Black Stripper at the Fruit & Vegetable Store - Canton, Ohio

THE OLD STRIPPER

A Feature Documentary Film

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A black girl who I had worked with for quite sometime - we were both strippers on the Al Baker circuit - told me the following story. I do not remember her name.

We were working together at the State Theater in Canton, Ohio for the week. Across the street on the same side of the road on the corner was the Golden Pheasant Restaurant owned by Mr. Manos, an old Greek man. Next door was a Greek grocery store owned by him. One or two doors down was another small grocery store which had, mainly, fresh fruits and vegetables. It was more what you would call a vegetable and fruit store.

My co-worker said she went to buy some fruit and vegetables at this store. She got a grocery cart and started walking around. Almost immediately one of the women who worked at the store started following her around. My friend just acted like she did not notice. She filled up her grocery cart to the hilt. The employee tailed her all the time she was shopping.

The stripper went to pay for the groceries. The same woman who had been following her was all happy and excited as she went to the register to check her out. We later learned that she was the owner. She figured the total and told my friend what she owed. My friend said, "I don't want any of it.” The woman screamed, "What?" The stripper replied, "You've been following me around like I'm gonna steal a piece of your fruit. I work next door at the burlesk. I don't have to steal your fruit. I don't want any of it!"

I was glad she did that. Back in the early 1970's people were still so openly prejudiced. This store keeper not only had a prejudice against blacks but, also, strippers. I feel that the stripper demonstrated liberation for her race as well as her profession.

THE OLD STRIPPER

A Feature Documentary Film

https://www.facebook.com/oldtimeburlesquemovie/

Kansas City Kitty Showing Me the Ropes

THE OLD STRIPPER

A Feature Documentary Film

Directed by Jack Truman

Starring Opal Dockery

https://www.facebook.com/oldtimeburlesquemovie/

KANSAS CITY KITTY SHOWING ME THE ROPES

Kansas City Kitty took me under her wing and showed me the "ropes" of the stripping business. She was an older lady who had been dancing for quite some time. If it had not been for her advice, I would have made a lot more mistakes than I did.

We worked at the Pink Pussy in Kansas City, Missouri as well as the Folly's Burlesk Theater. At the Pink Pussy Cat, we were strippers. At the Folly's Burlesk, I was a stripper and she was

a cashier.

She taught me how to put on pasties - a stiff cloth of material shaped like the nipple that covered only the nipple. We had to wear this because of the Kansas City laws - no nipples could show.

She taught me how to put on the different layers of my outfit - such as G-String first - then G-Strap over that or some sort of clothing that resembled panties.

She sold me my first dancing gown for $10.00. That was a lot for me back then; but it was a good deal. It was a really pretty red, sequin gown trimmed in black feathers. It was the same gown I had seen in many visions when I was married and did not even comprehend what a stripper was. Being a stripper was the furthest thing from my mind back then. But the visions would haunt me, especially, at night when I lay awake and could not go to sleep. Not only would I see myself stripping on a stage in front of a bunch of men; but I would, also, see my children in different states. All this proved to be true.

Kansas City Kitty, also, helped me make life-long decisions concerning my children. I did not know what to do with my children if I went on the road to dance. It was time for John to go to the first grade. She suggested putting him in a military school.

  

That was the best advice I ever got from anyone concerning my children. I just wish I would have kept him in there for his twelve years of school; so does he.

Kansas Kitty Kitty proved to be very helpful in teaching me how to get money out of men. She would make up a story that we were collecting money to get a pizza. The guys would chip in. For some reason, the pizza never did come.

A "guy" that really liked me a lot was going to take me out to spend money on me for such things as clothes and boots. Kansas City Kitty wanted me to get in practice on conning men; so she gave me a list of things for me to get for her. Some of the things were different pieces of material and a bottle of her favorite

perfume - Taboo. I had "the guy" take me to the costume shop. I got the material she wanted. He said, “That looks like material Kansas City Kitty makes her outfits out of.” I was not sure of myself and got really nervous; so I was really afraid to get the perfume. I thought he would catch on to that, too. I did not want her to be mad at me; so I bought the perfume for her myself. This really made her mad. She told me that it was not the perfume that she cared about.  She wanted me to get the “feel” for conning men. I did over the years; and I am glad.

One time before I learned my lessons well from Kansas City Kitty, I went home at a “guy's” apartment and spent the night with him. I told her about it the next day. She said, “Well, what is he going to do for you?” I said that I guessed nothing and that he had offered to give me gas money; but I turned it down. She held her head in her hands explaining to me that I should get things and money out of these guys - and to not let them have anything free.

One night, after I had spent the night with him, he came in the club saying he was looking for his "Little Rose". By then, I finally had decided in my mind what he was looking for was a free piece of ass anytime he wanted. I told Kansas City Kitty, "He looks like an old hound dog lookin' for a bitch dog in heat.” She laughed so much! I think she knew as I did that I had finally seen the light about these guys. From now on, I would be no one else's "Little Rose". At least, not a "free rose".

The first time I went on the road, Kansas City Kitty gave me a necklace with St. Christopher to help protect me. She was a Catholic. I was not; but I felt that it might help me. I wish I still

had it.

Kansas City Kitty was oriental. It was really difficult to see what she looked like because she wore a lot of garb on her face - big dark glasses, big bushy blond hair, and lots of make-up. She would holler from the stage, "I'm a clown!" She twirled the tassels on her breasts; but they were false breasts - I heard - she did not tell me this. I, also, heard that she had received silicone injections and had made them too big which caused her to have them removed. I, also, heard that she had cancer. I guess it was cancer of the breasts.

One thing I did not like about her advice was when she tried to get me to get small amounts of silicone injections. But this is the only thing I remember that was bad advice. Luckily, I had enough "horse-sense" to know that this was not for me.

Kansas City Kitty always encouraged me to start saving money and invest it. She said her relatives had cheated her out of a bunch of money - something to do with a savings she had had with one of the relatives. She had some money saved in a savings and loan under this relative's name. This person had died; and the other relatives kept her part of the money even though they knew it belonged to her. She cautioned me to never invest my money in a savings

and loan.

I really do appreciate all the time Kansas City Kitty took with me to help get me on my feet as a stripper as well as the special interest she took in my personal life with my kids. From the first time she said, “Do you really want to get into it?” - (referring to the stripping business); and I answered, “Yes.” - She showed me the “ropes” and gave me priceless advice on everything. I wish she were alive; so I could say, “Thank you.”

THE OLD STRIPPER

A Feature Documentary Film

Directed by Jack Truman

Starring Opal Dockery

https://www.facebook.com/oldtimeburlesquemovie/

Having My Period on Stage in Syracuse

THE OLD STRIPPER

A Feature Film Documentary

Starring Opal Dockery 

https://www.facebook.com/oldtimeburlesquemovie/

I started my period on stage once in Syracuse, New York. It did not seem to bother the customers. Most were such perverted assholes anyway. Some were not, but even the ones who were not cme there for any "off-the-wall" happenings - like an escape from reality. After the show, I remember that I asked a regular customer to go get me some tampons. I think his name was Howard. I can still remember what he looked like - older and always nice. He said, "I think you need some!"

THE OLD STRIPPER

A Feature Documentary Film

Starring Opal Dockery

Directed by Jack Truman

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