014                     

TWO Outstanding Nights of Naughty Fun in Honolulu, Hawaii! 

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3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue 2014 UPDATE: 

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March 13, 2014

ALOHA & MAHALO for visiting!

The 3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue 2014 is COMING SOON!

On June 20th & 21st, 2014 at The Honolulu Museum of Art Doris Duke Theater, The 3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue is pleased to present TWO spectacular nights of Burlesque to thrill and delight our local Hawaii Audiences! 

Please take a look below at our exciting announcements about the HBF 2014 Shows & Revues and HBF Performers for the coming year!

Tickets will be available for purchase SOON via the Honolulu Museum of Art Website (links will also be provided here once tickets become available!)

MORE INFORMATION ON TICKETS, TICKET PRICES AND SPECIAL DEALS COMING!

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The 3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue 2014 Presents:

Friday, June 20th 2014

The Hot & Heavy Ho'olaule'a!

On Friday, June 20th 2014 the Hawaii Burlesque Festival is proud to present "The Hot & Heavy Ho'olaule'a!"

This is in an invitation to YOU to join us for a no-holds barred, super fun Ho'laule'a, Burlesque Style! Ho'olaule'a is the Hawaiian word for PARTY, and that's what the HBF 2014 is planning on throwing for our ka'maina audiences! 

Starring a cast of Local Burlesque Performers (both Soloists & Troupes) that are so incredible they're almost edible, this 'aint your Tutu's luau!

Dress to impress in your Hawaiian Print Best! Bust out the Mu'mu and get the Bedazzler! Hula Skirts & Coconuts Encouraged! 

We're Tickled Pink to announce our

2014 Featured Troupes:

The Kit Kat Club Cabaret - Maui, HI  www.kitkatclubcabaret.com

These sassy kittens hail all the way from the verdant Isle of Maui! They'll be setting the HBF 2014 stage on FIRE (not literally..ok, kinda) with their outstanding choreography, smoldering vocals and mile long legs! 

Volary Aerial Burlesque - Honolulu, HI www.aerialburlesquehawaii.com

Volary Aerial Burlesque is one of the most in-demand troupes in Honolulu, and it's easy to see why! Whether slinking along the floor, or flying aloft in the air each and every one of them is a heart-stopping sight to behold!

 Cherry Blossom Cabaret - Honolulu, HI www.cherryblossomcabaret.com

Cherry Blossom Cabaret is committed to bringing their audiences only the most entertaining, intoxicating and hilarious performances possible! Capturing every heart in the crowd with the twirl of a tassel, or a slip of a strap, these luscious island vixens set a very sweet trap!

~The "Hot & Heavy Ho'olaule'a!" will also feature several delightful Local Solo Burlesque Performers!~

We will be announcing our Ho'olaule'a Soloists very soon! 

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The 3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue 2014 Presents:

Saturday, June 21th 2014

The 3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue 2014 Final Night Burlesque Showcase!

The 3rd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue is gearing up for an amazing round of shows in 2014, culminating in an INCREDIBLE Final Night Burlesque Showcase!

The HBF is delighted to be bringing to our kama'aina audiences a truly incredible Featured Performer for 2014! She's recently been named one of the Top 20 Neo-Burlesque Performers by Asylum Magazine, and is a Golden Pastie Award Winner! She's a very well known & loved member of the National Burlesque Community and regularly travels the world sharing her amazing artistry with stunned and grateful audiences!

Who is she? 

You'll have to wait and see!

This stellar Final Night Showcase will also feature an exceptional collection of incredible & diverse talent from across America! Our delightful Guest Performers for 2014 will share a seductive sampling of the some of the most captivating & beautiful Burlesque available on the Continent! 

We here at the HBF are big believers in the TEASE, so STAY TUNED!

We will be announcing this years Featured Performer & Guest Performers for 2014 VERY SOON! 

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LOOK FOR UPCOMING HBF 2014 ANNOUNCEMENTS ON:

2014 BURLESQUE FESTIVAL WORKSHOP & CLASS SCHEDULE

 

UPCOMING PROMOTIONAL CONTESTS & FUNDRAISING EVENTS

 

SPECIAL GUEST STARS

 

TICKET & SHOW INFORMATION

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Hawaii Burlesque Performer Profile: Miss Fortune AKA Lilevilone

Aloha All!

