'Behind the Burly Q' documentary looks at world of burlesque

A new documentary which chronicles the history of burlesque theater opens tomorrow [5/7] in Los Angeles. The film is called “Behind the Burly Q” and it features some of the era’s most famous strippers, including one who went on to become a live, high-wire Tinkerbell flying through Disneyland years ago.

Leslie Zemeckis is the film’s director and she spoke with KPCC's Alex Cohen. The film is meant for mature audiences and so are some portions of their chat. Take a listen by clicking on the player above.

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Director Leslie Zemeckis talks about M*A*S*H star Alan Alda's connection to the burlesque industry.

Although its origins derive from France, Great Britian and Greece, burlesque became a wildly popular American entertainment that thrived in the early to mid-20th century.

Burlesque Performer Sally Rand

Director Leslie Zemeckis says she started researching burlesque while doing research for her one-woman show "Staar." She says she was interested in interviewing former burlesque stars because she felt that no one had really talked to them about their experiences.

By the time Zemeckis interviewed them, many of these once ravishing and buxom beauties looked like kindly old grandmothers, and many of them were.

"You get a sense of like, it was just nice girls who did this as a living, often times because they had no other means of making a living," Zemeckis says.

Producer Sheri Hellard and Director Leslie Zemeckis

Director Leslie Zemeckis with several former burlesque stars at the Stardust hotel in Las Vegas

Watch a trailer for "Behind the Burly Q":

"Behind the Burly Q" opens this Friday (5/7) at Laemmle's Sunset 5.

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