I'm really excited and happy to present the first of many interviews/profiles of local Hawaii based burlesque/cabaret/drag/whateva performers! I'm really looking forward to digging a bit deeper into the minds and hearts of our kama'aina performers and sharing all of their interesting, inspiring and random thoughts with whoever cares to read this little blog.

For this first interview I have the honor of delving deeper into the psyche of one of my favorite local performers, Miss Fortune AKA Lilevilone! I feel it imperative that I also disclose that she is one of my best friends, and a burlesque compatriot in our troupe, Cherry Blossom Cabaret. That said, her talent is HIGHLY EVIDENT to everyone who has the pleasure of watching her. Miss Fortune is special in my opinion for a myriad of reasons. One that stands out to me personally is her use of drama and theatricality to engage her audience. Her face is expressive, and I've seen it transform from beautiful to fierce in the span of a 3 minute piece. She truly inhabits the characters she presents on the stage, making it that much more enjoyable, engaging and fun to watch. It's delightful to watch her, as a fellow performer it's always amazing to see a skilled performer enjoy the presentation of their art, and truly entertain at the same time.

And now, with pleasure.... MISS FORTUNE!

The Stunning Miss Fortune AKA Lilevilone

 Q: Aloha Miss Fortune! Thank you so much for doing this interview! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Performer Name: Lilevilone aka MissFortune

Tagline: ?? Glitter happens!

Experience: I have been performing in one.way or another from the time I put a purse on my head and danced around the living room as a toddler. I followed that drive through a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and am currently considering plans for pursuing my MFA. My time with Cherry Blossom Cabaret, of which I am one.of the original members, and a member of the Board of Directors, is nearing it's 7th birthday. With the troupe I have worn many hats, from soloist, ensemble dancer, theatrical production director (Cabaret Carnivale, and Carnal Carnivale), designer, event manager, and director of Intern Development.

Affiliations: Cherry Blossom Cabaret, Bump and Grind, Vinyl Cherries, Porn and Chicken Honolulu

Skills: Acting, Creative Drama, Stage Combat (sword, rapier, dagger, whip), ribbons,  asian theatre movement, butoh, jazz, modern, improvisational dance, a smattering of hula, samba, latin, and, of course, burlesque ;)

Focus/Specialty? Theatrical burlesque, bull whips, and  puppets! Lol

Signature Pieces: My signature pieces are a vaudeville inspired clown piece- Mr Cellophane, Helpline Operator- a number regarding a phone-sex Operator involving the removal of 17 articles of clothing, a Mad Hatter piece, complete with sock puppets, and Whip It, a balloon number featuring a bull whip.

Q: Upcoming projects you care to share??
As a lifelong performer, I am eternally looking for opportunities for growth and to expand my skill level. I am looking forward to returning to ariel training, and adding fire to my repertoire.  I also feel myself being drawn back to directing, and writing. I would like to resume work on the screen adaptation of Carnal Carnivale, the original full length burlesque musical, featuring an original music, and upwards of 15 acts, co-created with my amazing scriptwriter and Assistant Director, Ry Herman, based on concepts from Cherry Blossom Cabaret. I also have some new ideas for theatrical productions, burning in my brain. So many ideas, so few time! Lol

Q: What inspired you to begin doing burlesque?
 A friend passed on a Craigslist ad, actually!
I was the first to audition for, and the third member to join, the brand new troupe, originally named Cherry Blossom Burlesque, behind Meghan Mayhem, and Lola Love. I was an avid underground club dancer, and a staff member at the long running Honolulu fetish event, The Dungeon, and the rawness, the theatrics, and the limitless personalized nature of burlesque is what attracted me to the art form.

Q: What do you love most about it? I am enamored of fusing multiple performance styles, mixing up everything I have learned, and deeply inspired by the concept of transformation, which is imbued into.all of my numbers. That, and the glitter! ;)

Q: What are your biggest inspirations/influences?
On a national level, I am deep in admiration for Dirty Martini and Chicaboom, while on a local level, the creativity, and dedication to the craft of my dear friend Violetta Beretta never fails to inspire me.
As a performer from multiple disciplines, I often find inspiration from performers from other milieu, such as the drag performer extraordinaire, CoCo Chandelier, and the uber talented bellydancer Zoe Jakes. I admire performers who use their skills to tell a story, or evoke a feeling or thought, not just empty spectacle.

Q: Where can we see you perform? 
In pretty much every performance space in Chinatown! Lol. I have also performed on Maui at the historical Iao Theatre,  and in San Francisco at El Rio and Kinky Salon.

Q: Upcoming highlights?
 I will be performing (and teaching a workshop) at the upcoming Second Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival on June 14 at Doris Duke, followed by our quarterly event Speakeasy on August 10th: Sizzling Summer Strip, and the end of summer Porn and Chicken Honolulu, August . In between, I can be seen swinging a rapier, dispatching zombies, and spouting Austen-ian verse as the lead role in Jane Austen Zombie Apacolypse, running the.second half of June at The Arts at Marks Garage. Rounding out the season with Naked Girls Reading Poetry event in September.

Q: What is different about burlesque in Hawaii? Anything?
I have noticed a more prevalent inclination for fusion. They do refer to Hawaii as The Melting Pot, after all.

Q: Do you think being a burlesque performer in Hawaii is challenging or easy? Why?
Hmm....Easier because people in Hawaii generally have a more relaxed body image than the mainland. Plus, we don't have to deal with freezing in a costume! Lol

Q: Has Hawaii inspired you in your work? If so, how? 
How can one NOT be inspired by the beauty and the power of Hawaii, and the myriad cultures that are part of our community. In Hawaii you are surrounded by a multitude of cultures on an everyday level, from what we eat, what we wear, to an acceptance and seamless integration of facets of Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc values. My Chinese Serpent piece is directly inspired by a Chinese legend. As a student of theater and dance in Hawaii, you cannot help but incorporate the rich traditions that surround you.

Q: Any funny or cool Hawaii-centric burlesque memories you care to share? 
 Performing on the grounds of Iolani Palace with the iconic Don Tiki was pretty darn cool. ;)
Traveling inter-island has had it's adventurous moments. Lol.  Like the time Violetta Beretta and I were flying out to perform at a fundraiser at Iao Theater, as well as perform as an opening act for English Beat. As it happened, a nasty storm rolled in, and our plane got hit by lightning, and we got delayed for so long that we completely missed load-in and  tech, were trying to apply make-up and lashes in mid-air while being tossed by turbulence (small glitter fiasco), had to get changed in a speeding car (fishnets are pretty difficult to pull on in the back seat- Try it with two people trying to do the same thing! ) and pulling up 10 minutes to curtain. Lol. I am.still amazed we made it! Gave the producer a minor- heart attack, I am sure.
And whenever CBC travels as a group, it is quite a sight, with the large personalities and costume pieces and props. On one particular trip, an early flight, we were all in various states of sleep deprivation, hair in curlers, with an assortment of items ranging from feather fans and headresses, to a pirate sword and crutches(don't ask!), when we were timidly approached and asked if we were a band. We laughed and replied to the affirmative. A band of merry misfits! Lol.

I'd like to thank the lovely Miss Fortune for taking the time to talk with me and share her inspration and mana'o. Stay tuned for more profiles of fascinating, scintilatting and captivating HAWAII performers! CHEE HEE!

If you'd like to find out more about Miss Fortune, please do so here:

https://www.facebook.com/lisa.lilevilone?ref=ts&fref=ts

Hawaii Burlesque History: Past Performer Profile, MISS WIGGLES!

Aloha & Good Morning!

I woke up this morning with the lovely "Miss Wiggles" on my mind. Miss Wiggles was a vaudeville performer working the circuit during the 50's-70's (with a few performances afterward for friends!) Though she never danced nude, she was well known for her amazing control over her anatomy and her barely-there costumes (which she made herself!)

Miss Wiggles performed in Hawaii in the 1960's, and was brought in by Jack Cione to headline at the Forbidden City billed as "The Most Unusual Exotic in Showbiz."

Unfortunately Miss Wiggles AKA Velma Adkerson, left this world on October 22, 2012, leaving behind a host of friends and family who had nothing but the best to say about this talented and beautiful woman.

I wish I could have seen her perform, I'm willing to bet it was probably awesome.

Here's a bit more on her life:
  
ANCHORAGE — Velma Adkerson, who performed risque and acrobatic nightclub routines as "Miss Wiggles," was laid to rest on Monday. Her show business career began in the waning days of vaudeville and burlesque and continued into the 21st century. She packed in the crowds at prominent Lower 48 show houses that also featured stars like Nat King Cole -- and in long-gone, pre-pipeline Alaska bars that would be considered dives nowadays.
But at her service at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, no one mentioned her nightclub years. Instead, person after person went to the microphone to talk about how she had changed their lives for the better.
"Someone who was like a mother to me."
"The most generous woman I ever met."
"If we all had a little piece of her personality, we'd have a lovely world."
It's not what one might have anticipated from the Anchorage newspaper ads that ran in the 1960s and '70s. Week after week, an evergreen picture of her announced appearances at hot spots like the Idle Hour, Le Pussycat and the Brief Encounter. It showed her in a racy two-piece costume with fringes and tassels, shapely legs thrusting in the air as she stood on her head on a chair, with a glowing smile.
Miss Wiggles died at Providence Hospital two days after her 90th birthday. In the grand tradition of entertainers, she could be evasive about her age and place of birth. She sometimes embellished her biography. For example, she told one reporter that she was born in South Africa and that her father had been killed by an elephant.

The obituary prepared by her family says she was born in Atlanta on Oct. 12, 1922. Her father, Arthur Thomas, was a preacher, the Rev. Alonso Patterson told the congregation on Monday -- a surprise to some.
She showed a passion for dance and movement from an early age and began performing professionally in New Orleans while a teenager. Originally billed as "Snakehips," Miss Wiggles traveled the nightclub circuit as a contortionist, bending her body into pretzel-like shapes that astonished viewers.
She liked to design her own getups, eye-catching in their own right, revealing much but concealing just enough to escape the attention of the authorities.
"I never danced nude," she said in a 1986 interview with the Daily News. Dancing and striptease were considered two separate disciplines.
Owners of all-white clubs during the era of segregation used her as a so-called "break-in" act, a comic yet appreciable exotic diversion that their audiences would accept in the otherwise all-white lineup -- subtly opening the door to other black performers.
She had a long run at the popular Eastwood Club in San Antonio, Texas, and recounted that she was dancing at Jack Ruby's club in Dallas, a gangster den, when President John Kennedy was shot.
Events that followed may have had something to do with her decision to check out Alaska.
Her husband, bail bondsman Fred Adkerson, told the assembly of more than 100 people that the first time he saw her at the Club Oasis on the Old Seward Highway, shortly before the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, "was the luckiest day of my life."
The two seemed to live in a perpetual honeymoon, traveling and taking cruises. In February they received an award from Princess Cruises as "The Most Travelled Passengers," with more than 1,200 days at sea.
It was on a cruise, at age 80, that she gave one of her last public performances to entertain fellow passengers.
Her strength and flexibility endured for years, even as multiple operations stemming from a battle with polio took their toll. In 1992, a reporter described her dancing to an Eric Clapton song, "balancing upside-down on a chair seat and twisting a torso limber as well-cooked spaghetti." In 2002, another reporter watched her "sit on her living room carpet, spread her legs in a near split and touch her muscled stomach to the floor in front of her."
But the mourners who spoke on Monday remembered her exclusively as a beloved friend with an enormous heart.
She was always taking in "strays," her husband told the Daily News in 1986 -- unwed mothers, battered women, abused children.
She once recalled how charities had helped her when she was hospitalized with polio and couldn't work. "(Now) I help whenever I can," she said.
For years, helping meant long hours at her sewing machine, making clothes for friends or their children, creating fashions for a series of runway shows, the proceeds of which went to local charities. The shows genuinely celebrated diversity, with models ranging in age from 15 to 70 and wearing sizes up to 20.
"People aren't the same size, honey," she told a reporter.
Her respect for people in all shapes, sizes and stations of life was perhaps a natural outgrowth of her respect for herself.
Patterson remembered a conversation in which he gingerly touched on whether she thought her former career might set tongues wagging.
"People don't know me for who I am," was her calm response.
"Miss Wiggles never considered herself second class," said one mourner.
"Miss Wiggles was dedicated to making the world a better place; at that she was very successful," said another.
Patterson observed that every speaker had used her stage name, the name by which she was universally known.
"You're all saying, 'Miss Wiggles,' but you're talking about Velma," he said.
"Miss Wiggles was a performer. Velma was a real person who showed her real humanity by making a difference in people's lives."

Source: http://www.adn.com/2012/10/22/2668480/mourners-recall-the-humanitarian.html

Another short Bio, this one with some different info...


Velma P. Adkerson better known as "Miss Wiggles" throughout her adult life, passed away at Providence Alaska Medical Center on October 14, 2012 at the age of 90.

Miss Wiggles was born to Arthur Thomas and Lillie V. Williams on October 12, 1922 in Atlanta, Georgia. Velma grew up in the outskirts of Atlanta and attended school in Georgia.

As a little girl she became interested in dancing and enjoyed learning new dancing steps. She requested her mother to send her to dancing school.

When Velma was about 15 years of age, she knew she wanted to become a professional dancer, she gave performances at various functions. By the age of 19, she went to New Orleans as a dancer and to further her career.

Miss Wiggles left New Orleans and went to Los Angeles where she met with a booking agent "Johnny Robinson". He commenced booking her as Miss Wiggles, contortionist and placed her in night clubs and theaters all over the United States.

Miss Wiggles also performed in Canada, Mexico, France and Hawaii, and other countries around the world. She appeared on "Jenny Jones" national TV when she was 76 years old. She continued performing on cruise ships, while she and her husband, Fred were taking tours until she was 80 years old. She took 3 or 4 cruises yearly for the past 35 years.

Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=99268524&PIpi=70206232




Remember Miss Wiggles!

Aloha!

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2012/10/22/2668480/mourners-recall-the-humanitarian.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2012/10/22/2668480/mourners-recall-the-humanitarian.html#storylink=c

The 2nd Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival Revue Performers!

\

The Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue is COMING SOON! 

 (Here's a link to the larger version of the above image via fbook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.281102455359095.1073741834.253253384810669&type=1&l=795be598d8)

 Aloha Hepcats & Kittens! 

I'm Pleased as Punch to be able to announce the following performers as part of 2013's Hawaii Burlesque Festival Revue Cast!

HOSTED BY: Ella Flaunt (HONOLULU)

FEATURED PERFORMER: Miss Coco Lectric (AUSTIN)! 

TRAVELING PERFORMERS: 

Baby Le Strange (PORTLAND)

Lilith Moon (KANSAS CITY)

Thundering Jezebel (PUNA, HI) 

HAWAII PERFORMERS: 

Violetta Beretta (HONOLULU)

Miss Fortune (HONOLULU)

 Vy Vicious (HONOLULU)

Mabsy (HONOLULU)

 Miss Catwings (HONOLULU)

Madame X (HONOLULU)

Lola Love (HONOLULU)

Dick Sunday (HONOLULU)

Hunter Down (HONOLULU)

Take a look at our amazing performers here via the official Hawaii Burlesque Festival Facebook Page!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.281084942027513.1073741833.253253384810669&type=1&l=6689f7f5e2

We also have some beautiful Stage Kats (as opposed to Kittens!) and a few surprises up our non-existent sleeves! Stay tuned!

For more info on the Hawaii Burlesque Festival visit: www.hawaiiburlesquefestival.com

Aloha & Hope to see you at The Doris! 

Hawaii Burlesque & Stage Show History, Venue Profile on: The Forbidden City, now just a memory.

Aloha All,

Continuing in the vein of Hawaii Burlesque History, I'm trying to find information on the notorious "Forbidden City" and nightclub owned by Jack Cione, which offered strip & stage shows to local audiences in the 60's - 80's (actual timeline TBD) The club was located near the corner of Kapiolani & Kalakaua Blvds, first in the space that now houses the Old Spaghetti Factory and then in a location at what is now Century Center.

There is VERY LITTLE about this club online, so I'm taking the search to the library and other state agencies, hopefully to uncover some interesting facts.

INTERESTING FACT:  Did you know Screamin' Jay Hawkins was brought to the islands to perform at the Forbidden City? Needless to say, he had a flair for the dramatic, as shown in this excerpt from his online bio:

 "In Honolulu Jay Hawkins meets and marries Virginnia Sabellona, a very pretty woman six years his junior. The nuptials do not please Pat, who plunges a nine-inch butcher's knife into Jay's chest, puncturing his lung and diaphragm. So her services are eventually dispensed."

If you or anyone you know would like to share information, memories or photos etc please drop me a line via this blog or at my email: violettaberetta@gmail.com

I have a few photos, which I will share at a later date, but for now, here are some links:

An interesting discussion by kama'aina that remember some of Honolulu's older hotspots... including the Forbidden City!
 http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=14733 

A excerpt from "Land & Power in Hawaii, The Democratic Years" by George Cooper and Gavan Daws
http://books.google.com/books?id=8128CdCEJNcC&pg=PA239&lpg=PA239&dq=the+forbidden+city+nightclub+honolulu&source=bl&ots=W9pkLXwHpX&sig=Y7JQOpa0qdfRepYs_SDkrKrzt4w&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fzmAUaD0N-rNiwLC9YCIBw&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=the%20forbidden%20city%20nightclub%20honolulu&f=false

ALOHA & Have a Beautiful Day!

XOXO
V

Hawaii Burlesque & Stage History, Venue Profile on: The Beretania Follies!

Aloha! 

Today I'd like to delve deeper into and interesting part of Honolulu's Chinatown History and a bit of Hawaii Burlesque History as well! 

 The Beretania Follies was Hawaii's very first burlesque theater! You can read more about it below. After a bit of research I discovered that the street this venue was on has since been completely obliterated and is now a section of Maunakea and Beretania. Nothing of the Beretania Follies exists in physical form today, that theater and all of the performers who passed through now exist only in memory.

I was lucky enough to come across this blog by a person named San Souci, who took a photo of the area where the Follies once was. Check it out below!  Mahalo San Souci!  

BASIC INFO ON THE BERETANIA FOLLIES

 
 "Hawai‘i’s pioneer burlesque house was the Beretania Theater, located at 1229 Kamanuwai Lane in a congested urban slum on the mauka edge of Honolulu’s Chinatown. Built originally around 1936 or 1937 as a neighborhood movie theater, the Beretania was bought in 1944 by William C. Ferreira and was used during the next few years mostly for “adults only” films. These pictures, typically made on shoestring budgets by marginal producers, were fairly steamy by the inhibited standards of the times but in retrospect seem pretty tepid.
In 1947, Ferreira renamed his theater the Beretania Follies, erected a saucy neon sign above the entrance, and initiated regular stage shows, with a review called “Cover Girl Scandals.” The Follies’ new live offerings invariably featured leggy strippers and baggy-pants comedians."

Source: http://www.hawaiianhistory.org/time-capsules/daily-life/burlesque/#.UXs9pkruySo

Photo: 1954 - Beretania Follies on Kamanuwai Lane in Chinatown, Honolulu

Hawaii, Nov 22 1954

Source:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/vic-and-becky/5599559352/

 

The former "Kamanuwai St." home of the Beretania Follies, now completely gone. 

  Source:http://konalunas.blogspot.com/2011/07/gone-and-forgotten.html

OTHER READING

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/40612

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2001/Apr/15/ln/ln27abob.html
(A neat profile of Ron Bright, a local pianist who played at the Follies while in college!

Aloha & Remember the Follies! 

XOXO
V

Some Pretty Hawaii Pinups to brighten your day!

Aloha!

Recently Hawaii played host to some super fun, amazing performers by name of Jezebel Express & Gin Minsky who hail from NYC! We all had a great time performing, getting to know each other and hanging out at the beach as the Cherry Blossom Cabaret crew are known to do! Here's a little peep at our day on the North Shore of Hawaii, all pinups shot by me (except the ones of myself..hee hee)

Enjoy! XOXO
V

Gin Minsky in one of my favorite shots of the day!

The Lovely Gin Minsky Goes Tropical!

No ukulele were harmed during this shoot.

Jezebel Express, beautiful and hilarious, a dangerous combo!

Our Tiki Impersonation

Jezebel Express plays us a tune!

High note indeed! 

Lola Loves the beach! 

James Sigmon, Male Pinup, ESQ

Miss Catwings! MEOWZA!

Group shot! What a fun day!

" A Seaside Mystery" - Did Mae West leave some grafitti behind in Hawaii?

Aloha!

It's an off and on rainy day here in Paradise, and so I'm inside, watching old movies and getting some serious inspiration!

One of my favorite sassy girls of the old era was Mae West, and believe it or not, Hawaii and Mae share not only a small bond, but a mystery as well! It seems she may have visited and left her mark on a local spot many many years ago!

The blog post I found below is a really intriguing read...maybe together we can solve this Hawaii Burlesque Mystery!

http://kgwbreadcrumbs.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html

And of course, here's a photo of the lovely Mae in all of her finery...

The lovely Mae West in a beautiful and creative costume!

And here's a little clip of her one of a kind brand of acting and seduction:

http://youtu.be/5L0eJp7V2Zs



Aloha & Enjoy!

DIY Burlesque/Fashion! It's Easy & Fun!

 Yesterday I was stoked to help some lovely burly pals from my troupe make DIY dress forms to making it easier to make costumes etc. It was a fun day, and we managed to make 3 forms at a leisurely pace over the course of 4 hours!

We used plastic bags and paper tape (available at most crafting and hardware stores, pretty cheap!)
All told I think the whole project will run you about 25.00 max.

Here are some pictures of our craft adventures:

Ho...mean side-eye, eh? 

The finished shells of the forms, next they should be packed with fabric and paper, re-taped to smooth out any major bumps and put on a stand.

If you'd like to try making your own dress forms I'd reccomend the following resources:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Custom-Dressform-from-Paper-Packing-Tape/
http://makingitwell.blogspot.com/2012/03/i-made-my-own-dress-form.html
**These are for the paper tape version but there's also other ways, like using duct tape etc. Try Google for more info on that!

Aloha & Happy Crafting!

A Sweet Letter from an Eyewitness!

 Woke up this morning to this lovely letter in my-inbox from a nice gentleman and "old school Hawaii burlesque eyewitness" R.L. It made my morning to know that someone out there actually googled the words "Beretania Follies" because of fond memories, and took the time to get in touch to share their memories! Hopefully I can convince him to share a bit more later on his memories of the show, Chinatown and Honolulu in the 60s!

Mahalo for sharing R.L!!!! <3 <3 <3

"Just wanted to send you a little message, concerning The Beretania Follies.

I was stationed at Pearl Harbor, from 1961 to 1964. As most other servicemen there, I visited the Beretania Follies. 

Today, I had a flash back of my days in Hawaii and Googled Beretania Follies. I came across your little article and I want to wish you the best of luck, on your research.

I am sorry that I have no pictures or other information  to send you.

I ,again, wish you the best of luck , on your research.  You have made my day a little happier, thanks!"

-R.L. III

Here's a brief write up on Hawaii burlesque talking about the Beretania Follies by the Hawaiian Historical Society:
http://www.hawaiianhistory.org/time-capsules/daily-life/burlesque/#.UXAsUEruySo

Here's a link to a photo showing the Beretania Follies!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vic-and-becky/5599559756/


Aloha & have a wonderful day!

V

Hawaii Burly History...continued!

Good Morning & Aloha!

Just got back from some shows on the Mainland and though I love the frenetic pace and meeting new people I always look forward to coming back home. I'm grateful every day for having the luck to be born and raised here in Hawaii Nei, and for being able to live, dance, create and work in one of the most beautiful and temperate places on the earth. 

Wanted to share a few more Hawaii Burlesque history photos and videos cause I've got Honolulu on the brain this morning. Enjoy! XOXO

V

Here's a very interesting collection of advertisements from the 50's-60's, Forbidden City and the like. Check out the advertisement for MISS SALLY RAND in the upper left corner!Wish I could have seen THAT!

Here is a link to a movie titled "Burlesque in Hawaii" also known as "Oriental Vanities." This movie admittedly leaves ALOT to be desired in several of the cinematic virtues but it does show off a view of older Hawaii in more innocent days.


ALOHA!!

The Official 2013 Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue Logo and Poster are HERE!

I am literally thrilled to be able to share this amazing (and amazingly cute) design by Claudette Barjoud of Fluff! Claudette is one of my favorite artists in the world and I'm so happy and honored to have had a chance to work with an icon in both art and fluffiness!

I commissioned this design for the Second Annual Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue, as I wanted to be able to really captivate peoples imaginations both locally and not, I thought that Claudette's artistic vision wold be perfect to personify the fun, teasing nature of the event and the art form and boy, was I RIGHT!

Check out more of Claudette's beautiful art as well as her line of accesories & clothing called "Fluff" at" 

www.fluffshop.com 

Stay tuned for more info on where to get prints, stickers, t-shirts and the like of this AWESOME design, for sale via the Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue website at: www.hawaiiburlesquefestival.com SOON!

Also check the website and the HBF Facebook page for more info on the event, tickets, performers and MORE! 

Hawaii Burlesque History

I've been thinking alot about long-term projects and I'm fascinated with researching & cataloging Hawaii's burlesque & stage show history. 

I've been a "research associate" in the working world and I LOVE history, especially Hawaii history, so this seems like a perfect nerdy fit for me! 

Part of my research included trying to find performers/musicians/promoters/whoever, who were around in the golden days of burlesque in Hawaii, and while I cant share it all here, there are some very interesting stories! 

I was able to meet with Mr. Jack Cione, who is a nightclub legend in Honolulu. He was responsible for populating our island stages with buxom women from far flung places and was a popular, beloved and controversial figure. We spent several hours together talking about the old days of Hawaii stage shows and burlesque and I definitely came away feeling as if I'd been charmed by a true Showman. I'm looking forward to working with him on several projects to try to preserve our local burlesque heritage!

Here's some info on Jack:

http://www.midweek.com/jack-cione/

http://youtu.be/IA3T5L6h_x0

I learned so many amazing details from Jack! For instance, did you know that Hawaii was a "spoke" on the wheel of travel for Burlesque performers in the 50's and 60's? Some of the famous names that performed and vacationed here:

-Lili St. Cyr

-Blaze Starr

-Mae West

There were MANY MORE! I'm looking for them and anyone with stories, material or experience that relates to this topic. If you know anyone please feel free to email me at violettaberetta@gmail.com

I'm stoked to be able to share this VERY OLD photo from the collection of Jack Cione, of a 1950's burlesque show, at the infamous club "Forbidden City" in Honolulu.

Here's a pic of me and Jack!

Stay tuned for more Hawaii Burlesque History! XOXO V

The Hawaii Burlesque Festival Celebrates it's SECOND YEAR!

I'm THRILLED to be able to say that the Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue is heading into it's SECOND YEAR! It's been a wonderful experience in both learning, producing, directing and of course BURLESQUE!

Last year's inaugural Revue & Workshops were a HUGE success, all because of the wonderful performers and fantastically enthusiastic audience we had at the Honolulu Museum of Art's Doris Duke Theater!

2013 promises to be EVEN BETTER!!! I'm pleased to announce our Headline Showgirl for 2013:

 MISS COCO LECTRIC!

All the way from Austin, Texas, the exquisite COCO LECTRIC will be gracing the stage of the Doris Duke Theater for ONE NIGHT ONLY, June 14th, 2013! She will also be a few presenting her VERY popular workshops while in Paradise! Make sure to mark your calendars & then enjoy this STUNNING photo of the New Orleans Burlesque Festival's "QUEEN OF BURLESQUE 2010!" & The Hawaii Burlesque Festival Revue Headline Showgirl, COCO LECTRIC!!!! ♥

Stay tuned for more info on workshops and other HBF happenings, as well as ticket info for the Hawaii Burlesque Festival Revue at the Honolulu Museum of Art's Doris Duke Theater! 

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

COCO LECTRIC (Austin, Texas)

Coco Lectric is a classically trained dancer, actor, and vocalist. With an absolute love of performing, she graces stages all over the world. She's a founding member of The Jigglewatts Burlesque Revue (Austin, TX), founder of the Austin Burlesque Alliance, co-producer of the Texas Burlesque Festival, creator and producer of the World Go-Go Championship, and is the Headmistress of The Austin Academy of Burlesque. Coco won “Queen of Burlesque 2010” at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival. She was “2010 Texas Performer of the Year” from the Hotrods and Heels festival and won the “Audience Choice Award 2009,” at the Texas Burlesque Festival, and second runner up in the Viva Las Vegas Burlesque Competition 2011. She's been featured in numerous festivals and headlined at Girlesque in Toronto, Windy City Burlesque Festival, Dallas Burlesque Festival, Suncoast Burlesque Festival, the Southwest Burlesque Festival and the Texas Burlesque Festival. She performed Opening Night at the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend in Las Vegas 2010 and in the Miss Exotic World and Reigning Queen of Burlesque competition in 2011 and 2012. She was voted #7 in 2011 and is currently #5 in the world (21st Century Burlesque’s “Burlesque Top 50”).
Coco has also graced the cover of Bachelor Pad, Pin Curl, Atomic Bombshells, Min Boudoir and been featured in The Berlesker, 21st Century Burlesque, All That Glitters and numerous other publications.

Here's a look back:

 Here's a link to the full album from the 2012 HBF Revue night:
http://www.honolulupulse.com/events/pics-honolulu-burlesque-festival

WANT MORE INFO ON HBF 2013??

(Links below!)

The OFFICIAL Hawaii Burlesque Festival Website:
http://hawaiiburlesquefestival.com/

The OFFICIAL FACEBOOK of the Hawaii Burlesque Festival & Revue (updated more regularly!)
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hawaii-Burlesque-Festival-Revue/253253384810669

Violetta Beretta's Links:
www.facebook.com/Violetta808
https://twitter.com/ViolettaBeretta